Recommendations for a newbie?

[Pikari]

I've got to say that before TRC I probably could have cared less about CCS, but now my curiousity has been piqued, not to mention there's a whole section on this forum I can't participate in having never seen or read the series. XD

So, I'd like to pose a question - what's the best way to get into CCS... *without* breaking my bank account? ^^; I don't want to go out and buy a whole DVD series... just test it and see if I like it. So...

How many episodes/volumes are there?
Would you recommended seeing the anime or manga first?
Is there more than one season? I had a friend say 'this season/arc is the best, see it', or would it be too confusing without seeing it from the beginning.
Do I need to see the anime before I watch the movies?

Thanks in advance. ^^

[D.J.P]

For CCS there are 70 episodes plus two movies.

Which one first, depends on your tastes, do you like reading or just watching?

There are three seasons (or arcs if  you like).
Season 1: Clow Cards (ends at Firey Card Episode, after which follows the First Movie)
Season 2: Clow Cards (all cards are captured)
Season 3: Sakura Cards (when the cards are  transformed)

Then the second movie to finish it all off.

And it is best to watch it in order, Season 1, the first movie, season 2, season 3, then the second movie, so you know whats going on.

For download links check out the download topic: http://www.capturedwings.net/forums/index.php?topic=326.0 (strange why it isn't showing on the topic list  )

[Hikari B.]

There are 12 manga volumes for CCS. 6 volumes is the Clow Card arc where Sakura catches the Clow Card and the other 6 is when Sakura changes them into Sakura cards.

Hope that helped. I think SLi-sama explained enough with the anime.

[Arcademan]

As far as the anime, you can find TEH BOOTZ on eBay for usually $30 or less, many of them not bad in quality. Many places like Amazon.com have the new re-release of Cardcaptor Sakura: The Clow Book and Sakura Book from Geneon. Suggested retail price is $99.99 for each one however I got mine from eBay and Overstock.com for $60 a piece.

The manga series in the U.S. were released by TokyoPop...12 books total (and IMO superior to the anime). Retail price is $9.99 each but since it's an older series, can be found used for $5 a piece in places a many. The re-release of the first 6 CCS mangas in 2 boxsets are between $20/ $29. Of course, my picture site Arcademan Universe has the first 6 books scanned.

[D.J.P]

Which is nice, but as soon as I have the money I'm completing my CCS Manga Collection
(Book 6 of Master of the Clow, and the original Volumes)

[Arcademan]

Let me know when you do...I might be able to get them at a pretty low price for you

[Pikari]

Oh wow, reviving an old thread. ^^;;

Heh, I've since gotten myself the full set of Japanese manga off Ebay a few months back for around $60 with shipping. Probably not the best deal, yeah, but that was about retail yen price, and I got all the books at once. Read it and loved it.

I got the anime for much, much cheaper in high-qual avis from a "boots" CD distro. Haven't gotten around to finishing it yet. I've reached about episode 18 so I've a long way to go yet. Still wading through the filler that isn't very exciting having already read the manga, but I'm sure I'll get in the mood to watch the rest one of these days. Then all I'll be missing is the movies.