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Cardcaptors has a lot going for it, including likable characters, well-crafted dialogue, and a cartload of similarities to the phenomenally popular Pokémon. But as the three-episode video Tests of Courage demonstrates, the series (seen on the Kids' WB network) also is saddled with shortcomings, mostly in the form of flimsy concepts. Case in point: episode 1, "Sakura's Rival." Here we're introduced to lead character Sakura's sole competitor in the Clow Card-capturing arena, the stern and unsociable Li. After a rocky first encounter, Li proves he's worthy of Sakura's trust by helping her secure the weather-corrupting Shadow Card (one of many cards bearing mystical powers that Sakura unwittingly released from the magic Clow book). The segment sets the tone for the pair's subsequent semicooperative, semiadversarial adventures, but it doesn't fully explain the Shadow Card's scheme, nor the role of Kero, the supposed guardian of the cards who bears a roundabout resemblance to Pokémon's Pikachu. Episodes 2 and 3 are slightly more successful in shedding light on what the wayward Clow Cards are up to, but batches of not fully fleshed-out details, like where Li got his card-impairing lasin board and what he intends to do with the cards he collects, are apt to irk kids over 7 who like their cartoon adventures unraveled logically. That said, Sakura's spunk and good judgment make her a better-than-average role model for girls, and her cool haircut is apt to earn her popularity points, too. --Tammy La Gorce
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