Viewing Journal: Tsubasa / xxxHolic movie

Movie Overview (Tsbubasa) Movie Overview (xxxHolic) DVD Info Trailer Rating: Overall= D- Story = D- Video = B- Audio = C

Journal

Tsubasa:
In their continuing journey to find the feathers that are the fragments of Sakura's lost memory, Syaoran, Kurogane, Fai, and Sakura move through time and space with Mokona. Here, they visit the "Land of the Birdcage," a seemingly peaceful country where people and birds live together, each person having a bird companion. After a boy named Koruri confuses Syaoran and Sakura for "bodyguards" and attacks them, they learn that the king of the country possesses a mysterious power. Princess Tomoyo, Koruri, and the other oppressed citizens, having had their birds taken from them, live in hiding within the forest. In order to take back Sakura's feather, Syaoran and the others stand up against the scheming king. (Source: ANN)

xxxHolic:
Yûko receives an invitation for the opening of an auction from a mysterious unknown sender. Likewise, fanatical collectors are summoned to an old mansion whose owner doesn't make an appearance. One after another, each collector disappears and a number of other strange occurrences happen during the night. The questions of what exactly it is that's being auctioned and who the owner of the mansion is must be solved in order for Yûko and Watanuki to get to the bottom of this. (Source: ANN)

I purchased this double feature movie for one reason only: the fact that it was animated by Production IG. I've seen about half of the Tsubasa TV series and read some of the xxxHolic manga, and did not like either one. But regardless, I figured the animation studio could pull off something that would make it worthwhile. Well, after this (as well as the disappointing Blood+ series) I may have to reevaluate their place as my favorite animation studio.

The stories for both features were boring -- even more so than what I have seen of the original animes and manga. I really just think it may be that I don't like CLAMP stories at all. The characters are all annoyingly goofy, or hopeless romantics, but in each case they are one-dimensional and predictable. There never seems to be anything to them other than what is on the surface. And it's not that I haven't liked my fair share of simplistic characters, but usually in the cases where I do, they are either strong and driven, or intentionally simplistic so as to be comedic. But CLAMP characters seem to be sappy and weak and even its comedy seems to forced and lame.

The animation is smooth and solid, but there isn't anything that makes it stand out. There was nothing original in the artwork nor was it especially detailed which are the two things I expect from Production IG.

So, whatever. I just didn't like this one. My guess is that only those who are xxxHolic or Tsubasa fans already will be interested in this one. It certainly won't convert anyone who isn't already into the stories.