In my early years of high school, I asked for these ‘Cardcaptor Sakura’ illustrated anime books I saw at Hastings (ah…who misses that place. Who remembers those?) However, my momma, bless her, brought me three volumes of a ‘Cardcaptor’ series, but…it looked like a comic (which I never really got into…) and it was black and white. Which, like any dumb millennial 14-year-old, I thought was lame. I didn’t touch it for a while, until that Christmas break. I was bored and grabbed it to try…
And my life was forever changed in the best way possible.
So, thank you, momma!
I sank into the whimsical and wild whirlwind of anime, Japan, and manga, researching and needing more.
The creators of my first official anime and manga were a group of four goddesses of art, storytelling, and innovation. And they are called CLAMP.
Nanase Ohkawa, the writer, and the artists, Mokona, Tsubaki Nekoi, and Satsuki Igarashi.
For almost 35 years, these ladies have created countless masterpieces and so many characters, that they have their own multiverses! Yes, you heard that right!
But they earned their spots as legends!
In the 1980s, a group of 11 women started as dōjinshi artists, creating manga-style stories based on existing works. In 1987, they began original works. Then in 1989, they were given their chance to get their first series published, seven of its original members remaining: “RG Veda.” Mokona grew up near Hindu temples, its lore inspiring this tale. It was meant to only be one 60-page short story, but the readers’ response was high. The magazine releasing it asked for more, but told them after each chapter if readership went down, they would cancel it.
It was made into 10 full graphic novels (manga_) volumes. That is a success!
Their second series, “Man of Many Faces,” was published from 1989 to 1991, with two volumes worth of chapters. It followed the troop popular of phantom art thieves being romanticized, but is also a love story. “Tokyo Babylon” about exorcists, and “Duklyon Clamp School Defenders,” their version of super sentai type high school heroes, such as Power Ranger (Clamp loves Power Rangers… yeay) series were made and finished between 1990 to 1993.
After “Duklyon,” CLAMP made its first crossover story, the embers of their multiverse igniting. “Clamp School Detectives” took its main male from “Man of Many Faces” and made him one of our star trio of detectives and the cast of “Duklyon” had minor roles. The school is even named Clamp!
Also in 1992 brought “Snow Goddess Tales,” “The Legend of Chun Hyang,” and the start of “X (“X/1999” in the United States.) By 1993, Clamp was down to its four members that are still there today.
These enchanting creatives dove into magical girls and the world was filled with awe for these series, “Magic Knights Rayearth” in 1995 and my beloved, favorite, and cherished “Cardcaptor Sakura” in 1996. After the massive success of these darlings, they were asked to make a new series for a more mature story for girls, “Clover.” Sadly, the magazine closed when the story was 2/3rds of the way finished, the story yet to be finished after 27 years. A light-hearted sci-fi story came next in “Angelic Layer,” then the head artist switched for “Suki” and “Legal Drug.” Their first manga aimed for older boys, “Chobits,” about human computers with feelings, released in 2000, this rounding out Clamp’s start to the new millennium.
In 2003, their universe literally exploded and expanded! With a long list of characters, they easily had enough to make multiple worlds within one story, our five leads traveling from one world to the next, familiar faces popping up in new roles, great easter eggs for fans. And these women of writing and wonder wer ambitious with two massive, interconnecting manga series: the world traveling fantasy, “Tsubasa: Reservoir Chronicles” and supernatural gothic tale, “xxxHolic.” Ten years later, they both had short spin-off/sequel series, “Xxxholic: Rei” and “Tsubasa: World Chronicle: Nirai Kanai-San.”
“Kobato” and “Gate 7” are the last of their current original series they made between 2006 and 2011. After this, they focused on sequels/spin-offs to “Legal Drug” (“Drug and Drop”) and “Cardcaptor Sakura” (“Cardcaptor Sakura: Clear Card.”)
Clamp has done more than create breathtaking and memorable manga of their own. They have helped with other series as well. They made character designs for the staple manga and anime, “Code Geass,” “Blood: The Last Vampire,” “Kabukibu,” and “Cardfight Vanguard.” In 2024, their six-episode collab they did with Netflix based on their unique visions on Grimm fairy tales premiered, “The Grimm Variations.”
What makes Clamp so revered?
From their art alone, you can see how beautiful and detailed it is. Their love for costumes, the elaborate components such as jewels apparent. They use cultural references for all over the world and different time periods to inspire them. The fact they change their art and genre styles, not afraid to experiment and seek new audiences, even if it was not a huge success, it admirable and appreciated by their fans. One story may use blank spaces and another full of background details. One may do sharper lines and larger eyes for a cute vibe verses softer lines, but smaller eyes for a more realistic look. And they make amazing mascots.
They are known for their tall, skinny characters with noodle limbs, especially in the “xxxHolic” story, AKA Noodle people!
Nanase Ohkawa stated in an interview they come up with new ideas and themes for each story.
Their characters not only are well-made and drawn, but layered, full of heart and heartbreak, encompassing the real human experience. Such as in “Magic Knights Rayearth,” it deeply makes one ponder the weight of being responsible for others and how the villain may not be what it seems. Fate is also a common topic, if it is predetermined or we chose it. Love is a key aspect to their stories, Clamp exploring all types, inspiring this writer right here on several occasions. One-eyed characters (some speculate it is because Ohkawa-sensei has a weak right eye) and twins are found a decent number of times in their series too.
A front-runner in equality, Clamp disregards gender, having many same sex couples and characters that have no gender or are fluid and have since their original work in the 1980s, showing how love is love.
Clamp also have been huge fans of Sonic since he came out in the 90s and during COVID, they shared their Animal Crossings: New Horizons gaming on their YouTube channel. Mokona also is a lady of Japanese tradition, wearing a kimono every day, even writing a stunning book all about them, their maintenance, her collection, and breaking down the ones she has drawn in their mangas over the years.
Team work. Diligent. Creative. Thought provoking. Inspiring, Talented. Detailed. Adventurous. Dedicated. Shy. Whimsical. Romantic. Nerdy. Engaging. Magical. All these describe my first and favorite manga-ka of all time. Make sure to give them a chance; it will change your world and allow you to see the star you are.
LOOK FORWARD TO ALL MY MONTHLY CLAMP MANGA REVIEWS COMING THIS YEAR! =D
Here is a list of ALL their mangas and projects HERE!
Resources:
YumeTwins Article about CLAMP:
CBR: Clamp, Manga’s Beloved Manga Collective Article
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Educator of young minds by day, super nerdy savior of justice, and cute things by night, Morgan Straughan Comnick has a love for turning the normal into something special without losing its essence. Morgan draws from real-life experiences and her ongoing imagination to spark her writing. In her spare time, she enjoys doing goofy voices, traveling to new worlds by turning pages, humming child-like songs, and forcing people to smile with her “bubbliness.” It is Morgan’s mission in life to spread the amazement of otaku/Japanese culture to the world and to stop bullying; she knows everyone shines brightly.
For more information about Morgan and her works, check out her website, which also has links to all her social medias: http://morganscomnick.com
