The Tsubasa: Reservoir Chronicle manga series and its respective animated adaptations feature a large cast of fictional characters designed by Clamp. The series takes place in a fictional multiverse with parallel dimensions where several characters – taken from many of Clamp's past works – can appear in several of the universes as having the same character names and designs but differing histories and settings.
The story begins in the desert Kingdom of Clow where Syaoran, a devoted and kind archeologist, investigates its ruins. His childhood friend Sakura, the kind and well-loved princess of the kingdom who holds an undeveloped magic, mysteriously has her memories scattered across the dimensions in the form of feathers and will die if they are not returned to her. To save her, Syaoran takes her to the Dimensional Witch Yūko Ichihara where he meets two more of the series' protagonists who have arrived with similar wishes: Kurogane, a rough-mannered ninja, and Fai D. Flowright, a laid-back magician with a dark past. In order to journey across the dimensions, they receive a cheerful creature named Mokona Modoki, the fifth of the group, from Yūko. On their journey across the dimensions, the group decide to join Syaoran to retrieve Sakura's feathers, as a mean to accomplish their wishes. The protagonists are all linked by the series' main antagonist, the sorcerer Fei-Wang Reed who oversees the journey.
Using Osamu Tezuka's Star System, Clamp designed the series' characters based on the ones they used in their previous works. Few of the characters appearing in Tsubasa: Reservoir Chronicle are the exact ones from other series, most notably the ones from xxxHolic, series which often crossovers Tsubasa. The characters from Tsubasa: Reservoir Chronicle have received positive critical response by critics due to their traits, and development across the series. Various types of merchandising have also been released based on them.
Creation and conception Using the ideas of Osamu Tezuka and his Star System, the series contains various crossover characters from many of Clamp's series, including most notably Cardcaptor Sakura, RG Veda, X and xxxHolic from which the main characters are derived. The series' characters were designed by Clamp writer Mokona, while Syaoran and Sakura were chosen as its protagonists because Clamp wanted to use ones whose original series had happy ending. However, in contrast to Syaoran Li and Sakura Kinomoto from Cardcaptor Sakura, Clamp pointed out that they would have to go throughout the series to get their "own happy ending". Nanase Ohkawa explained that while some characters appearing in Tsubasa are the same ones from other of their works, their traits and personalities were modified due to different backstories. Clamp found drawing old characters again interesting. They were careful not to make mistakes since there were some of them they barely remembered how to illustrate. The team also decided not to draw inferior eyelashes which resulted in notable changes in the faces. Little accessories were given to the characters in order to avoid unnecessary details and thus facilitate an easier transition to anime.
As Tsubasa is connected with xxxHolic, the characters' designs are also meant to be similar. Like xxxHolic, the artwork is sometimes influenced by Ukiyo-e art style which leads to the characters have longer limbs. Another similarity between both the series is the use of one-eyed characters or people who lost their sight, which is meant to express the feelings from them. The characters of Fai D. Flowright and Kurogane were created in order to have adult characters who would side with Syaoran, who was much younger and was still in development during the series' start. As a result of the manga being aimed at young male demographic, characters are designed to appeal of them such as Syaoran who appears as an action hero. In order to make fights more entertaining Clamp decided to include yells of fighting techniques for the first time in a manga of them. Although Kurogane was the only character who did this at first, the authors also planned to make Syaoran do this.
A common trope Clamp uses in their works involve two characters being identical with the most notorious case in Tsubasa being the two Syaorans. Clamp aimed to make both of them equally different based on their actions despite being virtually identical. Clamp also aimed to create another link between Syaoran, Sakura and Kimihiro Watanuki, the protagonist of xxxHolic. Nanase Ohkawa referred to both clones appearing in the series with the term to make them look like a departure from the original English word that fans often mention, aiming for different take of the cloning.
Casting The two characters who share the name of Syaoran are voiced by Miyu Irino Irino said that ever since the introduction of the original Syaoranwho he also voicedhe sometimes had problems voicing both characters. Fellow voice actress Yui Makino also discussed Irino's role, saying that he was the most difficult character to cast because of the requirement to portray the two Syaorans. Irino said that he grew attached to the role since he played the role of Syaoran for several years starting doing the television series when he was in high school and that he was in college by the original video animations. Still, he was interested by the fact that the two characters he was voicing, Syaorans, were also fighting each other. Sakura was Makino's first work in her work as an actress. Makino states she did not have to adjust her voice for that, finding the character similar to her. During the series' OVAs, Makino mentioned that one of Sakura's scenes was very sad, and worked to make it appealing. Kurogane is voiced in Japanese by Tetsu Inada who took a liking to the character. Fai was voiced by Daisuke Namikawa. Namikawa stated that, from his point of view, Fai was hard to understand but there were signs in the manga that he suffered too much in his childhood. As the anime series did not focus on him, Nanikawa looked forward to explore Fai's background in the original video animations following the Tokyo Revelations trilogy. However, as the staff skipped the Celes arc and instead moved to Japan's, Namikawa expressed disappointment for not being able to portray the scenes of Fai. Nevertheless, Namikawa expected satisfaction with the way he worked for the series.
In English, Sakura was voiced by Monica Rial. She enjoyed the series due to how cheerful are most of the cast and their visual appeal regardless of drama. Kurogane is voiced by Christopher Sabat. Sabat compared Kurogane's characterization with One Pieces Roronoa Zoro and YuYu Hakushos Kazuma Kuwabara, describing them as "the tough guy with a heart of gold". As a result, Sabat feared that he sometimes performs similar voices despite the fact the characters are different. He also tried seeing the original actors' works, in order to avoid to get a more specific delivery. English Voice actor Vic Mignogna referred to Fai alongside Qrow from RWBY as one of his favorite characters based on their calm personalities in contrast to other works he has done involving characters who have a tendency to scream. As a result, he views Fai and Qrow as characters he can perform easily for a long determined time.
Protagonists
Syaoran Voiced by: Miyu Irino (Japanese); Jason Liebrecht (English, Funimation dub), Darren Pleavin (English, Animax Asia dub) is a resident of the Kingdom of Clow. He is the adopted son of the late archeologist Fujitaka, who he started continuing his work while living alone after Fujitaka died. After Sakura's memories are scattered, he makes it his goal to find them, despite knowing that she will never remember him as part of a payment to Yūko Ichihara to obtain the white Mokona Modoki creature. Nevertheless, throughout the journey he starts bonding with Sakura again as well as with his companions Fai D. Flowright, Kurogane and Mokona.
Sakura Voiced by: Yui Makino (Japanese); Monica Rial (English, Funimation dub) is the princess of the Kingdom of Clow, who befriended and fell in love with Syaoran during her girlhood. A powerful force strips her of her memories and magical abilities, which take the form of feathers. All the feathers are spread throughout different parallel worlds. To retrieve the feathers and thereby save her life, she and Syaoran are sent to Yūko, who gives them Mokona in exchange for Sakura's memories of Syaoran, which causes him to be absent from any memories restored to her. She is initially confused, and constantly tired, but she grows stronger as she regains her feathers. She is very friendly and she grows close to Syaoran once again. She is voiced by Yui Makino in the anime adaptation, and by Monica Rial in the English adaptation.
Kurogane
Voiced by: Tetsu Inada (Japanese); Christopher Sabat (English, Funimation dub), Dave Bridges (English, Animax Asia dub)
is a rough-mannered ninja from the world of Japan, who is sent away from his world by Princess Tomoyo in order to have him discover his true strength. He is the most powerful warrior in his world, but he shows no mercy to anyone, so Tomoyo places a "curse" on him that will decrease his strength if he kills anyone. He gives up his replica of the sword, , as the price to use Mokona to cross dimensions and return to his home world. He quickly bonds with the group, to the point he starts tutoring Syaoran. He is constantly teased by Fai, who calls him a variety of nicknames, though he also is able to tell Fai's true nature. However blunt and crude Kurogane may act, he is actually quite observant and perceptive, being always acutely aware of his surroundings.
Fai D. Flowright
Voiced by: Daisuke Namikawa (Japanese); Vic Mignogna (English, Funimation dub), Candice Moore (English, Animax Asia dub)
is a powerful magician from the country of Celes. He travels to Yūko on his own accord after sealing his king Ashura-ō and having his creation, Chī, alert him if Ashura awakens. He wishes never to return to his country, so he gives up a tattoo on his back in exchange for Mokona to travel through dimensions. Having lost his tattoo, Fai decides not to use magic anymore and relies on weapons to battle. Fai appears to be cheerful and good-natured, and acts very carefree. He often teases Kurogane, who questions this nature, sensing that it is just a false persona to hide that he is emotionally distant. Fai does not bother to fight hard for his life, and will only do so if someone he cares for is in danger, which Kurogane notes to be Syaoran and Sakura, as he uses magic to help them.
Mokona Modoki Voiced by: Mika Kikuchi (Japanese); Carrie Savage (English, Funimation dub), Sarah Hauser (English, Animax Asia dub)
refers to two rabbit-like creatures created by Yūko Ichihara and Clow Reed in preparation for the events in Tsubasa: Reservoir Chronicle and xxxHolic. The white Mokona travels with Syaoran's group, while the black Mokona stays in Yūko's shop. Both are based upon the original Mokona, whom Yūko and Clow encountered while Mokona was traveling through different worlds. They were created as Clamp found mascots were popular in young demographics following the popularity of Kero from Cardcaptor Sakura.