Syaoran Li, sometimes spelled as Shaoran Li or originally as Li Xiaolang (李小狼), is one of the central characters in the Clamp manga series Cardcaptor Sakura. In the English anime adaptation by Nelvana of the series, Cardcaptors, he was renamed Li Showron and in the American broadcast was rewritten to be the joint main protagonist alongside Sakura Kinomoto, despite Sakura's solo lead role in all other regional conversions. Syaoran is a young Chinese sorcerer from Hong Kong and an indirect descendant of Clow Reed who arrives in Tokyo in order to capture the missing Clow Cards released by Sakura. Although Syaoran is initially apprehensive towards Sakura due to their shared goal, he finds himself falling in love with her as the series progresses. Their relationship is further explored in the film Cardcaptor Sakura Movie 2: The Sealed Card (2000) and the sequel series Cardcaptor Sakura: Clear Card. Syaoran was created by Clamp as a common archetype of silent but caring male characters often depicted in their works. However, Syaoran's traits and relationship with Sakura were noted to be positive within the demography of the manga's magazine. Reception to the character was originally mixed, with criticism primarily directed at his initial role and alterations during the localization process. The further development of the character, however, was noted to make him more mature and appealing. The character's design was used for the two main characters of Clamp's manga Tsubasa: Reservoir Chronicle who share the same name: the dimension traveller Syaoran and the young sorcerer Syaoran who replaces him in the second half.
Creation and conception According to the Clamp no Kiseki interviews, Syaoran was created before Cardcaptor Sakura debuted, with him being the third character created, behind Sakura and Tomoyo Daidouji. While the character comes from Hong Kong, he was originally going to be Japanese. Syaoran and Toya were conceived to be a common type of character featured in Clamp's works of acting cold but are instead charming. Ohkawa was careful when writing Syaoran's characterization in the early chapters due to how he felt attracted towards Yukito but did not have the same type of love Sakura had towards him. In regards to how Syaoran and Sakura ended together, Ohkawa was glad the readers' response were together and claimed it was not because of their age or gender. In general, Clamp found that Syaoran ended up as an attractive character that could be their younger brother due to his independency mostly as pointed out by Mokona and Nekoi. When Sakura believes she will never find the person she loves, Syaoran comforts her by denying such possibility and gives her his handkerchief to stop her tears. Syaoran's popularity within the demography suddenly increased due to his kindness aimed towards the main character. Ohkawa compared Syaoran to that of a strong prince in order to describe his charm to the point male readers also related with him due to their mutual feelings towards Sakura. For all Japanese-language productions of the anime (including films, audio CDs, and video games), Syaoran is voiced by Motoko Kumai. Kumai said that even though Syaoran grows up for the sequel Clear Card, she still wanted to properly portray him despite their different genders and thus would change the tone she uses when voicing him. In the Nelvana Cardcaptors version of the series, Sayoran was voiced by Rhys Huber for the "Clow Card" arc of the story and the first film; by Jordan Kilik for the "Sakura Card" arc; and Mona Marshall for the second film, The Sealed Card. In a later dub by Animax, Syaoran was voiced by Candice Moore. In Clear Card, he is voiced by Jason Liebrecht, having previously voiced two different versions of the same character in Tsubasa: Reservoir Chronicle.
Characterization and themes Syaoran is introduced as a distant child who is rude towards Sakura for both having the same goal. Both also develop feelings towards Yukito but Syaoran's attraction is said to be a cause of his magic being affected by Yukito's alterego, Yue. Similarly, Syaoran realizes his math teacher Kaho Mizuki has magic and thus tells Sakura to be distant towards her. As time passes in the narrative, Syaoran becomes interested in Sakura taking a more caring personality in the process as well as mentor whenever she is concerned. Syaoran is charmed by her, causing to constantly blush whenever she talks to him. A big revelation of his affection towards her happens when Syaoran uses her name for the first time as he has a tendency to avoid using people's names. Syaoran constantly wonders whether his feelings towards Sakura and Yukito are true as which changes when Yue notes that his attraction with other types of magic caused his crush on Yukito which serves as an early coming-of-age. Writer Kiyoshi Saiga says that the emphasis of Syaoran's and Sakura's feelings were made due to the young demography of the manga. Once Syaoran confesses his love towards Sakura, the series places emphasis on the fact that Sakura is interested in him.
Appearances
In Cardcaptor Sakura Syaoran first appears in Chapter 6 of the manga (Volume 2 of the standard tankobon collections). He is a transfer student to Sakura Kinomoto's class, arriving from Hong Kong. He, like Sakura, is capable of using magic and tries to force Sakura to hand over the Clow Cards to him, but fails. Over time, Syaoran comes to accept Sakura as the collector of the cards, and as the story progresses the two fall in love. Syaoran is also at first drawn to Yukito Tsukishiro, but this was because he was drawn to Yukito's own magic power. The series ends with Syaoran returning to Hong Kong, but before he departs he and Sakura are able to express their love for each other. Sakura and Syaoran are reunited two years later, with Syaoran staying in Japan. In the anime version of the series, Syaoran (called "Brat" by Kero, who also refers to Meiling as such) also has a cousin, Meiling Li. Meiling says she is engaged to be married to Syaoran, but as the series progresses she comes to realise that he will be with Sakura. When the series was first dubbed in English as Cardcaptors, Syaoran was renamed Li Showron, and the show re-written to make him the joint lead with Sakura, partly up to attract a male audience who it was perceived would not want to watch an anime with a female lead.
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