We now know exactly how long we’ll have to wait to see Sakura again, and what she’ll look like when we do.

It’s become a bit of a trend for anime/manga franchises to mark important milestones with one-shot side stories, as demonstrated by Fullmetal Alchemist and The Rose of Versailles. So when manga creative team Clamp’s announcement that they were making more Cardcaptor Sakura manga coincided with the series’ 20th anniversary, many people expected it to be a single-chapter affair.

Instead, it turned out to be the start of a full-fledged sequel, called the Cardcaptor Sakura Clear Card Arc. Not only that, the continuation of the magical girl series is also getting an anime adaptation. Following the release of an animated prelude last summer, the new Cardcaptor Sakura series now has an official premiere date.

Monday, January 7 is the big day when the Clear Card Arc will begin airing on public broadcaster NHK’s BS Premium satellite TV service. While the vast majority of anime in Japan airs in late-night time blocks, Sakura’s continuing adventures have nabbed a primetime slot and will be shown at 7:30 p.m.

▼ Promotional artwork shows off Sakura’s updated Clear Card Arc character design.

However, for everyone with academic, professional, or social life commitments that preclude them from being parked in front of the TV at 7:30 in the evening, each episode will also be rebroadcast at 11:45 p.m. the Friday after its initial airing.

The original 1998 Cardcaptor Sakura TV series was also shown through NHK’s satellite service, and along with the main vocal cast reprising their roles in the new anime, is a hopeful sign that the Clear Card Arc will recapture the magic of the much-loved classic.

Source: IT Media
Top image: Cardcaptor Sakura official website
Insert image: NHK