I first got to know Clamp's work through my older cousin. In fact, he didn't even introduce me directly - it was my uncle, his father, who put on some episodes of Magical Girl Rayearth for me to watch at his house during my school holidays.
I remember the room where I watched the episodes, because my uncle had an incredible collection of DVDs, CDs and VCRs. Writing this, I realized that I never asked my uncle if he had ever seen any of my cousin's anime.
The tapes were his. I don't know if they still exist, but it was because of my cousin that I got to know what Japanese animation was.
I still remember the euphoric feeling I felt when I watched them for the first time. Recently, I had a similar flashback showing Fairy Tail to some kids.
There is a certain magic in the unknown, when you are not used to a myriad of plots and twists, and as cliché as they may be, these events surprise you. After all, things are only clichés because, sometimes, they weren't. Repetition made them more common, that's all.
That said, I don't hate clichés. They're kind of nostalgic to me. I think I care more about how they're executed.
It's a little sad to think that, as we grow up, we lose that 'glow' of innocence, of novelty, of looking at the unknown as a feeling of an adventure to be explored.
At least that's what I've been trying to remind myself lately, as I navigate this great adventure called life.
I remember the first episodes of Magic Knight Rayearth. When the girls arrived in Cephiro for the first time... I simply found the view beautiful, captivating. Like looking at the horizon of an endless sea and being absorbed in the landscape. I have no better words to say how impressive it was for me. Just that it brought me a warm feeling of happiness.