Syaoran Li, sometimes spelled as Shaoran Li or originally as Xiaolang Li (李小狼 Lǐ Xiǎoláng; リ・シャオラン Ri Shaoran, or Ri Syaoran (Kunrei); Cantonese Jyutping: lei5 siu2 long4), is one of the central characters in the Clamp manga Cardcaptor Sakura and its sequel Cardcaptor Sakura: Clear Card. 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, descending from Clow Reed and appearing in Tokyo during his introduction in order to capture the missing cards released by Sakura. Although Syaoran is initially apprehensive towards the protagonist due to their shared goal, he, in time, finds himself falling in love with her as the series progresses. Syaoran's relationship with Sakura is further explored in the 2000 Cardcaptor Sakura Movie 2: The Sealed Card film and the sequel.
Syaoran was created by Clamp as a common archetype of silent but caring male character often depicted in their works. However, Syaoran's traits and relationship with Sakura was noted to be positive within the demography of the manga's magazine.
Reception to the character was originally quite mixed with criticisms 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 Nekoki.
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.