Ask John: Is Lee Shaoran Gay?

Question:
What’s up with Lee [of Card Captor Sakura]? Every time he sees Yukito he blushes and acts all weird. I just want to know why this is going on.

Answer:
I can’t address the relationship between “Li” and “Julian” in the American dub of Cardcaptors simply because I haven’t ever watched it, but I can imagine that especially the Western dub may make the relationship between these boys quite difficult to identify and categorize. In the original Japanese Card Captor Sakura, Shaoran Lee is obviously attracted to Yukito, but the attraction is not homosexual in nature. The late episodes of the series reveal that it is Lee-kun’s affinity to magic and the Clow Cards that partially draws him to Yukito. To say any more, though, would be to ruin one of the major surprise plot twists of the series for readers that haven’t yet watched the series.

Furthermore, Lee’s attraction toward Yukito parallels Tomoyo’s idolization of Sakura. Tomoyo engages in “hero worship,” a trait apparently not uncommon in Japanese teen society and witnessed in other anime including Kareshi Kanojo no Jijoo, Brother Dear Brother, Utena, Azumanga Daioh and Momoiro Sisters, in which schoolgirls romanticize other, more elite classmates. Seemingly girls especially, look up to other girls who are more athletic, energetic or beautiful. There’s no sexual attraction involved in this fascination, just obsessive platonic idolization. The same applies to Lee and Yukito. Keeping in mind that Lee-kun was raised in a family of girls to be very proper and formal (as illustrated by the first movie), Lee is awed by Yukito’s natural grace, charm and beauty. While Tomoyo coveys her adoration through devotion and attention, Lee is somewhat embarrassed by his feelings and isn’t sure how to respond to such a wonderful presence. Throughout the CCS animation, as Lee matures, his emotional control develops and his attraction evolves from innocent adoration and respect for Yukito to actual romantic love for Sakura.