CLAMP — Manga authoring group (active since 1989)

CLAMP is a four-woman manga authoring group active since 1989 and composed of Nanase Ohkawa, Mokona, Tsubaki Nekoi, and Satsuki Igarashi. Their catalogue spans shōjo, shōnen, seinen, and josei magazines; their commercial peak in the late 1990s and early 2000s included Cardcaptor Sakura, Chobits, xxxHolic, and Tsubasa: Reservoir Chronicle.

Origin

CLAMP began in 1987 as an eleven-member doujinshi circle and reduced to its current four members by 1989. Their first commercial work was RG Veda (1989), serialised in Wings; Magic Knight Rayearth (1993), serialised in Nakayoshi, was their first mainstream hit.

Working method

Internally the group divides labour: Nanase Ohkawa writes scripts and storyboards, Mokona is the primary character designer, and Tsubaki Nekoi and Satsuki Igarashi contribute art and management. The arrangement allows the group to maintain multiple parallel serials in different magazines, an output volume difficult for a single author.

Selected works

Magic Knight Rayearth (1993–1996).
Cardcaptor Sakura (1996–2000; sequel Clear Card 2016–).
Chobits (2000–2002).
xxxHolic (2003–2011), Tsubasa: Reservoir Chronicle (2003–2009).