Cerberus, depicted in both his false (right) and true (left) forms.

In his borrowed form, Cerberus appears as a small, lion cub-like creature, resembling a stuffed animal or plush toy. He has yellow-orange fur, large ears, and small, white wings. However, his true form is much more imposing. As a powerful guardian, Cerberus takes the form of a massive, tawny-colored, mane-less lion or cougar. In this form, he possesses enormous, angelic white wings, along with a metal breastplate and helmet. His armor is adorned with a large, red precious stone at the center, enhancing his regal and formidable appearance.

Cerberus is naturally bossy, demanding, and often gluttonous, but despite these traits, he genuinely cares for Sakura and believes in her potential as the next Master of the Clow Cards. As her guide, he plays an essential role in teaching her how to capture the Clow Cards she unwittingly released.

Though he has an impressive role as a guardian, Cerberus enjoys simple pleasures like playing video games, eating snacks, and indulging in sweets. His love for sweets—especially cake, cookies, and chocolate—is a notable aspect of his personality. Even though he draws his energy from the sun and doesn’t need food to survive, he enjoys the finer things in life, in stark contrast to his fellow guardian, Yue. Cerberus even becomes intoxicated by brandy chocolates in the anime, resulting in amusing antics.

Cerberus is not one to hoard all the food for himself, and while he enjoys eating, he’s willing to share—if there’s enough left for him, of course. A memorable example of this is when he unknowingly feeds Spinel a doughnut, resulting in a sugar high that causes chaos in Tomoeda Elementary.

He is also a fan of being filmed by Sakura’s best friend, Tomoyo, and unlike Sakura, he relishes the costumes and accessories he is asked to wear for the recordings. Cerberus has a bit of an ego, often bragging about his “coolness” after watching Tomoyo’s recordings of him.

Despite his somewhat playful and carefree nature, Cerberus is highly intelligent, particularly when it comes to the Clow Cards and mysticism. He has a keen ability to read magical auras, although, at times, his judgment can be clouded, as shown when he is tricked by Kaho Mizuki’s strong moon-aspect aura, which hides Yue’s true identity.

Cerberus has a deep-seated aversion to sadness and loneliness, preferring to fill his time with distractions like food and entertainment. However, he is not immune to the darker realities of life. During the first arc, his obsession with the approaching Final Judgment causes him to neglect important information, nearly causing Sakura to fail. Nevertheless, with help from Kaho, she eventually overcomes the challenge, becoming the new Master of the Clow Cards.

Voice and Mannerisms
Cerberus speaks in the Osaka dialect, which is known for its plain speech and unique slang. In the English dub, his voice is high-pitched and carries a New York accent, while his transformed form is marked by a more mature, lower pitch.

Sakura Kinomoto
Cerberus shares a deep and supportive relationship with Sakura, transcending the typical dynamic of a servant and master. While his primary role is to help her capture the Clow Cards and prepare for the Final Judgment, Cerberus sees Sakura as a close friend first and foremost. He often reassures her and provides comfort when she is in need, always letting her know that he is there for her. Despite their occasional arguments, their bond is one of mutual care and protection.

However, Cerberus does keep certain things from Sakura to shield her from the darker aspects of her journey. For example, he withholds information about Yue’s weakening power during the second arc, fearing that revealing the truth would upset her. Cerberus’s protective nature often causes him to make these difficult choices, prioritizing Sakura’s happiness over complete honesty, though it sometimes leads to tension when she finds out.

Yue
Cerberus’s relationship with Yue is complex, given their long history together as the Clow Cards’ guardians. The two share a deep bond, and Cerberus often turns to Yue when new information arises or when facing difficult situations. Despite this camaraderie, there is an underlying sense of competition and jealousy. Cerberus is somewhat envious of Yue, feeling that Clow Reed and Sakura favor him, as seen when he expresses frustration over Sakura’s kindness toward Yue—such as when she offers Yue her bed while Cerberus is expected to sleep on the floor. This jealousy, however, does not overshadow their bond, as Cerberus still cares deeply for Yue and shows concern for his well-being, especially when Yue’s life is at risk.

Syaoran Li
Cerberus and Syaoran have a somewhat antagonistic relationship, frequently engaging in bickering. Syaoran insults Cerberus by calling him a “plush toy” or “stuffed animal,” which Cerberus counters with the term “brat” (小僧, kozō). Their arguments are particularly heated when Cerberus is unable to transform into his true form, leading to Cerberus biting Syaoran’s finger in frustration.

However, their dynamic evolves over time. In the second movie, Cerberus regains his powers and transforms to show Syaoran that he is no mere toy. Though they continue to clash, especially when the Change Card causes them to switch minds, their relationship becomes more accepting. Despite their differences, Cerberus eventually warms to the idea of Syaoran joining Sakura on magic-related missions. He also shows sympathy for Sakura when she is confused about her feelings for Syaoran, offering comfort to her even if he doesn’t fully get along with the boy. This suggests that while Cerberus and Syaoran will never be best friends, Cerberus comes to accept Syaoran’s role in Sakura’s life.

Cerberus’s abilities are primarily based on the Sun and Western magic, and his powers are closely linked to his role as a guardian of the Clow Cards.

• Sensing: Cerberus has the ability to sense the presence of Clow Cards and magical forces. This allows him to identify the attributes of magical entities and objects. However, his Sensing abilities can be blocked or hindered by powerful magic, such as when Eriol Hiiragizawa (who is part of the reincarnation of Clow Reed) conceals his identity and presence from both Cerberus and Yue.

• Basic Plushy Powers: Even in his plushy form, Cerberus retains some abilities, although they are weaker compared to his true form. He can still fly and perform basic magic such as sensing magical auras, producing small fireballs, and breathing fire. These powers, though limited in plushy form, allow him to still be somewhat effective in a crisis.

• Jurisdiction over Fire and Earth: In his true form, Cerberus has control over the elements of Fire and Earth. These elements are crucial to his magical abilities. He can manipulate these forces in various ways, often utilizing them for both offensive and defensive purposes.

• Energy Barriers: Cerberus can generate protective energy barriers to shield himself and others from both physical and magical attacks. This makes him a formidable defensive presence when needed.

• Fire Breath: As part of his control over fire, Cerberus can breathe fire, a powerful offensive ability that can be used to attack enemies or defend against threats.

Cards
Cerberus is responsible for protecting half of the Clow Cards, and these are the only cards that can be effectively used against Yue. The cards associated with him are linked to the elements of Fire and Earth, and they are:

• The Firey: This card embodies Cerberus’s control over the element of fire. It is one of the more aggressive cards under his jurisdiction, often used in combat.

• The Earthy: The Earthy represents Cerberus’s more passive control over the element of earth. It is used for defense or creating barriers, in contrast to the more aggressive nature of The Firey.

The full list of cards Cerberus protects is not fully detailed in the description, but it is noted that The Light card is said to be the first under his control.

Cerberus’ name and form are inspired by Cerberus from Greek mythology, a three-headed beast assigned to guard the gates of Hades. This parallels Cerberus’s role inCardcaptor Sakura, where he serves as the guardian of the Clow Cards, keeping watch over the deck contained in the book.

In the English adaptation Cardcaptors, his name was altered to “Keroberos,” but he is commonly referred to by the nickname “Kero.” In Japanese, this is pronounced “keh-ro,” while in English, it is often pronounced “kee-ro.”

In the Greek dub of the series, Cerberus’s nickname was changed to “Juki.”