Ranked #1263

Kanon

Kanon 2002, the predecessor of our beloved Kanon 2006. Since Kyoto Animation released the remake of this highly acclaimed eroge by Key, the Toei Animation version has been overshadowed and underestimated. Is Kanon 2006 really that superior as many will want you to believe?

Well, in my personal opinion, Kanon 2006 definitely surpasses its predecessor in almost every category, due to reasons that I will keep to myself, as this is a review for Kanon 2002 and not a comparative essay. But believe me, those two are not that far away.

Kanon's 2002 story, although crammed in 13 episodes, is consistent and well developed, at least in a superficial way. You will realize at the end of the anime that many questions were left unanswered. Although they're not highly relevant, and would only serve as an aid to understand the story in a more in-depth manner. After you watch the first character arc you will realize what I'm trying to say.

The artwork is not that bad at all, judging from the year, but what really gets on my nerves would be the exaggerated big chins the characters have. Trust me when I say that it's going to take you time to get used to seeing those abnormal chins throughout 13 episodes of 24 minutes, if you manage to control the urge of dropping the anime due to this factor. It is one of the major reasons Kanon 2002 is discriminated, and not without reason. It's just weird.

The sound was average, nothing too flashy or too boring. They match well the mood of the anime, although the opening theme is kind of boring and monotonous if you ask me. Again, Kanon 2006 wins over 2002 because of this; it clear when you listen to 2006's opening theme.

Character development, in my criteria, was where Kanon 2002 gains an upper hand. The character development, in my opinion, was very realistic. They behave in a more humanly fashion, and their emotions are really strong and human-like. You'll be able to witness love, fear and resentment that will let you sympathize and identify yourself to the characters. Personally, it is this factor that kept me sitting down in front of the monitor for about three hours straight, watching the last half of Kanon.

Well, Kanon 2002 is a good watch, and probably is not going to disappoint you as many people will have you think. It's a very decent piece of work and deserves a good place amongst the innumerable drama anime we have out there. 7.5/10 I would have to say, but since decimals aren't available I'll round it up to 8.

And as a small piece of advice: watch this one before 2006, it's going to boost your experience.

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I think now is the perfect time for me to write a review about Kanon, and I'll tell you why. Though it's next on my list, I have yet to watch Kanon 2006. As I watched the original series, I have to say I was a little disappointed in hearing how many people are bashing it just because 'it's not as good as the remake'. That may be true, I wouldn't yet know that, but given that anime has a long history of releasing several different versions of any sucessful show (TV, OAV, 'special', <insert title here> 2!, et cetera), I find it's misleading to rate any individual show based upon a comparison to its peers.

That said, I came into watching Kanon not realizing it was ever an anime at all--I picked up an artbook of it a Melon Books in Shijo when I was living in Japan in 2001, and I had no idea what it was, it was just beautiful enough that I had to have it anyway. The anime doesn't disappoint. Granted, in 13 episodes it's hard to go into an excess of detail. I attribute the fact that Yuiichi rather hastily chooses a girl (I won't say who, this isn't supposed to be a spoiler), while only going so far with any of the others, to the restrictive length.

Yes, the artwork is a bit different from more modern shows. Chins are a bit angular, facial outlines are a bit thick, and eyes are large in proportion to the rest of the face even for the anime style. I ended up ignoring this after I was sufficiently engrossed in the storyline. Whether or not it's going to bother a person depends upon what sort of anime background they have--for those rooted in shows of this decade, it seems a bit dated, while for those more used to the classics of the 90's, it may very well go unnoticed.

Music's pretty average for this type of show. However, they do introduce vocals at appropriately emotional moments, and the score does help drive the point of the show home. It's what's expected without being fantastic or horrible.

This is personal opinion of course, but if I can't keep a dry eye through a show, than I know it's done it's job. It's drawn me in, enveloped me in its plot to the point that I empathize with the characters, and given me an enjoyable experience I won't soon forget. Kanon is right there as far as I'm concerned. Yes, one can prepare themselves for the expected shoujo plot. One gentle, sensitive guy; several women that've either fallen for him already or soon will; and innocent high school romance where simple things like expressions of feelings are enough to throw everyone's 'mundane' lives off balance. I found myself shouting 'Just say it!' at the screen time and again, but that's at least one advantage to the short length. If I had to deal with Naru Narusegawa telling everybody she loves Keitaro Urashima, but she's 'not sure' one more time, I was going to have to bash some heads (and don't get me started on Ranma Saotome and Akane Tendo, heh heh). Kanon has these moments, and though there are indeed loose ends as far as the plot goes, at least the romantic portion of it seems to have some closure.

But I can only tell you so much. I recommend Kanon to anybody that can easily be caught up in a simple, bittersweet, and beautiful romance story. There are some sharp bends in the road as far as how some of the characters end up that I didn't expect, and these left me weepy and thankful that I'd experienced them. Whether you've seen 2006 already, you've never heard of Kanon at all, or you're a few years out of touch and never realized there was an anime (as I didn't), given Kanon a chance, and judge it within the confines of what it is. You'll be glad you did!

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Review was posted on tiger-inc.com by duclet, in November of 2008. You flatter me sir, thank you! :D read more