Ranked #31

Kanon (2006)

Memory is a person's way of recording the most important to the most inane moments of their life without ever setting it down tangibly. Perhaps because of this, a person's way of handling these fragile reminders of things long gone is flawed as these records are subject to one of the most powerful tools ever known to mankind: the mind.

Recollection can be difficult when the mind does not comply. Recollection can even be false, if the mind so chooses--we can take an event of the past and change it in our memories; blocking things out, erasing them or transforming them into something else. Trying to work with memories is like opening a book to a random page, and seeing that half the words have been scratched out, blurred, and that there's writing in it that was not part of the original. But you will read it. Is there much of a choice? That's all there is left, after all.

Kanon's Yuuichi comes to terms that for his life to go forwards, he must go backwards and remember things that his memories have long forgotten. His mind has done him a terrible ill--it has forgotten a great amount, many important things and many important people. He moves to a snowy city to live permanently with an aunt and cousin he used to visit, his last trip being punctuated with a seven year gap. On his arrival, the way memories can sweep in unexpectedly and swallow you up, Yuuchi finds himself enveloped in the lives of several young women, remembering various promises he made, and a lot more promises he had broken with the clouding of his past.

Kanon (2006) is a Kyoto Animation remake of the original Toei Animation 2002 version. In this series, we get a tremendous amount of emotionally driven arcs in which we see Yuuchi give up his time, efforts and self to change the lives of several girls he encounters and tries to make and keep important promises to them. For viewers who do not appreciate anime that focus on character arcs, then appropriate warning is given for Kanon (2006). Most of the story, while it is strung together by related events and Yuuchi's dormant memories, focus individually on certain characters that appear during the course of the anime. The plotting of Kanon (2006) allows each arc to flow with ease throughout one another, making the transition from story to story fluid.

Art for this anime is superb. The colours, the tones--they create an atmosphere that really evokes the nature of the anime. The lighting especially is beautiful. There are a lot of sunset scenes in the anime, scenes set at dusk or near-twilight, and they are absolutely gorgeous. The character design, although generically cute, is rather good for its style. The animation is spectacular for most of the anime.

Sound as well is particularly wonderful. From the melancholy OP theme song to the upbeat, catchy ED theme, Kanon (2006) has a good soundtrack. The background music is also very pretty, adding to the emotional content of the anime. The seiyuu (voice actor) work for the Japanese is also very good. Whether the role is intensely dramatic, painfully aloof, silly and stupid, the seiyuu for each character manage to give solid performances throughout the anime. Although there is one issue with the anime that may not be an issue for most people: catchphrases. The number of cute catchphrases in this anime can give most moe anime a run for their money; "Uguu~", "Auu~" and "Nyuu~" are three of the most common and memorable ones. The sound of these might make a listener die from an overdose of cuteness or cringe, depending on how much you can like a character catchphrase.

Kanon (2006) has an extensive cast. Consisting of several unrelated girls whose lives eventually become intertwined in one way or another by Yuuichi himself, there is never a shortage of assorted and diverse characters. Yuuichi makes an excellent protagonist. His reliability of the spirit is coupled by the unreliability of his mind making him an interesting character. His candid nature, helpfulness and sincerity makes him a more sensitive lead character, but one who has strong feelings and even stronger resolve. Not to mention that he's genuinely rather funny as well. There are quite the number of female characters in this anime, and each are given a moment to grow and develop onscreen.

Ayu is cute, sort of ditsy, but has a lot of unrelenting determination. Her relationship with Yuuchi is one of strange amiability. She always seems to bump into him at random moments, and in those moments, she shows a personality of a curious, odd girl.

Makoto is rambunctious, innocent, ignorant about the world around her, and her true story is bittersweet. Mai is just a walking tower of awesome, being one of the very independent and strong girls in the anime, wielding her sword against her enemies while keeping a great distance from anyone who ever tries to breach her defenses. Then there's Shiori, a weak, unhealthy girl with a brave smile and a calm demeanour.

Nayuki, Yuuchi's cousin, is probably one of the more underrated but better characters in this series. Despite her silliness from her sleeping habits and various quirks, she eventually comes off as one of the more interesting characters in the anime. Her development isn't spat out to the viewer, but there are little moments interspersed within the anime to reveal that she is going through change. Also, her maturity as a character is shown best when she selflessly and painfully decides to keep certain things to herself, things she knows that probably will never come to fruition. Her actions, or rather, lack of action, allows us to see that unlike other girls of anime who shamelessly, recklessly go around spewing their deepest emotions, if you truly care about preserving something fragile, it's best to handle it with care.

Kanon (2006) is an excellent series. With deep character relationships, a solid storyline that certainly presents one intriguing tale to the next, very good art and equally good sound, it's hard not to have a good time watching this anime. And not to mention, it's quite the tearjerker as well, depending on your sensitivity. Certainly a lot of, if not every, story arc has a deep, bittersweet, emotional sock to the stomach.

Following a forgotten memory is like trying to scramble down a vaguely familiar path, searching and chasing after something you can barely grasp. But you know that deep down, you've been there before, and that even if you can't remember where you are or where you're going, a part of you will take you where you need to be the most.

Kanon (2006) is a wonderful anime that gives us one young man's attempts to grasp once more all that which he has lost. read more

I can confidently say that I have cried more times in this series than any other. It was an absolutely beautiful series that allowed my emotions to run wild. Each of the characters is presented with their own tragic tale of the past. Even the supernatural and fantasy elements are carefully intertwined in the story in such a way that it does not stick out. This is truly an excellent series.

Story:

I admit, the development starts out slow and silly. I was on a hiatus with this series for almost half a year before I started watching again. It is set up like a harem series, but it is different from them, which sets it apart from other harem series. It is not a harem in a story; it is a story with a harem. There is a difference, and Kanon does it extremely well. Look at all the anime out there. Many of them have similar plots, but what makes some better than others? The execution of the story, and this is where Kanon shines. There is a constant air of mystery behind everything: the characters, the setting, the season, and so forth. The story is emotional, dramatic, and even light-hearted at times. With this nice blend, a seemingly simple story of a new boy surrounded by a group of girls becomes a unique tale. The only major problem was that when one of the girl's arc ended, they completely disappeared in another character's arc. This style feels way too much like a visual novel, and lacks blending and character interaction.

Art:

There is not much to say about the art and animation when it is done by Kyoto Animations because most of it is a regurgitation of what other fans have already said: absolutely amazing, gorgeous, and stunning. The setting and season of winter are extremely well drawn so that it puts the viewers into that setting. Falling snow has never look so good in an anime until now. It does not just fall; it falls in a way that I could watch it forever. But enough about the snow. The character designs are a huge improvement from the 2002 version. Yuuichi no longer has a chin that is almost half a foot long. In simple words, I loved the art and animation style.

Sound:

Ah, canon, canon, Kanon. There are reasons why this series is called that, and one of the more obvious reasons is the presence of Pachelbel's Canon in D Major. Such a lovely piece, especially for one who has already played it. Besides that, the music complements the mood very nicely. When things get dramatic and sad, it is the music that allows those tears to run free. Although I did not find any one track that stood out for me (except for well, the obvious one) the music was nice and fitting. It would not be a soundtrack that I would listen to without the anime playing though. The voice acting was also very good, although every time Yuuichi opened his mouth, I immediately thought of Kyon. It does not help that those two look uncannily similar.

Characters:

I loved the characters in Kanon. If I had not, I would not have cried so much. Every character, from the first time they appear on screen, seems to have a mysterious side. Each of them are different and stands out. And Yuuichi is such an awesome lead. He can be a bit insensitive at times, but he truly deserves all the love the girls give him. The only downside is I wanted to see more interaction between the girls. I thought that would have really fleshed out their characters.

Enjoyment:

I enjoyed this anime all right; enjoyed it to the point I cried through episodes nonstop. It might have also been the fact that I marathoned three or four episode at once, so the water works just seemed to never stop. There were times where I laughed out loud, times where I cheered (the ending), and many times where I bawled my eyes out.

Overall, I enjoyed this series immensely. It has a touch of everything: drama, comedy, supernatural elements and so forth. I thought it was excellent. 9.5/10 read more

A boy named Yuuichi is moving to a town he lived in seven years ago. However, he doesn't remember anything. When living in this town, he meets a lot of girls, all with tragic stories, and he helps them.

Sure, the concept sounds like just about any other anime based on a visual novel would be. However, despite several other shows of that type, this actually does remarkably well.

STORY

Well, to be honest, this show has got to be one of the greater shows I've ever watched, no doubt! The story is just so good it leaves me astonished at times. It starts out as a pretty normal show of its genre. You're also introduced to several of the girls, but it doesn't touch upon all their stories at once. There's some comedic moments every now and then.

At first it might seem like it's just some slice of life series, but the story progresses a lot from its initial stages, and as you're taken through the individual girls' story arcs, you'll be taken away. It has good a lot of good moments, some romantic, some dramatic. However, just about everything that happens in the story later on will base itself on supernatural elements (mostly miracles), which makes a contrast to the earlier parts of it. That's not really a bad thing though; I at least found it most enjoyable.

ART

The animation in the series is really awesome too; the character designs, details in environments and everything just looks awesome. The lighting which you find in many of the afternoon scenes is pure awesomeness too; it really makes the scenes moody; and very dramatic if that's what the scene is about.

CHARACTER

The characters of Kanon is really awesome. The girls' stories are just awesome to behold, and Yuuichi's own background with them is very intriguing, and it ends up making you wanting to know more about it. The main hero, Yuuichi, is also a very interesting character in his own right. To be short about it; they are awesome and you'll love them (at least one or two of them).

SOUND

The music in this anime is really great as well. There's a lot of nice piano themes, so if you enjoy good piano themes you'll definitely enjoy the music in this series. The show's got some good music aside that too, and the OP and ED themes are magnificent.

There's nothing to say on the sounds aside the music, and the seiyuu do a great job on their roles; the characters' voices are very good.

All in all, this is a lovely anime, a true masterpiece. If you like anime series based on visual novels, you'll enjoy this. If you haven't watched any anime series of that kind, watch it anyway, because you'll love it.

To 'Not Helpful' voters (and you 'Helpful' voters too): Feedback greatly appreciated =) read more

Alright I seriously do not like Dramas and sad stories were depressing things go on, but Kanon (2006) is one of the best anime's I have ever seen!
It made me feel all sorts of feelings that I have not felt in quite awhile now.
Its a must watch anime for anyone who is into the whole depression state Anime's, or even if you are not! This Anime is that great!

• Story - I rated the story a 9 because I thought that the fantasy thing was the only part holding it back. Although it still was a good part to have demons and miracles, but i did love how everything was put together from his memories that he forgot seven years back. It is on borderline with 10 though.

• Art - The Art was a 10 for me, It is has incredible graphics that will not let you down. Its perfect, the surroundings look amazing and the city is like it was real! I have nothing negative to say about the graphics and Art.

• Sound - The sound for this Anime has earned a 10. I absolutely loved the sounds and music this Anime had to offer. Again, nothing bad to say about in the category. You will not be disappointed.

• Character - The Characters in this anime are seriously a 10. The characters in this Anime are all unique in their own ways and not to mention cute. very nice and yet again nothing horrible to say here.

• Enjoyment - this Anime deserves a 10 because I completly enjoyed this anime, even though it had sad, happy, angry, scary moments. This has to have been one of my most enjoyed Anime's I have ever watched before.

• Overall - The overall score i gave this anime is seriously a 10. It deserved this score because of how much i loved it and I thought everything about it was just incredible! read more

This is by far one of the most moving, heart-wrenching, and dramatic anime series I have ever watched. It's earned a special place in my heart and I will undoubtedly buy the DVDs as well. Everything from the story, the characters, settings and re-occuring themes within Kanon reverberate with passion and drama; a kind of quality that is hardly ever seen in most anime, yet not only have they accomplished such a feat but have raised the bar for everyone else wanting to make a lasting and memorable masterpiece.

Themes of lost love, death, sickness, and the supernatural constantly propel the story forward for all of the characters, and heightened moments of tension between the male lead and the female characters create an unmatched and unrivaled level of drama with deep backstories and development.

As the story pulls you into the world of Kanon, the anime presents itself in an almost mundane, slice-of-life approach that helps you to get associated with the characters. After the setting and theme has been established, you begin to feel for these characters and to sympathize with them as the story begins to delve more into their past and what kind of stories relate to them. Then the story makes a huge and unpredictable plot twist that turns Kanon into a nonstop rollercoaster ride that will have you glued to your seat until the very last episode.

Each of the characters have amazingly unique and original storyline arcs , and at least one (if not all of them) is going to be a guaranteed tear jerker. What's more impressive is how each story arc ties itself together into a main story making it feel extremely cohesive and smooth rather than disconjoined and random.

As per KEY's style of storytelling, the anime is heavily prevalent with storybook-style lore and magic. This type of theme can be noticed in other types of anime in the same genre, however the means by which they use this setting along with the amazing characters and unique story help elevate the experience further rather than dampen it.

If you are into any form of romantic dramas, or are looking for something refreshingly unique, or something that will make you cry, or if you just want to simply enjoy a breathtakingly moving story that will leave a lasting impression on you, Kanon is a must watch if not a must BUY.
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Kanon (2006) is not only one of the better drama harem series, it is also a series that certainly hits this reviewer hard when it comes to tugging emotions. With several characters facing their own dilemmas, viewers will be hit hard with sadden emotions from this series.

In the world of Kanon (2006), the plot presents several story arcs that spotlight each of the main female characters. From the beginning episodes, the viewer is mainly introduced with certain scenes that features each of the main characters. As the plot starts to unfold, the male protaganist Yuuichi Aizawa recovers memories that he hasn't recall from seven years. There are also times during the beginning of new episodes we hear the sayings of a certain female character describing about dreams as viewers take it in as relaxing poetic sayings.

While there may be similar things one may recognize in drama series from anime, the story experience in itself is worthwhile due to the astounishing results the characters present. One way or another, the female characters do bring a 'moe' side to the series but they also become so critical in presenting their dilemmas in the story arcs. The important thing to answer from the plot is do the results bring enough to help one viewer shed tears often? If so, then it would be more than enough for a drama series to become successful in itself. Even though Kanon (2006)'s plot may not be all golden, it surely shines as a silver needs to be. A sad drama fits as what a sad drama is suppose to be with great results and tearjerker moments you cannot avoid.

Ever since Kyoto Animation Studios took part on remaking a series from the original Kanon of 2002, the animation quality was accomplished with great results in the visual department. This was certainly a great move on Kyoto Animation's part to conduct the animation that clearly outshines the original Kanon series. The winter scenes in Kanon (2006) look great and realistic with beautiful snow coming down from the sky, fog coming out of the character's breaths, and the beautiful night scenery that we often see in several episodes of the story. The character designs are also greatly animated with no cut corners, beautiful coloring, and are provided with effective body fluid movements. The personalities of the characters certainly fit their facial looks as well in this series.

Although the animation was well-achieved, the characters were the best accomplishment in this series. Every character (either main or supporting) in this series becomes necessary in the different story arcs and also were fleshed out very well in character development. For the male protaganist, Yuuichi Aizawa is consider a refreshing male lead and a nice change to the usual dorky protaganists we often see in harem-based series. Yuuichi certainly brings a fulfilling role when it comes to displaying both humor and drama moments in Kanon (2006), such as the notable sarcasm he usually brings to the main female characters.

The main female characters are certainly a good cast in this series where each features their own personality trait. There is also the use of monosyllabic tones that brings out a certain charm from several female characters that makes them likable to the audience. Having the main female characters become likable in Kanon (2006) is very crucial to have due to the fact that melodrama often happens in this series. With the sad parts that often happen for each main female character they bring an image that allows the audience to provide feelings of care towards each one.

The sound department does well in most of its areas. The bgm's played in different scenes certainly fit both character and sad themes that take place in the story arcs. The opening and ending theme songs are mainly great tunes that bring a gentle theme to the audience. The voice acting is also done well with quality performances from each of the characters, especially Tomakazu Sugita playing the role of Yuuichi Aizawa.

Overall, Kanon (2006) brings alot of meaningful moments and certainly breaks away from certain harem stereotypes such as the typical fanservice that often gets in the way of storylines. More or less, this is a harem drama series that certainly should be consider a priority watch because of its great achievements in animation, quality story arcs, and great character development. The most important thing to remember is to keep a set of tissues handy, because the sad moments will certainly hit you hard in this series. read more

Story:

This is by far the best storyline i have seen out of all the anime i have seen. The unique side stories between the female protagonists were deeply touching and even made my cry on every single one. Unlike a lot of anime it really showed the slice of life side of things, it hinted a minority of fantasy which was revealed fairly early on into the story. I'm going to give this a 10.

Art:

I must say that a good storyline and excellent artwork is rare to find in any anime, but in Kanon they got those two just right, not too realistic, not too cartoony, but a perfect balance in my eyes. The movement of the characters themselves were a very good pointer but the main attraction to the artwork would have to be the environmental side of things, the scenery of the forest, the city and everything else were just fantastic. 10 for this aswell.

Sound:

Both the opening and ending themes to this anime were good, as the story progressed and more and more information about the characters were revealed the songs seemed to be more touching, as the video to it showed clips of the characters in actions, somehow reminding me of their stories. The voice actors chosen for this were just right. Aya especially, her voice was so cute and fit the character most impressively from the rest. Another 10 for this also.

Character:

From my previous points you can probably already tell what i'm going to say.. the characters were brilliantly done, and the anime would be 100% ruined without any of them in. Each and every character were different in their own way, and fitted the character setting and stories behind them. I'd have to say Mai was a personal favourite, as she was brilliantly done. Another 10 for this aswell.

Enjoyment:

The enjoyment factor of this anime was amazing, some bits of it were funny, whilst others were deeply heart-touching. I liked this element of the anime, as it's totally different from anything i've ever seen (I don't think i've cried like that for a very long time). So i'd have to give this a 10, as it's my favourite anime yet, and until another 'Miracle' happens, it will always stay to be as far as i'm concerned.

So overall i'd have to give this anime a 10/10. Theres not much more i can say apart from if you haven't watched this, i definately suggest it. It's more realistic than any other anime, with a hint of fantasy which works very well mixed in it.

I hope this review was helpful, thanks.

Ayu-Ayu read more

**Note: Possible spoilers! Beware!!**

Kanon is about Yuuichi Aizawa who has come back to live with his Aunt and cousin after seven years. He always visited there when he was younger however he does not remember anything.

Story: 9

As usual, the story starts out like a normal harem. Something simple, in this case, Yuuichi was transferred to the school his cousin goes to. It's normal hey? That's completely normal. You start meeting the girls who are possible lovers.

Get this, it ain't a normal harem. The pacing is slow at first, making the series somewhat boring but once you get into it it's just one BAM thing after another.Like I said before, because the pacing was slow, the story got incredibly rushed at the end to the point that I was anxious whether the story actually had a proper good ending.

Onto the actual story, this is the most I've cried in any anime. Even more than Clannad and Clannad in my opinion is the absolute best (that includes After Story). I have cried non-stop just watching it. Kanon is such a tear jerker. It had it's funny moments though however the anime faced more to drama and tragedy. I couldn't believe at everything that was going on all at once.

The overall story was just great. The plot was just incredible. I loved it though the pacing was somewhat bad, earning it a 9.

Art: 10

I'm not surprised. KyoAni gives you the best of the best. Though KyoAni has improved in art (impossible but they did it!) over the years, the art was truly the best of 06. You can go through all anime released in 06 never finding one with as much detail to it than Kanon.

Now KEY's productions are usually set for a certain season. For example, Air was set for Summer and Clannad for Spring. Kanon is obviously set in Winter. KyoAni has done a damn good job of executing the season. Every single thing was just beautiful.

Since I've bought the DVD of the dub version (luckily it included the Jap version as well and subs), the quality was greatly downgraded. Because of all the whiteness from the snow and the brightening that FUNimation had done, it was incredibly hard to see. The colours were not rich and you couldn't see the outline. However if you look at an original episodes being fansubbed, though maybe pixelated (is that a word??), you can see everything.

It's unfortunate not to be able to view the series with great quality but I am definitely more than happy just to have watched it.

Sound: 8

The sound was definitely not Kanon's strongest part for me. I never actually liked the OP and ED. The BGM has never stayed with me. It was just there fitting to the mood. Sound, for me, wasn't outstanding. I've heard better.

Seiyuu however was great. The voices for each character fitted them perfectly. The catchphrases will forever stay in my heart. However seiyuu can speak in such a cute form and say the cutest catchphrases will always be a mystery to me.

Sound was good overall. nothing too special. Seiyuu gave it a boost otherwise it would be a seven.

Character: 10

Characters are another strong point of Kanon. Each character had their own story to how they are now. Their reasons are reasonable. I liked most of the characters, Mai and Makoto being my favourite, but a few others were slightly to whiny for my taste. But hey, that's what we do, whine and whinge until we learn.

Everybody changed, most for the better. The main cast for Kanon cannot be forgotten.

There's Ayu with her 'uguu~'; Nayuki with her heavy sleeping; Shiori with a love for sweets and 10 metre snowmen; Makoto with her 'auu~' and her failed pranks and Mai with her demon slaying sword.

Each character is individual and real. That's what I find important in characters. None of these characters did anything dramatic...well some may have but they had their reasons. You know. But I do feel that some character's weren't explored deep enough. I would've liked for Kanon to have continued on a few more episodes to look into some characters a bit more. You'll know what I mean when you're finished with watching Kanon.

All in all I loved each and every character though I did find some annoying. I've never actually liked a character who wasn't the main main character. Like how in Sailor Moon, there were a ton of other main characters but Sailor Moon was like just the main character that you liked? Well that's what happened for me anyway. Loving a different character is really nice.

Enojoyment & Overall: 10 & 9

Don't think I'm emo or anything, I'm not, but I really do love anime that make me cry. Kanon was the most that I've cried in though I Clannad is still the best for me. I guess Kanon would come in second or third considering there's After Story. It was funny at the right time and it was just a work of art. Kanon is truly one of the best anime that you can get.

I must warn you though, it is a very sad anime. It's very tragic. So you'll be needing a box of tissues. It will come in handy later on. read more

A bit disappointing, but not bad. (BTW, There are a few spoilers)

Everyone seemed to have a really good opinion of Kanon 2006, so I expected the most out of it. I was left a bit dissatisfied, but was entertained nonetheless.

I had a totally different idea about it before I started watching it. I thought it was going to be an anime about normal, run-of-the-mill anime people, but this is KyoAni after all. There were times when my jaw would just drop and my shoulders would shrug, connoting I didn’t understand some details, but I did pick up its essence in the end. It was almost like a roller coaster ride for me, except when it went down it didn’t go so low. It had a lot of good points too; believe me when I say I got teary eyed during the last 2 episodes.

It also bothered me how quickly the characters would adapt to their current situation. They would cross paths with a fox which turned into a human, the spirit of a girl in comatose, a girl battling her own demons and many other weird characters, and yet they would immerse themselves in their daily lives as if nothing happened. It is anime world, after all.

Despite their individual eccentricities, the characters were actually likable. I sympathize with the girls, and I even feared that another one would disappear after Makoto. Makoto was my favorite, I especially found her to be cute when she started to lose her human self, then Shiori, then Mai. Kyon, no, Yuiichi was also a very interesting character. He’s mostly responsible for every chuckle and cackle I would make each episode, it’s almost like TMoHS all over again.

Now that I mentioned Kyon, how great is it to have Tomokazu Sugita on board? He’s my favorite male seiyuu so far, being part of 2 other series I like, namely Honey and Clover and TMoHS of course. There’s also the cameo of Maaya Sakamoto, my favorite female seiyuu, which made this anime sweeter for me – although she did portray a character I hated at first. Yui Horie is another name that got me. Shall we say ~uguu? Let’s add an ~auu, ~nyuu and ~ahaha to that as well.

Animation is just top notch, and this is one of the most notable differences between the original Kanon and Kanon 2006. Kanon 2006 looked much more detailed (but not in a way that will strain your eyes), the characters were revamped and the backgrounds were very stunning. Plus there’s the CG too. The CG was just breathtaking – it complimented the scenes very well, and it was of high quality.

I wish I can say I like the music, but I found it a bit too dreary for me. Sometimes I felt like falling asleep to the opening song. I’m not saying I hate it, I did find myself singing along whenever the OP/ED would start playing, but I wish the music was something that I liked more. The feel was very dramatic, the kind you would see in really sad shojo anime, but in a way, it does fit the theme of the anime. Also, I find that the music is well made, but again, it’s not for me. Props for using Disney’s Sleeping Beauty theme in episode 12. It’s one of my favorite Disney songs.

Don’t you just love when there’s little to none fanservice? I think the only hint of fan service I found was in the first episode, when Nayuki was changing her clothes. I’m sure there were more, but they were probably not too vulgar that I didn’t notice. It’s quite surprising, actually. My initial thought was that Kanon 2006 would be one of those typical harem anime series, but again, it’s KyoAni after all.

For making a viable remake, I’d give Kanon 2006 a perfect 10. For entertaining me? I’d say 7-8ish. read more

Kanon(2006) will give you a warm feeling, but the lack of character's depth and the slow story can make you turn away from it.

Note: I'll stop saying Kanon(2006) and say Kanon instead, you get the point.

The story in Kanon is based around a guy related with girls. Somehow this guy suffers from amnesia, which I never knew why. He can't remember any of the past relations he had with them seven years ago. What stroked me the most is that for a 24 episodes show, it was slow. If you're not a fan of stories that graduate so slowly that you don't know where it's getting, and then Kanon is probably something you won't watch. However, Kanon like any other series from Key has this little touch of magic that gives you a warm feeling, so it's not a useless story after all. As for Key animations, they are probably good at shiting you with the reality of life, Kanon is no exception there. Sadly, the way Kanon is told, you would never get the build up of a strong relationship between characters, except between Mai and Yuuichi. Mai is probably the only female lead who doesn't "disappear". In summary, the story is light, nothing outstanding but nothing too bad.

What is probably mostly annoying in the art are the girls. They all look innocent, have the same small mouth, the same face and the huge eyes. I'll tell you now, I'm not a fan of the huge eyes, and in this term, Kanon delivers. You love them? Go watch Kanon now. Still, I loved the backgrounds, the city of snow, the lighting. If you forget the characters, I’d probably give art a 9.5/10.

What do you get with innocent looking girls? Yes, you mostly get an annoying voice cast. I probably got tired of " UGUUUUUUUU" after the 10th time(which I believe was the first episode). As for the music, it goes well with the mood. Listening to Kanon music would probably make you depressive. IT IS a depressive show after all.

As I said in my introduction, Kanon strongly lack in character's depth. What I mean by "lack", I totally mean that the characters are flat. Not only the girls all look innocent, they actually act innocent for most of them. Their characteristic makes the show hard to watch, as there is not enough. However, they all have this mysterious and secret past that will hold you on watching the show only for the reason of knowing it. I'll give a thumbs to Key for this, now that's what I call marketing. Anyway, the show didn't have a strong variation of characters, that's why someone would probably think they're all the same.

After all these mix of good and bad things, I can say that I actually enjoyed Kanon more than I hated it. Yes, the long moments of silence, the slow story and the flat characters is what I hated it, but you'd still get this mix of sad and happy feeling after watching it. Like most of key's animations, Kanon is a form of relaxation. You won't get any suspense, strong drama, big tragedies, but you'll feel relaxed.
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