Ranked #2

Clannad ~After Story~

Clannad ~After Story~ is an anime that gives us an 'after' in 'happily ever after'. And it is a beautiful ever after.

This series manages to be a lot more emotionally complex than the first season, and is a lot heavier content-wise than most anime ever dare to be. Rarely do we ever get to see what happens next in the lives of the characters we have grown to love. So the guy gets the girl? And then what?

Clannad ~After Story~ marvellously answers those questions, giving us the next step in the lives of Okazaki Tomoya and Furukawa Nagisa after forming a relationship in the first season of Clannad. But then, this story goes beyond that, and gives us moment after moment, stage after stage of the lives of these two people who have agreed to share their lives with one another.

The anime is filled with different arcs, most centred around the people who bear certain significance in Tomoya's life. This may be where viewers of the first season may find ~After Story~ to be weak, having shifted its focus from the multiple recurring characters and supporting cast. However, the premise of Clannad is to follow the life of Tomoya and those around him. As he grows, people grow apart and people come into his life, and the storyline of Clannad suits this movement. So when the story arcs are no longer focused on friends or classmates and starts paying attention to centralised characters and family, it is a natural shift; those who have become important to Tomoya are the people he wants to make a home with.

Clannad ~After Story~ achieves a lot more than other anime of its genres could ever hope to. How often do we see stories that reveal the very nature of growing up? Maturity is a hard thing to reach, and we watch as these people strive through some of life's toughest moments to become stronger, or we watch, as strength fails them and reminds us that succumbing to the sadness in life is far easier than one would think.

Also, the story of the world that exists alternately, the world of illusions, has a greater significance to ~After Story~ and in essence, is explained.

The art for this anime remains excellent as ever. There is close attention paid to colour and detail. Speckles of rust on an aging building, soft lights in the sky, a field of flowers, the exposed cuts of a bruised knuckle--these are just some examples of the beautiful, inane details that are embedded into the artwork. The animation is some of the best as well. The contortion of a face, the swing of an arm, the lilt of a smile; the characters' movements are animated fluidly and their movements are close to being realistic. The character design remains as cute as ever, as each character does have that trademark shiny, large-eyed look that Kyoto Animation is famous for.

There has been no real change for Clannad ~After Story~'s score; it remains the same from the first season. The exceptions of course lie in the theme songs, which are new. The largest complaint perhaps may be the change in the ED theme song. While Dango Daikazoku is an emotional piece that went well with the featured melancholy of Clannad, ~After Story~'s TORCH by Lia only suited the anime for very few episodes. In fact, there were quite a handful of episodes that would leave a viewer ready to burst into tears (unless they were already crying) only to then have the anime conclude with a cheerful, upbeat song. Wholly inappropriate. The background music remains beautifully composed, and the soundtrack consists of many memorable pieces. Nagisa's Theme for example is possibly the most magnificent offering of the anime's score, gently slipping into emotional scenes, building up, and adding its powerful impact. It is a stirring, beautiful, emotionally moving track. Any bit of music that can affect a listener so deeply is certainly commendable.

Return of old characters as well as the introduction of new ones can be found in ~After Story~. Clannad's characters remain as charming and involving as ever, and some of the characters even go through some of the greatest growth imaginable.

We watch Tomoya as he grows from being a boy into being a man. And throughout his growth, his attachment to the things around him reveals itself to be one of his greatest strengths and weaknesses. He observes, almost helplessly, as the world changes around him and there is very little he could do about it, so he leaves it as is, though it is in his nature to create change. More than any other character in the anime, Tomoya experiences world-shattering joys and sorrows that almost seem to be unfair to him; his hatred of the world returns despite the happiness he experienced in the end of the first season.

Nagisa continues to be of great importance to the anime, though her character eventually becomes a role due to an important event that occurs during the course of the series. However, her significance never wanes, and to Tomoya, she is the most important person in the world. Nagisa epitomises what quiet, subtle strength is in a girl becoming a woman. Her support for Tomoya is a persevering one, her love for life is a wonderful, almost magical one. While determination is often depicted in a character as something robust or loud, Nagisa gives the attribute an entirely different meaning.

The supporting cast of the first season plays a much minor role in ~After Story~ and perhaps this is where fans may be peeved. Most appear for a few episodes and some even only make brief cameos. The most important roles go to the people who have become Tomoya's most important people: the Furukawa family, Sunohara, and those whose lives he manages to stumble into or those who stumble into his life. Some characters make a grand return, and a few new Clannad cast members appear.

However, there is one particular new character who will warm your heart and win you over. With complete believability, plain and earnest charm, a genuine and simple sweetness, and with a voice that has the lilt of innocent but deep sorrow, this character is possibly the greatest addition to the Clannad universe, and is a beautiful, wonderful character on the whole.

Filled with heartwarming, heart pounding, heart-wrenching moments, ~After Story~ proves itself to be one of the most daring, most different anime series ever to be made. There is a lot of humour, a lot of sadness, drama, romance, and tragedy within this anime that almost makes it replicate exactly what real life is like. And there's the magic and miracles. What's life without remembering or even hoping that those exist?

As life continues, we learn (often in the hardest of ways) that things never remain the same. One can be happy for only so long. Sorrow creeps--sometimes barges--into our lives when we are least prepared or when we least suspect it. But one can only be sad for only so long as well, as Clannad ~After Story~ shows us that life does not end even when we think it does.

There is always a story that takes place afterwards. read more

I laughed...
I cried...
I experienced something that changed my life...

In a nutshell, Clannad ~After Story~ influenced the way I will live for the rest of my life and not just in some half-assed way like any other show would. It legitimately moved me to make certain decisions, for better or for worse. In that sense, no other anime can compare, as no other anime has provided an equivalent reaction on my part.

*Note: I am aware that this is a repost of my old review. However, I have changed some elements of the review after further reflection and consideration of the views of others. As such, I found it more appropriate to repost the review than to merely edit it. I’m not going to lie either – part of this repost is to get more people to read the review, which is important to me because I want as many people as possible to pick up Clannad.*

Before you continue, you should know that Clannad ~After Story~ is a continuation of the story from Clannad and an adaptation from the original Visual Novel by KEY. Although knowledge of the first season is not necessary, it is highly recommended if you want to get the most out of ~After Story~ as well as this review. That being said, this review is tailored to all readers, and can be understood without knowledge of the first season. Note that there may be very minor spoilers. Now then, on to the meat and potatoes.

I won't spend much time on the individual components of Clannad ~After Story~ (or Clannad ~AS~ as I will call it now) like I have with my other reviews. At first glance, there is nothing notably outstanding about it as a whole. For those who are interested in the individual components, here they are and the reasons behind them are available at the end of the review:

Story: 8.7/10
Art/Animation: 8.4/10
Sound: 7.8/10
Character: 9.7/10
Enjoyment (in this case influence): 10+/10
Overall: 9.8/10


| Main Review |
It is difficult to convey the emotions that went through my mind as I watched Clannad ~AS~. For those of you who watched the first season and dropped the show, I urge you to pick up ~AS~ and give it a chance. The first few episodes run almost identically to those of the first season, but the true After Story part branches off in a manner that is unique only to ~AS~. What Clannad ~AS~ gives the viewer is a story of life. A story of despair. A story of forgiveness. A story of hope. Through this story, Clannad ~AS~ can powerfully change the way you perceive the world around you. I am well aware that not everyone enjoys Clannad and ~AS~, especially since the magical light orbs are outlandish to some, but for me it was a bit of a godsend among anime.

The concept of Clannad ~AS~ is neither truly unique nor breathtakingly wonderful. What the viewer gets when watching it is the story of a man. Nothing less and nothing more. What Clannad ~AS~ really excels at, however, is the way it tells the story of that man. While it may be classified as a romance or even a harem anime by some (at least the first season could be), I really classify Clannad ~AS~ as a slice of life. A slice out of the life of a delinquent who can’t seem to do anything right and struggles to protect what really matters to him as the world comes crashing down.

However, “slice of life” can be a deceptive term. As I watched Clannad ~AS~, it was not as much a slice out of Tomoya’s life but a slice out of mine. You see, what Kyoani succeeds in is hitting on the points that make life truly what it is. The continuation of time. The reality of truth. The genuine meaning of “life goes on.” Additionally, by extending over many years, the true significance of every event begins to emerge. Clannad ~AS~ takes the tale of the first season and shapes it around a single person. It is a respectable reflection of life and delves into what many shows do not, and cannot, represent: the story after the story.

While many of the situations may be overblown and excessively dramatized (at least in the opinion of some people), it is ultimately true that every facet of Clannad ~AS~ gives the audience some insight into life. Does it matter that there are miracles and magic orbs of light flying around? For me, no. For others, this could be the case. That is to say, not all aspects of Clannad ~AS~ are perfect, but the impact was enough for me.

If you are looking for a cheerful anime, turn away now. Kyoto Animation does many things with Clannad ~AS~ including some very effective humor in many places, but Clannad ~AS~ will make you cry and smile, often both in the same episode. I won’t lie, I cried at least 5 times throughout the season. Even when rewatching episodes, I cried again. Don’t get me wrong, Clannad ~AS~ really has some happy moments as well, but Kyoani tends to depress many, many times. Each sad moment is profound and beautiful, but nevertheless it is sad. The ending song, Torch, which is played in every episode, serves to alleviate this, for better or worse. Torch is very upbeat, but many people consider it unnecessary and I agree. Torch can be a real mood breaker at times.

The power that Clannad ~AS~ exerts comes from its characters. While the first season portrayed many main characters and their stories, ~AS~ focuses on the life of Tomoya and lightly on the lives of those who surround him. Tomoya is a failure in a cruel world. In a sense, he is a fatal hero. While he may not know it, he is destined to face pain and suffering through his life. There is a bit of controversy over the ending of ~AS~, but those who wish to have a “truer” ending can consider the second to last episode as such (don’t hate me for suggesting it). When seen in that light, Clannad ~AS~ effectively played out a story that neither catered to an audience nor skewed reality (except for the orbs of light, of course). What it presented was something that many people can relate to. The loss of a loved one. The pain of recovery. The neglect of a father. Rediscovering love and friendship. Coping with suffering. *SPOILER* The feeling of holding a daughter in your arms for the first time. The pains and joys of being a father. */SPOLER* What it ended with was a realistic ending and a message for the future. Additionally, if seen that way, the last episode can be portrayed as Kyoani staying true to the visual novel and respecting the source material.

*Unfortunately, more talk of the plot would undeniably lead to spoilers, which I am trying to keep free from this review, so please bear with me. Heck, if I’ve convinced you at this point, what are you waiting for? Go see for yourself what all the hype is about. Otherwise, read on!*

Ultimately, Clannad ~AS~ molded characters that I thought I was familiar with into something close to human. Their stories produced emotion that made me reconsider the situations of the people that I see every day. Through social commentary and moral struggles, the viewer can genuinely begin to respect Tomoya. I know I wouldn’t be able to withstand half of what he did, but I truly began to respect the fact that he kept going, despite him being a fictional character. Through his struggles, I began to learn about myself. Through the struggles of those around him, I began to respect those whom I had once hated. This may seem extreme, and you may think that I am crazy, but what I write is nothing but the truth. Every episode gripped me, and many episodes evoked tearful reactions, which I am not very prone to. As I continued to watch, I could hardly bear waiting a week for each new episode to come out. At the same time, however, I knew that each episode held a bomb - a flood of emotions that could affect the rest of my day. Clannad ~AS~ went way beyond enjoyment – it went into the realm of what I could call an “epiphany.”

Can the story of one man influence the lives of others? Is it still possible if that man is a fictional character? For me, I did not think it was possible for anime to extend its influence at such a level. Clannad ~AS~ proved me wrong time and time again. Look past the first season and the first few episodes, and perhaps you can begin to understand what I mean.

For those interested or who can relate after watching the show, this is the ultimate and most powerful result of the show as it applies to me. The following is the reason why I can’t keep my mind off of Clannad ~AS~ and the reason why it will remain as my #1 favorite for what I know will be many, many seasons: *SPOILER* Through Clannad ~AS~, I have basically committed to wanting to have a baby. Ushio love. */SPOILER*


| Analysis of components |
Story:
Clannad ~AS~ is unique in its storytelling, but the story itself is nothing special. The earlier episodes present almost unrelated stories just as the first season did, but Clannad ~AS~ takes a turn for the better with a focus on a single character and his ordeal. At this point, Clannad ~AS~ does nothing but follow the life of a young adult, Tomoya. Sure there is drama (oh, is there drama) and there is romance, in a sense, but in reality, there is no real plot to speak of. What there is, however, is the tale of a life experience that can change the way you live. A real deterrent might come from some of the magic that inexplicably finds its way into Clannad (both seasons), but that never really bothered me. The ending is also less-than-stellar and can be a bit confusing, but as stated before, there’s always the second to last episode to fall back on.

Art/Animation:
There is nothing blatantly wrong with the animation quality. Kyoto Animation produced Clannad ~AS~, so fans will know that there is nothing to fear. The character design is the same as that of Clannad and other KEY adaptations. The KEY character design is quite distinguishable, with its giant eyes. Personally, I am a fan, but other viewers might dislike the artwork. Other than that, Kyoani did another solid job with the animation, and there are no jerky movements that detract from the gorgeous lessons that unfold.

Sound:
Kyoani had its ups and downs with the music for Clannad ~AS~. In many aspects, Clannad ~AS~ shoots beyond other KEY adaptations with its unique, unconventional plotline and incredibly well enacted scenes of what could very well be the life of an individual. In fact, many of the ordeals that Tomoya must face strike a particularly strong emotional chord among many people. Who knows, you might not be that certain type of person, but I definitely was. Anyways… back to the music. Clannad ~AS~’s opening sequence is a strong piano melody with deceptively deep lyrics. However, the ending sequence detracts from many of the spectacular moments, especially because Kyoani tends to end episodes on a sad note. As such, many would classify Torch (the ED) as an elaborate troll because it is too lively. Beyond the OP and ED, Clannad ~AS~ features tracks from the Visual Novel, which include very familiar tracks from the first season. Notable among these are the songs with lyrics, ie Ana. Certain parts of the OST mesh very well, and a powerful soundtrack can produce a powerful reaction. However, I don’t remember anything in particular clearly standing out to me, and as previously mentioned, Torch ruined quite a few strong moments.

Character:
While most of the other aspects of Clannad ~AS~ are very similar to their counterparts in the first season, character development in ~AS~ take a turn for the better. Kyoani successfully made me hate characters that I loved and love characters that I hated. Through a roller coaster complete with dips and turns, Clannad ~AS~ changed the way I perceive all type of people. From Tomoya’s seemingly disinterested, alcoholic father to Nagisa, a character who I actually deemed annoying in the first season, I came to understand what truly makes up a person. Every character really has a story behind their dejected or cheerful façade. Despite the usual “Clannad magic,” every character also turned out to be associable, adding to the personal level of the show. Even the more comical, secondary characters had their share of emotional moments, giving them real depth and giving the viewer a relatively accurate understanding of human nature. About half-way through the show, there is a certain character that changes many, many things. I won’t spoil it now, but her unique appearance is what truly brought Clannad ~AS~ to unmatchable levels.

Enjoyment/Overall:
Enjoyment is really up to the beholder. My view of enjoyment may be somewhat different from others’. Clannad is not for everybody, but for those who dropped the first season, ~AS~ is truly on a league of its own and worth another shot. Every person has that one anime that leaps up above the rest and leaves a lasting impression. For me, that anime was Clannad ~AS~. No other words can describe the effect it had on me, and I hope that this review has at least made you, the reader, consider picking up this diamond in the rough.


| Final Thoughts |
Thank you for your time (I know the review was long), and I sincerely wish that you give Clannad ~AS~ a chance. Who knows, it may change your life. As always, comments about how effectively this review worked are welcome. Also, a helpful rating is always appreciated. read more