Ranked #4

Clannad: After Story

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

Before you read this review, I want you to take a quick look around you, and think about this - think about the things in life you should be grateful for.

Now, really look. Do you see a stack of laundry on the washing machine? Be grateful for that. Do you see a washing machine? Be thankful of that. Do you see a light on in the room where the washing machine is? Be glad that you have electricity. Find any little thing you can. Count any little blessing you can think of. Go on, do it.

Is it hard to do? Don't worry, because after watching "Clannad: After Story", you'll be precise on knowing what your blessings are and, if you're like me and the majority of the other viewers who have watched this, you'll learn to be grateful for each and every one of these things.

I'm positive that all of you are sick of hearing all of the praise that "Clannad: After Story" receives, but I'm hear to tell you that all the praise it gets is not just simplistic fangirling, nor is it rated high just for being a tearjerker. It's rated this way and praised for what it is because it takes the small things in life and turns them into great and wonderful things - things that should be smiled at everyday.

Describing the story of "Clannad: After Story" is a quite complicated, yet at the same time, is such a simplistic and clear thing. The story is one that directly follows the very successful prequel "Clannad", and it's best recommended that you have knowledge of "Clannad" before diving into After Story.

As I said, the story of After Story is simple, but complicated to explain. If I were to explain this anime, I would end up getting lost in my own emotions and probably spoiling this entire thing for you. The story centers around the pure relationship between Tomoya and Nagisa, along with the backstories and upbringings of the people around him. While his friends and those close to him move on and pursue their own dreams in the world, Tomoya begins to settle down with Nagisa, not knowing that him and her have only begun to climb the hill that they've long since encountered since the beginning of our series.

The story's only flaw is how it sometimes drags on a few of the characters, however this can also be an advantage because it's pretty pleasant to see screentime from our supporting characters, espeically considering that soon in the series they move on with their own lives, and for the remaining we focus mostly on the family and life of Tomoya and Nagisa. That's all I can say for the story as it is, but be aware it's much more complex. The themes that are represented will give you your own outlook on these as a whole in your own daily life. The characters begin to become friends, and you too will feel the same pain that they do.

The artwork is absolutely superb and beautiful, as expected from Kyoto Animation. The scenery and character animation and artwork is done very well and is nearly flawless. Kyoto manages to publish and create one of the most memorable towns I, personally, have seen in a while. The hair, the tears, the backgrounds, all of it is stunning and doesn't disappoint in the slightest. It is a slight improvement from the artwork in the first season, but the difference isn't that noticable, which is a good thing for fans of season one.

The soundtrack of this anime does not much differ from that of the first season. We're still presented with a beautiful opening theme, along with the same breathtaking soundtracks such as "Nagisa," "Distant Years", "Roaring Tides", "Town, Flow of Time, People", and so much more. The only thing that can possibly bring down such a memorable soundtrack is the completely unfitting and mood killing ending theme. "Clannad: After Story" has a tendency to end on a very sad, heartwrenching note, only to have a very cheerful, boppy theme playing at the end of this. Personally, I'd recommend each time an episode of After Story comes to an end, you simply pause it and switch to the Dango ending on YouTube, which is a much calmer and better fitting ending theme song for this series.

Explaining the characters is almost the same as trying to explain the story. The characters, although are extremely complex, are hard to explain without obtaining spoilers that will ruin the development. Our development mostly centers around Tomoya and the family that he has and that he has created. The development, changes, and pain that Tomoya possess is, as said about many of the factors in this anime, flawless. We're also given some development with more side characters, but that only takes place in roughly the first ten episodes of the series.

Watching Tomoya grow up, watching Nagisa grow up, watching all of these characters grow up and become who they are by the end of this series is completely outstanding. The characters are relate-able, and they grow to you. You'll realize that these characters are not much different then the people you meet everyday in real life. These characters will make you feel things you didn't know you could feel before. Their own pain and hardships will make you slowly begin to realize and accept the things you have, and learn to love them as well.

In case you haven't noticed, I greatly enjoyed this anime. The flaws, like all anime, were there without a doubt, but were greatly overshadowed by the greatness that this series was able to project and show to the grateful viewers. The enjoyment that I had in this series was always there. I never felt bored watching everyone laugh, watching them cry, it was all wonderful to me and me alone.

Overall, "Clannad: After Story" is something that is deserving of every 10 it gets, every purchase that anyone around the world has made, every time an episode downloaded or a soundtrack is listened to - this anime deserves it all.

I can almost guarantee, that after watching this anime, you'll lay down at your bed at night and begin to feel the blanket that's keeping you warm. And you'll smile. read more