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As part of their promotion campaign of "Go! Go! 575", Sega decided to create a mini-anime based on said title. With a fairly small budget, they managed to release 4 episodes, each lasting 3 minutes. It is quite understandable if you wouldn't want to call this an anime, but more of a series of commercials. The biggest downside is what it actually could've been, instead of what it is right now.

"Go! Go! 575" tells the story about 2 girls (later joined by a third) who want to sing songs based on haiku poems, and share them with the world. And that's it, really. After all, ... there's not much you can tell in 12 minutes worth of screentime.

The main characters, Matcha and Azuki, are what you could refer to as "your typical high school characters". Matcha is the focused and composed type, whereas Azuki's the over-energetic childish type. Having characters like them together is like a yin-yang combination, meaning a nice balance while keeping the anime fresh. The third character, Yuzu, can be considered as even more average than the two, but there really isn't enough footage to define her.

The art, even for a short anime like this one, was good. It wasn't anything special, but it was nice to look at, and didn't feel lacking in the slightest. The music, namely the OP and song in the last episode, were good as well, along with the background music. It was everything you'd expect to hear in a regular anime, except of course that it wasn't in a regular anime.

To go back on the downside I stated earlier: This anime could've been something. The plot, simple as it is, could've been built on to produce a decent music (idol-like) anime. The characters were fun and quite enjoyable, and memorable if they had more screentime to work with. Heck, even the third character would've been far more fun to see, as she reminds me of Chizuru from Yuru Yuri in terms of personality. Even the artstyle and music were pretty great, even if the entire anime was only meant to promote the game.

If you have 12 minutes to spend, go and give it a shot, and see if you share the same view as me. As a SoL comedy fan, I would've loved a full-fledged version of this anime. But alas, it was not meant to be. If only this project had gotten more attention, this would've been a nice addition to the winter season. If only.

Just like a great amount of people, when I heard that season 2 of Sword Art Online was finally announced, I was hyped. Heck, I still am while writing this review. With the end of the year approaching fast, Crunchyroll treated us with a subbed version of Sword Art Online: Extra Edition, and I couldn't wait to watch it. Even though I knew it was going to be a recap episode, it's a nice thing to get back into the whole anime again, that had both upsides and downsides. And don't forget the extra footage, of course.

So, to start off: Yes, like I said before, ... this is mostly a recap episode. Especially the first hour consists of mostly flashbacks with new footage inbetween. The short synopsis in MAL pretty much explains the entire special, so all in all, there's not much to say about this in overall. We have our main characters, and a returning character that I believe has never shown his face in the first season. The new footage seems to come with some new music as well, and we get to see the side characters from the first arc in their ALfheim form for longer than a minute, which is pretty neat.

The animation and art are pretty much the same as the original anime, with here and there some slight changes in lighting and whatnot, but barely noticeable. What is noticeable are the characteristics of our main characters. It's now far more obvious that they've grown up a bit more, which wasn't that clear at the end of the first season. Along that is a bit of character development, at least as much as it could allow with the given time in between the flashbacks, along with a new flashback not shown in the original anime.

For SAO fans, this is a must-watch, especially if you haven't seen the anime in a while. For newcomers, don't think this special will get you up to date, as it clearly leaves out very important parts of the original and is only meant to spark the memories of the fans, and nothing more. Along with the new extras, Sword Art Online: Extra Edition is a fun watch, and a great special to end the year with. And of course, with the announcement of the second season, you just can't help but feel even more hyped after having watched this.

A Happy New Year to everyone, and may your 2014 be filled with lovely memories, and some great anime to accompany it with. Akemashite omedetou!

After having watched the first two seasons, I was wondering where this could possibly lead to. Not having read the manga or anything, I had no clue what I could expect other than the same thing. That is, the classic story of the guy conquering girls with his dating sim skills. And well, it sort of is, but not really. Instead of the usual, we get it served on a completely different platter, putting not only the story, but the characters in a completely different light, and making this season seem more realistic and gripping than anything that has happened so far.

"The World God Only ... Knows : Goddesses Arc" (or the Japanese title, whatever suits you best) is the third season of the Kami Nomi series. While I'm writing this review, this season is currently the highest ranked out of the three, and with good reason. In my review of the first season I wrote that it was silly and funny, with a hint of romance. This however appeals to only a part of the anime community, while the other part simply ignores it and moves on to more serious anime. This season feels like it sort of compensates for the goofy encounters and whatnot from the first two seasons, by providing us with actual relationships and returning characters who feel more solid than ever before, along with a more solid story.

Art:
The art is pretty much the same as the previous two seasons/OVAs, but with more flair added to it. You could consider calling them "special effects", but it does seem like more effort was put in the animation than before, along with some CG effects to add to the atmosphere. In overall, it felt more gripping, and at times it was quite stunning. The lighting in certain scenes was also excellently done, and provided a nice addition to the mood the scene was set in.

Music:
Different. This season was definitely meant to be taken far more seriously than the others, so the music had more of a thrill to it, and it succeeded quite well in moving me personally. Although I got to admit... I prefer the old OP, ED and BGM more. But that's my opinion as a RomCom SoL fan. If I were to look at it in the perspective of a more serious anime fanatic, I would say that it was great, and sometimes beautiful to listen to. (And yes, the last song moved me more than it should have, to those who have seen it.)

Story (Contains minor spoilers):
Assuming you're already familiar with the first two seasons and the OVAs (and if not, then I'd suggest you watch those first before even reading a review on this), the base of the story is still somewhat the same. We still have our main character (Katsuragi), his partner (Elsie), and the side cast from before. Some new characters were introduced, some rather rushed (due to shortening the story and leaving behind some backstories), and others more properly. We also get introduced to a few new groups: The Goddesses, who have taken refuge in the hearts of Katsuragi's previous "conquests", and Vintage, an evil group from Hell who wants to kill them.

I'm going to be honest here, this story was far more complicated than ever before. Due to the more active casting, and giving the side-characters more screentime (at least, that's what it felt like to me), it gave the story a lot more depth than it usually has. Combine that with the attitude and struggles of the main character, and you get something that doesn't really look like a Kami Nomi season, but sure as heck feels like it. It had this edgy undertone to it, with people actually being in danger this time and whatnot, but it wasn't all that unexpected. In fact, it was a great change of pace, and it all felt like it was building up to this season so far, using everything the first two seasons provided, and creating an arc that goes very well with the overall story.

Characters:
Like I said, the casting is very much the same, with the inclusion of the goddesses and the evil gang (which unfortunately doesn't get nearly the amount of screentime it deserves and needs). However, thanks to the character development this series had for over 25 episodes, they had a lot more depth to them. Which is good, otherwise you couldn't possibly take this plot seriously. Because as good as an arc it is, it relies mostly on the characters performing properly, otherwise it all falls apart into a messy piece of a RomCom. After all, and especially in this case, it's the characters that make the anime.

Conclusion:
What I personally liked about this anime, is that things didn't go nearly as smooth as it used to. The main character faces an old foe in a new jacket, as you might say, and every plan he used to have no longer works the way he wants it to. That's what makes the "Goddesses Arc" far more appealing to those who like to be surprised, and are tired of the same old stuff, while at the same time satisfying those who loved the anime from day 1, cause of its everlasting sillyness that exists even in this season, with the goofiest things happening at the most serious of times, allowing the audience to take a breather and smile. The third season combines the comedy we experienced before with a dose of drama it needed to balance itself out. A lot of anime have experienced the fate of repetitiveness, and it's thanks to this arc that this anime did not experience the same thing.

I was glad I watched this anime, and very satisfied with its (current) ending. If you haven't watched this season yet, I seriously recommend it. If you haven't watched the anime yet, and still bothered to read this review, go watch it, it's well worth your time. "The World God Only Knows" kept me at the edge of my seat, wanting to finish each season as soon as possible, simply because I enjoyed every minute of it. It never really disappointed me, and I hope that you'll feel the same thing when you watch it. After all, who doesn't want to take a peek in that world?

I present to you: The character most of us wish to be, but never will be due to the fact we lack the funding, and the determination. Katsuragi Keima can be considered a true otaku, a man who has given up on reality and instead focuses on nothing but dating sims and VNs. But of course, that would make for a rather boring premise, so let's add some demons to it. ==(Minor) Spoilers Ahead==

Now, when I first heard about "The World God Only Knows", I thought it was going to be about a guy who's addicted to dating sims and nothing else. And when I ... heard it includes demon girls and soul hunting, I wasn't very interested. I mean, after all, what kind of plot is that supposed to be? But alas, I was once again shown how wrong I could be, especially after having watched the first few episodes.

This lovely and silly anime focuses on Katsuragi Keima, a guy with a huge passion for virtual girls, taken to a level where real life girls don't even faze him anymore. Thanks to that, he's known on the net as the "God of Conquest", and helps out people with their dating sim-related issues. Until one day, he accepts a "challenge" via mail and is suddenly bound by a contract to catch runaway spirits from Hell together with a demon girl named Elsie (or Elucia, or Elle-chan, but oh well). How does one catch these spirits, you may ask? Our lovely otaku has to drive them away from the hearts of people, because these souls look for gaps (weaknesses, emptiness) in them. And with people, I of course mean girls. And with driving away, I mean make them fall in love with him. And he does exactly that, with his dating sim skills, and he somehow manages to make it work.

Now that that's out of the way, let's focus on the main points.

Art:
The art is great. Although it's nothing special, it fits with today's style and is nicely done in general. It doesn't stand out, but it doesn't have to be. It's perfect just the way it is... Yeah, I can't really say anything else. One note: The facial expressions from time to time are amazingly cute, so be careful.

Music:
The OP. Nuff said, really. But all kidding aside, the OST is great. It fits very well with the atmosphere of the anime, and is a great moodsetter. In the right way, that is. The OP, like I said before, is possibly one of the most intriguing I've ever heard. I wouldn't call it the best, because broken English isn't really my thing, but it's captivating, and I often find myself listening to it again. It also fits the title quite well, along with several other songs from the OST, with their god-like feel mixed into it.

Story:
Well, the story is quite unique, in my opinion. Some say that it's a combination of several plots, but it was amazingly executed. There wasn't a single moment where I got bored by the anime, and unlike others I've watched, I didn't even hesitate to watch the next episode... Which ended up in me watching the last episode at 3AM on a wednesday, but oh well. Fact is, it kept me glued to my seat, and the story progression was nice, fluent and not at all repetitive. And as an avid lover of comedies, this sure hit the spot nicely.

Characters:
Keima is a character you expect to find in the background. He doesn't care about anything in the real world, and often finds himself frowned upon by fellow students and teachers. He's the typical shut-in without any friends. Putting a character like him in the shoes of an MC, and giving him a partner may be risky, but the author made it work. Not only that, they did an amazing job at it too.

Elsie, who has been assigned as his demon partner, is... Well, an airhead. A rather typical one, at that. She's funny, silly, and a bit stupid. Putting her next to a serious and superficial guy like Keima might make for a funny comedy routine, but instead it balanced the pairing up nicely, with one solving the puzzles and keeping a calm mood when necessary, whereas the other is just being herself, acting all goofy, but also providing a hand and helping out at the right time. I haven't seen a pair with a balance that worked well in a while, so it was quite nice to see it again.

As for the support cast, there's something about them that I love a lot. And that's that they all have unique character traits. This is actually a very important plot element, which is sorta given away in my earlier description of the anime, but it makes it that instead of the usual bland background characters, we get a bunch that actually feel like they add to the story. Nicely done.

Conclusion:
"The World God Only Knows" tries to be different by giving us a main character that doesn't care about anyone else, yet is forced to help out others by performing acts that he has never done before. Although this isn't a fresh idea, it's all about how well you play it out. And with this anime, I think they hit it just right, and provided us with some lovely characters, good art, fine music and an overall great experience. It gives us the hope that otakus aren't bound by a fate of screens and the internet, but instead have the ability to communicate with members of the opposite sex... Nah, I'm exaggerating a bit, but you get the point. A shut-in who manages to sway every girl he has set his eyes on is quite the unique concept, in my opinion. And once again, they did a great job executing this concept. It's funny and silly, but at the same time passionate and gripping when it has to be. He lives in "The World Otakus Dream Of", you might say.

As there's a lack of a synopsis here, I'll give you a quick heads-up: Two main characters, one a fifth-grade elementary schooler who looks like an adult, and a second-year high schooler (apparently) who looks like an elementary schooler, and is the older sister of the former. That's all you need to know to understand this. If you wanna know more, check the page of the first season.

With that said, it's a shame this anime took kind of a dive. It feels like a different team worked on this, as the art seems completely different from the first two seasons, and the backgrounds are a ... bit more gloomy and lack the colorfulness the former seasons had. I was relieved the casting for the VAs hasn't changed, otherwise this would've gotten a lower rating from me than it has now.

The "story" is still the same, but with the introduction of a few more characters, giving us more of a variety of situations. The newcomers are just as fun and enjoyable, but lack proper substance. The main characters are still the same, and so are the side characters. There does seem to be an improvement in the overall storyline, albeit just on the relationship front.

Like I said before, the art has really changed. The shading and overall animation is simpler, and the backgrounds are not as colorful and "detailed" like the previous seasons (although the backgrounds were never really detailed to begin with, but they managed to make it look even less detailed). The sound and music has stayed the same, with no OP and a short ED like usual. If the art didn't change like that, this would've gotten the same rating from me as the other seasons, and I probably wouldn't have even written a review. But, with the small budget this anime probably had, it isn't all that surprising.

In conclusion, if you're a fan of the series, you can watch this and still have fun. Although the art way have taken a step backward, the characters are still there, and they're still fun. And if they ever manage to make a fourth season, I'll probably watch it too. It's sometimes just the idea of an anime that keeps you entertained, as long as the characters are interesting, the scenes are funny and as long as it's still enjoyable.

Recorder to Randoseru Do is what you could call a simpleminded, quickwatch anime. With no real storyline, and no real story and character development, it's something you watch simply to enjoy the humor in it. And as a big fan of 4-koma anime, it did the trick for me, short as it was. It still had the necessary humor, misunderstandings and funny characters to make it quite a fun anime to watch inbetween.

The concept is simple, but pretty hilarious. We have an 11-year old boy who looks like an adult, and a 17-year old sister who looks like an elementary schooler. When I read this, ... I was surprised and intrigued in how they were going to bring out this idea. The answer is simple: Misunderstandings on top of more misunderstandings. The best thing about this is that the characters still act their age, and as for the smaller sister, that's all right. But for an adult-looking elementary schooler, it leads to quite some interesting moments. Every small episode focuses on a particular scene or two, each having one of the main characters in another (awkward) situation. And if you're into that stuff, it's quite enjoyable. After all, with only 2,5 minutes per episode (not counting the ED), there's really nothing to lose either.

The art is quite average, but it's not bad. You can't really compare it to actual animes, but for what it's worth, it's good enough. The animation is decent, and strangely enough pretty good at some points, where the art also gets a small boost. The faces can look a teeny bit awkward from time to time, but there are no real flaws. The sound is pretty much the same, just your average set of BGM music, with the exclusion of an OP, but including a (short) ED.

As for the characters, we have the main two, Atsushi (brother) and Atsumi (sister), and for side characters, we've got a trio of elementary schoolers (2 boys and a girl), a high schooler who's Atsumi's best friend, and some adult side characters, including an unemployed neighbor. The casting isn't that big, but for a 3-min anime, it's more than enough to work with. All the characters are pretty flat, as in they don't really develop over time other than the two main characters. Nevertheless, they're fun and interesting, which for most is enough to work with.

In conclusion, like I said before, this is an anime you should watch inbetween animes. When you're bored of your regular anime, and just want something to switch gears a little. An entire season of this only lasts about 1,5 episode of an actual anime, so there's no real reason not to watch the entire thing. It doesn't feel rushed either, as each episode feels more or less like a scene from the 4-koma manga (compared to Mangirl, which tends to make me feel like I'm on a sugar high). It's quick, fun, and easy to follow. Just the whole concept is interesting enough to give at least one episode a try, even if it's something you're normally not into. "A Slice of Life anime with a fun little twist" is probably the best way to summarize it, and even if it's just for the whole idea itself, just give it a go. It's the best way to take a break from all the serious stuff, and just relax a bit. It did the trick for me, so perhaps it'll be a nice breather for you as well.

By now, every regular MAL visitor is pretty much used to all sorts of anime, be it action, drama, romance, or something light-hearted and silly. There is one thing a lot of them have in common, though: They can be rather naughty from time to time. To see an anime that takes the subject of showing off cleavage and underwear without trying to lean towards the 'ecchi' side is rather courageous. It didn't exactly succeed in staying innocent and all, but it did bring us a silly yet heart-warming story featuring characters with each their own personality, a loose yet fitting storyline and some fairly ... decent art.

"Chuu Bra!!" is really an anime targeted towards a female audience. It's light-hearted, silly and involves girls talking about their undergarments. For guys, this might take a turn to the pervy, but it's not all that bad. It did add in some subtle elements to prevent leaning towards a female-only audience too much by including a guy's perspective, and some rather "interesting" scenes which to be honest didn't exactly have to be in there, but they were a fun extra bit.

The story involves a girl named Nayu Hayama, a middle schooler with an obsession for female underwear. After accidentally tripping during the opening ceremony and revealing some rather interesting panties, rumors stated some wrong things about her, but this didn't stop her from making some good friends and starting a "society" (club-like, but not a club) that researches underwear for girls who are not sure what kind they should be wearing. The whole society is pretty much the main plot element that keeps the story together, as the main characters always meet up during events and such, which improves their overall character development. The society includes our main character, two of her female friends (Yako and Haruka), and a guy who can't look at underwear for a second without feeling embarassed (Hiroki). Later on, another girl joins in (the typical rich-type girl who looks tough and all, but is actually kind and stuff) named Kiyono. All the club really does is converse about underwear and the likes, but as in anime like K-On, it tends to lead to different everyday conversations. The rest is pretty standard school stuff, and event planning and such, similar to before said anime.

Granted, the story seems a bit bland, but it's the whole "talking about underwear as if it's the most normal thing in the world" that makes the anime interesting. Normally, you'd expect it to go all ecchi and stuff when it comes to that, and it does have its moment from time to time, but it's surprisingly innocent as a whole. For the 12 episodes that it has, it's really nicely executed, and you can say it "provides fan-service without it feeling like fan-service". It simply doesn't feel naughty or anything, it's just fun to watch.

The art and sound are basic. It's a shame the show itself got a very poor BD release, resulting in artefacts and poor upscaling. However, the art as a whole isn't that bad, but it's nothing special either. It's similar to anime like "Love Lab" and "K-On", which still makes it entertaining. Same goes for the sound, it being nothing special, but not bad either, and both the art and sound add to the overall silly atmosphere this anime has. It really fits well with the character builds, and I wouldn't have seen it drawn in any other way.

In conclusion, this anime is a unique experience. Even though it's categorized as both "Comedy" and "Ecchi", it doesn't exactly feel like the latter should be marked, but it's understandable. Granted, the underwear bits (which there are a lot of) can be pleasing to the male eye and mind (or female depending on what you're into), but it's certainly not the main goal of the anime. Not only does it educate girls by learning them about proper underwear, it brings it in a way that both males and females can enjoy it without feeling awkward. The characters in overall are a lot of fun to watch, each sharing their own traits and having their own personality. Although character development is difficult with only 12 episodes, I think they did a pretty decent job at it. I would probably re-watch this with friends and have a laugh, too. It's quite a fun little anime, and although not exactly memorable, it does leave kind of an impression on you. I certainly would recommend giving this a try, either if you're into comedy or if you simply want to check out the "fan-service". Either way, it's a fun little show to watch inbetween. Something I never would've thought I would say about an anime mostly featuring women's underwear. At least, without having certain thoughts about it, if you know what I mean.

When I quickly glanced over the ratings of these episodes, I was preparing myself for the worst. I went through the OreImo series in a fast, pretty much semi-marathon-like pace, so I guess my overall opinion on the ending isn't as negative as the others. Not having to wait for a release kills the suspense, but at the same time makes you think a little more rational. I'll try to express my opinion on the ending as spoiler-free as I can, and why I think the rating I gave it is a decent one.

To start off, I've thoroughly enjoyed the OreImo series ever since episode ... one. I have not read the novels, but I'm seriously considering it. The show in general was unpredictable, full of silly events and overall a lot of fun to watch. The characters were really nicely executed, although I couldn't stand the little sister at first, but of course that changed after having watched a few episodes. Not only that, the way it mixes the otaku culture in give it a unique touch compared to other animes out there. Combine all that with some really nice and cute animation, and simple but nice music to go along with, and you get a well executed anime. Not perfect, just great. The second season was just as good as the first one, although it did focus on relationships far more than the first did, giving it kind of a "Clannad + After Story" feel, the first season building a base for the second.

And after episode 13 came the special episodes... Well, like I said, I was preparing for the worst. The first 2 episodes were decent enough to live with, although the sudden twist in relationships was, although expected, in my opinion a teeny bit rushed and slightly forced. What I loved is the way the supporting characters handled it, like nothing ever happened. Then, when you think it's going to end like you expect it to end with such a story, it twists again. For those who've watched it, I must say one thing. I wasn't mad, I wasn't even disappointed. It just felt, well, meh. That's all I can say about it.

What I was disappointed about beyond belief is the load of unanswered questions that were raised after this twist. The arguments and such, the stuff that made the ending seem all the more exciting were suddenly pointless. That's what ticked me off the most. Not the ending itself, but the consequences it brought with it. Because of this, I personally do not recommend watching these episodes if you're satisfied with the first and second season. Although not having watched this might leave you wanting more, it might be best not to watch this if you already have an ending made up in your mind, because it won't be the same as this.

As these are episodes you can't just watch without having watched the actual show, I won't go into detail on the series itself, I'll save that for another review if I'll ever feel like it. If I were to judge these episodes individually, I would respectively give them a 7, a 7 and a 6. And in conclusion, I will agree with the crowd. The final episode felt like a quick wrap-up, a surprise twist that leaves you empty and wondering how they're going to fix up the mistakes they made the two episodes before all that. It's such a shame it ended up like that, but I can't say I didn't see it coming. I knew they wouldn't choose the same direction a certain other anime would that involved the same issue the main characters had (Hint: it contains the word Yosuga). Still, I wish they would've executed it more properly, and gave it a smooth and satisfying ending. It's certainly not the worst ending an anime could have, but it could've been something better.

But what I can honestly say is that I've enjoyed the ride so far, and even though the ending had some bumps (and a major one at the very end), it's a ride you as a viewer must see through till the end. After all, we're always wondering what happens next, don't we?

When it comes to OVAs, this is probably as common, unoriginal and possibly repetitive as it can get. It features a load of fan-service, awkward situations and of course a lot of nudity, as you'd expect from To LOVE-Ru. Not that it's not enjoyable, but it's not for everyone, that's for sure. As for myself, I enjoyed it quite a bit just for the funny and awkward scenes, but once again, it's focused mostly on awkward scenes that involve fan-service. And a lot of it.

The "To LOVE-Ru Darkness OVA" episodes follow the same formula as the Motto season, meaning that each OVA is split into ... a few "Mini Episodes", the biggest difference being that these episodes are not related to the main story at all. The episodes are however related to chapters from the manga, but from what I can tell (not having read the manga) they don't affect the main story in the slightest. This means that not having watched this won't make a difference, other than perhaps the "Prologue" episode, which covers a bit from before the Darkness season. It really involves our main cast getting into a lot of weird, funny and awkward moments without any plot or real character development.

The art itself is of course the same as the actual series, so in overall pretty good, and it being an OVA, you won't be pestered by steam clouds and whatnot. The same goes for the music, the soundtrack and sounds overall are all pretty much from the main show. The only difference is that it focuses more on the ecchi parts, but what do you expect from a side OVA.

In conclusion, if you're looking for a bit extra after having watched the anime itself, it's quite the amount of fun. However, don't watch this until you've watched the Darkness season, it will spoil it for you if you haven't yet. The characters are still enjoyable, the art and sound is just the same as the show, the story is pretty much non-existant other than the "stories" the mini-episodes have, and it's overall still fun to watch. It is just as ecchi, if not even more than the actual anime, so be careful when watching in a public area.

PS: "Borderline hentai" anime takes it far further than this anime will ever do. Don't worry about it too much, just wear a decent pair of headphones and you're golden.

Straight off, "Clannad The Motion Picture" follows a similar yet different story than the Clannad and After Story anime. Do not compare the two as the movie has its entire story stuffed into 1,5 hours, had less producers and therefore most likely a lower budget, and takes a different path compared to the anime. Also, it has been released before the anime, and is therefore unrelated to the series as it's neither a sequel or a prequel.

With that said, Clannad The Motion Picture is what you would call an average movie. It isn't special, the characters aren't that well developed, and the art and the ... music makes it feel like you're watching a 90s flick, and shares the same traits as anime released back then, for example Sailor Moon.

The story involves a school delinquent named Tomoya, who doesn't care about school or socialising in the slightest until he meets Nagisa, a silly and clumsy girl who has no friends due to her repeating her last year. From there on, it's mostly about building character and progressing the story. Some side characters are added, but most of them don't leave enough of an impact to really care about, as the story focuses more on Tomoya and Nagisa. Given the time span the movie has, this is for the better, but leaves you with an incomplete picture, which is all in all quite a shame. Nevertheless, the overall story is enjoyable, and compared to the anime will still give you a punch in the feels.

The art is, well, I wouldn't say bad, but severely outdated. Nevertheless, I enjoyed it to an extent that I wasn't bothered by it, but I can understand why others would be. For a movie released in 2007, having an art style that resembles a 90s anime, it simply doesn't work well compared to what's out there. Even watching the DVD version, it felt like the quality was more like a VHS tape in 16:9. The animation wasn't that great either, but it was enjoyable and a change of pace.

The music has the same issue the art has, as it seems to have ignored the fact that we're no longer stuck in the DBZ and Vanilla Ice area. It's simply too outdated, and at some points I wished I could turn the music off as it tended to kill the mood from time to time. The credits song was nice, though.

The character development is overall rather poor as well. Other than the two main characters and perhaps Youhei, Tomoya's delinquent friend, the other characters are treated as plot development devices, and don't really add in much to the story other than progressing it, and aren't very memorable. Even the main couple doesn't leave enough of an impact if you haven't watched the anime, which (even though I said I wouldn't compare) built a proper base and therefore giving the punches in the feels much more of an impact. I can't blame them for trying to fit it all in a 1,5 hour time frame, but if you decide to make a movie based on a visual novel, you have to face the consequences if you can't manage to fit the entire story in.

In conclusion, I bet fans of the original visual novel might enjoy this to an extent, but the anime fans probably won't. It is however something you can watch without knowing anything about Clannad, but with the 2 anime seasons, it isn't recommended watching this first. The stories are similar but in the end completely different, the art style is outdated, the characters are too bland to leave enough of an impact, and there's simply better stuff out there. If you're curious, give it a watch, it's not like it's a complete waste of time. But watch the anime first, otherwise you might get confused if you decide to watch the series after the movie. It was a nice attempt, but unfortunately it didn't work out well enough to be considered on par with Clannad. My advice: Stick to the anime, and watch the movie when you feel like it. It's worth the effort giving it a try, but don't expect anything fantastic.