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Oct 8, 2014
I'd like to add to the pool of reviews for this anime because it was reviews that convinced me to try it. However, it was the enticing and unique plot that held me through to the end. This is very much an anime that shouldn't be judged so much by it's "cover"; it looks girly, frilly, and cliched, but if you watch it, you may gradually start to realize that it's much more than it seems.
Story: 10
The plot is the big hook for this anime. Even though it starts out as a very general magical girl anime (and continues to seem like so through some
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of the first half), it slowly unfolds and twists into a very unique and surprising story, right up until the beautiful and bittersweet ending. Even now, almost half a year since I first watched the anime, I still have intense feelings about the second half.
(I will admit that I am partial to magical girl anime, and those who are partial as well may enjoy it more than others.)
The story is based around fairy-tales, ballet, and finding happiness. It's not as childish as it seems, though, for it tends toward the darker side toward the end.
Art: 6
The art isn't too special. It's about ten years old at this point, and the quality is pretty average. The transformation sequence is the same in every episode, but it's pretty short, so it's not too bothersome.
Sound: 7
Pretty normal sound effects. The soundtrack is full of classical music, so if you do enjoy those types of songs, then it's very enjoyable. Ahiru's voice is supposed to sound "duck-like", but I actually really liked how it sounded--different from the typical anime heroine.
Character: 10
The main characters, especially Ahiru, were very much dynamic. There was a lot of internal struggle going on throughout the series, and I really like how almost every character turned out. Their changes in relationships were also really wonderful, and definitely not how you would expect them to turn out at the beginning.
Enjoyment: 9
One of the nice things about this anime is that it's funny. It's not an outright comical anime, but there were several times where the dialogue made me laugh out loud, just because of the frankness of it. In other terms of enjoyment, the anime really makes you feel things, if you stick with it.
Overall: 9
This is the sort of anime that very much grows on you. It's normal at first with little bits of humor and oddities here and there, but as it continues, it expands very much, opening up into a bizarre and interesting world. You get pulled in, hoping that the story won't become unfavorable for the characters that you've grown to love.
Reviewer’s Rating: 9
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Jan 19, 2014
Wow. That is my impression upon finishing the series (at 3 o'clock in the morning, I may add). I tried to start this series online a month or two ago and just couldn't get past the 2nd episode, but I recently bought it on DVD (because I wanted to see what all the fuss was about) and was hooked from the 3rd episode on.
Story: 10
This is the kind of story that sneaks up on you. At first, everything seemed a bit unconnected and I wasn't sure if I liked it, but when I picked it back up, watching a few episodes a night, I realized
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what a beauty the anime really is. The story is told in an anecdotal sort of format. Rather than showing the lives of a small group of people, the story seems to be more about life itself. There is a big focus on the world and staying in harmony with the creatures that live in it, even the "mushi" who can only be seen by some people but can affect many. One of the nicest parts about the anime is that it's really relaxing. Sure, there are suspenseful bits, but the aura of relaxation never entirely goes away. I was never scared of any of the mushi in the show (I tend to get paranoid in the dark) because even the detrimental mushi weren't the kind that would jump out and scare me, so I was able to retain a calm mindset.
Art: 9
All of the art is beautiful. The story is set mostly in rural Japan during older times, so there aren't electronics and technology featured--just nature, which I think is one of the most beautiful things to look at. The only problem I found with the drawings was that many of the characters looked extremely similar--the same coloring, similar hairstyles, etc. even between genders, so it was hard to tell them apart. However, characters never really crossed storylines, and the recurring ones were given significant characteristics, so it wasn't that much of a problem.
Sound: 10
The soundtrack for the anime is soothing and musical. I love the opening, which reminds me of summertime and nature, and the endings are all different instrumental pieces created specifically for each episode, so the mood of each story is carried through the credits.
Character: 10
There are only two recurring characters that I can remember (the main character, Ginko, and the doctor in one of the fishing villages). That being said, the characters in each episode all seemed extremely human, which was refreshing. Watching an episode is like meeting a new person and catching just a glimpse of their life while simultaneously being introduced to the creatures/mushi that occur where those people live. Ginko was also fun to watch, with a likeable and sometimes funny personality, and I really enjoyed learning his backstory.
Enjoyment: 10
The series did feel a little unfinished at the end, but then, the beginning wasn't that significant either, so I believe it serves its purpose as just a glimpse of lives over time.
Overall: 10
Watch it. Yes. Please do. Especially if you're stressed or something of the like--it's not a comedy, but it makes everything feel a bit more beautiful and profound (with not a lot of thinking involved). Take the journey along with Ginko and see how even though all creatures live differently, they are all part of this wonderful thing called life.
Reviewer’s Rating: 10
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Jan 19, 2014
While the first season of Clannad follows more of the typical "slice of life" guidelines (and does them quite well), the second season is a masterpiece. This has been my favorite anime series for more than four years. It's beautiful, sad, funny, and mysterious, while simultaneously conveying relatable themes through the heartwarming story of Tomoyo and Nagisa.
Story: 9
The story would be an absolute 10 if not for some of the first arcs in the show. Though they were a bit more realistic than those in the first season of Clannad, I found myself not enjoying them quite as much if only because the themes are
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not my favorite things to watch in an anime. However, when the story really gets going, it grabs and pulls you along. I find it especially potent because of how we get to watch the characters grow and mature while the story occurs.
Art: 10
The art is absolutely beautiful. I love how the sun shines through the trees and especially the scenes from "The World That Has Ended".
Sound: 9
The opening is one of my favorite anime songs of all time, and the soundtrack through the episodes is nostalgic and contributes greatly to the events in the story. However, the ending wasn't great--there were a few episodes that ended on a distressing note, and the happy, upbeat ending just didn't fit well with the tone of the story at those times.
Character: 10
The characters were already introduced in Clannad, but now we get to watch them mature and become adults. Since I'm reaching that stage in my life around now, the character development is even more fascinating. I feel like the characters in the second season were more realistic, in some ways, than they were in the first season.
Enjoyment: 10
Full marks all the way. I no longer cry at the sad bits, but I did during at least my first two re-watches, and I always laugh at the funny parts (because they're priceless). This is a series that will never get old for me.
Overall: 10
I would absolutely recommend this to anyone, especially those in high school/college. Indeed, I have made many of my friends watch it (whether they REALLY wanted to or not), and they enjoyed it greatly as well. Through love, anger, sadness, grief, and hilarity, the meaning of "family" always shines through.
Reviewer’s Rating: 10
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