I will let this be clear from the get-go: SPOILERS FOR CLANNAD SEASON 1 (as if any of you needed any more reminders…It IS season 2 we are talking about here). This will be a review that essentially expands my views on the ENTIRE 2 seasons of the show. Translation, this is a review of Clannad AND Clannad After Story. The reason for this, is that in my eyes, Clannad is a 50 episode show that should be viewed as one complete story.
Also, much like the show Clannad, this reviewer hopes/assumes that you have read my review to Clannad S1. For those who are impatient, here's my final verdict for Clannad S1 (My review on season 1 only oversees how one can view the first season as a separate series, with no regard for After Story): "As a standalone season, Clannad is a flawed show with a few aspects of perfection that makes it only more important to finish the journey with Clannad After Story: In other words, it’s a must watch under the reality that; while not being an masterpiece, it’s a stepping stone FOR something greater."
And here we are fellas: the end of a 50 episode series run that had many citing as their gateway into the romance genre of anime, and has since set a benchmark in amounts of melodrama, raw emotion and tears, which few has managed to reach, much less surpass. Why so? In short, Clannad: After Story managed to illustrate, narrate and explore the most fundamental fibers of humanity, with a cast of characters so intimately constructed and personified to unravel the story, and each offered the audience something so precious, that it would be a travesty not to accept the gifts and cherish them; the gifts being of course: what it means to be a family, and that mystical bond that determines the limitless value of family.
So, how does Clannad: After Story try to depict family? Why, a force of good that can overcome any amount of pain, suffering and tragedy (note that last one). So, it would be interesting to observe how the show explores multiple facets of 'family' through the various arcs which essentially forms this 50 episode show.
Nagisa's eventual turn in the spotlight managed to offer a multitude of themes regarding love, while also providing as a blueprint for the 'perfect family'. One of the most endearing elements of Clannad is the Furukawa family: one that is depicted as a lovable unit filled with personality, one that managed to get by through a healthy dose of bad cooking to avoid sour feelings, one that welcomes Nagisa's new boyfriend with open arms, AND a family that values the happiness of each other over everything else. It was always a swirl of emotions when ANY member of the Furukawa family was on screen: you either laugh at silly Dad jokes, or you want to cry your eyes out along with Nagisa, as you bear witness to the selfness acts that eventuated to what's currently on screen: Nagisa on stage, during her first self-directed and solo-performed drama production. The ending of the first season no doubt left many believing, that what they are watching, was something preciously special.
Clannad: After Story's fame; rather interestingly, is more so tied to the latter 12 episodes; the first 10 episodes unfortunately forms a sort of a wall of confusion: "soo…this is the pinnacle of anime melodrama?"
Let's be clear, the first 10 episodes; which contains 3 small arcs for a variety of side characters; aren't bad. But considering the status of the show, these episodes are rather average and in most cases; allowed the flaws of S1 to come back; sometimes in even more obvious fashions: The events felt even MORE contrived, unrealistic and at times even contradicts the so intricately constructed character personalities. Without going into details, the inclusion of themes of siblings' need to care for each other, the relationships of a well-knitted um…gangster gang, and yet ANOTHER ghost story regarding a pet cat; are entirely welcome, but they could have been done so much better.
After Story's second half was; quite accurately; cited as the most depressing, heart-wrenching AND heart-warming second half of ANY series one has ever lived to bear witness to; been able to emotionally traumatize the audience not once; not twice; not thrice; etc… So, once again; when one judges it with an objective mind and cocked eye sockets; how well did it stand up?
First of all, when's the last time an anime announced a ship, have the series CONTINUE beyond the confessions, have them GRADUATE HIGH SCHOOL (wait…WHAT? WHAT HAPPENS AFTER HIGH SCHOOL?), GET BLOODY MARRIED, aaaannnnddd…get jobs and move into a new home? It never happens.
After Story established a new relationship medium after high school, with the intention to end the show with one huge final arc that essentially writes the biggest passionate and powerful love ballad to the human concept of (urgh…) family. Tomoya and Nagisa's relationship is simply sweet and adorable, with realism understandably shaved off slightly to allow for the portrayal of a perfect couple: one such portrayal which was ONCE AGAIN intended for establishing the audience's emotional attachment in preparation to the world-famous multiple knock-outs; such an ordeal that no one could possibly survive; unless you managed to live with a brick pumping blood into your brain instead.
Of the three major sub-plots that exists within this final arc, one of them seems to have achieved its goal most flawlessly. Tomoya's troubled relationship with his father was made evident throughout the show, with a history that hinted at abuse of alcohol, the loss of a loved one and even (possibly accidental) child abuse. The resolution of this side plot was, as usual, also evident of ass-pulling convenience (eg. The grandma character). But the resolution of the father character was done respectably and with a heavy emotional relief that warms the hearts of the audience, seeing a strained relationship mended through simple forgiveness and understanding of the circumstances which prevented a better life progression.
Unfortunately, the other flaws of this final arc exists in such a fashion that is utterly IMPOSSIBLE to analysis without mention of some sort of spoiler, so, squint your eyes and scroll down quickly, and continue reading once you reached the spoiler-free zone again.
(SPOILERS) It is rather unfortunate, that the most emotionally powerful scenes (and, there are many) of the final episodes, all suffered the same issue of artificial convenience. The pregnancy announcement for Nagisa was done in a light-hearted and funny way (curtesy of the Furukawa family), but not long before the show decides to once again plant hints of tragedy with a mysterious sickness that has haunted Nagisa since birth; one that was conveniently left unnamed and one that has no known cure, with symptoms that are not clearly explained beyond loss of consciousness and high fever.
Nagisa's passing succeeded in its branding on the audiences' minds purely because of its shock value AND how it was placed directly opposite the purely joyful occasion of childbirth. Against the backdrop of a snowing night, inside the family home, what was to happen was meant to be a happy moment. What instead happened was unexpected, unforgivable, and unfair, but it was done perfectly.
One of my personal greatest ironies, was how I viewed the arc dedicated to Ushio: for me, those 2 episodes…the interactions between Tomoya and his daughter defined my absolute favorite moments in any episode of ANY anime I've EVER watched: simple dialogue choices, the background design and setting of a flower field doused in a golden sunset, where the two lone figures of a father and his daughter cried in each other's arms, finally and truly united as a family. Each of these choices seemed to have made just for me: I cried when Ushio accepts her Dad's open arms, I cried some more along with them both, and watching as Tomoya tried to remember his wife on the train only reopened unhealed wounds, leading only to more crying.
HOWEVER, I also cannot shake the reality, that Ushio exists only as a plot device for Tomoya's character development; she was given only 3 to 4 episodes to show herself on screen, and was given little time to develop beyond that cute 5 year old who seems to act way too perfect for a child. Of course, her role increased towards the 'true' ending, but it doesn’t help, that Ushio was created solely for tear-jerking.
Speaking of the ending…I'm in the team who saw it as a good ending, mainly because I understood the hints the show has given us throughout the 50 episodes and took it as a relieving Disney-ending: the wish-fulfilling nature of those snowflake-like lights. Sure, could've been done better than the bi-polar taste that managed to both encourage suicide-provoking depression AND a 'Oh, thank God' reaction, but an ending that made me (urgh…)cry with relief. I shall explain why when we get to the music. (SPOILERS END)
Anyone who knows Kyoto Animation's production history, would quickly learn to expect big things from this studio: Their ability to pump quality into every frame of their production is simply astounding. So let's break down After Story's visual for some tasty analysis:
First of all, typical of KyoAni, particular attention was given to the movement of character models: rarely would you find scenes of static bodies with flapping mouths only, simple gestures of facial expression changes, body tilt animation also allows the characters arms to rearrange slightly to support the superficial weight. All that is done with the intention for a show full of characters that feel alive and human.
Of course, with shows such as Hyouka, Free! and the recent Hibike coming out, background art and camera tricks are no longer a viable selling point for Clannad's visuals: mind you, there are still wonderful when they need to, but Clannad still belong at a stage in time when KyoAni wasn't experimenting with more cinematic approaches to style the visual experience. Nonetheless, scenes such as Ushio running amongst a field of sunflowers (I think) and that overwatch hill bathed in sunlight as we watch Nagisa waiting for Tomoya as he finished his day job are all beautiful.
Now, to music. If you read my Clannad 1st Season review, you would know of my usual tastes in music: acoustic and orchestral, if you please. But Clannad AS's synth didn’t prevent me from calling the soundtrack a masterstroke. Let us go back to the epilogue for just one sec if you want an explanation. But first…
One of my biggest pet peeves was to see an OP or ED changed when the old one was PERFECT. Thankfully, the AS OP was an substantial upgrade in terms of emotional resonance and visual quality; a well-performed ballad coupled with scrolling shots of landscapes and a stylish showcase of major characters. The ED however was a big letdown. The Dango song was what I considered one of the most memorable, irreplaceable and perfect elements of Clannad S1, instead it was replaced with a run-of-the-mill J-pop song, that lacks the melody to remain hummable.
BUT. The dango song comes back to grace us with its return in the pain relief that is the show's 5 minute long epilogue; one that echoes the opening scene of the Pixar film Up: no dialogue, just scenes and music. The dango melody has been transformed into a power ballad, and accompanies the ending of the final arc. Having this theme follow me for almost 50 episodes, 'The Palm of a Tiny Hand' sends Nagisa's (AKA dango song) theme to a place higher than ever before. Gentlemen, behold, the power of music. Those who still scoff at the childishness of the Clannad ending song, would be bound to eat their words after this.
So, AFTER ALL THIS, who is Clannad and Clannad After Story for? Anyone who's willing to give it a go, I guess. There's a good reason as to why this duo became the anime poster child for romance: it is heart-warming, beautiful, honest in its homage to that wonderfully human concept of family and it knows what's important in human lives.
Clannad and Clannad After Story is a subjective masterpiece in this reviewer's mind, it is also objectively a must-watch show for everyone who calls themselves an anime fan; this is a landmark series that exists as required viewing, despite all the flaws that myself and every human on earth can throw on these shows.
To (finally) conclude. What Clannad has achieved is still waiting to be surpassed, in terms of its magnitude in exploration and dedication to the most intricate and intimate centre of human beings.
