Story -- The overall story can feel a bit slow at times as it gets heavily involved in character development, but every second of airtime is meaningful - nothing is wasted here. The arcs for each individual main character all contain some excellent plot twists, and are well-coordinated - each one is more interesting than the last, and the final arc crescendoes into some of the most breathtaking human drama I've yet witnessed in anime.
Art -- Fantastic on every level. The characters are all drawn very attractively, and the animation captures all the subtle aspects of their personalities. The girls of Kanon can seem unnervingly real at times. In addition, the snow-covered backgrounds are beautiful and add a lot to the romantic theme.
Sound -- The music is all very appropriate, enhancing the mood without distracting from the scenes at hand. A piano theme that played during certain key moments was a particular standout, although I wasn't so fond of the OP song. Voice acting was great throughout, with the voices of Yuuichi, Ayu, and Shiori being the standouts.
Character -- An anime like this has to rely on its characters - they are the story, so there's no room for faults. Fortunately, Kanon comes through. Every character stands out with a unique style and personality, and the main characters genuinely grow and change throughout their stories - especially Yuuichi, who transforms from a rather plain protagonist into a strong and charismatic hero. I truly cared for the entire cast, although I found Makoto and Kaori difficult to like.
Enjoyment/Overall -- The quality shines through. Although Kanon was a far cry from my beloved Gundam and Bleach, it won me over in the end. I won't forget the vicegrip feeling in my chest that I experienced as I watched those powerful final six episodes, and scenes from throughout the series will be burned into my memory for a long time. I'd recommend anyone who hasn't seen this series to pick it up and stick with it - trust me and KyoAni.
