This being the first of many of KEY's Visual Art works had no level of expectation of how great or enjoyable Clannad was. After getting some advice from a friend, I can firmly conclude, I was not disappointed.
• Story:
Clannad, from the surface, is similar to many harems and high school life animes I've watched, revolving around a high school guy surrounded by bunch of typical harem girls and how his presence affects each individually. However, only after truly watching this anime are you able to understand how Clannad is able to surpass the typical harem genre.
Clannad is divided into arcs, each arch allocated to each of Clannad's heroines about their past and reasons for their personalities and actions. Clannad does so in a way that is natural, and the movement from arc to arc is smooth and doesn't leave you with the feeling of confusion. - 9/10
• Art:
Given that Kyoto Animation is known for its superb animation in previous productions, such as The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya and Kanon 2006, it is no surprise that Clannad has excellent detail and design. From the surroundings, its lighting and its characters, each scene is not too cartoony or realistic, and makes a good balance for you to truly enjoy watching. - 10/10
• Sound:
Clannad's ED and OP Theme Songs were of an average standard, and providing a fresh and upbeat tone from the very minute you watch it. However, these songs never really seemed to attach to me, but in the end, don't detract from the overall anime.
What really stands out in sound, is Clannad's excellent BGM, from the comedic music during Clannad's numerous funny scenes, that can leave you with stitches for hours, to the sad music during its many tragic moments, that only with them, could the scene truly bring me to tears. - 8/10
• Character:
Clannad's numerous Characters each have different personalities, and in turn, come with different pasts and different difficulties that they have faced in life. Clannad's unique characters and their different stories, breaks your typical "moe" and "loli" type of characters, and truly captivates my attention amongst the hundreds of harems available today. - 9/10
• Enjoyment:
Enjoyment - wise, Clannad provides a joyful feeling after completing this series, a feeling I get only after watching an anime that has truly been a great journey to experience. Rewatching this anime again after finishing it, is equally as enjoyable. - 10/10
• Overall:
Overall, Clannad is a fantastic anime that has really caught my eye, for its uniqueness and its sense of happiness. I highly recommend this anime to anyone who watches anime, because in turn, Clannad is worth every minute that you spend watching it. - 10/10
I am so glad, that Kyoto Animation is deciding to anime the second arc to this series! And I hope you enjoyed this series as much as I did. :)
