PROS
Clannad is all about characters. It is the essential building blocks of this anime and the reason for all of the love it has received over the years. All characters in this anime, and I mean all of them, are layered out and interesting. No one is left as a side-character in the way same that other shows do. This anime focuses on every character and gives good background to who they are and why they do such things.
The story to Clannad is nothing special on the surface, but the underlying themes are spread throughout. Family, friendship, happiness, and everything that makes up the world we live in is discussed in great detail. Other anime with similar plots usually miss these themes when telling the story to their characters, which is why Clannad is so special. It deals with everything and more.
The soundtrack to Clannad is brilliant on every single level. The opening gets you pumped for a slice-of-life anime that goes beyond what many others stories can do. Actually, I think the soundtrack is perfect. There isn't one song in this anime that is not great, which is pretty amazing.
CONS
Certain episodes, especially in the beginning, can be very slow at times. It isn't an anime that goes by quickly (which can be considered good or bad). I, for one, was quite annoyed with this in the first couple of episodes. It annoyed me so much that I took time off from watching the other episodes because of how bored I was with the first few. Luckily, this changed my second time around. I still thought the same episodes were boring, but they weren't nearly as bad as when I first saw Clannad.
OVERALL
I know many might be turned away by the cliche storyline of Clannad, but I really have to say that it is a life-changer. One simply has to watch this, even if they don't like anime, in order to get a better understanding of life itself. Please do not let the slow-paced episodes keep you from seeing this anime. It has to be seen. It is a must-see.
