First to those who played the visual novel, please stop comparing the visual novel to the anime, they are done completely different from each other. So please don't use the visual novel's high standing as an excuse that the anime will be the same. Using 'because it's a Key story' as a reason to watch is a different (and more agreeable) reason though, given that the same person wrote the same scenario as the whole of Clannad (and other various animes adapted from Key's work) is a plus and a good reason to watch this anime.
To those who are only here for the anime, please stop talking like you know everything about the anime when you have not completed the story yet (the anime is still airing). The slow pacing is not an excuse, many anime had slow pacing (not just for the first few episodes, it can even be for over half the series) yet in the near end there has been series that has shown to attain high praise, removing most, if not all, doubts for the slow beginning of those series. I do not want to see people making such assumptions that a slow burn at the beginning determines whether an anime is good or bad. The massive hype that you anime viewers are seeing, there will always be a reason why it is hyped. Just be careful if the hype fits what you were looking for, or you will be let down. Don't assume to make a point it is bad because of preconceptions of what you thought was worth your form of hype.
Generic? I will not use this as an excuse but give this anime a break, the visual novel was developed in 2007. Though it was after Clannad, it's not a surprise there will be some generic settings and character traits in this anime. Actually not everyone gets tired of these sorts of things, but those who do get tired... if you can overlook that, then go for it and watch it especially for the romance, drama and the obligatory Key magic narrative. I have no idea people are giving a damn about the repetitive use of generic setting and characters at this point of time. Just enjoy the ride and find out why everyone is excited.
JC Staff hate on adapting this Little Busters, and wanting KyoAni to pick up this adaption, here is a powerful and deep quote for you guys: "What dawned on me recently about Little Busters was that despite the premise of Riki building a baseball team via harem creation, the real focus on the show is not romance, but actually friendship, despite the Key label. And that answers many questions I had behind LB and its production. …It is this focus on friendship by the LB source material that it is well-loved by fans, and why JC Staff picked it up, and why, like you, I find it so charming and comforting." -Slashe@from a blog on lostinanime.com
...It's like what everyone always says: You will not be able to satisfy everyone since they all have different tastes and expectations. If it's not your type of anime, if you don't like Key anime, if you hate Little Busters!'s comedy, building narrative or pacing, then you don't have to yell so loudly about how bad it is. For the visual novel players, it's an anime so obviously they will leave out many things that aren't deeply or specifically relevant to the plot. If they leave out a favorite scene of yours then find an another scene that the producers did animate and is already giving you. For anime viewers, don't use your imagination on what you want to happen, or have expected this and that just because it's a popular series right off the bat (no matter how many times I need to repeat this, I'll say it over and over: the anime is still airing). ...Constantly comparing will ruin your enjoyment on what the anime is already trying to give and portray for you.
I will also include the anime's traits and argumentative downsides (negatives/cons of the anime that many people whined/complained about) to give new viewers a fairer reason to watch this anime if they're looking for one. If you love anime with a slow pace continuing to build up to a strong, emotional narrative (like CLANNAD (THE FIRST SEASON), STEINS;GATE, and possibly MADOKA MAGICA), that follows a kind of omnibus format, then this anime is fit for you. I am aware that there are people out there who:
-Hate this anime's moe-tification. (but some look forward to it and adore it because cute is supremacy)
-Hate this anime because of the (again) slow pace, because it bores you. (but some enjoy the atmosphere and (again) the slow build-up and tension giving you the mysterious feeling of anxiety to the emotional narrative)
-Hate the cast of characters' personalities. You must be one hell of a intolerant person. (but others can connect with those characters whether it's because of their personality or relatable experiences)
-Hate random panty shots. (Some don't mind nor care. Seriously, will a non-ecchi anime showing a single panty shot (or two) kill you? Do you hate sensual stuff that much?)
-Hate the character's voices and/or VAs. (The voices are completely fine, many including myself love it because it fits their personalities so stop yelling so loudly about the voices.. and stop using Komari's voice as an excuse to drop it, you must've not watched enough anime to hear VAs even worse and more grating. Komari especially is a popular character so you might be erased if you start hating on the voice for nonsensical reasons). There is actually another popular heroine or two that has the same VA as Komari's character doing quite great as well.
To conclude this review, if any of you ever go on assuming baseless facts about the plot, or questioning the narrative of the anime and it's current direction without clearly knowing the entire story, and the reasons why each character is acting the way they are when the anime is still currently airing/have yet to be completed: then you are a narrow-minded individual blindly looking for a reason to hate for your own strange satisfaction and unmet expectations (like those people who thinks an anime that contains 'hentai' in it's title would actually think they would focus on it and was let down...)
Thank you for reading this very unrefined review :)
