Clannad: After Story

First review, ahoy! Let's do this.. Please excuse my British spelling and potential blabbering :} Being relatively new to anime compared to some, having only "gotten into" this scene in the past year or so, I had inevitably been advised to delve straight into more mainstream anime; Cowboy Bebop, Elfen Lied, The Melancholy of Whatserface.. Those sorts of things, all of which I enjoyed to different extents. I then decided to veer off into more obscure and lesser known titles, just to broaden my horizon. Unfortunately, this experience wasn't great; there's probably a solid reason why the things I watched actually are lesser known; either they possess a 50% chance of developing a wonderfully creepy incestuous relationship, or they're pretty much just complete and utter tripe. Or both. Gotta love Japan sometimes. Following this less-than-stellar experience, I decided to treat myself to couple of much loved modern classics: Clannad.. And then Clannad: After Story. It's fair to say that this outstandingly crafted piece of work has had a telling impact on pretty much most people who have had the pleasure of watching it, some people have even gone as far to say that the emotion of the events in this series have changed the way that they will live their lives in the future. That really doesn't surprise me. So, why is this? Story: I've seen Clannad: After Story sometimes labelled "anime's greatest love story", which I would like to agree with. (However: I, and other people that claim such a thing may not have seen every love story going, so take it with a pinch of salt). The amazing thing is, however: it isn't solely about the love story between just two characters, it is about something more; the individual side characters' hardships and their underlying meanings, the friendships that develop (and the unforgettable one that was already developed: Tomoya and Youhei). And in the end, the show's main theme, "the importance of family" ultimately pulls through. The pacing of the story itself is quite odd - the first half of the series, which is dedicated to it's supporting character arcs, is quite slow and gradual, whereas the second half focus on the two main characters: Tomoya and Nagisa, accelerates from the deliberate and slow moving start with much faster-paced intent. The rapid change in pace is welcome and the slow start is most definitely NOT off putting in any way, though. Art: Kyoto Animation, what more can I say? The animation is typically great by their own high standard, with a special mention to the animation in particular in the scenes that take place with "the girl in the alternate world", which is probably the most compelling and beautifully put together animation I've ever seen and will see in quite a while. The rest of the scenery is a slight step down from that, but still provides plenty of eye-candy. As much as I personally liked the character designs, I have seen some minor complaints about the possible "unnecessary" moe elements that were present, especially in Nagisa - who possesses the typical features of a "kawaii~desu" (or whatever) character, with her prominently large eyes and small, fragile demeanor. I think the "unnecessary" claim is somewhat invalid though, as her fragile body becomes a more important plot element than you might think. The rest of the character designs are refreshingly simple and just.. Pretty. Sound: The OP wasn't as good or memorable for me as OPs by other Key influenced works, such as Air and Angel Beats (I haven't seen Kanon as of this review), but that doesn't mean to say I didn't like it at all. It kicks off with a little bit of melodic piano work, and is then taken forward with a more full, poppy sound accompanied by powerful vocals sung by the ever talented Lia. Like many others, I was slightly disappointed with the abolition of the infectiously cute "Dango Daikazoku" ED from the first season. The ED for this season though was a good, more uplifting listen. One problem with the more uplifting nature of this ED was that it ranged from being slightly unfitting to infuriatingly inappropriate after the more intensely emotional episodes. The BGM in general perfectly fit the situations, and again, a special mention to the BGM in the scenes involving "the girl from the alternate world". Mystifying and wondrous. Characters: This is another aspect where Clannad: After Story shines. I believe there is at least one extremely likable and relatable character on show for even the most cynical of people. Firstly the main characters: the insecure, soft spoken and adorable Nagisa Furukawa and the brutally honest yet caring Tomoya Okazaki, who in my opinion is one of the best developed male leads I've seen in a while. The development of these mains couldn't have come about with the help it's great cast of supporting characters; especially the Furukawa family. Nagisa's mother, Sanae, who is beautiful and often mistaken for her older sister, is caring, constantly cheerful and the perfect mother figure. She also makes some notoriously ass-bad bread. My personal favourite character from the entire series is Akio, Nagisa's father. He is a big-talker and is playful, he's also often the main source of silly comic-relief (taking the place of Youhei from the first season). But he is dynamic: kind, sympathetic and deep down is a serious family man. He also plays baseball with the neighborhood kids in his spare time. What a man. Overall enjoyment/conclusion: For many people, the term "enjoyment" of this series can be easily translated to "emotional impact" or "effect" on those individuals, as many have shed at least a tear (or 50) experiencing this anime at it's dramatic peak, and only the most skeptical of souls will avoid developing any emotional feelings towards any of the characters; and what a great cast of characters it was. The series delivered for me in pretty much every single way, and even when I wasn't fully expecting it. After about episode 17, I was thinking to myself "this is great, but I'd love to know more about Tomoya's father...". Guess what? Delivered. Little things like that helped make it an almost perfect watch for me, and it's undoubted high prestige among anime fans isn't decieving. Clannad: After Story gives you just about everything: sporting a solid, developed story, the outstanding cast of characters, typically great animation, emotional impact and above all: entertaiment. This is why Clannad: After Story will be a fondly remembered and loved future classic for years to come.

"If you feel like crying, you shouldn’t hold back your tears. You should let it all out while you still can... because when you get bigger, sometimes you can’t cry, even if you have something to cry about." I watched this in the middle of 2012, during the summer. I had previously watched Clannad, the prequel to Clannad ~After Story~ and enjoyed it a lot, I thought that Key had made a pretty awesome story. Then I noticed there was a season 2, so I decided to watch it, but never in my life would I have expected to find something so life changing that day. Clannad ~After Story~, the one anime that has changed everyone's perspective of life as we know it. It was my absolute pleasure to watch this, and I probably haven't cried this hard in... well, ever. About everything in Clannad ~After Story~ was perfect, and when I say perfect, I mean flawless and extraordinary. The story picks up off of Clannad. Nagisa and Tomoya are going out now, which was what everyone was wanting to see throughout the first season, and it was well worth the wait. Anyways, they're dating now, and they also seem to be helping more people with their problems, just like the first season. It wasn't until around episode 10 where the graduation starts where it started getting a lot more interesting, and a lot of stuff happens, some good things, some bad things, and then a few episodes later, the biggest, most heartbreaking thing occurs, and I can say that it hit me right in the feels. From there on out, I was constantly holding back tears from both happiness and sadness, no lie, it was hard for me not to cry while watching. In the end, I was a changed man. New perspective of life, new plan for my future, everything changed, and it was thanks to Clannad ~After Story~. The artwork was flawless. Beautiful scenery, amazing character art, everything was spectacular, so colorful and amazing. Voice acting, I'll tell you something, I'm guessing the voice acting won some awards somewhere on earth, it was filled with such realism. I loved everyone, they got some really good actors and actresses to take part in such a masterpiece, and I think that this may be what they're all most known for. Nagisa, Tomoya, Sunohara, Akio, Sunai, everyone is in the show once again, and all of them are playing much larger roles. Out of all the characters in the show, my favorite would have been either Nagisa or (Spoiler, sorry, can't give you any names). Nagisa is the person everyone falls in love with, both friendship-wise and romance-wise. She's the perfect human being. Tomoya is wonderful, under all the depression he's lived with in his life, he's honestly an awesome person. He cares for others and always tries to help people. A wonderful role model. Sunohara is one of the bestest friends anyone could have, hilarious, he's pure awesome. Sunai and Akio are the parents everyone might find embarrassing at times, but they are the idle parents, caring for their children in every way possible. Wonderful cast of characters. There are many words that can describe Clannad ~After Story~, but the word I choose is "Masterpiece". I've shown this to multiple friends, even those who want nothing to do with anime, and all of them have loved it. This is honestly one of the greatest animes in history, and if you don't even show a hint of sadness or joy on your face in this show, go to the doctor, you might be sick, maybe even have a minor concussion, this show should change your life no matter what. I am asking those who have not seen this yet, please, watch it. You will not regret the time put into watching this, you have my word.

What is it that ties us as humans together in this vast world? Is it our own personal experiences that we share and intimately bring to our relationships? Or is it perhaps some greater work that is unseen and not felt at all, uniting people in strange and inexplicable ways? What happens when the thing worth fighting for suddenly vanishes, leaves, or disappears? These questions impose upon us the thought of our own existence - the why's and how's, the intricacies of the human relationship, even the purpose of our own simple existence. In all the anime I have watched (you can check the list out, it's quite a bit), heck, even in all the TV shows, books, and movies, I have never come across a story that even attempts to touch these issues, let alone delve into them with such depth as to probe our very souls with thought provoking insights and revelations. When I sat down to watch the first season, Clannad, I had very low expectations. I'll admit, I was surprised to see a show that offered more than just a "feel-good" romance, more than some kind of fan-service harem genre. What I got was a story that made me both laugh and cry and left me quite satisfied with the direction and telling of the entire series. It was with this expectation that I immediately began to watch Clannad ~ After Story~ and submerse myself into the next chapter of the story. However, the questions I presented earlier began to emerge in this iteration of the Clannad world. I expected to witness a romantic-comedy; experience all the joys and frustrations that come along with intimate relationships. And while the series begin with the same "lighthearted" and fun feel, a seriousness begins to come forth and take deep roots. By the time I reached the 12th and 13th episode, I was confronted with an extremely complex and deeply emotional plot that began to tug at my heart and really affect me in ways I have never experienced. I began to take short breaks after each episode and question my own life, examine things that have happened to me. By the 16th episode, I began to cry and sob, near hysterically, at what was happening to the characters. Too many experiences in my own life rang too true with what was going on. It felt as if someone had decided to write a tale based upon my own life. Now, before I frighten you off from watching this anime, I imagine this anime was so emotionally taxing on me because of my own personal experiences. I'll let you know now that there's light at the end of the tunnel. There's hope; a message of life, love and happiness that warms the heart and soul. However, if you do plan on watching this, be prepared to cry... a lot. There's too much to be said about this series and to why I give it a perfect 10 in detail, so instead I offer a few words on each category. The story is unlike any others I've seen or heard of. If you thought the first was good, then this one makes the first one look like it was written by a bunch of kids. There's such a depth and immensity to the story that it will likely take several times re-watching to fully appreciate and bring justice to this phenomenal plot. As for the art, it is breathtakingly beautiful. Everything looks like it was drawn or rendered with care and compassion. No detail looks missed. In terms of sound, that Dango song will grow on you and begin to become a favorite. Other songs make their statement and touch and move appropriately to the scence. Voice acting is top-notch as well. Characters can't even begin to be described. Every single character is clearly and concisely presented, thoroughly developed and represented, and given plenty of attention to intricate details. Rarely do characters ever feel this... real. As for the enjoyment and overall areas... fantastic, amazing, wonderful... pick any positive adjective here - it fits. After saying all that, I've finally found an anime to which I'm not afraid to give a perfect score - a new favorite that has changed my life, my personal views on many things, even my own outlook and expectations out of relationships I've had and still have. Clannad ~After Story~ has earned it's right to be my new number 1.

For something which isn’t really a comedy, Clannad is hilarious. A lot of the funniest situations are instigated by Okazaki, but he somehow manages to come off as manipulative without being mean-spirited. It adds another respectable element to his character and separates him even further from the hapless harem lead archetype. Not all the jokes work, although most do and had me laughing. Sunohara’s jokes are often out of sheer stupidity,but are funny nevertheless. An excellent sound track and a solid (although somewhat unpolished) visual effort combine to form a topnotch anime, while Ishihara Tatsuya’s directing deserves credit for accomplished storytelling. The ending has been oddly received with controversy, but I really don’t understand why. Sure, there are still unanswered questions regarding the Illusionary World, but in my opinion, the importance of this pales in comparison to the issues that were tied up in the final episode. While there are a very few flaws in this anime, there are many aspects of it that have been executed extremely well.For example the constant and continual character development that the two leads go through makes up for it. Also the animation in itself was amazing rivaled only by few others. The story was one of a kind and can not be found in any other anime. As for the sound i give it a 9/10 only because i heard the angel beats sound track which i believe is the only 10/10. And the comedy and ever changing protagonists made for an enjoyable and exciting lead characters. We are given answers to questions that were left unanswered in season 1 such as: How will Nagisa's and Tomoya's relationship grown and change? and What the heck is up with the girl and the robot?. The shows shows us the next chapter in the lives of Okazaki Tomoya and Furukawa Nagisa and then takes that and shoots off way beyond that, and takes through each moment , stage, and emotions of the lives of these two people who have decided to spend the rest of theirs lives together. This anime achieves way more than other romances have. It isn’t very often that we are given the chance to see the nature of growing up with all of its trials and errors.We are also shown just how hard maturity is to achieve, and as we observe Nagisa and Okasaki struggle through some of life’s toughest challenges or when we watch as one of them crumbles only to come out a stronger person even stronger shows that giving up is the easier option but bearing through will make you a better and stronger person. Story: 10/10 Best and most touching story i have seen to date 12/23/11 ( Cried like a baby) Sound:9/10 It is really well done and produced it goes well with the show except at times the ending is completely out of character. Characters:9/10 Always evolving and becoming more mature. Art:9/10 top of line arguably the best as expected of Jun Maeda. Although the 2010 anime " Angel beats" also by Maeda has a slightly more polished look. Overall: I enjoyed this anime very much, and i consider it to be one of the best I have seen and THE best romance anime. I recommend this to anyone who enjoys romance anime or anyone who would like to begin to start watching romance anime. This is the anime that brought me into the romance genre.I must say that this anime is a masterpiece. I can honestly say that I experienced something that changed my life and shaped me into a better person. To Jun Maeda the writer of this anime i praise and salute you. Clannad showed me so much just to name a few..... It showed me that when you work hard, you can achieve your goal. It showed me how precious life is. It showed me that things change, it's never standing still, but when you look out you can also find new funny things, so this is no reason to give up. It showed me that good things? and sometimes also bad things happen, but when you look forward, you can go on. It showed me how important family is Also if you don’t cry/sob/anything involving tears during the show you ARE NOT HUMAN, just do yourself a favor an keep a box of kleenex nearby.

Have you ever thought that fictional characters might influence your life so much that it changes your whole perspective on the purpose of life? I didn't, until I watched Clannad: After Story. General information: If you are familiar with anime, chances are high that you might have heard about Clannad and Clannad: After Story, two anime produced by Kyoto Animation and generally known as 'tearjerkers'. Both series are based on the Virtual Novel 'Clannad' that was originally produced by Key. So far I can also highly recommend the visual novel, but of course this review will describe the anime Clannad: After Story. To put it simply, Clannad: After Story influenced my life in a way I would have never expected. I know that this sounds rather lame, perhaps also because you have certainly read this very line in a million other reviews, but it is a blatant truth that has to be mentioned. Which leads me to the point that it was obviously better than I expected (even though my expectations were unreasonably high after watching its predecessor (Clannad) and after hearing that After Story is going to be a million times better). Besides, After Story obviously changed my perspective on a lot of things. Even though the basic principle of the story is rather simple, it manages to grip you like almost nothing else, in particular because it has this very ability. Aside from that, the series gives you many different kinds of inspiration for your every day life. It is something that – simply said – changes your perspective on the world. Though, my conclusion will be explained further by the end of this review. Plot/Story: 9.8/10 As I've said before, the plot of the story is nothing special by itself, it is something you can basically describe as slice of life. The story is neither extraordinary, nor outstanding by itself. Only in combination with the characters and all their (painful) background stories, you are able to appreciate the series at its best. This is also why I recommend everyone to watch Clannad before watching Clannad: After Story: only after watching the first season you are certainly able to comprehend the characters and to appreciate their character development. That's the big point: you get in the roles of the characters, and this is where After Story truly shines. Basically, the first half of the series is indeed nothing special in comparison to other series. We have a couple of small arcs about some of the supporting characters, which aren't really outstanding, even though these episodes are pretty well-written and in general enjoyable. Still, those parts of the story definitely aren't enough to understand my rating, also because these arcs are absolutely irrelevant for the main story. The main characters don't get any significant character development during these arcs, therefore these arcs can be only seen as useful in terms of the minor characters and the development they get. But where After Story truly shines, is the latter half, the arcs of the story that are eventually relevant in terms of the main characters. Even though this part of the story 'just' describes all the ups and downs of the main character's life, it does it in a really astonishing way, and that's where the story shows its best side. Because of the well-proceeding character development (you can read more about that later), you can truly appreciate how the main character feels in all the phases of his life. Beside that, the whole set-up of the story was definitely great and the pace of the latter half was perfect, so the story never seemed rushed. In a nutshell, the plot doesn't seem extraordinary or complex, but this is another aspect why I consider this series as something great. You don't expect something from a series that has such a seemingly monotonous plot, yet the story is absolutely unique, particularly in combination with all the plot twists. Some people assume that the plot is predictable (mainly because of its genre), but I honestly don't think that. You'll be positively surprised when you watch it. If there is one thing that can be openly discussed by the community, it is obviously the ending. Some people like it, some people don't, mainly because it destroys some of the efforts the producers made in order to produce a realistic series (which can be seen as a little critique from my side). This is a question you have to answer for yourself, while it definitely depends on your personal preferences. On a positive note, there weren't any visible plot holes left after the final episode, even though the ending may seem a bit confusing if you don't know the Visual Novel. Animation/Art style: 9/10 There are people who dislike Key's art style (in particular because of the big eyes of the female characters), but I actually grew to like it very much, also because it is really unique and since this style defines the characters in an appropriate way. Despite your personal preferences on this particular topic, it is generally known that KyoAni shows during After Story how truly beautiful an anime series can look. The animation is really well-made, in particular the scenes with Sakura trees are truly gorgeous, hence I can highly recommend the series to you if you like well-animated series. Beside those scenes, KyoAni's animation also shines in the 'Illusionary World' scenes. Those scenes are always animated in the ideal way to create a fitting atmosphere. In general the art style definitely fits the atmosphere of the series, also because of the appropriately used blurring effects. The art style was never misplaced throughout the whole series, even the backgrounds were usually memorable and breathtaking. In case you want to check it out for yourself, just watch the opening, since it manages to show perfectly how good the animation is. As well I see no reason to complain about the character designs. Each character is designed in an unique way, so you can identify them easily. In addition to that, their characteristics are well-represented by their designs, no matter whether the character is rather shy or extrovert. The characters' designs usually didn't spoil the story, though. Sound: 9/10 I guess that I should start this part of the review with my opinion about the opening theme. A truly gorgeous song. I started to listen to it on a daily basis, since it motivates me like almost nothing else. It is nearly perfection, in particular since this opening fits rather sad scenes as well as times in which an episode starts on a rather positive note. Other songs that appear during AS are great as well. Just take 'Small Palms' as an example. This song is always able to fit the atmosphere, so I'd likely give the sound a high rating. You wonder why I didn't give the sound a 10/10? There is one simple reason. Torch. (The ED) As much as I like Torch as a rather motivating song, it often managed to destroy the atmosphere of a complete episode in less than 10 seconds. Including various ED's would have been better, considering that the upbeating atmosphere of Torch doesn't fit a couple of episodes at all. Still, I also grew to like this song. Kudos to Jun Maeda for this one, he did a great job again. About the character voices (attention: I only watched the English sub, which means that I only heard the Japanese voice actors and actresses): Each character definitely got the perfect voice actor/actress in the 'original' version. The character voices perfectly fit their characteristics, the quality of the sound is consistently good as well. Beside that, the voices are perfectly detachable, so you will never get confused by them. The voice actors definitely made a good job here. Characters: 10/10 I already enjoyed the characters (and the relationships between them) during Clannad, but After Story made me truly love them like my own children. To start with, all the characters were really well-rounded. Each character has got many different flaws, but also many strengths, which were ma…

Clannad is an anime in my opinion that you'll either really like, or really dislike. I was one of those people that really liked this anime. Clannad has always been one of my favorite animes, so I've finally decided to write my review on Clannad: After Story. Brace yourselves, I like to write really in depth reviews on stuff like this.. Story- 9/10 Clannad: After Story has one of the most thought out stories in an anime that I have ever seen. Clannad is mainly known for being a feels trip, and it is. If you didn't cry while watching Clannad (for some reason) than there's no way you'll survive After Story. The ending is foreshadowed throughout the entire anime, even back in the first season. The ending may seem confusing at first, but when looking back on the story, you can really see how each of the pieces fit together to actually make it make sense. The reason I give it a nine, instead of a ten is because, yes, it is confusing. I didn't really get it at first, and I had to do a little research and ask other people to completely understand it. But that's also what make Clannad so good. Because the ending isn't fully explained, it leaves it open to interpretation, so there really is no right answer. Art- 9/10 Clannad's art style looks very well done. The only complaint that I've seen about the art would be about the characters eyes. Personally, they didn't bother me that much, but I can see why it bothered others so I give it a nine. After watching the show though, I wouldn't really change the eyes though, because they sort of feel like a signature to Clannad, and I couldn't imagine it any other way. Sound- 10/10 I'm not usually impressed by anime's soundtracks, but Clannad has to have one of the best soundtracks. First off, the soundtrack is HUGE. There's so many songs to go along with every situation, that give it a lot of emotion during certain scenes. I most likely would not have cried during some scenes if it wasn't for the music. A few of my favorites from the soundtrack would be the opening, Fuko's theme, Shining in the Sky, The Place Where Wishes Come True, (this song will always make me cry) and of course the dango song. Character- 10/10 I had to give Clannad a 10/10 for character, just because of how much character development there is. Almost each character got a backstory in Clannad which allowed you to understand, and actually feel sympathy for the characters, which is a pretty important thing in Clannad. I can't help but cry along with these characters when they're crying too. Enjoyment- 10/10 This was a no-brainer for me. Clannad was one of the first few animes that I ever saw, and it's really what got me obsessed with anime. So because of that, I may be a little bit biased towards this anime, but I tried to fairly rate the other categories. This anime IS my all-time favorite, so a 10/10 is kind of a given. Overall- 10/10 Clannad is such a beautiful anime. The story it tells is pretty sad, no, VERY sad, but it shows how harsh life can be sometimes. Clannad: After Story already had one thing going for it from the start- it's different. Clannad was a harem anime, and we all know how those usually end. But in Clannad, the mc ACTUALLY CHOOSES A GIRL. Clannad: After Story takes this a step further and actually shows what happens after the two characters get together & what their lives become afterwards hence after story. If you are looking into watching After Story, I recommend you look at Clannad first. I wouldn't really consider it necessary, and if you really wanted to skip it, you'd probably enjoy it just fine, but Clannad gives a lot of character development, which is important if you want to enjoy this show to it's full potential. So that's my full review on Clannad! It was my first review, and I know it was a lot, but I tend to write a lot on most writing pieces I do anyway.. If you were unsure on whether to watch this or not... I hope this review helped. I'd definitely recommend this to anyone looking for a good romance/ slice of life anime (although there is some supernatural parts to it) -lzzy

I didn't write a review for this after watching it because I honestly believe my words won't do it justice, but I'll give it a try anyway. I'm pretty new to reviews so please bear with me. Story: 9/10 I would definitely give this a 10, but judging the anime's entirety, I'm gonna have to give it a 9 since the first 10 episodes or so are a repetitive...as in they're really similar to Clannad and not that special. What really separates After Story from the first one is what happens after the first 10 episodes, where the plot twists and character development really take off. I have never ever cried from reading a book, watching a movie, listening to a song etc. until the day I watched After Story. I have never experienced a story so sad and moving. Myanimelist describes a 10 as a masterpiece. What defines a masterpiece then? To me, an anime is a masterpiece if it accomplishes what its genre intended. That means if it's a comedy, I think it's a comedic masterpiece if it made me laugh like never before. If it's an action masterpiece, that means I felt the intensity and nervousness as if I was there with the MCs. AF is a slice of life and drama masterpiece. Upon completing it, I felt my life had changed; I had always had an awful relationship with my parents, but AF taught me the value of family and friends and just how precious your loved ones can be. It actually changed my ideals and beliefs. I'm not saying I magically started loving my parents again, but AF taught me I should at least appreciate them. I didn't think anime even had the power to do something like that to me, but AF did. Art: 10/10 Anyone who's seen Air or Kanon will know that Key always does a great job with their art, whether it's animating scenery or characters. Yea, Key does use a distinct style with animating their characters, but I didn't see any problems with it. Sound: 10/10 Yes, the story itself for AF was unbelievable, but really the music itself was absolutely critical to it becoming a masterpiece. The music Key chose for its scenes fit perfectly and really were what moved me to tears during the sad moments. Even after watching the anime, I immediately downloaded AF's soundtrack because it was just that good. In fact, I mention in my Kanon review that what prevented that anime from becoming a masterpiece was because the music they chose was kind of poor and awkward. But AF's music was sad when it needed to be, and funny when it needed to be. Character: 10/10 I was slightly disappointed that most of our heroines from the first Clannad disappear in AF, but the character development of our main hero and heroine becomes all the more outstanding because of it, since there's now more room to concentrate on just their relationship. Tomoya continues his journey from a bad boy who cares about nothing into a respectable man who learns the true meaning of family while Nagisa finally sheds her shell of shyness and learns to support her man ins his journey. They both encounter terrible hardships, but they learn to grow from them and they both remind us that people can indeed change for the better, and that good deeds are always rewarded, no matter how small. Sounds a bit overly optimistic? Perhaps, but every once in a while we need an overly optimistic message to remind us that while life is hard, it has its rewarding moments. Enjoyment: 10/10 Truly a moving and impacting story. I cried a ton during this anime (I have honestly never cried from anything I've read, seen, or heard before until this show) and you definitely will too. I can't even bring myself to rewatch this anime because of how emotional it is. If you love drama, slice of life, or romance, this anime will catapult itself to the top of your list once you're done with it. I know I'm making this anime sound really serious, but just like in the first Clannad, its funny moments are indeed funny and you will have a good time. Overall: 10/10 I think I already said all I've wanted to say, and the final conclusion is: you will love this anime. However, definitely keep a box of tissues next to you while you watch. I'm not even kidding.

Story- 9/10 Shima: "Love is like a firework from the past… it’s more beautiful for it to go to pieces and scatter far off.” The story of Clannad After Story (CAS) manages to refine and mature it’s emotional impact from its prequel, ‘Clannad’. The show basically starts off by continuing the same principles of Clannad; it just gives those last few characters their deserved individual attention. These story arcs carry a whole lot more impact than before because they just simple had more effect on the characters themselves. After a few episodes however, we start to see the characters grow up, so it is understandable that the life issues become far more mature. The fact that we can see these characters growing up and that we have been alongside the main characters this whole time, makes any of their struggles or joys, our struggles, and our joys. Indeed… tears will be shed. While I will never knock CAS ability to impact the viewer, its ability to construct a story isn’t as great. As mentioned, CAS has to follow the better part of one person’s entire life. This leads to some incredibly rushed parts of Okazaki’s lifetime, and it leads to some really drawn out and emotional events. Thus the quality of the episodes were very varied. Finally, the ending of CAS… was emotionally confusing, to say the least. The show ended up trying to be as sad as possible, whilst being as happy as possible. But in reality, it just ended up being as much of a mess as I was emotionally. Sound/ art- 9/10 As with the emotional impact, the artwork was also greatly refined. There were some especially beautiful scenes that really captured the spirit of the moment. Otherwise, the animation still offers the same comedic value to those humorous scenes and still maintains the general charm of the original series. The soundtrack remains largely the same, with the exception of the amazing OP and the ending song. Having this constant through both series gives those repeated tracks even more depth and meaning and listening to them after finishing both series will bring back a flood of memories. The one problem I had with the soundtrack was the ending song. In general, the standard episode would end with a really touching scene. The atmosphere would then almost be completely destroyed by a really upbeat song with people skipping everywhere. It just ruins the moment. Anyway, here is the name of the beautiful OP sung by Lia ‘Toki Wo Kizamu Uta’. Characters- 10/10 Akio: ‘So I’m going as your friend #1; YO YO I’m the MC Akio!’ The characters of Clannad are as wonderful as ever. Every character has a chance to shine in the end with their own, emotionally powerful story arc. What I loved more with CAS was that there were more group interactions, where as in Clannad, the focus was on individual development. So in a sense, Clannad did well to set the stage for those hilarious gatherings. It was particularly great to see Akio and Sanae, possibly the best anime couple ever, to become more involved in the story as well. The only issue I had with the characters is pretty much the same that I had with Clannad; that some characters just disappeared after being developed. As the story continually focuses in on Okazaki, the other characters just start to vanish, as such, not much changes in their lives. Again, wasted potential here. Enjoyment (impact)- 9/10 I ended up absolutely loving everything with CAS. From the legendary Akio to the tomboy Kyou. From the hilarious Sunohara to the troll that is Tomoya. Besides from the defining qualities of the characters, I felt like I knew each animated design as a person. A person that I had shared many laughs and tears with. The beautiful animation and soundtrack gave Clannad an irresistible charm and an unavoidable impact. Some scenes, through a combination of the characters and media, are and always will be some of the most powerful scenes in film today. CAS is certainly a moving masterpiece. Overall- 9/10 “Your task is not to seek for love, but merely to seek and find all the barriers within yourself that you have built against it.” Jalal ad-Din Muhammad Rumi. Clannad After Story will change the way you think about valuing love and friendship. At the end of the day, anything as beautiful and as touching as CAS should recommend itself to you as a human being. If not, hopefully this review has convinced you to do so anyway.

"Tomoya, Nagisa isn’t just our daughter, she’s our hope. So I want you to know that today on you’re part of that hope, too. So never forget that your happiness is our happiness as well. In other words, try your best to be happy, okay?" I had watched Clannad for the first time, I was quickly drawn in. The progression through the heriones' arcs were done expertly and I had felt like it was my favorite series ever. Thene I stumbled across After Story. (ATTENTION I am basing this rating off of genre, but I will also rate it traditionally at the end. Also be free to message me on how I grade using genres) After I had finished the first season, I couldn't wait to start watching After Story, due to the fact that I thought Clannad's After Story could in no way match how amazing Clannad was. I couldn't have been more wrong. After Story is a direct continuization of it's predecessor, Clannad. I must admit, the first few episodes seemed like a failed comedy relief scenario, pretty much throughout the Sunohara arc. Things get a little more interesting through Yukine's arc, and Misae's arc is actually quite strange, but nevertheless has a good impression that is left. After all these arcs are done with is where After Story really shows it's true colors.The main arc is full of happiness, surprise, sadness, anger, sorrow, hoplessness, love, and the fact that life goes on, no matter what. In fear of any spoilers, I will get right into Genre Rating: Drama - 50 out of 50 What really makes After Story shine is it's ability to lead you on with happiness and love, only to stab you with harsh-reality and sorrow. Out of all the animes i've watched, only After Story has managed to evoke me enough to cry. Twice. Even if I re-watch it and know what is ahead, I still breakdown into tears. After Story really does have a great way of telling a story to where it is almost perfect, then burning it down with a tragedy. Romance - 25 out of 25 The main story arc around After Story is Tomoya's and Nagisa's strong love for each other. Even when times are rough, especially for Tomoya, Nagisa helps him pull through, doing whatever she can to help. What really astounds me is how much they progress together, conforming to one another, to the point where they aren't an awkward couple like the end of Clannad, but in a comitted loving relationship in After Story. It is really touching Slice of Life - 25 out of 25 Slice of life in some animes are usually just some guys life revolving about school, which was what the original Clannad was about. Now, don't get me wrong, I love scenarios like that, but After Story was different. It was a story of a man, working to keep his apartment, to make money for his loving wife, and to carry on as life usually does. It seems so simple, where it's is so very far from it. There are so many things going on during this process, one might wonder how he even decides to go to his job. And after he loses everything he cares for, he still continues to work, because that's life. "Life goes on" is the most painstakingly-true theme of this series, and it hit me very hard Final score: 100 out of 100 Need I say more? Everything I've said is the most I can say without revealing any spoilers, so go ahead and watch it, but make sure you watch the original Clannad first, you won't regret it. I am also a big believer in the final episode. The original series had fantasy and supernatural as two of it's genres, so I was hoping for something like that to come along. And besides, if that last episode didn't exist, I would have constant anxiety over what i've seen, so i'm glad it's there. And as promised Story - 10/10 I really can't say much more. Please, please go watch this anime. You won't regret it. Art - 10/10 Yet again Key and Kyoto Animation make another beautifully drawn and flowing anime. Layered effects, colors that fit the mood, and wonderfully drawn characters, After Story will not dissapoint. Sound - 10+/10 I am a music person. That is my life. And after hearing After Story's OP, I already knew this was the best intro to any anime ever. Though true the ED really smacks you in the face after experiencing emotional distress while watching After Story, it is overpowered by the amazing back tracks to it's characters and it's OP. The voice acting is incredible! They seem to mature so much to the point where if you watch Clannad again after watching After Story, you'll be confused. Trust me, watch the English Dub, it is perfect. Character - 10+/10 The character progression in the series is spectacular, especially around the middle, where you see some dynamic changes in everyone. Watching Clannad is the best way to see the major change of personalities. Showing how people can change for there loved ones is very realistic. Enjoyment - 10+/10 Not one anime will ever be as marvelous and well put together as this one is. I would ask no more from the series, because it stops at the perfect spot. The show is also a steady emotional climax that is waiting to occur. There could be just one, or many. It all depends on you, and I loved that aspect a lot. Overall - 10/10 Any less should be a crime. After Story really showed my how harsh life is and not to take anything for granted. Stay true to your family, where it can be your true family and/or your friends, and you'll be just okay. Life is not a dream, you cannot awake from reality, so lead on with your life in the pursuit of happiness. Thank you for reading my extensive review. It's greatly appreciated. Please go watch After Story. There's nothing to regret, I promise. "Do you like this school? I really, really love it. But nothing can stay unchanged. Fun things... Happy things... They can't all possibly stay unchanged. Even so, can you keep on loving this place?"

I've seen a lot of people hating on this anime because it's "Over-dramatic". I personally just think they couldn't handle it. Clannad: After Story changed my view on anime forever. It's a beautiful ending to a beautiful show. I shed tears of laughter, happiness and sadness. All in all, watching this was an emotional roller coaster and by far one of my favourite series of all time. In just five episodes I grew to love the characters in this show, The character development was very well done. every arc brought on a lump in my throat right from the beginning of the first series to the end of the second. A legend in anime, may that never be changed.

As you may have gathered from the title ‘Clannad after Story’ is the sequel of the anime ‘Clannad’ and a very good sequel at that! I might even go as far as to say that it simply outshines its predecessor presenting us viewers with a beautiful story of that difficult transition from adolescence into adulthood. And indeed, the cast we’ve all come to know and love face some horribly adult situations throughout the duration of After Story but they overcome these obstacles slowly but surely, beginning to mature all the while. Clannad after Story begins where its prequel left off. Tomoya and Nagisa are very much in love, Aw... But hold it, there’s more! Unlike with many other anime of its genre After Story pretty much revolves around the couple’s relationship and how it develops over t-i-m-e. Likewise with Clannad, the beginning of After Story is divided into multiple arcs, or stories revolving around the people touching in on each other’s lives. By about episode ten however the focus shifts back onto Tomoya and Nagisa and the development of their relationship. It is this shift that may cause viewers to become unsettled or to lose interest as the traditional Clannad style slowly begins to morph into something a bit newer. Instead of focusing on those around them the anime chooses to shift its focus onto the two main characters, Tomoya and Nagisa themselves. I think that this is only natural as life itself is something that is constantly shifting and changing. People make and lose friends all of the time and as you get older and more mature your life begins to centre on one or two of those more important people in your life and those around you gradually fade away as they begin their own lives. It is Clannad after Story’s accurate portrayal of life in all of its bitter entirety that makes it shine and why I’d implore those unsettled by the change to persist. Clannad after Story features both new and familiar faces. Their roles might be considered more minor this time round but the supporting cast of Clannad are still as lovable and enthralling as ever. Forever adding humour where humour is needed and wisdom where wisdom is required, the supporting cast does what it says on the label. They’re the gooey, jammy stuff that holds this metaphorical ‘cake’ of an anime together and without them; it’d taste pretty darn bland. It is during After Story that Nagisa’s true maturity, beauty and silent determination as a blossoming woman shine through. She becomes so much more than just your average school girl featuring in your run-of-the-mill shoujo anime. She’s truly an extraordinary character. Her bravery and sheer determination to overcome all obstacles despite all odds moved me to tears. Her bravery made me feel [i]ashamed[/i] for taking my own life for granted, I learnt that I should treasure every moment, every breathe as being something precious. Could you say the same for many other anime women out there? Think about that one for a moment... Tomoya, bless his soul, is the character to go through the most development throughout the duration of After Story. Life throws everything it has in his way, every time he thinks he’s found at least a little bit of happiness another obstacle rears its ugly head but he does his best to work through them. He struggles and at some points in the story loses all hope whatsoever that his life will ever get better but it’s those around him that give him a reason to live and that too applies in real life for what would any of us be without those around us to support us. With the help of those around him Tomoya works through his troubles and comes out of the other side a stronger man. After Story’s art follows through and continues at that same high standard set by its prequel. The background art is beautiful drawn and coloured with exceptional detail. The character design is characteristically cute for an anime of its genre, each and every one of the girls sporting a pair of very shiny and very large beautiful eyes. The only flaw I’d give the character design is that the characters never seem to age. I don’t know how young Akio and Sanae were when they gave birth to Nagisa but even after two time-skips they look not a day older than twenty. And I’d certainly expect Tomoya to look slightly more ‘raggedy’ after that second time skip! The show focuses on how the characters mature and develop, it’d be nice if we could see them age (even just a little!) too! The only significant changes to the score of Clannad after Story are the brand spanking new OP and ED themes. Whilst the OP theme is fantastic, Lia’s voice being at its most beautiful and soulful, the ED theme was a huge letdown, especially after following on from the magic that was Dango Daikazoku. The upbeat and light-hearted song just didn’t seem right following on from some of the most heart-breaking episodes in my own personal anime history which is a shame because I’m sure that applied to a more ‘cheerful’ anime/situation the song could’ve been quite popular. As per usual the soft piano pieces throughout the show play a key part in triggering the viewer’s emotions. But the theme that really captured my heart is called ‘Farewell at the foot of the hill’. It’s the most emotionally charged piece of music I’ve ever had the delight to hear and even now I tear up whenever I hear those first few soft, subtle piano notes. As we listen to the familiar theme the impact it has on the viewer begins to grow as the violins begin to accompany the ever so gentle piano melody. The piece gathers strength as more and more percussion instruments infiltrate the piano/harpsichord melody, working together to create a beautiful story, the story of the couple’s lives so far, all the fear and pain they’ve had to overcome just to reach this moment in time, together. As the theme slowly dies away you’re left with this horrible empty feeling which, sad as it might be reflects just some of the pain the characters are going through at the moment. It’s truly an astounding piece of music I’d recommend you listen to even if you don’t watch the anime. Clannad after Story teaches us some powerful lessons. It teaches us to treasure each and every passing moment and those that we love because life, like happiness, is a fleeting thing. As well as reminding the viewer how valuable their life is After Story teaches and reminds them of the power of hope and miracles. Giving up is just so easy to do when life deals unto your doorstep more trials and tribulations, what’s harder is having the will to continue and persevere until you come to a place where you feel all is right once more, After Story reminds us all of all of this in the most heart-breaking ways possible. For dealing with such a heavy and complex ‘philosophy’ as successfully as it has I’ve given After Story 9/10. Kudos!

Guy meets girl, marries girl, is happy for a time, encounters hardship, is met with tragedy, wishes that he never met girl, encounters further tragedy, renounces his wish, which reverses the tragedy, and they all live happily ever after. Not a one-for-one copy of It’s a Wonderful Life, but the same beats are hit. The way Maeda does it is out of whack, because the tragedy that occurs happens in the story’s real world, and so when it is reversed, it reverses what caused the wish. This is why people feel like the ending is cheap and hollow. It doesn’t build on what’s happened before. Instead, it overwrites it with a new reality, that’s happier, and less meaningful. Tomoya is arguably the most interesting person in Clannad’s story, giving the story a harder edge with his delinquency and his troubles with his father, so to see him here as this kind of goofy kid in the middle stages of the story and a punching bag in the latter half is disappointing, the story loses that dimension which gave it a bit of depth. Nagisa’s the same, she’s sweet and kind and kind and sweet and that’s all she really is. Same with Ushio, but with Ushio, Maeda is able to achieve a union between the way Tomoya feels towards her and the way the viewer feels. Her introduction is the starting point of a good stretch of episodes where the show is good. Outside of that stretch, the rest is dubious. The girl and the robot has got to rank as the single most superfluous narrative of all time. Each time the story transitions to its world, it kills off any and all momentum the main narrative has generated up until that point. They walk and talk and none of it matters. It is the source of the fantasy elements in the story, but the viewer never sees its influence. It exists to give off a pretentious magical, ethereal air, an aesthetic of something profound, for something as hollow as the bones inside the wings of a bird. And as usual for Maeda, things take too long to get going anywhere. There is an exorbitant amount of time spent with Tomoya at his new job, the first episode takes its entire runtime to reintroduce characters who aren’t even important, and the two story arcs preceding the main story are entirely irrelevant. All this superfluous detail dilutes the quality and impact of what’s actually good. The theory I have for why people don’t like the ending is that it devalues suffering. I think the point that Maeda is trying to make is that pain and suffering has meaning because a choice is made to believe it has meaning, and that belief is what leads to a change in the real world. So through the belief in something unreal, something real happens. This is what the ending tries to capture, though obviously, the miracles that happen in real life are not as miraculous as Jun Maeda’s success.

I have never experienced an anime quite like Clannad before, I have never cried so much, smiled so much, and I have never been able to re-create the experience of watching Clannad. before we start there's something I should address first Q: Should I watch Clannad: After Story? A: Clannad is not made for everybody, if you wish to watch Clannad you should be fully aware that Clannad is a series made for the intent of making you cry, it doesn't follow much logic and is a series that should only be viewed if you are looking for that type of story, if you wish to see something more realistic I would recommend you the anime reLIFE, which tackles much more mature themes in a more grounded sense of reality. And if you do wish to watch Clannad After story watch it after viewing the original Onto the review.... [story-7/10] Clannad: After Story chronicles the events directly after the original series named Clannad, The plot surrounds Tomoya Okazaki and his girlfriend Nagisa Furukawa and their relationship in adulthood. The story isn't very hard to follow, it's easy to understand and follow, the first 8 episodes of after story are pure filler and are incredibly boring to sit through, it's the events that occur from episode 9 and onwards that make it so great and critically acclaimed, Clannad is heavily supernaturally themed and the supernatural themes are handled very well, the story while not amazing is certainly not bad, it's passable, thankfully the story of Clannad is not it's crux. [art-10/10] Kyoto Animation yet again has made another visually stunning anime, the art is absolutely beautiful, the shot composition is also very good but nothing special, the animation looks good all the Time and is one of the selling points for the series. [Sound-10/10] what I consider to be one of the greatest sound tracks in media period, the Ost doest a great job elevating each scene of the anime, of course by themselves they are all great tracks for example "Roaring tides" and "Shining in the Sky" are some of the best tracks of all time, the VA work is also very good, each voice actor does a good job of portraying the emotions of the characters and making them feel real. [character-9/10] the two leads of the story are fantastic, Tomoya is one of the most relatable and interesting characters of all time, he's a character who is flawed, he's a trouble maker and a prankster, but he's a good person who cares deeply, many of his actions are justified by his relationship with his father, which leads to one of the greatest tales of forgiveness in anime history, Nagisa is loveable and moe As fuck, she's very likeable and easy to root for, the relationship between Nagisa and Tomoya is lovely, the drama never stems from each other but from what's going on in each others lives like Tomoya's father and Nagisa's illness which lead to good drama. The side characters are very rarely used, characters like Sunohara, Ryou and Kyou many of these characters are under used in the story, which to me is a non issue as the focus of after story is more so on Nagisa and Tomoya opposed to the cavalcade of characters in the original series. [enjoyment-10/10] Clannad is a story that takes you on an emotional rollercoaster, it brings you to the highest moments in life and to the lowest place a person can be, clannad is an immensely enjoyable experience through and through. [overall-10/10] One of the greatest anime ever made, it's a series made with a lot of love and passion and is worth a watch for people that are looking for this type of anime.

This is the anime that has changed my life. No seriously, it made me think for a long time. It influenced how I do things in this world right now. I watched this in 2012 and that was the last time I cried over an anime. This is just a pure masterpiece. Story: 10. The first season had a good story too, but my god the story in the sequel had me speechless. It starts off as a comedy at first and than it becomes deeper and deeper until you reached the Rock Bottom of feels. The symbolism is the best thing about this. So many symbols and illusions, its like a Ray Bradbury book. Art: 10. For an anime in 2008, it is FANTASTIC. The colors and brightness really come out. Sound: 9. The voice acting is great here too. When they scream or cry, it moves others. Although I've heard better, still is pretty good. Character: 10. Character development is BY FAR the thing that the first season doesn't have. A fantastic job for Tomoya. Him and Nagisa are the greatest couple in anime. Plus, the new characters are fantastic too. Enjoyment:10. I watched this in 2 days. I was that hooked on it. I couldn't stop watching for my life. This anime and Anohana were the only two animes that made me cry. Final Thoughts: This has the evidence to make itself the greatest anime of all time. I'm not that big of a fan of Slice of Life or Romance anime, but its by far the greatest of those genres. Be sure to grab a couple of tissues while you're at it.

Wow... Just. Wow. I never thought that an anime would make me feel sad and depressed, but at the same time happy. Nevertheless, only few things made me cry across any medium, but this did. After Story has a great depth that is incomparable to any other; relatable characters, amazing story, great ending, beautiful animation and the music - where these aspects fit into place. Story -10/10 To say the story is good is an understatement. It is very well written and thought of. When you rewatch Clannad (1st season) especially the part of the Illusory world or even the OP - you would be mindblown. Everything about the first series foreshadows really what happens in After Story. It is unlike other animes that just follows whatever happens with them - main character(s) goes into a different place or meets a different person and the story of an episode or arc begins. Although I do love some of these animes, because also with that form of plot it could still be beautiful written - in Clannad After Story, the plot knows exactly where it is going, and without the expense of spoiling the viewer. It does so with a momentum that is slow at first and then all at once comes full circle - this is most apparent in the last episodes. That is what made it genius. Some could argue that the first eight episodes were bad. In my case, I don't think so. Although they do pale in comparison to the rest of the series, watching them could make you more invested in the secondary characters, and a little bit to Tomoya and Nagisa as well - which was the formula of Clannad, which is really not that bad. Once episode 9 starts however, everything just transcends into a masterpiece of story telling. Episode 16 and 18 were my favorite parts and also the ending too. About the ending, I noticed that a lot of people are quite negative about it. I do respect them for that, I even personally believe that it could have been better in some aspect. However, as I re watched the series, I realized that the ending truly was very well thought of, and for that I could say that it ended near-perfectly (IMHO of course). Art - 10/10 What more can I say about Kyoto Ani's works, except that they are all beautiful? The locations and the way each character's face changes, as well as the minute details in each scene - everything is done is such a way that is very, very pleasing to the eye. What's more, they really made their animation very, very good especially in the scenes of the Illusory World, combining what I think is CGI with hand drawn images which is truly majestic. Sound - 10/10 The EP and the OP are just memorable really. I even memorized a little bit of the OP! What I do like best however is the score. It made everything else really emotional and really memorable. Especially those used in episodes 16, 18, 21 (I don't want to spoil so I am not citing scenes haha), those were just critical to the scenes themselves and those episodes may not have been my favorite should score have not accompanied the scenes. Character - 10/10 This is the best aspect of Clannad. Personally, I think Nagisa is very relatable to myself; and Tomoya even. I am a very introverted person and her failures during episodes 9-15 affected me greatly. Although I am guy, I could relate why she is the way she is became I am very similar to her. There is also however a great depth to the character of Tomoya. He changed greatly, and I could say that he became one of my favorite anime characters of all time. More or less, this season could also be viewed as a character study on Tomoya. What does it take for a boy to become a man? What are the things that you would have to acquire when you would eventually grow up? Other characters are not really present in most episodes, but I do like Yoshino's arc and eventually Ushio's (not to mention Sanae's and Akkio's). Though they appear only in a few episodes or are not really the focus, they are already multi-faceted which is spectacular in itself. Enjoyment - 10/10 I became depressed and sad, but I am happy also after watching this series. Is that weird? I guess not. When you get to watch a show that is so very touching and very life-changing, what else is there to left to feel? I guess, I was warned by my friends that this anime would make you sad, and it did. It did so at a great magnitude. But to experience this sadness, is also a different way to view life. After watching, I contemplated what truly is important in my life. I guess Clannad After Story answered - with family and love. Truly I was affected, because as of the moment I was not really into these aspects of my life. It made me re-evaluate my decisions. To cut it short - it greatly influenced me as a human being. Clannad After Story is life changing to me. It affected me greatly and it did so at a large magnitude that I believe I could never, ever forget. It is beautiful and I am glad that I did watched it. I hope you will too.

A review with perfect scores usually contains the following properties: -Heavily biased -Written by fan-boys or fan-girls -Contains little to no useful information -Frowned upon in general I am fully aware of the negative effects if I were to give this review a perfect score. I had initially thought about lowering the ratings of certain categories, but came to the realization that one should not intentionally abstain from giving a series its deserving flawless ratings just so it would go with the norm, and Clannad After Story, in my humble opinion, is one of such show. Before reading further, please note that this review could contain minor spoilers. While it does not contain actual description of events, the general structure of the story will be touched. If you want a complete fresh experience of the show, I'd recommend you read no further. Clannad After Story is the continuation of Clannad, focusing on the life of two characters after they started dating at the end of the first season, but side-stories of several sub-characters are told in the first half of the series. These little stories don't actually have much of an impact to the main storyline, and the characters might not even feel all that interesting initially. However, through the enchanting plot crafted by the talented creators, I found myself tearing at the end of each little tale. As a guy, I have to say it is not something I am too proud of =/ Animation 10 KyoAni (the production company) did not disappoint its fans once again. Fluid animations, breath-taking sceneries, accurately depicted character expressions, meticulously detailed backgrounds, nothing but "impressive" describes the animation of Clannad After Story. As an example of the power of the visuals, it has given such a strong flavour to the town and seasons in the show, it is almost at a level where the viewer can feel and long for. An easy 10. Sound 10 I have always wondered whether this category includes the music. It does not make sense how a review could lack a category for music, as it is possibly the most important factor in bringing out the atmosphere and emotion of a scene, but grouping music as "Sound" is slightly, just slightly, insulting if anything. I suppose I'll just have to make do. Not a whole lot to comment for the character voices, you get your usual anime-pitched female voices and a myriad of other voices for various stereotypes. As for the BGM, just like Air and Kanon, Clannad reuses the music from the game. The Key composers - Maeda Jun, Togoshi Magome and Orito Shinji have again done a wonderful job in delivering the perfect atmosphere, some scenes are so touching it leaves the viewer in awe, yearning for more. Even though simple and synthesized, no one can deny the perfect harmony between the music, the characters and the world. I think music has so much of an influence that without these seemingly magical themes, Clannad After Story would not even be half as enjoying. Story 10 To be honest, the story is fairly simple and straightforward. There are no jaw-dropping twists, nerve-racking suspense, or mind-blowing actions. It's just life story of several characters and that's that. But, the best story is not always the one with the most content or concrete happenings - it is the one that can drive you to love, hate, or simply care about some imaginary characters in some imaginary plot. There are far too many sub-characters that I first thought are uninteresting and generic. But time and time again I was proven wrong and at the end of each story I'd be loving the characters and thought they have every reason in the world to be in the show. Keep in mind that these stories are told in just 2 to 3 episodes, but it was so well presented/written/expressed, I was just sitting there, stunned, amazed at how the writers could manipulate the emotions of the viewers at will, almost effortlessly. And to think that they are just little side stories. Suppose the impact of a story is linearly proportional to its length, or in other words, the number of episodes. And suppose this proposition applies to this show. Now you could probably derive how much of a force could the main story be. Yes it's pretty bad. Character 10 Being a Key story, one should probably not expect much in terms of variety of character traits. As generic or over-used as the personalities may be, they just somehow work with Key's style of story telling. Personally, I am not too big of a fan of weak, sickly, female characters, and the maine heroine just incidentally happen to be one. But that's the beauty of the show, the first impressions on the characters do not really matter, because it will make you like them, without you knowing, subconsciously. Value 10 I find it hard to quantify how much a series is worth usually. I guess value is heavily tied with the general impression on the show, and for how much I love and praise Clannad After Story, I don't think its value can be anything less than perfect. Even though the romance, the plot, and the characters are probably not too convincing when it comes to real life and that you would probably not gain much in terms of life lessons after watching it, its true value lie at the times when you are alone, reminiscing all about it and feeling how lovely the story, the characters are. And as unrealistic as the story events could be, sometimes, just sometimes, one can not help but silently wonder how sweet it could be if it ever happens to themselves. Enjoyment 10 Clannad After Story is a anime of contrasts. It is not surprising to find yourself laughing happily at one episode, and depressed at the next. It has its comedy moments, but also its serious drama business. I suppose it's hard to argue it's un-enjoyable when you get the two spectrum of the world. Overall 10 Anyone who is reading this review would already know Clannad After Story is a romance show, but it is worthwhile to note that it features a very different sort of romance, or at least a different phase. In brief, there are 3 stages in romance - the first when the characters meet, know and discover each other, and eventually feeling something special - budding of romance; the second stage begins when the characters start dating, where they will learn about the definition of love, to accept the flaws of each other and to realize if he or she is the special one in their life - mutual acceptance; and ultimately the final stage when the characters are ready to commit to each other - marriage and family. It is undeniable that majority of anime focuses on the first phase, but it makes sense - the audience is generally teenagers and young people, and it is the angst, hot and passionate feeling that excites us; no one would be interested in a dull family story. But this is what makes Clannad After Story special, it is a story about family, about struggle, about happiness, about sacrifice, about what it means to love. And it proves how beautiful a family story can be. Opinions are subjective, there are good and bad ones, but not right or wrong ones. Opinions are affected by a variety of factors on the individual - personality, emotion, experience, upbringing, etc. It might be a little harsh to say this, but I believe that to truly appreciate Clannad After Story, one might need to be of a certain age to understand romance, and personal experience that relates with it is always a plus. With that said, Clannad After Story should still make a decent watch for everyone, given its solid amount of comedic material. Another successful element of Clannad After Story is its presentation. A lot of times, there'd be scenes where characters would say some cheesy lines in some cheesy fashion, but the music, the atmosphere, the presentation is done so well, you could feel nothing but touched. Certain formulae are used again and again *coughspiritualbeingcough* but it never gets old. A simple story with simple characters, yet it is powerful enough to …

This anime was astounding and far exceeded my expectations. At first i thought it would be a slice of life but this anime far outdid even that. This anime was one that hit me hard. there were parts that i hated and i was even close to quitting midway but i also knew that this particular anime wouldnt let me do so due to its habits of absolving all doubt to do justice for all bad events. I for one was glad that i didnt quit and finished it to the end. For those who hit the point in which i am talking of please keep hope cause i learned in this anime the end justfied the means. I believe myself to being someone who can give a review by putting all emotions and sentiments aside but I also learned that this anime is something that cant be described but seen. I think this anime was the most beautiful thing I had ever seen and I think it outdid all its previous works in that aspect. This anime is a masterpiece to me and shall forever keep it with me.

Once upon a time, Tomoya Okazaki had been depressed. The child of a single, alcoholic parent and a delinquent at school, there was nothing in the world for him to live for, and he knew it. That was before he met Nagisa Furukawa, a sweet, docile, anemic girl with a dream to live and no strength or will to see it through. With the help of a strange bevy of friends and romantic options, Tomoya was able to guide the girl through the hard times that came her way, pulling her over every obstacle and believing in her until that dream could be realized... And once it was over, she had practically no choice but to pay him back by becoming his girlfriend. In most anime, that’s where the story would end, but here, it’s not so simple... Their relationship is only the beginning of a winding tale of fate that will affect the boundaries of reality itself. As they leave behind high school... Along with their friends, Tomoya’s need to help people, and the hearts of half a dozen other girls... And embark on their journey into adulthood and the real world. This means taking a bold, courageous leap into independence, responsibility, and consequences as they get jobs and learn to support each other. They’re warned that there’s going to be trouble along the way, but nobody could possibly guess just how much heartbreak and tragedy is awaiting them... Because surviving high school and becoming a couple may be the beginning, even marital bliss is far from the ending. Like it’s predecessor, Clannad Afterstory was produced by famed studio Kyoto Animation, the crown kings of the moe art style(A1 is the queen)... And yet it doesn’t look quite the same. The over-all style of Kyoto Animation is well known to have changed drastically in the mid to late 2000s, and a lot of people blame the financial success of K-On! for this shift... Their artwork used to be very solid and consistent even at it’s most active moments, but following this change, faster on-screen motion looks a lot cheaper, as though they found a more affordable method of capturing motion without sacrificing speed or energy... But it’s unfortunately highly noticeable, and it doesn’t look nearly as impressive as their work from the first half of the decade. Basically, it started to look Gainax-y. Honestly, though, I don’t really think K-on! is to blame for this. Clannad Afterstory is their earliest work where I actually noticed this change, although it looks more prototypical compared to K-on. I mentioned in my last review how the artists were able to create life in the eyes of their female characters, and while their eyes don’t look quite as dead as I implied a drop in the budget would make them, they do still have their iffier moments. This can make faster fluid movements can appear choppy or cheap looking at times... It’s probably at it’s worst when Akio is moving his arms to rap... But thankfully, after the first eight episodes, bigger actions are few and far between, leaving a decent amount of money available for the rare CG effects and some of the better moments towards the end. The music really hasn’t changed since my last review, so there isn’t a whole lot I can say about it. Instead, I’ll talk about the opening and ending, both of which are apparently beloved. Despite the show’s step down in animation quality, the opening looks a LOT better in Afterstory, despite their similarities. The song is Toki wo Kizamu Uta by Key veteran Lia, it not only sounds but also looks far more interesting than the generic, snooze worthy track that opened it’s predecessor. This opening begins rapturously, showcasing the supernatural lights and shots of the town on a far more visually arresting note. One thing I found odd is that even though the series has left behind it’s harem-y roots, it still announces the game’s romantic options in the opening. They had the good sense to get rid of Fuko, but that still leaves Kotomi, Tomoyo and Kyou, who’ve all been largely downgraded to supporting roles in what’s supposed to be Tomoya and Nagisa’s story. The english dub has also greatly improved, with Steven Foster taking less and less of a role in the show before moving on from it completely. Clint Bickham is a decent writer who’s very good at transforming Japanese idioms and turn of phrase into something more accessible to Western viewers without bastardizing it. Janice Williams takes over directorial duties, and while Foster was a producer on the dub, it was short-lived. The acting is just as strong as it was in the previous show, despite a few tweaks here and there. David Matranga is still carrying the series, and Luci Christian is still sweet and supportive. She gets more opportunities at range, but said opportunities are limited... She alters her approach hilariously when Nagisa gets drunk, and her vocal work during childbirth(Yeah, i’ll be spoiling that here) are heartbreaking. She plays her won child, which would be a great opportunity to show more of her abilities, if her child wasn’t as bland and artificial as pepperoni pizza. Illich Gaurdiola returns as Yusuke Yoshino, who is now Tomoya’s sempai at work, and while I enjoy him during his weirder moments... Take the glorious baseball game for example... The rest of his performance just sounds like one-note mumbling. The pitch sounds right for the sort of character he’s playing, but he sounds like he doesn’t want to be in the booth, and is just getting his lines out as quickly as possible so he can go home. I didn’t mention this in the last season’s review(although it applies there too), but Andrew Love and Kara Greenburg are the undisputed stars of the dub as Nagisa’s parents, Akio and Sanae. Both characters are almost bipolar in nature, showing vastly different attitudes whether they’re acting calm and quiet or crazy and over-the-top, but either way, they’re a joy to listen to. It probably helps that they’re playing the best characters in the show. Now, I should probably begin by saying that yes, Clannad Afterstory is better than Clannad, to the point where I wish they’d reversed the names and called the first one Clannad: Beforestory. Because let’s be honest, the first season didn’t have much of a story... It featured a collection of small stories that were as interchangeable as the girls Tomoya was helping. The whole thing climaxed with a love confession, and while that may have been believable when you consider Tomoya’s self-worth issues, it doesn’t put up much of an argument for compelling stakes. Afterstory, on the other hand, drops the disjointed nature of the series and decides instead to buckle down and tell a solid, extensive story... Nine episodes in. Yeah, apparently there were still a few mini-arcs to get through, and I’ll be honest, they’re a chore. The first episode, which revolves around the entire cast being reunited for a baseball game, is awesome, even if the plot may have been lifted from Haruhi Suzumiya. There’s some great comedy in this episode, and it does an admirable job of reintroducing the last season’s characters to the audience, as well as establishing where Tomoya and Nagisa are in their relationship. The next two episodes quickly go downhill as Mei comes back to town to check on Sunohara, and these are some miserable damn episodes. Not only are they stupid and entirely pointless, but they take the somewhat unlikeable Sunohara and turn him into what can only be described as a reprehensibly selfish creature. I’ll spare you A LOT of the details, but ultimately, Tomoya pretends to be Mei’s boyfriend to try to piss Sunohara off. He doesn’t, and later on, he reveals that even though they blatantly claimed to be sleeping together, he didn’t try to stop it “Because it was you, Okazaki!” Yeah, if you’re gonna trust a pedophile with your 12 year old sister’s virginity, it had better be Okazaki. The following arc isn’t as bad, per se, but equally pointless, and deeply unintentionally funny. The woman who runs the dorm... Whom in any other show would be …

Please don't take this as a personal attack, but I found that Clannad Afterstory was mediocre. I'll do my best not to offend anybody because I know this was hugely popular, and I'll emphasize that you don't need to read this if it will make you angry, scared or confused. Everything I will write in this review is my personal opinion and if you're upset that it differs from your own then.....don't be because it really doesn't matter. I watched this after finishing Clannad (season 1) by recommendation from a close friend, and quite frankly I was kind of underwhelmed. It's been a little while so.....take a moment to decide if you'll be emotionally compromised by reading a review that doesn't compliment this series and if you will.....just keep scrolling down. Still here? Okay please don't kill me. Story 5/10 I found the story was pretty mediocre. Tomoya pretty much takes whatever life throws at him and I didn't really see much more than that. A lot of sad things happen to him but I wasn't really phased by any of it. I applaud him for handling the whole ordeal pretty well, but as a story I wasn't really impressed by anything that was written; just....sad things happened to him. There was an interesting bit about the hidden world throughout the entire series, but the more I try to explain it the more I find that there isn't really enough evidence in the series to explain what's happening with it. I understand that there are outside resources that explain it (I've read some stuff online), but strictly talking about Clannad Afterstory the TV anime series, it's a plot hole. Art 6/10 Personally I'm not a fan of this era of Kyoto Animation's art style. The animation is really good, but I find that the eyes creep me out. That's a personal opinion and not a point of criticism, but I will criticize how similar the characters looked to me. When I first started watching I had trouble differentiating the girls from one another. If you were to show me a picture of all the girls in black and white I don't think I'd be able to identify them and personally I just think that's a result of lazy art. That might not be the case for you, but I feel that the artists could have done a better job in putting some more detail in features other than eye and hair colour in each character. I will compliment Kyoto's animation and background art though. They do an incredible job in making every day scenes. My beef is just with the character art. Sound 9/10 The music was pretty good. I found the dango song pretty perfect for the mood of the show, and the way they used it was very well done. Good job. Character 7/10 Okay, here's where I might hurt your feelings. I didn't like Nagisa. I felt like she was a little too childish (is that the word? Maybe clumsy? Bubbly? Something along the lines of light-headed) to be convincing as a lead character. Sure, there were moments that she seems more mature in this season, but to me that kind of development seemed like the same change you experience when you go to the principle's office for crushing someone's sand fort for the first time. She just really didn't appeal to me. I mean, I guess a lot of the development happened in the first season, but the second season doesn't really offer anything new about the characters. I never found a connection to the characters which may be the reason I missed out in enjoying the series. I did enjoy the parts about Akio and his baseball battles with Tomoyo. It was pretty interesting and empowering to see this guy be a father even though a lot of the time it seems like he's just dicking around. If there's one thing that saves my opinion about the characters in the series, it's Akio. Enjoyment 5/10 I didn't really find a lot of enjoyment in watching this. I really wanted to finish it because a close friend had recommended it to me, but afterwards I didn't really feel like I had enjoyed it. Overall 5/10 Clannad Afterstory was just mediocre for me. Was it worth it to watch? Not really. I remember feeling a little....resentful (bitter? not sure on what word to use here).....while watching this because of how good and kind all the characters were. I think my exact thought was something like "I enjoy seeing realistic, corrupted people in cartoons and would rather see pure, kind-hearted people in real life," and watching this show kind of riled me up because it was the opposite. I guess it doesn't really make much sense, but all I'm trying to say is that it irritated me seeing kind people in the show. Whether you understand that feeling or not doesn't really matter. Well if you're still reading I'd like to thank you for putting up with me this far and to remind you that this is all my opinion, and that I'm just a dog behind a keyboard surfing the interwebs. This show was rated very highly because it was popular with its viewers, but to me that doesn't mean it's good. And I guess that's the reason I'm writing all this even though it might mean some hate.....because I disagree with it being up here. Don't let me take away from you enjoying the show. If you're reading this wondering whether or not you should watch it, I just ask that you ask yourself how much you consider other people enjoying it is a factor in your own enjoyment. If it doesn't matter then I don't think it's really worth the watch. If it does then this is one of the greatest anime's ever created. And for everyone who's reading this regardless of the reason......please don't kill me.

So, I'm reviewing Clannad and Clannad: Afterstory at once. First, some brief knowledge dumping: Clannad and its Afterstory are an adaptation of the Clannad visual novel, animated by Kyoto Animation. The Clannad story comes in two parts. First, you have the original Clannad series which is essentially your average high-school harem rom-com. Next comes Clannad:Afterstory, which picks up where the original story left off and moves in a completely different direction, following the characters out of high school and into the real world where it focuses on the very real and very personal struggles of life. It's a tale about life, loss, love and most of all family. You've probably heard a lot about Clannad by now. The show is relatively famous, and is consistently held up as a masterpiece of emotional manipulation and dramatic storytelling. It's difficult to break down Clannad into subcategories of story, art, sound etc. because the show's strongest points are when it weaves these together to create a sum greater than the parts. We'll start with a breakdown though, and then we'll get into the more complex details. Story: 8/10 The problem with the Clannad story is that it is wildly inconsistent. At times, it proves itself to be absolutely brilliant. It's capable of building upon itself in creative ways, making amazing use of well-established characters and culminating in some of the most powerful scenes I have ever seen. The drawback is that when it's not being incredible, it's usually fairly weak. Clannad likes to deviate on side-stories completely unrelated to the main plot in which it quickly develops characters that are never seen again. When you adapt a visual novel into a show, you have to understand that the two operate differently. In attempting to inject as many characters and elements from the visual novel as it can, Clannad clogs up its episodes with bland deviations from the main plot. In addition, the entire first season of the show is fairly mediocre. Asides from a few essential moments of development for the main protagonists it is just introducing us to love interest after love interest, all of who become completely redundant by the end of the first season and are barely ever seen again. The whole first season could easily have been condensed to six or seven episodes and tacked on to the beginning of Afterstory in place of the irrelevant side stories present there. Art: 5/10 The art was quite frankly jarring. For a show that was trying to build up your attachment to its characters by making them as human as possible, the moe eyes-the-size-of-your-face style was completely out of place. There was also too much visual novel conversation, with people standing statically right in front of each other. Clannad often lacked in the body language or movement of its already alien-looking characters that it really could have used. This is actually surprising, considering that Kyoto Animation has been known to absolutely excel in body language and small character movements, with shows like Haruhi Suzumiya or Hyouka being visually transcendent. I will confess though, the show's use of lighting was oftentimes very impressive, and there are a series of scenes between a young girl and a robot scattered throughout both seasons that are animated in somewhat different style and are completely gorgeous. Sound: 9/10 The music in Clannad and Afterstory is pretty astounding. All of it is absolutely essential to setting the tone of the story, and most of the tracks do an incredible job of slowly establishing feeling behind themselves regardless of what is happening in the show. I feel the need to give special mention of the show's use of a single song, however (which has several variations throughout the show). Dango Daikozuku rocked the freakin' day. Not only did it fit the show's tone perfectly throughout, its introduction as a part of the plot in the first season gave it a tangible meaning and connection to the characters. In the second season, when it appeared constantly in the form of the track 'Nagisa' the effect was absolutely devastating. It is an amazing testimony to how well a song can be used in a show to create emotional impact by lending meaning to the music past just how it sounds. On the flip side though, I would like to make special mention of how absolutely disastrous the show's second ending theme was. Late into the second season it was capable of single-handedly ruining the emotion and tension of the end of the episode with its aggresive, loud and peppy howl. I became accustomed to pausing the show the instant the episode ended to prevent what I had just experienced from being ruined by that musical incarnation of Satan. Character: 6/10 Just like most of the show, Clannad's characters are wildly inconsistent. The two main protagonists are a girl named Nagisa and a guy named Tomoya, and the difference in quality between them is extremely drastic. Tomoya is an extremely solid character: he suffers from a bit of VN protagonist syndrome in the side arcs, but his development is impressive and he is certainly not without human flaws. Tomoya's struggle to adjust to the working world and come to terms with his future, along with his conflict with his father and his own fear of ending up just like him are extremely compelling. He tries to be kind, but he's sometimes selfish and is bad at putting things in perspective. One could make the argument that Clannad is about Tomoya's journey and what he learns about life in the process. On the other hand, you have Nagisa. Nagisa is a saint. She is quiet, polite, caring, compassionate, selfless, and essentially flawless. It's impossible to connect or relate with Nagisa: she's just too unbelievably perfect. The show wants you to care about her, so they have her be the nicest little angel, but instead this makes her unrealistic and bland. Nagisa's "struggle" is to stop being shy, but she hardly even has to try as people are constantly lining up to get closer to her. As for the other characters, there is once again a drastic divide: characters like Akio and Ushio are absolutely stellar: some of the best father and child characters I've ever seen, but others such as Fuko, Kyo and her sister, Sunohara and most of the other side characters hog enormous amounts of screentime and are essentially bland archetypes. Enjoyment: 9/10 Clannad made me cry. By the end of the first season I was openly mocking it, but by the end of the second I was most certainly in tears. It isn't often that a show can do that. It's extremely rare, actually; Clannad is one of three shows to date I have actually shed a tear over. If a show can make me cry, I will enjoy it. In addition this, Clannad is oftentimes seriously funny. It has some solid jokes that really help the story to flow along and to keep you engaged. It's humor always came at just the right times and it was original enough that it kept me laughing. Overall: 7/10 This is a rating for the series as the whole. If I were to break it down by season, I would give the first season a 4/10 and the second season a 9/10. I don't really think it's fair to judge Afterstory on its own merits though, since watching the first season is essentially a requirement to get much out of it and therefore is part of the package. I definitely enjoyed the show: I would recommend it to anyone with a taste for drama or slice-of life, and if you are looking for something that will make you emotional this is pretty much the only show I could tell you to watch. Now, I want to look at what frustrates me most about Clannad and its Afterstory. It could have been a LOT better, and it could've been so with relative ease. The first and most uncontested move would be to change that damn second ending. Switch it with the first one, replace it with something gentler, I don't care. It's got to go. The second move would be to better explain the show's ending. Though it does make sense upon thought, the w…