Title: Clannad
Studio: Kyoto Animation
Genre: Comedy, Romance, Fantasy, Drama, Slice of Life
Original Run: October 4, 2007- March 27, 2008
Episodes: 23
Director: Tatsuya Ishihara
Original Character Design: Key
Number One Theme Song: Opening Theme "Megumeru" by Eufonius
Title: Clannad After Story
Studio: Kyoto Animation
Genre: Comedy, Romance, Fantasy, Drama, Slice of Life
Original Run: October 3, 2008- March 26, 2009
Episodes: 24
Director: Tatsuya Ishihara
Original Character Design: Key
Number One Theme Song: Opening Theme "Toki Wo Kizamu Uta" by Lia
Admin's Score:
1st season
Story: 91
Character Development: 91
Artwork: 90
Songs: 89
Animation/ Battle Depiction: 90
After Story
Story: 91
Character Development: 91
Artwork: 90
Songs: 88
Animation/ Battle Depiction: 90
Clannad main heroines (left to right, front to back): Fujibayashi Kyou, Ichinose Kotomi, Furukawa Nagisa, Ibuki Fuuko, Sakagami Tomoyo.
After Story characters from other world, a world that has ended (they're also there since the first season), a girl and a robot made of junk. Can't tell who they really are, because it's going to be a major spoiler (sorry).
Clannad is originally a visual novel developed by Key. It was later ported to many platforms besides PC, like PS2, XBox, etc. Some other media like Manga and Light Novels are also published under license. The visual novel and the animated adaptations including the two TV series and film have received high sales figures in Japan. Across the national ranking of bishojo games in amount sold in Japan, the Clannad limited edition PC release premiered at number one twice since its release, and the third ranking brought the PC release down to forty-six out of fifty. Out of eight DVDs released for the first Clannad anime TV series, six were ranked first during their first week of sales for anime DVDs in Japan. Out of eight DVDs released for Clannad After Story, seven were ranked first during their first week of sales. The special edition film DVD first ranked at number three during its first week of sales.
Synopsis First season
In a city named Hikarizaka, lived a high-schooler named Okazaki Tomoya. He was a lazy, delinquent bum who hated the city and his school life. One day, on his way to school, he met a girl standing in the path full of sakura trees. That girl was Furukawa Nagisa, who repeated her school year once because of her weak body. They turned out to enroll in the same school. After their encounter, their life changes. Okazaki helped Nagisa, who dreamed to act a play, to revive the theater club which was suspended a year ago. It wasn't easy at all, but both of them began to make friends with some people and passed their school life more happily than before. How will Nagisa realized her dream and how Okazaki began to enjoy his life ? The curtain just lifted...
After Story
Okazaki, Nagisa and the others began their senior year in Hikarizaka High. The story began with some fun all of them have in playing baseball. But, it isn't going for long, because they will be choosing their path of future. The story continued with many of the characters' past and story included. At the end, all of them graduate except Nagisa, who fell sick in the middle of her senior year and must repeat once again. Okazaki began his new life by working in Furukawa's bakery, then he moved to rented house and got a new job in electric installation company. Soon after Nagisa's graduation, Okazaki, who had realized his feeling for her, requested for their marriage. What are their life going to be ? How Okazaki had to face every heart-shredding obstacles in his later life ?
Strength:
Overall: Nice character designs, enhanced by the flawless artwork of the anime (Salute to the anime studio, because of the flawless artwork of such hard-style design (the eye placement)). Very touching story developed very well before every finale, with the fun and interesting slice of life and comedies included, killing boredom while watching it. The first development made the finale's even more tears-shedding (slow-development technique, used especially in Fuuko, Kotomi and Nagisa's arc). The unique part is that how the fantasy is used to make such touching story (the use of the fantasy is optimal to make such situations and emotions). Character development's so deep, every characters have their own stories, unique and emotional, making every characters look interesting and unique. The songs and setting used for emotional scene make it better.
First season: Very deep character and story development that created almost perfect finale.
After Story: Comedy used, every characters' detailed story.
Weakness:
Personally, I don't find any emerging weaknesses. Some reviewers said the overuse of Moe factor in the first season and over melodramatic scene.
Screenshots:
1st season
Maybe the first and the last time Okazaki surrounded by so many girls (last harem for him...). They're going on a date and currently in front of the crane game when they saw Fuuko's comeback. After getting her own mean, Fuuko just disappeared, giving them strange feeling.
Fuuko's ecstasy mode. Bubble-like-stars (or starfish) appear and pops near her. At this mode, she is thinking about cute stuff and lost herself in her imagination. Okazaki used this moment to do mischievous things on her.
The main comedian, Sunohara's getting his ass kicked by the strongest heroine, Tomoyo ! Both of them play a good role of enlightening the story with their fights in the first chapters. It's over 100 combo and Sunohara's still alive...man...
After Story
Okazaki and Nagisa promised that they'll always be with each other forever. They even came up with their child's name on this riverbank just in a moment ! But...
The new Hyper Rainbow Bread made by Sanae !! It's glowing so bright and it will be a perfect combination with the special jam ! But, just for your information, no matter how attractive or how shocking Sanae's bread is...it tastes bad. This bread were able to bring a gang of delinquents down in a bite !
Okazaki Ushio, child of Okazaki and Nagisa. Appearance: Nagisa like. Interest: Just the same (Dango). Friend: Fuuko (...). From what I see, she likes mechanical stuff like the choice of her toys.
So far, the most touching anime I've ever watched. I recommend this anime as a must watch !
