Clannad is an expression of emotion and an expression of something invisible, the balance between grief and joy has reached a new level. Let's look at each one separately:
The humor component: I rarely enjoy jokes or even humorous banter in anime (it's often utter trash), but I think the humor here is excellent (just like in Angel Beats). It's appropriate and appropriate when needed, without being overdone. The drama, romance, and everyday life—they don't even need to be explained why they're not at the forefront. Another thing that probably confused me was the presence of the supernatural. I don't know what the sequel (After Stories) will be, but I think this story could have done without it. In any case, it's not that distracting and, to some extent, helps.
Plot: This one's a bit confusing. Dividing the anime into arcs would be a disjointed mess. But if you look at it as a whole, you get a coherent picture of Tomoya and Nagisa's development. The plot largely focuses on depicting the burdens of school and family gatherings, which vividly reveal the characters' perceptions of life itself through the lens of family and school. The plot itself steadily develops toward a climax (the beauty of a plot is that you never know what might await you next). This anime manages to surprise with its sharp transitions between genres, which creates a strong connection to the plot and characters.
Plot - 100/100
(Honestly, it could have been better, but I'm happy with it)
Characters: This is where I can be sure everything is top-notch. While not all of them, at least all of the main characters were given enough time to develop. Tomoya and Nagasa are the best characters in terms of character development. The other girls aren't bad at all, they just develop in a slightly different direction (I adore Kyou). All the characters are lively and very sensitive; I didn't expect entire character arcs to be devoted to individual characters.
Characters - 1000000000/100
Theme and main idea (and a little about the atmosphere): Family is the root from which happiness grows. Not a fleeting feeling of euphoria, but a deep one, founded on unconditional love and support. In family, we learn to trust, forgive, and sacrifice, and these skills become the foundation for building our own world. Happiness is like a butterfly—if you try to catch it, it will fly away. But if you create a garden full of flowers, it will fly back on its own. This garden is our relationships, our ability to appreciate simple moments, to see beauty in the little things. Hope is a compass that shows the way in the darkness. It allows us to move forward, even when the horizon is hidden behind clouds. Hope is nourished by faith—in ourselves, in a better future, in the fact that after every storm, the sun will surely shine. Friendship is an anchor that keeps us afloat in the turbulent sea of life. True friends share not only joys but also sorrows, offering a shoulder to lean on in difficult times, and their presence becomes a safe haven where we can find refuge from adversity. Faith is the inner light that illuminates our path. It gives us the strength to fight when all seems lost, and helps us find meaning in the most meaningless situations. Faith is a connection to something greater than ourselves. Choice is a burden of responsibility that each of us bears on our shoulders. Every day we make choices that determine our destiny. But it is precisely the freedom of choice that makes us human. Grief is an inevitable part of life. It teaches us compassion, makes us more sensitive to the pain of others, and helps us appreciate what we have. Grief is a test of our endurance, and by going through it, we become stronger.
I'm very surprised how much they were able to squeeze into this anime. Basically, it's everything I said at the beginning. I'll just say that these plot arcs warm my heart. I don't want to single out any one, but I'll say that they all convey the meaning of human connections well with a touch of romance and comedy, which perfectly creates the atmosphere, making you feel like you're part of this anime (ANIME - LIFE). (I believe that if an anime doesn't have a little bit of everything, then there's nothing there. Even if you try to show just one thing, you can run into meaninglessness if the narrative doesn't have the right atmosphere to immerse you in it.) (As strange as it may be, I've always preferred anime in which you can laugh out loud one moment and cry the next - that's literally how you convey the atmosphere.)
Theme and main idea (and a little about the atmosphere): 10000000/100
Conclusion: I won't repeat myself this time - this is a true masterpiece (so far it hasn't been able to surpass Angel beats, but I hope After Story can do that). People are social creatures who need to be among others. No matter who they are, they need to belong to a group. Family and friends are the luckiest things in our lives, in the lives of the future and those who will be there.
Conclusion: 100/100
(nothing to forgive, I liked everything)