Clannad

Where do I start...Clannad is the most wholesome story I think I've ever experienced. A real work of art! Rarely has a show touched me in this way (except of course it's sequel cries furiously)

It is truly something beautiful and each episode is so well laid out. The way it delivers narrative, introduces characters and twists from simple and wholesome to complex and touching, ensures such incredible pacing that it is so easy and enjoyable to watch. Every scene seems to be perfectly placed and timed for brilliant effect, with a lovely warming art style and fun, well fleshed out characters.

The music in this anime is also something truly special. Fun, comical and chirpy tunes bounce around in scenes to make them hilarious or just a joy to listen to. Elegant and emotional music hits you at times you least expect it and captures the beauty and sadness of a moment perfectly. I believe that using a diverse variety of instruments and melodies that I wouldn't normally place together, makes something truly unique and fitting and truly brings out that magical essence that Clannad holds. Various composers worked on the soundtrack, so I believe that worked well to provide diverse musical pieces.

This works alongside the art and small details so well, such as the heavy use of pastel tones and pink and white colours, alongside details such as leaves blowing in the wind as the camera pans around characters. This immediately makes a scene magical and it's this transition that gives you shivers. It states more in these features that it sometimes does in dialogue, which is something amazing! This is exceptionally useful when diving into the complex nature of characters such as Tomoya, and when showing emotional connection between characters, such as Tomoya and Nagisa.

You can really tell that not only the writers, but the artists, musicians, voice actors and everyone involved, really poured their love and experiences into making this show. It is full of nostalgia, childhood and the immaturity of growing up, yet holds many mature and beautiful messages that show the harsh reality of growing up.

For the most part this season is wholesome, beautiful and heart-touching, with other areas being deep, sad and holding heart-felt messages. It made me cry a good few times and made me feel both warm and melancholy at the same time, but ultimately left me touched with its relatable narrative. This even made me contemplate events that have and will happen in my own life, which left me somewhat at peace with my past and things to come....until of course After Story came along (see that review for more).