Clannad

#Clannad and Clannad After Story Review/Analysis#

Hello, my name is TheRoundChestnut.
Due to the success of my Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann review, I decided that I wanted to make more reviews to give the people who are hesitant on watching a certain series reason why it is good or bad.

This time, I am conducting a review on Clannad.
This review will discuss what themes it expresses, the character which upholds its themes, and the uniqueness of this anime. I, then, will discuss why this anime is not for everyone, and shall give some suggestions on if this is anime is right for you.
I will be discussing more of its story rather than its animation and music, etc.
(This review will contain minor spoilers, but not anything too bad)

The reason why this anime is beloved for what it is is the amount of depth between each and every character, whether that leads into romance or even feuds within their families. The story is centered around Okazaki Tomoya, a delinquent who is wandering through his final high school years and constantly aggravated on the dullness of his own life. The reason why the premise of the beginning is important is because the viewers realize that the main character is at his grey point (the lowest point) of his life and sets up a story of change. This is already more hooking than most romance animes out there, because the viewers are able to experience the change of Tomoya from the lowest point of his life and eventually to his peak.
The characters that are introduced through out the story are represented in Tomoya's expansion of his relationships with other people. His build of relationships becomes important throughout both seasons because they allow Tomoya to feel "alive" rather than living "dully" without any relationships. (Kinda pointing fun at those people who do actually live those kind of lives). The show presents a way how a person can change through the interactions of people and how they can grow upon those relationships by merely being with them.
Another theme that is present throughout the series is the ties between sacrifice/loss and redemption. (I'm not going to say anything specific here because if I do then it's super spoilers). The characters all experience these ties at least once in the series. Not only does this provide character development, but it also allows the viewers to relate it to their own lives and surroundings. Clannad emphasizes on this theme because it allows the viewers to sympathize with the characters and their hardships. This theme centralizes the entire series as a means to convey the importance of emotions and sympathy and loss. Imagine losing a relative or as little as your favorite toy from when you were 8. Now imagine losing them. To others it may seem nothing or out of pity to say sorry, but inside it is different. It's a heavy lump of disparity for that loss. Clannad uses that as a mean to tell its story and the different backgrounds each character faces. This is why Clannad is powerful in conveying its story, and thus leading to people loving it so much.

Animation wise for a 2007 - 2009 show by Kyoto animations, this is really a spectacular anime to watch visually. The characters are fluid and well designed, scenery is real, and most of all the world and atmosphere feel alive.
Music is very fitting for what ever scene there is. If there is a scene of lively talking, then the music is lively as well. Same goes for when the atmosphere is heavy, music is heavy and dramatic. I love the OST always gives me the chills for how memorable and nostalgic it is.
(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5KMzDVf2Bx4 - probably the best).

But, as I said in the beginning of this review, this anime is not meant for everyone. Here I will be discussing the common problems/refutes people make when complaining about this show, and I will refute them to try to convince you a bit that you may have looked the wrong way.

1. "It's too boring." - People who usually say this are people who watched Clannad thinking its like Toradora or SAO, with a bunch of action or drama that drives the story. Clannad isn't like those two. It immerses the viewers in the perspective of Tomoya. Clannad is a Slice of Life, not a dramatic romance.

1. "It's way too slow" - This I can kind of understand this. The first season goes around introducing each character with their own arc, so when it does get to the final episode of the first season, the viewers feel drawn out. But like I said earlier, this is a Slice of Life that draws the viewers and immerses them in their world. And the only way the characters can come off meaning is by giving them their own arcs. So in the end, it's not wasted episodes.

1. "Where is the sad part?" - This is something I have major concerns with. If everybody came to watch the sad part and the sad part only, then this entire first season didn't need to exist. The whole entire reason why the sad part is sad (somewhere in the second season) is because the entire show (first and second season) builds up to it. And the reason why it's so heavy and impactful is because it happens to the characters that we watched up to this whole time. So if you're watching Clannad just for the sad part, either stop watching because you're not going to feel sad, or take a step back and enjoy every part of it.

1. "It's overrated and hyped up so much." - It may be overrated because of how popular it is, and how much people gush over it. I was like that too thinking no show was going to make me cry, but I was wrong when I watched this. This show made me change my perspective when it comes to watching shows and to take them how they are meant to be taken. And hopefully if you could take the time to watch Clannad again with that idea in mind maybe you could grasp why people refer to this show like how they do.

1. "Where is the romance" - The romance of Clannad does not come to the forefront so easily. The build up of the first season onto the second season is key. The interactions that Nagisa and Okazaki had were developed (slowly) so that they can fully flesh out into a couple in the second season. The romance here is intimate. I don't think it is anywhere direct in its portrayal of romance in both season, but it does not have to be that way. Romance can be interpreted in different ways. Some like it slow and some like it fast. But being able to appreciate both ideologies is what makes watching Clannad a wonderful show to watch.

Conclusion:
I do not think Clannad is for everyone. The romance in this show is slow, and the progression of the story is slow. But if you are here for a fast romance, then this is not your show. Sit down, lose the sense of time, and enjoy the ride. I want to express how much Clannad means to me and I want you to understand the same.

Should you watch Clannad? Definitely.