Have you ever experienced a strange melancholic feeling after right after finishing a show? A feeling where you don’t really know what to do next or how to handle the bitter-sweet after taste the story left you with?
Clannad does exactly that. Its touching plot makes your heartbreak multiple times and fills your heart with sheer joy with a quick turn of events.
The story glues together all the beautiful elements of the visual novel it was adapted from and creates the perfect slice-of-life harem with dashes of romance and the supernatural.
The pacing of the story is effortless, and all the characters are lovely without trying hard. Clannad is a must-watch regardless of what genre you love!
1. Release Order
I. TV Series
- Season 1: Clannad (2007)
- Season 2: Clannad: After Story (2008)
II. Movies
- Clannad The Motion Picture (2007)
III.OVAs
IV. Specials
- Clannad: Another World, Tomoyo Chapter (2008)
- Clannad After Story: Another World, Kyou Chapter (2009)
2. Chronological Order
Season 1: Clannad
- Clannad: Another World, Tomoyo Chapter
- Clannad The Motion Picture
Season 2: Clannad: After Story
- Clannad After Story: Another World, Kyou Chapter
3. Conclusion
The recommended order to watch Clannad is its release order. You can watch the Specials any time after season 1. Still, it is highly recommended to watch them after completing the main story.
The movie is basically a recap of season 1 and does not have anything new to offer. Feel free to skip it.
4. Quick Review
I. Story and Characters
When visual novels are adapted into anime, it is very tricky to create it in such a way that it appeals to the whole fandom and attracts new viewers. Clannad executes this perfectly.
The story glues all the routes together effortlessly, and the result is a roller-coaster ride that takes us from uncontrollable laughter to ugly crying.
The characters are unique and lovable. They are brilliantly fleshed out and have deep backstories. Each character has different traits, and they make a seemingly simple story into a memorable one.
II. Animation and Sound
The animation and soundtrack are of superb quality.
With diverse color palettes, the animation not only makes the story appealing but also conveys the tone of each moment and the emotions of each character.
Varying tones of melodious music also induces various complex emotions and immerses the viewer completely in the anime.
5. Does the anime spoil the visual novel?
For fans who love visual novels absolutely despise major spoilers for character routes. The anime is divided into certain arcs where different characters become the center of attention.
These arcs explore their visual novel route counterparts but leave out the parts where they become romantically involved with Tomoya.
The Specials do explore some alternate realities, but they don’t spoil the entire route. If you wish to watch the anime as well as read the visual novel, start with the anime first.
Watching the anime after reading the VN would be pointless as the VN explores the backstories of each character in depth.
6. About Clannad
The Clannad anime series is based on the visual novel Clannad by the Japanese visual novel brand Key.
The series revolves around high school student Tomoya Okazaki, a troubled student whose life changes forever when he crosses paths with Nagisa Furukawa.
The episodes of the show are produced by the animation studio Kyoto Animation, directed by Tatsuya Ishihara, written by Fumihiko Shimo, and features character design by Kazumi Ikeda, who based the designs on Itaru Hinoue’s original concept.
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