Ending B

A jackal! It's a jackal! A jackal!

Clannad - Full Review (Kinda)

by Craig Olsen

Friday, April 4, 2008

I just finished watching 23 episodes of Clannad, an anime done by the same people who brought us Air, Kanon, and Haruhi. The series is 24 episodes, but the final episode is actually episode 22, and there are two extras after. So I feel okay trying to review this now.

Group Shot

Don't look so sad kids, this will be fun... right?

Like it's sister series...es (I don't know the plural of "series"), Kanon and Air, the Clannad anime is based off of a PC dating sim released in Japan only. With that said, the story is set up like a dating sim, something you may have to get past (AKA all the girls heart the main character). If you can get past that, then you've got a good series.

Tomoya

Tomoya, the Emo Kid Hero

Clannad's main character, Tomoya, is from the ever so creative genre of "Whiney Emo Kid with a Heart of Gold". That's never been done before, right? I'm not going to lie, I found Tomoya to be one of the weakest links in the whole series. Like most anime main characters, his mom is dead and he hates his dad for basically abandoning him (Well, I'd hate his dad too). He used to play basketball, but his dad permanently/accidentally injured Tomoya's shoulder while drunk. Since then, Tomoya has gotten a reputation as a delinquent.

Nagisa

Nagisa, AKA "Right Choice Girl"

The main female character, also known as the girl your supposed to pick in these dating sims is Nagisa. If her nickname wasn't "Right Choice Girl", she'd probably be "Chronically Ill Girl". She missed her final year of high school due to illness, and has to come back one year later. The first person that she meets is Tomoya (she is also the first person he meets) and she clings to him as the only person she knows in school. Nagisa's prime interest in going back to school is to revive the drama club, which was shut down while she was gone due to a lack of members.

Ryou and Kyou

Ryou (who is not in the opening credits as a possible date) and Kyou, AKA "Short Fused Girl"

The twins, Ryou and Kyou, are a few of Tomoya's friends (there is Sunuhara, but that guy is a douche, so I chose not to talk about him). Ryou and Kyou, as it turns out, don't get much screen time, which is too bad because I thought they had the ability to be interesting characters.

Tomoyo

Tomoyo, AKA "Kicking Girl"

Tomoyo is a second year student who wants to become student council president. Like Ryou and Kyou, she doesn't get much story time. She does get a story arc, however, though it's only two episodes long.

Kotomi

Kotomi, AKA "Socially Akward Girl"

I really liked Kotomi. She's doesn't know how to handle situations with other people. She hangs out in the library, reading books all the time. She takes an instant liking to the main character (as proper form in dating sims). She has a fairly lengthy story arc and it’s not only interesting and touching, but it’s really the only ending that has closure.

Fuuko

Fuuko, AKA "Ghost Girl"

Fuuko is the spirit of a girl who was put in a coma during her first year of high-school (normally, this would be a spoiler, but you find this out within three episodes). Fuuko is cute and determined, and only refers to herself in the third person. Fuuko has the longest story arc in the show, 10 episodes total. However, afterwards, she appears almost at random. Fuuko’s story arc also suffers from never becoming resolved.

THOUGHTS

Nagisa rests on Tomoya's shoulder

Awww... that's kinda nice.

To be honest, I was disapointed in this series. It lacked the magical feeling that Air and Kanon had. It ended fairly suddenly, and left a lot unresolved (Fuuko's story, Kyou and Tomoyo's story-lines had no substance, etc.) HOWEVER, I found out at the end of the last episode I watched there is going to be a season two, which will hopefully address the concerns.