It has been relatively quiet for me on the anime front recently. It has to do with the fact that my job has changed a little bit, and that I am looking at a major change in lifestyle (that’s all I can say for now), which requires most of my attention in the moment. I am also working on one of my software projects, which is time-consuming too. However I still found the time to watch another anime in its entirety! So here goes.
It all begins when Tomoya Okazaki, your typical good-for-nothing and high-school slacker spends his days. He’s obviously skipping lessons and does his own thing. However things are about to change pretty quickly when he hears the rumor of a girl being constantly in the high-school, however that girl is hospitalized. It is also then when Tomoya meets Nagisa - a quiet, reserved, but cheerful girl who seems to have an interest in Tomoya. Together they attempt to figure out what happened to the girl, who introduces herself as Fuko Ibuki. A childish girl who only talks about herself in the 3rd person, and apparently has a strong passion for starfish. They find out she really is in the hospital, maybe terminally ill, but wants people to see the wedding of her brother.
The story revolves around Nagisa Furukawa - but is told from the perspective of Tomoya Okazaki. This is somewhat reminiscent of Haruhi Suzumiya’s technique of storytelling (where the story is about Haruhi but told by Kyon) - however since it’s a completely different type of story, you won’t notice it so much. Nagisa is very fond of the Big Dango Family - a mascot of happy family life in the world of Clannad.
Life outside of the high-school, at least for Tomoya, happens at the house of the Furukawas. Tomoya and his father were never really connecting - he’s an unemployed alcoholic, who does little to nothing for his son. Naturally, Tomoya seeks other, better alternatives. He eventually decides to leave his father’s house to come to live with the girl that means the most to him. Not long after that he begins to see what a real family is and what it feels like. Beginning to see real family value, he vows to make changes in his own life too. The Furukawas themselves run a little bakery outside the high-school with average success. To sustain the family, she sometimes teaches children and a variety of topics.
Another side of the story is the so-called Illusionary World. It is a world that is seemingly completely devoid of life - only a girl, and a puppet made out of junk, which however is alive, are present. The world itself is also devoid of any modern civilisation, or any civilisation, as only one house can be seen inside which the unnamed girl is often found, together with the doll. The girl keeps on expressing her longing to leave this world, and go to another, livelier place. In order to do so they would have to build some kind of machine together, and would have to do so before the cold and harsh winter sets in. How this ties into the whole story of Nagisa and Tomoya… well you better figure that out yourself 
I don’t want to give away too much of it… I think by now you got the idea that I really enjoyed watching it. Basically there are two seasons - the first one primarily takes place in the high-school time of all characters. The second, and this is really unique, “~After Story~”, continues exactly where the first one ended - however the story extends over the next 10 years or so, sometimes with jumps of about 2 years between the episodes. A unique concept I have not seen in any other anime before - definitely worth it.
The soundtrack of Clannad is absolutely incredible and truly takes you away to a different state of mind. I do suggest you get the soundtrack and listen to it once in a while… you will not regret it.
Now that I have seen it all I feel like I lost a friend. I didn’t want it to be over, but nothing can last forever. That should give you a hint of what I think about the show. I’d rate it a 9.5 out of 10 - mostly for its originality, narrative, and soundtrack. I am telling you - get your hands on this, watch it at your own pace. Better do it sooner than later. Honestly. There are OVAs with stories taking place in an alternative universe, and present a “what if?” scenario. Watch those too
One more thing - “Clannad” means “Family” in Gaelic (Irish)
Clannad
Directed by: Tatsuya Ishihara
Studio: Kyoto Animation
Licensed by
Canada, United States - Sentai Filmworks
Australia, New Zealand - Siren Visual
Network: TBS, MBS, CBC, BS-i - Philippines: TV5
English network: Canada, United States: Anime Network
Original run: October 4, 2007 – March 27, 2008
Episodes: 23
Clannad - Another World: Tomoyo’s Thoughts
Directed by: Tatsuya Ishihara
Studio: Kyoto Animation
Licensed by: Canadam United States - Sentai Filmworks
Released: July 16, 2008
Runtime: 24 minutes
Clannad ~After Story~
Directed by: Tatsuya Ishihara
Studio: Kyoto Animation
Licensed by
Canada, United States - Sentai Filmworks
Australia, New Zealand - Siren Visual
Network: TBS, MBS, CBC, BS-i
Original run: October 3, 2008 – March 26, 2009
Episodes: 24
Clannad - Another World: Kyou’s Thoughts
Directed by: Tatsuya Ishihara
Studio: Kyoto Animation
Licensed by: Canada, United States - Sentai Filmworks
Released: July 1, 2009
Runtime: 24 minutes
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