This review will be as spoiler-free as possible. I use a standard 1-10 scale with 5.5 being average.
Clannad is a classic must-watch anime for any anime fan, but at first glance, it's difficult to see why anyone would find it unique. All of the main characters are teenagers, it's a school anime, most characters snugly fit into an archetype or two, jokes are reused and often supplemented by repetitive slapstick, the pacing is slow at many points, and—perhaps most glaringly-apparent—the characters have some of the mostly oddly-drawn faces ever to grace anime. Surprisingly, the art in the source visual novel is even more exaggerated to
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the point that their eyes appear to be slowly making their escape from their host''s face.
Now that we've gone over all of the little annoyances in Clannad, I'm going to tell you exactly why I think you would be doing yourself a disservice by skipping it.
Art [5/10]
Despite the strange art style, the world of Clannad is actually fairly detailed. Backgrounds are fleshed out with little details that the artists, frankly, could have left out without most viewers noticing. Transitions between scenes are paced correctly. Nothing feels abrupt or rushed. As you watch, it's easy to become accustomed to the characters despite the strange art style and, despite the "every character must have a different hair color" tomfoolery omnipresent in many anime, you may find yourself appreciating all of the different hairstyles shown. These points alone aren't enough to bring it up to par, but then one must consider the odd scene which takes place outside the main story. These are the times when the artists' effort really shines. Even taking that into consideration, the strange faces mean that the Art as a whole is slightly below average.
Sound [6/10]
The opening animation and its accompanying music are good, but nothing groundbreaking. It's the kind of thing you'll probably enjoy listening to but not the type of thing you would catch yourself humming. Character voices are fairly standard. They're what you would expect for each given character's archetype. The only exception is one character who has a peculiar way of speaking. The voice actor in question did a very good job of capturing the spirit of that character and bringing them to life. The background music is completely unremarkable in every way. I haven't played the visual novel, but the background music in the anime sounds like standard visual novel music to me. On the other hand, the ending animation and its music are phenomenal. It's not standard anime music at all, yet it is incredibly charming and adorable. Despite being so unconventional, it really brings everything together at the end of each episode and makes the whole thing more satisfying. It manages to bring the overall Sound quality up to being above average.
Character [7/10]
The characters of Clannad are developed very slowly but steadily. They begin as shallow archetypes which we've all seen before: the tsundere, the shy girl, the jerk protagonist, the ruffian, etc. but they manage to change over time. As you watch, more characters are introduced and the characters you've been seeing are fleshed out more and more. Each character has their own flaws, as they should, but even most of these character flaws become endearing in the end. If Clannad is good at any one thing, it's making you feel something for each character. Overall, despite initial concerns, the Characters in Clannad are good either because they're easy to relate to or else easy to feel sympathy for.
Story [8/10]
Clannad does indeed suffer from pacing problems. If I had my way, it would be about 20% shorter overall. In its defense though, part of the reason for the slow pacing of the story is to make it more immersive. This is a story that takes place during a high school year. You're meant to feel the time pass and ideally you're supposed to develop a connection to these characters as though they've become part of your circle of friends. That said, the story itself is very good. It's not just another high school anime. The story isn't strictly linear and things are connected in a deeper in more meaningful way than you might expect. In addition, there are parts of the story that get fairly emotional. I wouldn't say that Clannad alone is a tearjerker, but I would say that the mood changes a lot over the course of the story. The Story is very good overall and it's definitely something that even most casual anime fans would enjoy.
Enjoyment [7/10]
It's a fun watch. There's some comedy, some drama, some very conflicting moments. If you're not the type of person who requires very fast-paced stories then you will likely enjoy Clannad.
Overall [7/10]
Despite its flaws, Clannad is a good anime. It has its quirks and its ups and downs, but it's not a bad anime in any respect. No, it doesn't live up to the hype it's often given, but that's mostly because it pales in comparison to its sequel. But this is a review for Clannad, not a comparison between Clannad and Clannad: After Story so I've tried to remain as neutral as possible. That said, the number one reason why you should watch Clannad despite it being just "good" is that it's an absolutely phenomenal set up for After Story. Without Clannad itself, After Story—a very, very moving anime—wouldn't have the power that it does.
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Feb 15, 2018
This review will be as spoiler-free as possible. I use a standard 1-10 scale with 5.5 being average.
Clannad is a classic must-watch anime for any anime fan, but at first glance, it's difficult to see why anyone would find it unique. All of the main characters are teenagers, it's a school anime, most characters snugly fit into an archetype or two, jokes are reused and often supplemented by repetitive slapstick, the pacing is slow at many points, and—perhaps most glaringly-apparent—the characters have some of the mostly oddly-drawn faces ever to grace anime. Surprisingly, the art in the source visual novel is even more exaggerated to ... |
