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Kanon Kazahana, or the 'aftermath episode' is just that. It is a simple conclusion to the great story told in Kanon; Though not entirely necessary, it is not a bad watch. It offers a more 'happy' ending to Kanon, and though I was satisfied with the treatment of some of the characters, I was at times questioning this episode's intent. It almost weakened the emotional punch of the series. The art quality and music have not changed, and the characters have changed little since the first time we meet them.

Kanon Kazahana ... is simply enjoyably, nothing spectacular, but worth cheeking out if you throughly enjoyed Kanon. If you found the series too bleak and melancholic, this special may give you a deeper sense of hope. Or you may feel it tries to 'soften' up Kanon too much. Either way, I doubt you will hate this quirky little aftermath.

Kanon, like Air TV, also developed by Key, is a thirteen episode emotional punch. Portraying themes of love and loss, betrayal and redemption, truth and trust, as young Yuichi Aizawa must face the ghosts and forgotten memories of his past, which may hold the key to his future. Several young girls, all great characters on their own merits, seem mysteriously drawn and connected to Yuichi, and their stories intertwine almost seamlessly to create an impressive and powerful anime.

Story: The story of Kanon touches upon many themes, as mentioned before, the least ... of which is our own self-discovery. Yuichi is not a static character; as the seasons change, so does Yuichi's heart. Yuichi's personal growth has influences on those around him, and the story buds and grows from this one character. I have yet to have seen the 2006 Kanon, so I can hardly compare the two, however I have heard,and I do hope, that Mai's story will be handled better. Little is explained and the character is easily swept aside. Apart from this one little complaint, the rest of the story is seamless.

Art: The visual style of Kanon is nothing spectacular, it is simply sufficient. I do not demand anime to have great artwork, placing more emphasis on the involvement of story and character; however a strong visual style can greatly aid an anime. Kanon looks cute, but it also maintains a more sombre side.

Sound: Kanon did not impress me with sound. The opening and closing musical themes are simply par, nothing special, but not quite merodic. The rest of the anime’s audio is par.

Character: Kanon shines because of it’s characters; Yuuichi serves as a great protagonist, who, as afore mentioned, is not static but dynamic. Surrounding Yuuichi is a great cast of characters: The dark and mysterious Mai, the innocent and optimistic Nayuki, the humble yet yearnful Shiori, the clueless and hyperactive Makoto, and finally, the sensitive and youthful Ayu. Each girl interacts with Yuuichi on a different level, and each character arc is unique, yet touching.

I thoroughly enjoyed watching Kanon; the plot was a little condensed for thirteen episodes, but the characters were solid and the story was touching. Do not watch Kanon to impress your senses; watch Kanon because it’s a lovely, yet bittersweet story of… you’ll see.