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For those who read my review on the first season would sure expect a review of the second season of Clannad. This review is like a complement to my review of the first season and both review should be considered as a one cohesive opinion of the whole Clannad series.
"Could have, would have or should have." still rings true in the 2nd season.

I hate and love this show so much. Just as I hate and love life itself.

The show takes off back at school with everybody but huge emphasis lies on what happens after graduation.
Like the first season didn't already give us huge ... connection with the characters and their backgrounds, Clannad: After Story furthermore lets you get to know more characters that were introduced in the first season -- making you attached to everybody that has anything to do with Okazaki. However, this time around a large part of the season focuses more around Nagisa and Okazaki and how they adapt as real members of society and not as highschool kids anymore.

Yes, I have stated before that there is a kind of abstractness to the series in my first review. However, this series is incredibly real regarding to personal feelings, society and bonds between other people.
This show was hard for me to watch at times. Before I knew it I was so indulged and concerned about the characters in Clannad and everything they did. Many times I genuinely laughed with that happy tear in my eye -- other times I cried. Other times I felt sick to my stomach on how cruel life really is -- life just chews you up and spits you out again. Other times I just felt so devastated that I hade to take small breaks from the show. This series is a true roller coaster of emotions.
There is one late part of the story that makes you want to hurl up. But just like in real life -- time heals many wounds. And soon you had to cope with the dark emotions and slowly you start to see some light, but it is faint and it takes time.
And I swear watching Okazaki and his father's relationship was like looking back at my own highschool years. It is almost hard to admit -- but my views of my own father changed because of this show. And I'm glad it did.

Absolute outstanding show, I will cherish it as one of my top shows ever watched. Thinking back to it , it made a real impact on me. I still carry around some of the emotions I felt when I was watching this series. Everytime I hear the Dango-song it feels like someone is twitching my heart and I need to hold back the tears. And that is what a good series or a movie does. It leaves an unforgettable impact. Don't miss out.

"dango, dango, dango, dango, dango ,dango -- daikazoku... nakayoshi dange te o tsunagi ooki na marui wa ni naru yo..."

Ja matta ne, MK

This anime is one of the anime series I will cherish the most. However, I must warn everybody who watches this anime CAN NOT, and I stress, CAN NOT stop watching after the first season.
I like to see the season as a build up for season two. It feels like you are one of them, experiencing everything with them, growing up with them in the first season.

This anime has no particular apparent end goal or one fine thread that it follows. This is one of the beautiful sides of the show. You never know what to expect but you want to experience the next school ... day with them, just like Okazaki wants go to school more and more through out the series. This show is like watching back at snippets of high school -- small episodes of Okazaki's memory. Therefore, we will follow this show as such and not one big episode.
In season 1 the story is less important than its successor, however season one is excellent in character development and character bonds. It is insanely how much you get attached to some of the characters and it all depends on the watcher's personality on who you get to attached to. It's different for everybody. All characters are charming in their own way but they differ from each other so much at the same time.

The second beautiful thing about this show is that it has an element of abstractness to it. You will see a story about a small living robot and a girl that are alone in the world throughout the series. You are not going to have any idea what their story is about. But please pay attention to their story as well.

I must admit I was not used to some of the girls' animation design compared to other modern animes. However after a couple of episodes I started to get used to it and I wanted it no other way. You are going to get comfortable and used to it so much that I bet you won't notice the slight character design changes that occurs throughout the timeline of the series. Just like you won't notice your childhood friend change and grow because you spend everyday with him/her.

This is hands down one of my favorite animes. I have never experienced such heartfelt with another show like this. These words, in my opinion describes the series the most:
"Could have, would have or should have been."

PS: Reasons why this is a 9 (which is still great) and not a 10 is because I dedicate that one extra digit to the second season: Clannad: After Story.

Ja matta ne, MK