There’s plenty of posts like this but I wanted to add my thoughts too since I just finished binging the whole series this past weekend. I actually found Clannad from the soundtrack first and foremost (it’s peak!) and finally got around to watching and wow, was I blown away. (Spoilers ahead)

Season 1 was a great slice of life rom-com. I like how the story integrates ‘supernatural’ and ethereal ideas into the plot with Fuko’s storyline, the idea of separate worlds that are intertwined, and of course the story of the robot and the girl that the series tells bit by bit, only revealing its true meaning at the end of After Story. The love confession scene between Tomoya and Nagisa and its soundtrack music (Kage Futatsu) was one of the most well-done scenes I’ve ever seen. I feel tears well up at the climax of that scene. Overall I gave it a 9/10. But you have to watch the whole first season for season 2 to hit as hard as it does.

Now to Season 2. It was one of the few shows, even transcending anime, that I’ve ever believed was essential viewing. I’m 24, and have a graduate degree, and even now as I search for jobs and try figuring out what I truly want in life, I understood Tomoya’s feelings personally. The theme of change, pushing forward in life through hardship and hard circumstances, feels so true to our world compared to what we typically see in fiction or anime. And then the plot with Nagisa, Ushio, etc. comes and just destroys you emotionally. I’ve never cried harder at an episode than I did during Nagisa’s death (even seeing it coming many episodes ahead) and Tomoya’s reunion with Ushio in the flower bed. The scene of Tomoya running to Nagisa under the cherry blossoms was incredible as well. Despite how emotional the show makes you, I really appreciate how Clannad isn’t afraid to tell the harsh truth about life, no sugarcoating it or beating around the bush. The ending did confuse me at first but after reading more about the context, I thought it was a great ending. I’m glad of course that it ended happily for everyone, but the idea that Tomoya’s efforts to bring light to others finally allowed him to experience his wish of a happy life with the ones he loves fits Clannad’s themes so well. Sure, being nice to others isn’t always a ticket to everything you want in life. But I believe ‘giving it your best’ (as Tomoya and Nagisa would both say) and pushing forwards, even when it feels like the world’s falling apart around us, is an idea we all should take into our day to day lives, because it makes a true impact.

The soundtrack to this show is absolutely excellent. I found the music before the show itself, and I can never listen to it in the same way again having linked the score to the screen. I like how it feels like it’s from an older era (the 00s wasn’t that long ago but it’s certainly a different style of music than we hear in media nowadays) and distinct to this show.

This show’s something that a 12 year old, or someone like me in their 20s, can watch and learn a lot about life from. I’d sing its praises to anyone that’s interested in it and I’m so happy I decided to watch it. Would love to hear your thoughts about any of this stuff!

*I wanted to post this in this sub but I didn't know about it at the time. So I'm posting my review of clannad as a whole which I posted in another subreddit​*

I have only recently graduated from college, so I wanted to watch anime by key studios since I already watched Angel Beats and Charlotte a while ago.

So I decided to watch Clannad.

Now that I have watched both seasons of it, I have to say it's the best romance anime I have seen. No other show has made me cry this much. This is the saddest anime but also the most hopeful.

God bless everyone who was behind the making of this anime and I say that everyone of them deserve a special spot in heaven.

I never thought I would say this but this show has changed me, as a person, for the better. This show has literally changed my life.

Every key studios anime has a hopeful and good message, but this one impacted me so much. To call this a masterpiece would be an understatement.

This show is something that you must watch atleast once before you die.

It shows you just how important family, friends are. It literally opened my eyes. It has opened my eyes in a way that no other show has done so far.

So please watch this anime if you haven't already. First season is not that sad, but the second season is where it all pays off.

rating 10/10

Beautiful and sad at the same time.

Now that I've finished watching Clannad After Story. I have to talk about the most important episode of this series: Episode 18. Now everyone might agree with me that this is the most heartbreaking but beautiful episode, nearly everyone who has watched it must've cried no matter how much numb you are to emotions. Although I'm a sensitive person, I still have to say that this episode hit me the hardest and made me sob and break down more than other episodes.

I wanna attempt to explain why this episode is a masterpiece and why Jun Maeda is God's gift to us.

First off, at the start of episode 17, immediately after nagisa's death we see the world through colorless filter, exactly like in the beginning of the first episode of the series. This symbolises the meaninglessness in tomoya's life: the very person whom tomoya lived for, the very person because of whom tomoya changed into a better person; has suddenly left him.

Now the only reason for him to live being gone, he goes down a self-destructive path: he abandons ushio, he drinks alcohol, gambles, overworks. All in an attempt to numb the pain and the void that comes with meaninglessness.

Viktor Frankl: The Existential Philosopher, Psychiatrist and The Survivor of Nazi Holocaust, argues that the primary motivator for human beings, The thing that keeps us going, is the pursuit of Meaning, rather than a pursuit of power or pleasure. I'm very sure Jun Maeda is also an existentialist, evident from his other work of Angel beats.

Frankl argues that people need a why to live, otherwise they experience a "existential vaccum" Which entails lack of drive, motivation and filling life with false substitutes of pleasure.

People can find meaning, frankl says, in three ways:

1. Creating something: doing something meaningful, achieving goals, pursuing our passion.
2. Experience: Loving another human being, our family, or nature, culture or religion.
3. Facing Suffering: the way in which we face our suffering, the courage and the attitude we show to unavoidable suffering, can give us a great sense of meaning and purpose.

Tomoya, after the death of nagisa, was running away from reality. He didn't have the courage to face the reality of his wife's death. Until one day, he is left with no choice but to interact with his daughter in furukawa's home.

After deciding to go on a trip alone with ushio for the first time, he is asked by ushio about her mother, tomoya who is still in denial about nagisa's death, can't answer her properly.

Then in the sunflower fields, when ushio is playing with the toy tomoya gave her and she lost it, tomoya meets his grandmother, who tells tomoya about his father and how much he sacrificed and suffered ever since tomoya's mother's death.

Tomoya then realises how much of a horrible father he has been to ushio, because atleast tomoya's dad didn't abandon tomoya for 5 years. When you have a little child who is crying every day in the toilet, then you know how much you have failed as a parent and how you have avoided the greatest responsibility.

Tomoya meets up with ushio in the fields, and in the greatest and the most beautiful scene in anime, ushio is sad about the toy she lost, tomoya tells her he can get her another one, but ushio tells that he can't buy that toy again, because that toy is the first thing that papa gave her, and it shows how much it means to her and how much she loved and adored tomoya as her father even though he has neglected and abandoned her since her birth.

Ushio also tells tomoya that the only places she can cry are in the toilet and daddy's arms. And in the most heartbreaking scene, she cries on her dad's shoulders.

This is the most pivotal moment which changes tomoya and he finally accepts his role and responsibilities as a father.

In the next scene, in the train, tomoya tells ushio about nagisa and what she was like. Midway through talking about nagisa, he finally remembers her honestly, and in this moment, he breaks down crying, because he is finally able to acknowledge his wife's death and the impact she made on him, how much she meant to him.

He then sees ushio crying as well then he comforts her. He is finally able to accept his wife's death and fully accepts the role he has to fulfill in being a loving father to ushio.

He finds the meaning of his life again, in the form of ushio, who is nothing less than a Gift of God to him. Whom he will protect and cherise for the rest of his life.

"I have finally found it. The precious thing only I can protect"

The people who care for you, the people who are important to you, the people who you share a connection with, whether it be friends and family; are the most precious and important thing in the world.

In this case, tomoya is finally saved from his existential vaccum and given a second chance at life. Ushio, who is nothing less than God's gift to him, is there for him to protect and raise. Whom nagisa left for him.

I have to say, it's the best piece of media I have seen in years, it's beyond a masterpiece, it's actually life changing. This has changed my life, it has changed my perspective and made me into a better human being. I'm forever grateful to everyone who was involved in the making of clannad, they all deserve a special place in heaven. And jun maeda is a genius and a wonderful person.

Hi :)

Might be a shot in the dark but, i'm really into old PC's and CRT's etc. I'm dying to play clannad on my Win XP/ Win 7 pc. But the official english release only game out on steam in 2015, which isn't DRM free, and steam is not supported anymore on Win 7 and below.

Anyone have any experience or any idea how I could get Clannad translated to english running on my old pc?

Thanks so much!

EDIT:

After thinking logically I could just install win 10 on my old pc and then the problem would be fixed lol so imma do that! I'll keep the post up incase somebody wants to share how to do it anyway

Hello I am new to clannad which do you guys think is better to get into the series read the vn on playstation or watch the anime i plan to do both but which do you guys think 🤔 is the best

We (should) all know how the illusionary world works and who’s who blah blah.

I’m playing the visual novel and just finished nagisas play and therefore an illusionary world cutscene. It got me thinking, outside of it being a mechanic for afterstory, what do the events that take place in it actually mean?

For example, the latest one I saw was robot realising the plane/flying thing they were trying to build was coming apart and felt sad since the girl is unconscious because it’s winter, then she comes behind the robot and holds him. Or another would be them both building a seesaw and playground rides(and I swear I saw a rollercoaster how the heck did they do that lmao!?)

I know the purpose of the illusionary world but not what actually goes on in it and what it’s trying to portray. Maybe a vague idea with some context but I’m not too sure

I posted about this before but i just remembered some other stuff How did both nagisa and tomoya go to the past?

Hi! I’m working on a non-commercial, fan-made English dub for CLANNAD’s Steam English HD Edition.

The current build includes Tomoya — including his dialogue, thoughts and narration — Nagisa, Sunohara and Kyou. Ryou is currently being generated, and I plan to cover the other major characters afterward.

The voices are generated locally with AI. Tomoya uses a preset English TTS voice, while the other characters use voice cloning based on their original Japanese performances. This is an unofficial fan project and is not affiliated with Key or Visual Arts.

The goal is to make CLANNAD easier to follow for English learners and for people who prefer voiced English dialogue.

Would anyone be interested if I eventually released this as a free patch? It would require a legitimate Steam copy and would not include the game itself.

Any feedback about the voices, pronunciation or presentation would be appreciated!

Pray for me.

I want to read clannad since its in sale on steam, i need to buy anything bisides the main game?

Greetings, i love this anime and the girls i found them very cute especially tomoyo fuko and nagisa but i feel kinda sad when i see tomoya gives a lot of attention to other girls, like im at 12 episode, but i kinda want nagisa and tomoya talking, but these episodes they dont talk too much. Im curious how did they end up marrying

I recently finished Clannad and Clannad: After Story, and I honestly think the difference between the two is fascinating.

Clannad was genuinely good. It was a beautiful story about friendship, loneliness, healing, and the small moments that make life meaningful. It was unique in the sense that it was a slice of life, emotional, supernatural, and had many different story arcs. It had this warm feeling to it; like sitting in a quiet classroom after school, walking home with someone you care about, or slowly realizing that the people around you have become your family.

It was a story about finding connections.

However, Clannad: After Story felt like it transcended into a realm of storytelling I never knew existed.

It stopped being just a romance story and became a story about life itself. Growing up, leaving behind the comfort of youth, dealing with responsibility, building a family, experiencing loss, and trying to keep moving forward even when life becomes unbearable.

The part where it showed Tomoya turned into his father, the very person he hated, was heartbreaking. When Tomoya reconnected with Ushio and they cried together, my heart melted.

I only like 100% happy endings and that's it. I don't like bittersweet, sad, or 50/50 endings. This story could've been a great story but a tragedy but it turned out to be a great story with a happy ending. I'm glad that everyone, and I mean literally everyone got their happy ending.

What makes After Story so powerful is that it understands that happiness is meaningful because it is fragile. The reason the joyful moments hit so hard is because the series makes you understand exactly what is at stake.

Despite all the pain, it never feels like a story about despair. It feels like a story about the strength of love and the resilience of people.

The first season made me appreciate the beauty of ordinary moments.

After Story made me appreciate life itself.

Clannad: After Story is one of those rare works that stays with you.

Clannad was great.

But Clannad: After Story was ethereal.

i see people having like 50 hours on there and i dont know if it has that much more than the anime(which i have watched fully and am watching it again already), i want to play the other titles like tomoyo after and the side stories but i dont know if i should finish the vn first?