Clannad is one of the most popular and acclaimed anime series in the romance and drama genre. It is based on a visual novel of the same name by Key, a famous developer of emotional and sentimental stories. The anime adaptation was produced by Kyoto Animation, a studio renowned for its high-quality animation and character design. Clannad follows the life of Tomoya Okazaki, a cynical and disillusioned high school student who meets Nagisa Furukawa, a cheerful and optimistic girl who dreams of reviving the school’s drama club. As Tomoya helps Nagisa and other girls with their personal problems, he gradually learns to appreciate the value of friendship, family, and love.
In this article, we will review the anime Clannad in terms of its plot & characters. By the end of this article, you will have a better understanding of why Clannad is considered one of the best anime ever made.
Watch anime clannad trailer below:
What is Clannad Plot?
The plot of Clannad is divided into two parts: the first season and the second season, also known as Clannad: After Story. The first season covers the events of the first nine chapters of the visual novel, which focus on Tomoya’s interactions with Nagisa and four other girls: Kyou Fujibayashi, a tomboyish class representative; Ryou Fujibayashi, Kyou’s timid twin sister; Kotomi Ichinose, a genius but socially awkward girl; and Fuko Ibuki, a mysterious girl who carves starfish-shaped sculptures. Each girl has a unique story arc that explores their background, personality, and relationship with Tomoya. The first season also introduces some recurring characters, such as Tomoya’s best friend Youhei Sunohara, Nagisa’s parents Akio and Sanae Furukawa, and Tomoyo Sakagami, a strong-willed student council president.
The second season covers the events of the last chapter of the visual novel, which is also the longest and most emotional one. It follows Tomoya and Nagisa’s life after graduating from high school, as they face various challenges and hardships in their adulthood. The second season also reveals more about the mysterious “Illusionary World” that appears throughout the series, as well as its connection to Tomoya and Nagisa’s fate.
The plot of Clannad is well-written and engaging, as it balances comedy, drama, romance, and fantasy elements. The story is not linear, but rather consists of multiple routes that branch off from each other depending on Tomoya’s choices. Each route has its own climax and resolution, but they also share some common themes and motifs that tie them together. The plot is also unpredictable and surprising, as it often subverts the expectations of the viewers and delivers unexpected twists and turns. The plot is not afraid to tackle serious and realistic issues that affect the characters’ lives, such as family conflicts, illness, death, abuse, trauma, depression, and suicide. However, the plot also offers hope and optimism through the power of love, friendship, dreams, and miracles.
What does clannad anime characters look like:
The characters of Clannad are one of its strongest aspects, as they are well-developed and memorable. Each character has a distinct personality, appearance, voice, and role in the story. The characters are not stereotypical or flat, but rather complex and dynamic. They have their own strengths and weaknesses, flaws and virtues, goals and motivations. They also undergo significant growth and change throughout the series, as they overcome their personal struggles and learn from their experiences.
The main character of Clannad is Tomoya Okazaki, a cynical and disillusioned high school student who has a strained relationship with his father and suffers from a shoulder injury that prevents him from playing basketball. Tomoya is bored and unhappy with his life, until he meets Nagisa Furukawa, a cheerful and optimistic girl who dreams of reviving the school’s drama club. Tomoya decides to help Nagisa with her goal, and along the way, he meets and befriends other girls who have their own problems and stories. Tomoya gradually changes as he learns to appreciate the value of friendship, family, and love.
The main heroine of Clannad is Nagisa Furukawa, a kind and gentle girl who suffers from a chronic illness that causes her to miss school frequently. Nagisa loves her parents, who run a bakery, and has a passion for drama. She is determined to revive the school’s drama club, which was disbanded due to lack of members. Nagisa is shy and timid, but also brave and resilient. She falls in love with Tomoya, and supports him through his difficulties.
The other heroines of Clannad are Kyou Fujibayashi, Ryou Fujibayashi, Kotomi Ichinose, Fuko Ibuki, and Tomoyo Sakagami. Each of them has a unique personality and story arc that explores their background, personality, and relationship with Tomoya. They also have their own themes and symbols that represent their character traits and development.
- Kyou Fujibayashi is a tomboyish and energetic girl who is the class representative of Tomoya’s class. She is also a skilled motorcycle rider and often throws her dictionary at people who annoy her. She has a crush on Tomoya, but she tries to hide it and support her sister Ryou instead. Kyou’s theme is “sakura”, or cherry blossoms, which symbolize her beauty and fragility.
- Ryou Fujibayashi is Kyou’s twin sister, who is timid and gentle. She is the vice-class representative of Tomoya’s class, and also the president of the fortune-telling club. She likes to read tarot cards and horoscopes, but she often gets inaccurate or unlucky results. She has a crush on Tomoya, but she lacks confidence and relies on her sister Kyou for advice. Ryou’s theme is “snow”, which symbolizes her purity and coldness.
- Kotomi Ichinose is a genius girl who excels in academics but lacks social skills. She spends most of her time in the library, reading books or playing the violin (very badly). She has a childhood connection with Tomoya, but she does not remember it at first. She is interested in the “Illusionary World” that appears in Tomoya’s dreams, as it relates to her parents’ research. Kotomi’s theme is “paper”, which symbolizes her knowledge and fragility.
- Fuko Ibuki is a mysterious girl who carves starfish-shaped sculptures out of wood. She is actually in a coma at the hospital, due to a car accident that happened on her way to her sister’s wedding. She somehow projects her spirit to the school, where she tries to invite people to attend her sister’s wedding. However, as time passes, people start to forget about her existence. Fuko’s theme is “starfish”, which symbolize her cuteness and persistence.
- Tomoyo Sakagami is a strong-willed and ambitious girl who is the student council president of the school. She transferred from another school, where she was known as a delinquent who fought with gangs. She wants to protect the sakura trees that are threatened by the city’s plans to demolish them. She also has a crush on Tomoya, but she faces opposition from his friends and family. Tomoyo’s theme is “light”, which symbolizes her strength and brightness.
The supporting characters of Clannad are also important and memorable, as they add humor, depth, and emotion to the story. Some of them are:
- Youhei Sunohara: Tomoya’s best friend and roommate, who is often the target of his pranks and jokes. He is a former soccer player who quit due to an injury. He is lazy and cowardly, but also loyal and caring.
- Akio Furukawa: Nagisa’s father, who runs a bakery with his wife Sanae. He is a former actor who gave up his career to support his family. He is loud and eccentric, but also loving and supportive.
- Sanae Furukawa: Nagisa’s mother, who helps her husband with the bakery. She is a former teacher who quit her job to take care of Nagisa. She is kind and gentle, but also sensitive and emotional. She often cries when someone criticizes her bread or her parenting skills.
- Misae Sagara: The dorm mother of the boys’ dormitory where Tomoya and Youhei live. She is a strict and bossy woman who often scolds and hits the boys for their misbehavior. She has a hidden past involving a mysterious boy who made a wish for her happiness.
- Kouko Ibuki: Fuko’s older sister, who is a teacher at the school. She is engaged to Yusuke Yoshino, a former musician who works as an electrician. She is worried about Fuko’s condition, but also grateful for Tomoya and his friends’ efforts to help her.
- Yusuke Yoshino: Kouko’s fiancé, who is a former musician who works as an electrician. He was once a famous singer-songwriter, but he quit his career due to a scandal and a loss of inspiration. He becomes Tomoya’s mentor and friend, and encourages him to find his purpose in life.
- Mei Sunohara: Youhei’s younger sister, who is a middle school student. She is cute and smart, but also worried about her brother’s future. She often visits him at the dormitory, and tries to help him with his problems.
- Naoyuki Okazaki: Tomoya’s father, who is an alcoholic and a gambler. He has a distant and abusive relationship with Tomoya, due to an incident that caused Tomoya’s shoulder injury and his mother’s death. He is depressed and remorseful, but unable to communicate with his son.
- Ushio Okazaki: Tomoya and Nagisa’s daughter, who is born in the second season. She inherits Nagisa’s personality and appearance, but also has some traits of Tomoya. She is cheerful and curious, but also lonely and sickly.
- The characters of Clannad are relatable and realistic, as they reflect the struggles and joys of ordinary people. They are not perfect or idealized, but rather flawed and human. They make mistakes and suffer consequences, but they also learn and grow from them. They are not isolated or independent, but rather connected and interdependent. They influence and support each other, forming bonds that transcend time and space.
Clannad anime final review:
Clannad touches deeply with it’s heart touching love story of Tomoya and Nagisa but they don’t realize their true feelings until the last episodes of the show. Tomoya has a very bad impression of life and friends which all starts changing when Nagisa comes into his life.
Throughout the Clannad anime, not much emphasis is given towards Tomoya and Nagisa moments together due to all the other characters’ plot. The story of anime is very well cooked with all the character development and hilarious funny moments.
Animation is Clannad anime is really good given the year it was released. Graphics and warm colors of different backgrounds really lifts up the mood while watching the series. Character movement animation is also flawless and entertaining to watch.
At last, one of the very best thing is the music and soundtracks throughout the series which no one can’t dislike. Each and every music connects with the soul and increases satisfaction with 10 times.
Clannad is fully worth it to watch. We recommend it to everyone who loves emotional stories.
