Clannad is a fascinating series.
Why? Because it breaks so many rules of the genre, that’s why. Initially, I was disappointed in Kyoto Animation’s decision to deny Kyou and Tomoyo story arcs of their own, but the more I learned about the structure of each heroine’s story in the original visual novel and the more I thought about the approach the studio took in its adaptation, the more I felt it was the right decision to make. There was just no way to make it work otherwise. I feel sorry for the Kyou and Tomoyo fans out there, of course, but I can’t help but be impressed by the studio’s decision to address the issue of balancing multiple scenarios head on and make the hard choices necessary to prevent the show from spinning off in multiple directions at the very moment it needed to be coming together.
I was thrown for a loop at first, having expected the standard, “give each girl her due,” approach as seen in Kanon and Air (and a billion other game adaptations). And I kept looking at the number of remaining episodes and the number of remaining heroines and thinking, “this is going to get real ugly, real soon.” Coming out of Kotomi’s arc, those foreboding thoughts really colored my perception of the show in a negative way. It was to the point that I grew reluctant to watch new episodes. I figured I was in for a nasty surprise.
But, you know, just as there are nasty surprises, there are good surprises. And seeing the studio mollify all of my concerns in the course of a single scene was very much a good surprise. It’s why I’m taking the time to write this post. The approach taken may have caught me off balance, and it may have seemed awkward given my expectations, but I was genuinely impressed and satisfied with how it all worked out in the end. The phrase, “Bravo, KyoAni,” shows up here a lot, but I really do mean it this time.
The surprises keep coming, too. For example, I fully expected Clannad to be in full “tissues and Zoloft” mode by now, but with the exception of the tear-jerking conclusion to Fuuko’s scenario and a few scenes in Kotomi’s scenario, the show has remained lighthearted. And even the serious moments are more heartwarming than they are depressing. Just as the characters seem to bounce back from melancholy with ease, so does the show itself. It has an entirely different vibe compared to both Kanon and Air.
And if I expand on that comparison further, I have to say how surprised I am to be so taken with Nagisa as a character. Clearly, she’s the “main” heroine in Clannad. The main heroines in Kanon and Air, however, I never cared much for. Or, rather, I never considered favorites. Ayu and Misuzu were fine leads, of course, but Shiori and Minagi were my favorites, and I automatically assumed my favorite heroine in Clannad would turn out to be a secondary character all the same. Turns out I was wrong. It’s Nagisa. No contest.
Of course, endless praise notwithstanding, Clannad is not all rainbows and unicorns. Due to its unusual structure and pacing, the show has been difficult to follow at times. And I think I understand why some folks have described it as “boring”. However, knowing what I know now, I feel it would be beneficial to rewatch the show from start to finish on the assumption I’ll understand it better and appreciate it even more the second time around. That’s my plan, at least.
For now, though, bring on Nagisa’s story!
