Clannad is all too similar to real life, and After Story only solidifies that fact. These are characters that very well could have bona-fide human counterparts and nobody would think twice of them. Just like its predecessor, After Story promises lifelike situations and numerous tender moments.
Filled with all the emotionality of the first series, After Story expands on Tomoya and Nagisa’s life and, to Clannad fans’ relief, includes the same excellent cast of characters with a few new additions. Towards the beginning of the series, a pair of episodes delve into Misae Sagara’s school days, and more about the symbolic realm that Kotomi-chan likes to talk about is revealed.
Each episode primarily revolving around Nagisa and Tomoya, superbly strengthening their relationship and characterization.
Less prevalent in After Story than the first season of Clannad is the humor, an unfortunate loss. While to some extent it still exists later episodes carry so much weight that humor really does not have a place. Clannad is akin to life and life for Tomoya is not easy. The creators were farcically realistic with their portrayal of human passion in Tomoya, making this anime all the more genuine. Furthermore, Tomoya’s family issues presented opportunities for conflict that few other anime dare to tackle.
After Story’s visuals are stunning, most notably, the lighting and that bright, fuzzy effect are excellent in execution. The rest is above par and perhaps deserving of praise, pending on whom you ask. Other anime could definitely take some cues from the After Story artists.
The piano songs that permeate a lot of the episodes are perfect for After Story. Music in this series is used like punctuation marks indicative of mood change or realization, and the fact that mere background noise is so effectively employed makes the music even more poignant. Even the simplest tunes like Dango Daikazoku, a returning track of the previous series, have profound effect on the emotional validity of scenes.
With regards to the preceding series, the plot of After Story is relatively linear, with Tomoya dealing with one issue at a time. Otherwise the plot-line does well on providing the expected emotional impact. Character development, especially that of Tomoya, is as strong as ever in After Story with his evolution as a person fully complete. The execution of concept so well, the characters so human, After Story may have be one of those anime to evoke honest emotion among it's audience. Potential viewers be ready for an emotive twenty-six episodes before taking on this anime.
~ Dymon
Filled with all the emotionality of the first series, After Story expands on Tomoya and Nagisa’s life and, to Clannad fans’ relief, includes the same excellent cast of characters with a few new additions. Towards the beginning of the series, a pair of episodes delve into Misae Sagara’s school days, and more about the symbolic realm that Kotomi-chan likes to talk about is revealed.
Each episode primarily revolving around Nagisa and Tomoya, superbly strengthening their relationship and characterization.
Less prevalent in After Story than the first season of Clannad is the humor, an unfortunate loss. While to some extent it still exists later episodes carry so much weight that humor really does not have a place. Clannad is akin to life and life for Tomoya is not easy. The creators were farcically realistic with their portrayal of human passion in Tomoya, making this anime all the more genuine. Furthermore, Tomoya’s family issues presented opportunities for conflict that few other anime dare to tackle.
After Story’s visuals are stunning, most notably, the lighting and that bright, fuzzy effect are excellent in execution. The rest is above par and perhaps deserving of praise, pending on whom you ask. Other anime could definitely take some cues from the After Story artists.
The piano songs that permeate a lot of the episodes are perfect for After Story. Music in this series is used like punctuation marks indicative of mood change or realization, and the fact that mere background noise is so effectively employed makes the music even more poignant. Even the simplest tunes like Dango Daikazoku, a returning track of the previous series, have profound effect on the emotional validity of scenes.
With regards to the preceding series, the plot of After Story is relatively linear, with Tomoya dealing with one issue at a time. Otherwise the plot-line does well on providing the expected emotional impact. Character development, especially that of Tomoya, is as strong as ever in After Story with his evolution as a person fully complete. The execution of concept so well, the characters so human, After Story may have be one of those anime to evoke honest emotion among it's audience. Potential viewers be ready for an emotive twenty-six episodes before taking on this anime.
~ Dymon
