Clannad – After Story: final thoughts

The Clannad saga finally comes to an end, at least for now. The first Clannad series was touching, but in my opinion, After Story is where the series really shines…

I’ve already written my general thoughts about Clannad in my review of the first half of After Story here so I’m just gonna talk about the last half of the series. Now that I’ve seen all of After Story, I can definitely say that those last 10 episodes or so (minus episodes 23 and 24, which are just flashback and recap), are what make the series incredible and worth the wait during the sometimes slow-pacing of the previous story arcs. In Air, one of Visual Art’s/Key’s other series, the last two or three episodes are really what it’s all about, and the gut-wrenching emotion and holistic significance of those last few episodes almost make up for anything mundane or unimpressive that happened earlier. Clannad After Story is the same way, except it’s the last 10 episodes that stand out. That whole arc was handled beautifully, starting with Nagisa and Tomoya’s farewell at graduation, and then their emotional marriage proposal. After that, we get a few gentle and sweet episodes of them settling into their new life before the heartbreaking tragedy of episode 16. Over the next few episodes, the sadness starts to lift a little with the development of Tomoya and Ushio’s relationship, only to plummet back to tragedy in episode 21, until finally in episode 22, the mystical and miraculous conclusion that’s a staple of Visual Art’s/Key series. All of this was done beautifully in my opinion. Besides the obvious “other world” subplot, Nagisa and Tomoya’s life as a new couple, Tomoya settling into his new job, the raging emotions during Nagisa’s death scene, Tomoya’s indifference and then subsequent affection for Ushio, the backstory about his father and his final reconciliation with him – everything that happened in these episodes was so believable and so well done. In fact, for someone like me who never cries while watching anime, Nagisa’s death and Tomoya’s confrontation with his father were so emotional that I almost did shed a few tears ^^,,,

Besides the concluding arc, some of the other story arcs in Clannad and Clannad After Story were good as well. But for me, it’s the last half of After Story that really made the Clannad saga worth following. All of the previous arcs in both seasons involved Nagisa and Tomoya helping out the other characters with their personal problems. The last arc alone stands out because it’s just about Nagisa, Tomoya, and Ushio. In the end, we finally see what the significance of all the other characters were – helping them out allowed Tomoya to acquire good deeds and thus he was able to go back in time and get another chance to live a happy life with Nagisa and Ushio. Unfortunately, although the ending was happy, it did seem a little rushed; I think more should have been explained about the “other world” and its connection to Tomoya and Ushio instead of leaving it as ambiguous as it was. And instead of having that really dragged on and out-of-place Fuuko scene at the end, expanding more on the miracle that just occurred would have been a lot more welcome as a concluding scene. But other than a slightly rushed and choppy final episode, the ending of the Clannad saga was worth the journey. Episode 24 was also a surprisingly enjoyable compilation episode that did a great job pointing out the significant parts of both series and concluding the story. If you can put up with the sometimes mundane but sometimes inspiring arcs of the first series and beginning half of AS, the final arc is more than satisfying. There’s plenty of emotional and unforgettable anime scenes that tug at your heartstrings, and Clannad After Story has a lot of those. Although Air is still my favorite Visual Art’s/Key anime, Clannad After Story is definitely in second place =) I hope to find another anime that touched my emotions and sentimentality as much as this series did.

No Comments… read them or add your own.

  1. Rioraku says:

    I agree whole heartedly! And yea about the “rushed finale” and Fuko scene, I have heard others (and myself) complain that it was just kinda…thrown in there. Though I was surprised a little…I wondered what importance the scenes from the first opening played. Overall I loved this series and I was sad once the very last episode had finished. Well I hope to see more like this one in the future!

    • jimena says:

      I think the same exact thing:( another show i enjoyed was fruit basket u should check it out

    • Albertrojas says:

      Nah, the rushed Fuko scene you’re talking about in episode 22 is really part of the ending. You guys didn’t play the visual novel, did you? Actually that Fuko scene also exist in the Epilogue of the True ending in the Clannad Visual Novel. So it’s normal that they add that, and episode 24(yes, the recap episode) is already a bit of bonus to what happens after. A bit I say.

  2. Petrofsky says:

    The reason why I stumbled upon your review was because I was Googling “What really happened towards the end of Clannad After Story”, and indeed, I was slightly baffled by the rushed ending at ep. 22. They should have at least end it on 1 more episode and insert the recap as eps. 24, that would have been much better IMO. All in all, I am really glad that the ‘other world’ has the ability to grant wishes and stop Tomoya from suffering a life time’s worth of sadness. Just having to watch Nagisa died during childbirth at eps. 16 is hard enuff to my tear ducts as it is …

  3. Odin says:

    I to am here commenting for the same reason as pertosky. i was very lost at the end. This anime really touched me and it was the best anime i have ever seen. i to wish they would have explained the ending a little bit more but this anime really touched my heart. When Nagisa died i almost cryed and i never cry not even at funerals. i can never bring myself to cry but that just made me very sad inside when she just died out of the blue. after that i really wished she would have thought about her health and had the delivery at the hospital. Then when the Ushio died i just felt pain. Even tho its a anime i felt so bad for Tomoya. Just thinking about what happened after he was all alone with his wife and daughter dead idk how i would even make it in life with something like that on my mind. But this anime really touched me and i hope to watch others like this again. And most people dont know but anime can really change your life if you really understand it.

    • Reydriel says:

      Actually, right after Ushio died Tomoya also died because of grief. It was then he got born into that robot thing (you realise how it looked alike to the one Tomoya bought Ushio?) in the other world.

  4. Seth says:

    This was definitely the best series i’ve ever seen in my life, the most touching anime i’ve ever watched. This made me understand what it really means to have a child, to live with the difficulties that come with work, and with life. I can’t believe what Tomoya had to go through, it was just unbearable. And I did cry several times throughout the series, I couldn’t help it. When Nagisa died, Tomoya’s despair just reduced me to tears. “Look, I’m the first one to hold her”. Hell that was so sad, considering how Nagisa had wanted to have the baby home so that the first one holding her would be Tomoya. And the backstory about Naoyuki and him was just really moving, it was all Tomoya needed to start living his life with Ushio properly.
    It was just a really believable story, with plenty of heartbreaking moments which i can say without a doubt that made me cry every single time. Key are just fabulous at what they do and I hope they keep doing it.
    God bless them!

  5. Saere says:

    CLANNAD is a series that I can honestly say I watched for no reason. I tend to search for days to find good anime that I can download and that is appropriate to watch with my 14-yr-old brother, so when I stumbled upon this Key anime it seemed worth a try.

    …and then we watched both seasons and the movie in a span of three days.

    I did not play the visual novel or have any idea what was going to happen, so I can base my reactions purely on the brilliance of the show. I truly grew to love the characters; the first season’s humor and subplots made me attached to everyone, especially the main couple, Sanae, and Akio. The second season, After Story, continued their lives and transitioned beautifully into the last ten or so episodes. The reason I could not stop watching, even though I was bawling my eyes out, was because I just couldn’t accept the sadness. I’m glad that everything was resolved in the end, but the raw emotion I felt at Nagisa’s passing and the sight of Tomoya brokenly crying for Nagisa as he clung to Ushio still lingers.

    All in all, CLANNAD was a brilliant show. My brother plans to rewatch it sometime in the near future (even though we saw it for the first time a week ago), and I will probably join him. Although I hated CLANNAD because of how it played with my heart, I also loved it insanely; I laughed as hard as I cried, mostly because of Akio and Sunohara.

    So, Blood+ is still my favorite anime, but CLANNAD shot up to the #2 spot on my list the moment I finished. It. Is. Amazing.

  6. Mimi says:

    I cried so much when I finished the whole series including the after story. But I have a question, what happened to Tomoya? Because after Ushio died, it went into like recaps and stuff. Please answer!

  7. Yumeka says:

    @ Mimi

    I’m not sure exactly but I think Tomoya was given another chance to live happily with Nagisa and Ushio because of all the people he and Nagisa helped in the first season and the first half of After Story. Each time they helped someone, he gained one those glowing orbs, which he used to start again. Something like that anyway. You can find out more info if you look up Clannad on Wikipedia.

  8. Shogo Yahagi says:

    Hard to say. But Comcast/Astound on demand describes the final episode how Tomoya’s life could have been. I don’t agree with the network’s synopsis .
    The globe explanation good deeds theory sounds more accurate. Look at Tomoya’s face when he grabs Nagisa’s arm after time traveling and Nagisa is likeWassup? I’m fine..y u trippin??? But not those exact words. U know the ep.. And here’s another thing. U see the adult Ushio found by nutty fuko in episode 1 of clannad (not after story) intro.. It’s no wonder the on demand networks showed after story first, and r now showing clannad season 1 next…

  9. sunny says:

    the end where fuuko finds the illusionary world ushio is actually a scene that shows that the illusionary world is fading away (so that the real world ushio is healthy and is not longer effected negatively by the illusionary world). Ushio from the illusionary world is fused with the real Ushio (which is why it shows a scene where all of a sudden the illusionary world Ushio is gone and in her place is the real Ushio). I know its kind of confusing and i definitely agree that they did not explain it very well but that’s the purpose of the ending XD if only they explained it more thoroughly in say…2 or 3 other episodes of the true meaning to the Illusionary world and how it is tied to the real world, we could have understood the ending with fuuko a little better and not have to stalk reviews/explainations XD !!

  10. Ally says:

    Um…im so confused. Why did tomoyo and tomoya go out in episode 24,break up,and get back together and in the next episode its like they never went out? AND he’s with nagisa? Someone please reply!!!!!!!!!!!!

  11. Lauren says:

    Hey Ally! I’m not sure if you’ll be able to read this, but I’m responding to you! I was confused at first, but it was just an extra episode to show you what would’ve happened if Tomoya ended up with Tomoya instead of Nagisa, because many fans wanted to see them together. No worries! Watch the After Story and you’ll be satisfied!

    And I agree 100% with this review! I cried so hard in the After Story, it really touched your heart.
    The final episode was a bit confusing, but when I did a little research through different blogs I figured out what it all meant. But, although it was cute, the scene with Fuuko was a little bit confusing and out of place, as you said.

    Also, did anyone else notice that scene in the Clannad opening were scene in Clannad the After Story!? Just thought I’d throw that out there:)

    Overall, this will be one of my top favorite animes forever!

  12. Thomas says:

    Clannad is the best anime series ever invented&it really touches the heart. I’m one of those people who dont really care for anything but when I watched that show, it changed me in a good way, I found myself helping out alot of people for no reason, most of them I didnt no but became friends in the end. I know everything about this show, questions? I have the answers.lol I wish I wouldve saw this show when it first came out in 2007, but I didnt learn of it until 2012. I watched both series 3 times, problity gonna go on 4, there just no show thats completes with clannad& the after story. I look, watched, nothing. I cried over 10 times atleast. & when nagisa died I was depressed for 2 days&then ushio, I balled my eyes out. One of my favorite seens is where ushio crys in Tomoya arms&calls him daddy&tell him she loves him for the 1st time. There alot more but i think I wrote enough. But they ruin the clannad movie, few touching parts cause it reminds you of some parts in the series. But over all just watch it to say you watched it. Its to fast paced&the voice are disappointing. I can talk about this show all day, its to amazing!!! I saw this video on youtube please watch it, its really sad! Tomoya’s agony(I love you nagisa&ushio)

  13. Catrina says:

    The last 2 episodes of clannad after story are just flashbacks or recaps? so tomoya and nagisa do stay together after all???? So then why does clannad after story 24 show tomoya talking to the twins about dating one of them?? If he decided to go out with the long purple haired twin then how can him and nagisa still together?????

  14. Mr. Classic says:

    I love this show, really got me emotional, but then the last of the episodes, i got completely mixed up.
    Was it all a dream that Nagisa and Ushio died? I think it was because of the wish.
    If that it was suppose to be the life of Tomoya and Nagisa, why the last episode showed up that he ended up with Kyou??? that is the point where it got me all mixed up.

  15. Thomas Brett says:

    Love this anime real good the ending I balled my eyes out but I don’t get why Thay sied that last episode that’s the life tomoya and nigisa could of had was it soppost to be be a dream that’s where it lost me but it’s my first time seeing this anime and loved it cant beat it

  16. Luvmesumart says:

    I agree with the rushed ending. I kinda got confused for a minute lol :) it was a very emotional ending for me I cried so much hehe. I definitely think it was worth the wait though.

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