Clannad

Episode Count	47 (23 in Season 1)
Season	Fall 2007
Genres	Drama, Romance, School
Source Material	Visual Novel
Rating	TV-PG
Streaming	TBD

Visual novel adaptations are one of the staples of anime, alongside those of manga and light novels. VNs are an interesting case though, because their nature as games means that they can often prove challenging to adapt. Either due to branching narrative paths, various gameplay flavor gimmicks or density of the actual writing, it can be exceptionally difficult to capture the spirit of what makes a specific VN great in anime form.

Clannad thankfully sidesteps most of these issues, and has rightfully earned its place as a staple of anime dramas. Based on the work of Jun Maeda at Key/Visual Arts and animated by Kyoto Animation, Clannad understands its goal very well: tell the core story of Tomoya and Nagisa’s blossoming romance as they navigate difficulties in maturing and living in the real world, all to the best of its ability. All of Maeda’s staples are intact: the unusual couples, the sickly girl, the tear-jerky tragedies of its various heroines, the vaguely mystical trappings that help to bolster a dreamlike atmosphere to contrast the harshness of reality; all of it makes the jump.

What Clannad does brilliantly, though, is focusing that story into a tight central narrative, lifted up through the struggles of the people around Tomoya and Nagisa and how both they navigate and help others navigate their sorrows. Not every element of the VN makes the cut (at least one character is removed completely, and two routes are relegated to extra episodes), but what does translate over is laser-focused to deliver the strongest emotional beats the series can muster. Paired with KyoAni’s trademark lavish visuals and beautiful music, it’s no small wonder people still kingmake Clannad to this day.

- CCharmanderK