Even if it has some supernatural elements, Clannad After Story is very much like real life. This series is a continuation of Clannad which is a romance drama set in a high school like many other anime. Clannad on its own is a decent but not great anime and is comprised of certain arcs where the main character Tomoya helps each girl until we finally get to the meat of the story near the end which is his romance with Nagisa. Clannad ends there and then we get the masterful continuation of the romance that is After Story which is unlike any other anime.
After Story spans multiple years and we see our characters grow up and subtly change from their previous selves while still being the same person. Its story is simplistic but extremely powerful. The later half of the show especially will make one bawl continuously for episodes. After Story offers a great mix of joy, sadness, nostalgia, depression and euphoria like life itself. The soundtrack deserves a special mention to accomplish all this, since it is so moving.
Its ending might be confusing, but paying more attention to detail or researching about it online will clear it up. While Clannad on itself is a decent experience, its the combination of Clannad + After Story makes for a riveting roller coaster of varying emotions. It is a necessary experience that could change ones perception of life.
After Story spans multiple years and we see our characters grow up and subtly change from their previous selves while still being the same person. Its story is simplistic but extremely powerful. The later half of the show especially will make one bawl continuously for episodes. After Story offers a great mix of joy, sadness, nostalgia, depression and euphoria like life itself. The soundtrack deserves a special mention to accomplish all this, since it is so moving.
Its ending might be confusing, but paying more attention to detail or researching about it online will clear it up. While Clannad on itself is a decent experience, its the combination of Clannad + After Story makes for a riveting roller coaster of varying emotions. It is a necessary experience that could change ones perception of life.