Updated May 25, 2024 by erniekdm
Clannad is an anime I would definitely recommend you to add on your lists of amazing anime to watch. It is originally a Japanese Manga written by Jun Maeda and eventually got adapted into a game as a visual novel and later into an anime.
Table of Contents
Clannad’s gameplay follows a linear plot line with planned events and paths of interaction that concentrate on the appeal of the five female main characters on a rollercoaster of life challenges and difficulties. The anime, though only has one route and is considered one of the most fascinating romcom series.
If you want to know more, keep on reading!
HOW TO WATCH CLANNAD
QUICK WATCH ORDER
SERIES RELEASE ORDER
The series release order of Clannad anime is as follows:
Season 1: Clannad (2007)
This anime dropped between 2007, October 4th and 2008, March 27th, and it was released on the TBS Japanese television network.
The season focuses on the plot which revolves around the main character, Tomoya Okazaki, an unhappy high school student whose world is turned upside down when he meets Nagisa Furukawa, his senpai.
The story proceeds as Tomoya assists her and meets other girls along the way who he also assists with their troubles. First, they meet Fuuko Ibuki, who helped her encourage her sister to get married, then Kotomi Ichinose to help her get over her past traumas and deal with her social anxiety.
They also meet Tomoyo Sakagami where they then assist her in becoming the president of the student council which allowed her to help Nagisa with her club.
Eventually, in the middle of the season, these girls start to develop strong feelings for Tomoya Okazaki, but they realize he likes someone else and become disappointed, though they already knew it. The season ends with Tomoya asking Nagisa out.
The first season was amazing, had a unique element and an emotional storyline.
Season 2: Clannad: After Story (2008)
The season begins with Tomoya Okazaki finishing high school and beginning his life with Nagisa, after he asked her to be his girlfriend.
Eventually, Tomoya and Nagisa married upon graduation, and started their married life soon after finding out she is pregnant.
Nagisa becomes increasingly immobile as her pregnancy grows, and Okazaki struggles to cope with Nagisa’s persistent and seemingly worsening condition.
Tomoya, who is now working as an electrician to support his family, must leave Nagisa alone during the day, though of course, she is well cared for by Akio and Sanae.
Tomoya later decides to leave his career to spend more time with Nagisa, and she finally gives birth to their beautiful daughter, Ushio. Nagisa, on the other hand, dies shortly after giving birth. Soon after Nagisa’s death, Tomoya returns to work as an electrician, but becomes depressed due to his wife’s death.
Ushio is later shown to be raised by the Furukawas, and for the first time as an adult, she acts afraid around Tomoya, indicating a lack of positive father-daughter relationship during the brief time they were said to have spent together.
At the end of the season, on a journey with Ushio, Tomoya encounters his grandmother, who tells him about his father, Naoyuki. This convinces Tomoya to become more involved in Ushio’s life and have Ushio move in with him.
MOVIES’ RELEASE ORDER
Now let’s investigate the order of the Clannad movies.
Clannad The Motion Picture (2007)
Tomoya Okazaki is a cynical delinquent who struggles apathetically through high school. A tragedy in his father’s childhood had prompted him to seek solace in alcoholism and neglect his son. Yet, as Tomoya discovers when he meets the intriguing Nagisa Furukawa, real human interaction may be a blessing.
The strange female gives Tomoya a gesture of friendship, but he declines, dismissing it as a minor occurrence. However, as he finds he is increasingly encountering Nagisa at school, Tomoya abandons his dispassion and befriends the girl.
When Tomoya hears that Nagisa’s objective is to revamp and regrow the Drama Club, he decides to abandon his disinterest in everyday pleasures and devote himself to assisting his new friend in achieving her goal.
However, what begins as a simple relationship may develop into something considerably more profound, intimate, and life-changing. Tomoya and Nagisa eventually come to terms with life’s challenges as they experience numerous hardships and afflictions.
SPECIALS RELEASE ORDER
Now, let’s take a look at some of the special episodes that were released from the anime franchise.
Clannad: Another World, Tomoyo Chapter (2008)
This episode shows an alternate universe to the original Clannad anime, whereby Okazaki Tomoya is dating Sakagami Tomoyo.
When Tomoyo is elected Student Council President, her ambition of preserving the school’s cherry blossom trees begins to come true. However, her never-ending responsibilities and nasty rumors about their relationship propagated by fellow students as a result of Tomoya‘s status as a delinquent causes a fight between the two.
As Tomoya watches Tomoyo ascend higher and higher into the distance, something attempts to tear them apart.
Clannad After Story: Another World, Kyou Chapter (2009)
In this special episode, Ryou admits her feelings for Tomoya, and the two begin dating. Things go smoothly at first, but soon enough Tomoya notices Kyou had been behaving suspiciously, and he asks her.
Kyou initially acts as if nothing is wrong, but after an incident at the park leads to rumors of her and Tomoya making out spreading across the school, she finally admits that she loved him too much though she never revealed it because she was too afraid of being rejected or hurting Ryou’s feelings.
The decision results in an unpleasant love triangle between Tomoya and the twins. While Tomoya does his best to make the situation better for everyone, even Kyou, he soon realizes that it can’t continue.
He goes to his close friend Sunohara to get advice, who eventually advises him against the relationship. Shortly after, he runs into Ryou and unwillingly breaks things up between her and him. As he predicted, this breaks her heart, and she flees, heartbroken. Ryou doesn’t attend morning classes the following day.
He then decides to go find her but instead comes across the other twin, thinking it was Ryou, he apologizes for the situation but acknowledges that he loves her twin sister.
However, it is revealed that the person to whom he has confessed is Kyou, who has cut her hair short like Ryou’s. The two eventually go to Ryou and explain the circumstances, Ryou also ends her relationship with Tomoya amicably, explaining to him she enjoyed every moment and treasures both the beautiful and terrible memories they shared.
The couple is then shown going along the street together and Kyou takes advantage of the chance to kiss Tomoya.
CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER
- Season 1: Clannad (2007)
- Clannad The Motion Picture (2007)
- Clannad: Another World, Tomoyo Chapter (2008)
- Season 2: Clannad: After Story (2008)
- Clannad After Story: Another World, Kyou Chapter (2009)
CONCLUSION
Well then, this is a detailed and extensive watch guide for the toe-curling Clannad. I hope you can navigate through the oversaturated anime, Clannad.
Although watching in order isn’t usually the easiest thing to do, I still hope this list helps put you on track. You can also save this on your bookmarks, so you could always come back to it as well.
After learning about Clannad, it would definitely be on the top of your anime list!
