Clannad ~After Story~ (Second season) - General Discussion Thread

[OmegaPhlare]

I've watched the 23 episodes at least five times now. Even now, I still claim "Don't give up on her!" whenever the drama club asks Tomoya to lower the curtain. I just love the ending so much, but this talk of After Story is so exciting! I'm really glad that everyone here has been keeping it spoiler-free. I don't know what to expect at all. There are crazy theories in my head about how its going to end, and I'm also thinking that some of you guys are just teasing with the "its so sad..." when the reality is that the ending is a happy relief. I would do that myself if I knew the ending but wanted to make sure it wasn't spoiled. The After Story images, from the image thread, of Nagisa, Tomoya, and their daughter also throw anyone in a loop because sometimes you'll see Tomoya, friends, and daughter, without Nagisa. Then other times you'll see Nagisa and daughter alone as if Tomoya has been long missing.

If I remember correctly, KyoAni didn't do any special ending music for Kanon or AIR, so they might not do that for CLANNAD, right? Its disappointing because I feel that a special-final-ending song for the last episode would allow me some time to think of the series differently, immediately. As much as I love Dango Daikazoku, I don't truly "listen" to it anymore after an episode is over. If it's that song I'm just going to fast forward through it to see if there is a special message after it. Ending with a different song and showing highlights of the series behind the credits is like the ending of a fine movie. Lets hope for the best.

[boggart]

Being one of the patient few who still hasn't been through the VN yet (i.e. still waiting for the guys over at Bakatsuki to complete their work), I'm also looking forward to seeing what the after story has in store for us!

[Proto]

If I remember correctly, KyoAni didn't do any special ending music for Kanon or AIR, so they might not do that for CLANNAD, right?

Well, one might argue that for AIR it was Aozora, even though it wasn't exactly at the end, it still conveyed the message of "everything is over"

[Leo_Otaku]

Originally Posted by OmegaPhlare

I've watched the 23 episodes at least five times now. Even now, I still claim "Don't give up on her!" whenever the drama club asks Tomoya to lower the curtain. I just love the ending so much, but this talk of After Story is so exciting! I'm really glad that everyone here has been keeping it spoiler-free. I don't know what to expect at all. There are crazy theories in my head about how its going to end, and I'm also thinking that some of you guys are just teasing with the "its so sad..." when the reality is that the ending is a happy relief. I would do that myself if I knew the ending but wanted to make sure it wasn't spoiled. The After Story images, from the image thread, of Nagisa, Tomoya, and their daughter also throw anyone in a loop because sometimes you'll see Tomoya, friends, and daughter, without Nagisa. Then other times you'll see Nagisa and daughter alone as if Tomoya has been long missing.

If I remember correctly, KyoAni didn't do any special ending music for Kanon or AIR, so they might not do that for CLANNAD, right? Its disappointing because I feel that a special-final-ending song for the last episode would allow me some time to think of the series differently, immediately. As much as I love Dango Daikazoku, I don't truly "listen" to it anymore after an episode is over. If it's that song I'm just going to fast forward through it to see if there is a special message after it. Ending with a different song and showing highlights of the series behind the credits is like the ending of a fine movie. Lets hope for the best.

That is good you don't know what will happen ^-^ Will give it a better emotional impact. Stay clear of the game thread and spoiler tags too

For the Tomoyo episode 24 they ended it with Ana. So maybe they will do something different. Even for Haruhi and Lucky Star they made it end differently! Come on Kyo-ani >.< pwease?

[Vegard Aune]

Originally Posted by Leo_Otaku

For the Tomoyo episode 24 they ended it with Ana. So maybe they will do something different. Even for Haruhi and Lucky Star they made it end differently! Come on Kyo-ani >.< pwease?

Well, the last "proper" episode was really episode 22, (Episode 23 being a useless yet highly enjoyable filler and "episode 24" being set in an alternate universe) but they did have Kage Futatsu playing in the final scene... Followed by Dango Daikazoku, which kinda ruined the mood, just like what Tomoya said happened at the end of the play .
Really though, they do seem to do SOMETHING special for the last episodes of all their shows, (Lucky Star had the extended dance-scene, Haruhi had a longer version of Bouken Desho Desho?, Air had Aozora, Clannad had Kage Futatsu, FMP TSR had the last episode being like, 7 minutes longer than the rest, don't know about Kanon though, haven't seen it yet) so they'll propably do something at the end of Clannad AS too... Hopefully they'll play Chiisana Te no Hira, as I love that song.

[Ottocycle]

Originally Posted by Vegard Aune

Really though, they do seem to do SOMETHING special for the last episodes of all their shows, (Lucky Star had the extended dance-scene, Haruhi had a longer version of Bouken Desho Desho?, Air had Aozora, Clannad had Kage Futatsu, FMP TSR had the last episode being like, 7 minutes longer than the rest, don't know about Kanon though, haven't seen it yet) so they'll propably do something at the end of Clannad AS too... Hopefully they'll play Chiisana Te no Hira, as I love that song.

They've already set a precedent with Kage Futatsu. No reason to believe why they won't continue with Chiisana Tenohira.

Also, the crux of what they're trying probably is to recreate the entire feel of the visual novel as far as possible. If it just so happens that the anime end wasn't as breathtaking as people want it to be, it has to be because it's being loyal to the game content. That's all.

[boggart]

So.... any news from AnimeFesta yet?

EDIT: Whoops... it only just got started! Jumping the gun a bit I guess...

[Ottocycle]

It started for about..an hour? I'm loving the guest list as well.

Nakamura Yuuichi was added as a last minute guest. Nakahara Mai was already in for some time. Now if Inoue, Okiayu, Midorikawa, Koorogi and Kawakami come in...

If there is a god, please allow at least the last two to join in!

[Rikimtasu]

Some news on AnimeFesta i think...
A new poster for AS:

Spoiler:

-First EP of AS aired on AnimeFesta.
-First vol of DVD will be on sale at the end of this year.
Note that these new isn't conformed yet>_<

[MeoTwister5]

Wow they aired the first episode of AS? Methinks someone will eventually rip that from the Festa and post it in the internet.

[boggart]

Originally Posted by MeoTwister5

Wow they aired the first episode of AS? Methinks someone will eventually rip that from the Festa and post it in the internet.

We didn't get that last year, but we did get a cam video of the Dango Daikazoku ending.

Just waiting for confirmation on any news at all... Come on inside-Japan-members! You can do it!

[izanagi]

I went to　AnimeFesta.

clannad AS news
・It starts on October 2 this year.
・24（23？）episodes
・First EP of AS aired on

[Ottocycle]

Originally Posted by izanagi

I went to　AnimeFesta.

clannad AS news
・It starts on October 2 this year.
・24（23？）epispdes
・First EP of AS aired on

Ample room for development! A good start on the right track.

I hope they leave some room for some School Life stuff they missed.

[Rikimtasu]

Stuff.
New OP ED by Lia.
OP 時を刻む唄
ED TORCH

Spoiler for summary?:

10月2日 1時59分 2クール

1話 古河ベイカーズ
2話 春原の求婚

しばらくは原作学園編の補完みたい


テイストはAIRにギャグ色
随所にシリアスを入れてる
1話の〆はシリアス落とし
かなり期待できる


OPはだーまえとおりとの新曲 ゲームBGMアレンジ入り
曲はOPが鳥の唄と雰囲気を被せたもの
EDがAIRのEDっぽい明るいトーン

[Ottocycle]

Spoiler for translation:

Airdate: 2/10/08, 1:59AM,
2 Cour(~24ep)
OP: Toki wo Kizamu Uta
ED: Torch

Ep1: The Bakers Furukawa
Ep2: Sunohara's Proposal(as in the marriage one)

Looks like they're filling out some missing stuff from School Life at the moment. ()

It gives a taste not unlike AIR's comedy, inserted at random points of the series.

Spoiler for game?:

The ending mark[where they probably show the "watch the show next week too!" screen] shows the end of the series.

OP is an arrange of a game BGM, has the feel of Tori no Uta.
ED also feels like AIR's in that it feels optimistic.

Did any of the posters there know which BGM track was the OP an arrange of?

I'm personally hoping for Negai ga Kanau Basho or Harukana Toshitsuki though.

An uplifting ED...sounding good. Can't wait.

[Vegard Aune]

Originally Posted by Rikimtasu

Stuff.
New OP ED by Lia.
OP 時を刻む唄
ED TORCH

Spoiler for summary?:

10月2日 1時59分 2クール

1話 古河ベイカーズ
2話 春原の求婚

しばらくは原作学園編の補完みたい


テイストはAIRにギャグ色
随所にシリアスを入れてる
1話の〆はシリアス落とし
かなり期待できる


OPはだーまえとおりとの新曲 ゲームBGMアレンジ入り
曲はOPが鳥の唄と雰囲気を被せたもの
EDがAIRのEDっぽい明るいトーン

So, they DID do a new opening... Then I have to wonder why they had *That character* in the opening of the first season... Ah well, as long as the songs are good, I won't complain... And if they're ANYTHING like the Air-songs, like they said there, then they propably will be. At least they got rid of the Dango-song, which I was never too fond of.

[boggart]

Originally Posted by Rikimtasu

Stuff.
New OP ED by Lia.
OP 時を刻む唄
ED TORCH

Spoiler for summary?:

10月2日 1時59分 2クール

1話 古河ベイカーズ
2話 春原の求婚

しばらくは原作学園編の補完みたい


テイストはAIRにギャグ色
随所にシリアスを入れてる
1話の〆はシリアス落とし
かなり期待できる


OPはだーまえとおりとの新曲 ゲームBGMアレンジ入り
曲はOPが鳥の唄と雰囲気を被せたもの
EDがAIRのEDっぽい明るいトーン

Woohoo! Got my wish of a new OP and ED! And 2-cour to boot! I can hear my wallet screaming out in agony already!

Being that Air was breathtakingly beautiful, I'm hoping this will satiate my thirst for new Clannad too.

[kimchipride]

So the OP and ED are not ingame music from the Clannad game?

[MeoTwister5]

At this point I'm just waiting for some ingenious Japanese person to sneak out a copy of the first episode so it'll eventually make it's way into teh internetz.

[eggplant]

Attended the TBS Anime Festa 2008 today (for the third year in a row).
Even with two breaks, sitting on your butt for six hours definitely takes its toll, but watching episode 1 of Clannad After was well worth the wait.
Prior to the interviews with the guest VAs, singer Lia was introduced to the stage.

Spoiler for OP/ED:

The diva of Key related titles, Lia sang the full-length version of both the opening song, "Toki wo Kizamu Uta" and the ending song, "TORCH".
The former was a luscious, middle-tempo song, reminiscent of "Tori no Uta", while the latter was an up-tempo tune. Lia sure can sing, which goes without saying, but she practically mesmerized the audience with her stunning vocals.

Guest VAs were Nakahara Mai (Nagisa), Nakamura Yuuichi (Tomoya), and Inoue Kikuko (Sanae). Asked what part of the previous series made a lasting impression on her, Mai answered "The Tomoyo Extra Episode", to which Yuuichi agreed, saying that unlike the usual episodes in which Tomoya flirts with all the girls but has to keep check of Nagisa, the Tomoyo episode was only about her. Mai voiced her hopes of playing a happy role for "AFTER".

"CLANNAD AFTER" is to premiere on Oct. 3 on TBS from 01:59 AM (or 25:59 on Oct. 2). No announcement regarding episode count was made, although I don't see any factors to refute a 24ep run.

Screening of the full version of episode 1 followed.

Spoiler for Episode 1:

The episode starts off with a graphical image of Tomoya and Ushio outdoors, playing catch at the park. The image fades into baseball practice, where Akio, who is scheduled to hold a match in the near future, solicits Tomoya to join the team. He initially declines, stating his injured right shoulder, but is dragged in. The image fades out and segues into the OP, comprised primarily of landscape shots, followed with a shot of Nagisa, leading into the anime title. Right after the title, Nagisa is featured, leading into the roll call, similar to the previous season, starting off with Nagisa, followed by Kyou, Kotomi, and Tomoyo. Cameo shots of the rest of the cast are shown, however Ushio's face is obstructed.

Right after the OP, the story begins, where the gang are still high-schoolers. The episode title "Natsu no Owari no Sayonara" cuts in. Tomoya and Nagisa are going out with each other, and Tomoyo is the student council president. The second semester is about to end, The whole gang (sans Tomoyo and Fuuko) are gathered at the drama club room, where Tomoya pleads his case to them, asking them to participate in the game. They agree, although everyone there is a baseball novice.

Tomoya encounters Tomoyo in the hallway, where he catches her attention by saying that Sunohara wants to do dirty things to her, resulting in a battering of Sunohara. Tomoya tries to persuade her to join, which she will only if Misae, the dorm manager agrees to do so. Undaunted, Tomoya attempts to lure Misae, but she refuses, only to be convinced by Tomoyo.

On the way back, they spot Yoshino Yuusuke at work. They try to recruit him as well, to no avail. However, Tomoya comes up with a ruse in which Sunohara is a die-hard fan of Yoshino's works, a ploy which pays off.

On the day of the match, Sunohara's sister is on the team as well, coming all the way out just to see Yoshino. Akio addresses his team, the Furukawa Bakeries, telling them that if they lose to the local shopping arcade team, they're going to be forced to eat Sanae's bread. Nagisa and Ryou are spectators, where the game begins. Akio, the starting pitcher, holds the opponent to no points in the top half of the 1st inning. In the bottom half of the frame, the Bakeries, after two outs, have the bases loaded, where it's Tomoyo's turn at bat. Without breaking a sweat, she smashes a grand slam, and the Bakeries are up by 4.

In the top of the 2nd, the opponent batter swings and misses, but inadvertently throws his bat at Akio, hitting him cleanly on the shin. Akio is forced to leave the game, and he designates Nagisa as his replacement. Enter commercial break.

The story resumes with Tomoyo at bat, pondering to herself whether she should act more feminine, where she lays down a half-hearted grounder. During Kotomi's at-bat, she already has analyzed the dynamics of baseball, and proves it with a hit. The opponets rack points off Nagisa, where the Bakeries are trailing 5-4. Yoshino slams a deep hit to the outfield, but gets caught in his Midorikawa Hikaru act, and is promptly tagged out.

It's the bottom half of the final inning, and Nagisa is up. She manages to get a hit. After two outs, Yoshino gets a hit, and Mei runs out an infield hit. The bases are loaded for Tomoya, who has yet to produce. A flashback occurs, where Tomoya gets the game winning hit, and is mobbed by his teammates, where they celebrate at the Furukawa residence, followed by an image of the illusionary world and the garbage doll. The flashback fades out, only to presumably continue in the next episode where it left off.

The ED sequence shows the characters doing a moonwalk a la Michael Jackson, with occassional dango shots.

Today's screening included the preview for Episode 2, titled "Itsuka Kono Ai wo Sagashite", featuring Sunohara's search for love.

All in all, "CLANNAD AFTER" is extremely promising. The artwork is typical Kyoto Animation quality, the script should satisfy even the fastidious Key visual novel fan, and most of all, the humor factor is heightened.

Today's event included the announcement of a new anime ("Tonari no 801-chan") by KyoAni, making the prospective for Haruhi distant than ever. Then again you might want to savor the comedy when you can. In any case, CLANNAD aficionados, hold your breath until October.