Clannad
A visual novel series by Key that tells the story of Tomoya Okazaki, a high school student who meets various girls and helps them overcome their personal struggles. The series explores themes of family, friendship, and the supernatural, culminating in the deeply emotional After Story arc.
Category
Anime/Manga
Release Year
2004
Origin
Japan
Tags
dramaromancesupernaturalslice of lifefamilycoming of age
Detailed Overview Information
Basic Information
Full Name
Clannad
Aliases
Clannad, Clannad After Story
Type
Visual Novel/Anime
Release Year
2004
Status
Completed
Origin
Japan
Region
Japan
Creation Information
Creator
Key (Jun Maeda, Itaru Hinoue)
Publisher
Key/Visual Arts
Original Work
visual novel
Genre
drama, romance, supernatural, slice of life, family, coming of age
Content Information
Synopsis
Tomoya Okazaki meets Nagisa Furukawa and others, helping them through personal struggles; After Story continues into adulthood, exploring family and love with supernatural resolution.
Main Characters
Tomoya Okazaki, Nagisa Furukawa, Ushio Okazaki, Kyou Fujibayashi, Ryou Fujibayashi, Kotomi Ichinose
Setting
Hikarizaka High School, Furukawa Bakery, Illusionary World
Themes
family bonds, loss and grief, hope and miracles, memories, community and belonging
Target Audience
young adults and adults
Media Forms
Original Medium
visual novel
Adaptations
type:anime
title:Clannad
year:2007
status:completed
description:First season anime adaptation by Kyoto Animation
type:anime
title:Clannad: After Story
year:2008
status:completed
description:Second season focusing on adult life and parenthood
type:manga
title:Clannad Manga
year:2005
status:completed
description:Manga adaptation of the visual novel
type:light novel
title:Clannad Light Novel
year:2006
status:completed
description:Light novel adaptation with additional content
type:film
title:Clannad: The Motion Picture
year:2007
status:completed
description:Alternate retelling in film format
Cross Media Presence
visual novel, anime series, manga, light novels, film, drama CDs, soundtrack albums
Commercial Information
Licensing Info
Licensed globally with multiple regional distributors
Merchandise Revenue
Extensive merchandise including figurines, plushies, art books, and music albums
Sales
Visual novel 100,000+ copies; strong anime home media sales
Fan Culture
Fandom Size
Large and dedicated international fanbase
Demographics
Primarily young adults and adults, visual novel enthusiasts, anime fans
Fan Activities
fan art, cosplay, music covers, fan fiction, emotional discussions, character analysis
Community Hubs
Reddit communities, MyAnimeList forums, Discord servers, visual novel forums
Fan Creations
fan art, music arrangements, fan fiction, cosplay, tribute videos, emotional testimonials
Cultural Impact
Established new standards for emotional storytelling in visual novels and anime; influenced numerous creators; created lasting impact on fans' perspectives on family and relationships
Historical Development
Creation Background
Developed as Key's third major visual novel project, building on the success of Kanon and Air with a more ambitious multigenerational story
Development Process
Created over several years with careful attention to character development and emotional pacing, featuring Jun Maeda's signature storytelling style
Key Milestones
year:2004
event:Original visual novel released
year:2007
event:Anime adaptation begins airing
year:2008
event:After Story anime season airs
year:2009
event:Series concludes with widespread critical acclaim
year:2010
event:English localization of visual novel
year:2015
event:Steam release brings wider international audience
Evolution Over Time
Grew from visual novel to multimedia franchise, with each adaptation adding new perspectives while maintaining core emotional themes
Legacy
Considered a masterpiece of visual novel storytelling; influenced entire generation of creators; established Kyoto Animation as premier studio for emotional anime
Related Links
key.visualarts.gr.jp
www.enjoyip.com