Clannad After Story – 01
OP: “Toki wo Kizamu Uta” by Lia – Hey, I like the OP a lot. I’m not very familiar with the artist who sings it, but the song is very fitting for the series. The animation is much like the first, but with….a lot more Nagisa?
Summary:
Tomoya sees a vision of his younger self spending time with an older individual that resembles him, but he is taken back to the present when Nagisa prevents a baseball from hitting him. This had come from Akio, who then hits a ball out of the park for Sanae. Akio later expresses his want to play baseball against a rival team of his, asking for Tomoya to gather players from school for him. Tomoya has continued to live at Nagisa’s house recently, and at school, it has come close to the time where students must decide what they want to do with their futures. However, Tomoya still hasn’t thought of what he would like to do. When he brings up the baseball team to the drama club later, most of Tomoya’s friends agree to participate. Traveling throughout town, Tomoya and the others are able to convince Tomoyo, Yoshino, and Misae to participate as well. While walking alone together that afternoon, Nagisa suggests to Tomoya that they should invite his father as well. However, Tomoya simply cannot agree to this.
The next day, Mei also joins the group to face Akio’s rival team. As the game starts, each player reveals the different skill levels they have. Akio is eventually injured and taken out of the game, so he has Nagisa play the pitching position in his place. The team continues to do their best throughout the following innings, even performing some surprising moves to get them off the ground. With a few amazing hits from Yoshino, and good following plays, the team is finally able to catch up to the currently winning rival team. It eventually comes down to Tomoya’s play to decide the game, and with his friends’ support, he is successful in hitting a ball out of the park. To celebrate, everyone enjoys a meal at the Furukawa household that night.
ED: “TORCH” by Lia – The start of this tricked me into thinking that there was going to be a Nagisa and dango dance party, so the rest of it ended up being kind of disappointing. Okay, it really wasn’t bad. It was quite good, actually.
Preview: Back to school, and future hopes.
Impression:
Kyoani decide to use a filler episode to reintroduce us to the cast this week, which definitely didn’t hurt in my eyes. I loved seeing all the characters return, each with their usual entertaining personalities. Hearing the cast in action again was satisfying as well, with Mai Nakahara as Nagisa and Yukari Tamura as Mei being especially enjoyable to listen to after so long. The theme of baseball reminded me a lot of Ooikuku Furikabutte, the only real sports anime I have really watched. I can’t say that Kyoani’s version of a game was as exciting, but it was certainly fun to watch. There were some hilarious scenes in this episode, including Yoshino’s epic speech and Kotomi’s planning before hitting the ball. The direction and visuals at the end of this episode were excellent, making me appreciate the studio’s work once again. The only thing I can really complain about at this point is that there was not enough Fuuko, and that they turned her into a side character. Yes, I am pissed… Botan still rocks though.
Anyways, I will probably be covering this for the season. Having already gotten through 24 episodes and the movie, I guess it would be the most logical thing to do.
Notes that didn’t make it to the final draft:
- Youhei “wants to do perverted things” to Tomoyo. I lol’d.
- Sanae’s “fight-o desuyo~” was kawaii pocky desu.
- I heard you like bloomers.
18 Comments so far
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Uh… what? Why are they still in school?
Why do I get the feeling that the entire series is going to be original, and not a direct adaptation of After Story from the game?
Have fun in your drawing class, Totali. Hopefully, the sub will come out soon.
I am sure they will try and make this story based from the gasme adaption.
Its no suprise to me that they started off with something funny but I can bet the ending will be sad.
Hey, I like the OP a lot. I’m not very familiar with the artist who sings it, but the song is very fitting for the series.
Lia did the OP and ED for Air. You remember “Tori no Uta” I hope!
Lia also did the OP for the Tomoyo after game, and is a big part of Key’s sound label. She’s also one of my favorite artists… so I was quite pleased to hear a new song of hers when I began watching this episode.
I’m not sure if you notice this part of the OP, Totali. Hope you are looking forward to see this scene XD
http://randomc.maximum7.net/image/CLANNAD/CLANNAD%20~AFTER%20STORY~%20-%20OP%20-%20Large%2007.jpg
FINALLY, Clannad AS is airing, I was already dying from last season’s lack of Kyoto Animation.
I just listened to the OP (Toki wo Kizamu Uta) by Lia, and it was perfect. Its mood and melody fits very well, very much like an OP from any visual novel by Key.
ED (TORCH) by Lia was something else; still good, just like all of Lia’s songs, but IMO it didn’t seem to fit in as well as –too happy if you ask me. I guess this song is meant to cheer people up from the upcoming sad parts in later episodes. I would’ve preferred a remix of Dango Daikazoku…
Overall, looking forward to a great season, and I hope Clannad will end well (if you know what I mean).
Nah, they aren’t presenting original material. However, it seems that instead of getting to the After Story immediately, they’re dragging the series out by animating sub-plots and possibly secondary endings.
They sold a shitload of DVDs, so it all makes sense.
@awabawlt: Well, the first season had a bit of filler too. With 13 episodes, wouldn’t it be fine to just have some fun episodes between the development that will mostly only deal with Tomoya and Nagisa?
@Calawain: Oh man, I LOVED the air OP/ED. I guess I’m just a noob when it comes to these game artists…
@kenshin514: Yea, I saw that. Real Fuuko better show up in the next episode or something or I will continue to h8 and rage.
http://anime.fansub.tv/series.php/1188/Clannad%20~After%20Story~/
“I couldn’t believe it, but After Story is going to be 24 episodes long, which has been confirmed in the November issue of TVfan (Japanese magazine) and has been reported on blog sites, such as here. I must say I didn’t expect it, but perhaps now they won’t leave anything out, and more Clannad is never a bad thing, I’ll be the first to say.”
Anyone else have any web confirmation?
OP was awesome.
Lia also did “Ana”… The Fuuko gives Starfish to her Sister song..
I dunno. I liked the other OP better.
Fuuko is NOT side character in After Story. From what i know, she plays a major role in it, compare to other girls(except Nagisa, of course)
Heh well this is the “baseball route” in the game, like an omake route/extra that’s fun to read. I think it’s a great start for the 1st ep and reintroduces the characters nicely.
Don’t worry about Fuko, in the latter and more emotional parts of AS the rest of the other characters will show up less than Fuko.
“I heard you like bloomers.”
You heard right, my friend. But only for Kyou.
Moe Tournament (Korea) today match(Quarter-final) : tomoyo vs kyou
please vote for tomoyo
Link to Vote:http://moet.anizone.net/index.php?lang=eng
next match(Quarter-final) : sanzenin nagi vs shana
please vote for nagi
Heh, Lia sings all of Key’s songs, I think.
They’re all good, though, yeah.
No Widescreen yet, D:
aurabolt:
Uh… what? Why are they still in school?
Why do I get the feeling that the entire series is going to be original, and not a direct adaptation of After Story from the game?
Some of the After Story took place in the school on their last half of the semester, prolly the first 15-20 eps will be in the school, the rest will prolly be when tehy graduate i think. they’re also covering some of the paths they didnt do, like Mei’s path. they’ll move on to the “real” after story a little later im pretty sure. dont worry =P its still a good anime