Despite the fact that I like this show, it was really good to hear about it from a completely different perspective than mine. I was always into shounen anime when Toonami was still on Cartoon Network. I can say that I started to hate harem shows way back when I was 9 after watching Tenchi in Tokyo. I didn’t remember or even understand the tropes in anime during that time, and when I watched Clannad years later, I still didn’t understand all of those tropes and devices yet.
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Clannad was the first seinen anime that I had ever watched, and because it had a very different tone and visual-style compared to everything else I ever watched, I slowly started to examine this show from a different state of mind than my usual shounen-purist self. It was seriously a huge leap from DBZ, YuYu Hakusho, and Gundam Wing. At that time, I was ignorant of the term “moe” and the concept of a show trying to make creeps beat-off to animated characters, so I didn’t look at it as a show that wanted me to think to myself, “Which girl would I rape?” (note: there’s no sex scenes in the Clannad game either, surprisingly). I didn’t even know what doujins were until I saw that episode of Lucky Star where they went to Comiket. I guess my sheltered life is what caused me to see the show in an “innocent” way instead of in a perverted and deviant manner (but I see a lot shows in that way nowadays).
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It was my first time watching an anime that was trying to give a lot of depth between the relationships of the characters, instead on focusing on explosions and fighting to keep me watching the show. I also respected this show because it didn’t rely heavily on fan-service like Tenchi Muyo did. Some people may consider the short-skirt uniforms as a “fan-service” element, but shows like Sailor Moon pretty much desensitized me from that fetish. The concept of “moe” (or at least what it was supposed to be) is about someone having a certain character-type that makes another person want to protect that moe-person, not rape them. But in anime culture now, that term has been “raped” and I see why so many people are sick of moe shows.
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On the feminist aspect of the show, I didn’t realize ‘till months later how feminist the show can be. It’s a moe/harem show, and it couldn’t be one without the feministic element. Even an awesome show like Bakemonogatari suffers from this aspect: guy has to save girl because girl can’t make it on her own.
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I remember in Martian Successor Nadesico when Takizawa was watching an old robot show, and he said how sometimes a show just “has to be liked for what it is” in order to like it. A lot of what you explained and broke down in Clannad is pretty much in most if not all harem shows. If you don’t like these types of shows, it’s okay to not like it. I on the other hand like this show for what it is, which is a typical harem show with better-than-average visuals and a decent soundtrack (in my opinion). If someone asked me for a good harem show, Clannad would be on that list because it’s good for what it’s trying to be (which is a moe/harem anime), for better or for worse. If someone I know that doesn’t like typical harem shows asked for a recommendation, I definitely would NOT recommend Clannad, because it’s what it is, and that person doesn’t like that kind of show.
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I’ve seen someone’s super-biased perspective on anime in general that “all action anime are over-rated and moe shows are awesome!!” during their top 10 anime list on youtube. I didn’t like their perspective at all, it’s just too narrow-minded and pathetic. When it comes to anime, I like to explore a lot of the genres (except for crap that focuses on yaoi). Your review of Clannad, when it comes down to it, seemed to be “criticizing a harem show for being a harem show” and there’s nothing wrong with that.
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Your review has enlightened me to look out more for crap in these particular shows, but it hasn’t caused me to hate Clannad. It’s what I like, and if someone tells me they don’t at all, there’s nothing wrong with that. But if they say I’m wrong for liking it then they can just go screw themselves, because it’s just a matter of preference, it’s not that deep. Thank you for the review!

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First things first, awesome show! I’m really enjoying it and though this is my first episode, I’ve gone back and listened to some old ones and have quickly become a fan despite some differing opinions :P

Now to my main point, I really enjoyed this episode and it really got me thinking. Primarily it made me realize two things, more specifically realize one thing and wish for another but I digress.

First thing: I don’t want to watch Clannad anymore. Though my interest wasn’t strong, I had this show somewhere in my “to watch” list. Mainly because of all the hype surrounding it, etc. Now hearing your impressions have turned me completely off it.

Second: I really wonder, and would like to know, what you guys think of some of my more recent favorite shows(of this similar pantheon). I guess this needs some background.

Though I sort of grew up with anime(I’m sort of in the same boat as Wakashi) it wasn’t until last year that I “seriously” started watching anime(some thing to do with Gurren Lagann… :D). So in a relatively short amount of time I have watched many, many an anime and have come to appreciate a lot of genres I hadn’t really paid much attention to before, including THIS one in particular(that being dramas or romantic dramas). Which got me into wondering what you guys think of some of my “recent” favorites mainly Bakemonogatari and Kimi ni Todoke. So excuse me if you have already discussed this(if so show me the way), if you haven’t, what are the chances of seeing future episode with those shows?

Anyway, awesome show, keep up the awesome and have awesome days/lives!

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[...] our Clannad podcast? No, no… The original recording that didn’t make it. Weren’t you curious how that [...]

You make a very good point here, actually. And yet many of the hardcore “anti-moe” types are the sort of people who really like (what some might call excessive) gore. And sometimes fan service too. But I agree about basing an entire show (or any other sort of media production) on a single source of appeal. I think most sane people (well, sanity is relative, but that’s beside the point, and I consider myself REASONABLY sane, all things considered) would agree, too, in principle at least. The only thing that causes disagreements in my opinion is the old “exactly how much is enough/too much” debate. In my view, Clannad wasn’t that extreme- I’ve seen (and been unable to watch) MUCH worse. I enjoyed it to some extent, even though the usual stuff I watch is stuff like Evangelion, Fullmetal Alchemist and Cowboy Bebop. To each his own I guess, as long as you don’t think I’m a monster or something for liking something like Clannad… :P

I enjoy disagreement too, for both alternative points of view and the conflict. But I only enjoy conflict if it’s something that I’m not involved in. In other words, it’s only funny if it’s not something that I care about (ie arguments on Twilight forums are hilarious, because both sides are equally stupid and it’s a pointless debate. Pass the popcorn). If it’s something I actually care about, then listening to alternative points of view is actually interesting and constructive.

We’re all presented with stuff we overlook. It happens. “No one’s perfect”, as the old (and rather cheesy) saying goes…

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