Clannad: After Story - Mou Hitotsu no Sekai, Kyou-hen

*Heartwarming end to an exceptional adaptation.*

“We can only hurt each other … because we ended up liking the same person.” – Fujibayashi Ryou

In this alternate dimension in the world of Clannad, Fujibayashi supporters will be glad to hear that their goddesses are now the main spotlight of the story. The other female characters, such as Nagisa, Tomoyo, et cetera, still exist in the story, however their lives no longer cross with Tomoya’s the way they did from the TV series (say good bye to Ushio).

Fans wishing for a new OP or at least a change in scenes/characters for the OP will be disappointed. Not ... only does it reuse the same OP from After Story, but all soundtracks and BGM throughout the OVA are nothing new. Everything just recycled from both the first and second season of Clannad. But is that necessary a bad thing? Probably not. For instance, the insert song from the first season, Ana, is a much more fitting ED than the original After Story ED (TORCH), which many find to be too upbeat for a show like Clannad.

Assuming you have been following Clannad and After Story, the animation should not be anything new to you. There is still the shadow from trees and clouds cast down onto our characters. There is still the smooth dynamic animation transition between scenes. And there is still the unique camera angles giving viewers a different perspective every now and then. In addition, I was totally impressed by the personification used in this short episode. The clouds that were used to express the inner thoughts of Kyou (her logic and desire) were exceptionally well made.

Perhaps the one thing that fans can enjoy now is the more elaborate character developments for the Fujibayashi twins. Although their feelings for Tomoya were evident ever since the beginning of the first TV series, but for various reasons they were held back and ultimately became sidelined characters. I have always regarded this triangular relationship the hardest and most interesting of all Clannad routes. No matter which girl Tomoya chooses, the pair still has to face the other for the rest of their lives. Both sisters wanting to love and be loved but they are bound to hurt each other in the process. Viewers see the characters grow and mature, making decisions that will affect themselves, their family, and their future.

**Spoilers sorry**

I was not happy with this OVA. I really liked Kyou's character throughout Clannad and Clannad After Story, but this really ruined it (I watched this after watching Clannad, the Tomoyo OVA, and Clannad AS because I messed up the viewing order)

Kyou came off as immature, even slutty in this OVA. I always saw her as a figure of stability, a strong version of Ryou. But after she tried to force herself onto Sunohara, I basically lost all respect for her.

I was also unhappy with Tomoya when he decided to go out with a girl he clearly did not like (Ryou). If you ... don't like a girl, there's never a reason to say "hey let's give it a try", no matter how much she wants it. To be fair, he's a greenhorn at dating, but still illogical and unlike Tomoya's character.

I actually watched this about 9 years ago so I don't remember how much it differs from the VN, but it should basically be Kyou's route so I'll talk about this.

This is by far the worst route in Clannad. Scratch that, this is by far the worst route in all of Key's works. And Kyou is by far the worst character to ever come out of this great company. Everybody makes mistakes I guess. (you can find a detailed tier list on my profile in which I put Kyou on the "Please Die" Tier.)
She is a manipulative psycho with murderous tendencies, and she doesn't think ... twice before throwing heavy objects on people from multiple floors up or trying to run them over with her scooter. Then she laughs it off. Psycho. The fact that nobody has ever tried to get her to a psychiatrist (or better yet, report her to police) is actually baffling to me.

Alright, onto the story ! (spoilers ahead)
So Kyou learns that her little sister is in love with one of her classmates, so she does the most twisted thing she could probably come up with in that rotten mind of hers: She first pushes her sister to make a move, then when the two are dating, and Ryou is falling more and more in love and invested in the relationship, she goes to great lengths to try and ruin it all, even cutting her hair to look like her sister and stealing her BF from her. WTF.
This is so messed up. I was actually feeling more and more sick the more I was reading Kyou's route. Like actually physically sick to my stomach. This girl is an actual demon. I was so happy when it was finally over and I could read an actual heartwarming story next and try to forget all about this one. If you find yourself playing Clannad, just make the right choice and stay with Ryou, then act like Kyou's route doesn't exist (Actually you'll have to play it to get to after story, but just hold ctrl or something).
Key themselves must have realized how saddening and disgusting this route was because they at least had the decency of giving Ryou an happy ending in the epilogue where she ends up with the guy her sister had previously ran over then left unconscious on the side of the road while running away from the scene (Yes, this is a crime.) He could have been dead for all she knew. Thankfully he survived but family reunions on his GF side must probably trigger his PTSD, Poor guy. He's a great guy too, unlike Tomoya who is a real PoS in Kyou's route. Ryou is such a sweet girl too, she really didn't deserve satan reincarnated as her sister.

Music is great I guess. 1/10

Rant over