Instruct: Given a question, retrieve passages that can help answer the question.
Query: When did the anime series Clannad begin?
The Clannad anime series has 24 episodes, 23 of which were originally broadcast between October 2007 and March 2008. The last episode was released as an original video animation (OVA) on the eighth DVD in July 2008. The anime series was released in a set of eight DVD compilations in Japan released between December 2007 and July 2008 by Pony Canyon, with each compilation containing three episodes.[1] The license holding company Sentai Filmworks licensed the Clannad anime series,[2] and Section23 Films localized and distributed the television series and the OVA starting with the first half season box set consisting of 12 episodes with English subtitles, Japanese audio, and no English language track, which was released in March 2009.[3] The second half season box set containing the remaining episodes was released in May 2009. Sentai Filmworks and Section23 Films released the entire first season, including the OVA, in a complete collection set featuring an English dub on June 15, 2010.[4]
The Clannad animated television series is based on the visual novel Clannad by the Japanese visual novel brand Key. The episodes, produced by the animation studio Kyoto Animation, are directed by Tatsuya Ishihara, written by Fumihiko Shimo, and features character design by Kazumi Ikeda who based the designs on Itaru Hinoue's original concept. The story follows the main character Tomoya Okazaki, a discontent high school student whose life changes when he meets a girl one year older than he is, named Nagisa Furukawa.
 is a single for the "Clannad" anime series by Kyoto Animation which was released on October 26, 2007 in Japan by Key Sounds Label bearing the catalog number "KSLA-0036". The single contains the opening and ending themes from the anime version in full length, TV length, and off-vocal versions, along with a bonus remix track of the song "Shōjo no Gensō" from the earlier "Sorarado" image album released in 2003. The opening theme "Mag Mell (cuckool mix 2007)" is performed by Eufonius and sung by Riya, who also sings "Shōjo no Gensō". The ending theme "Dango Daikazoku" is sung by Chata. The single is composed, arranged, and produced by Jun Maeda, Magome Togoshi, Hajime Kikuchi, Takumaru, and ZTS.
Inami graduated from Yoyogi Animation School. She aspired to become a voice actress after watching the anime series "Clannad".
Two Clannad anthology character novels were written by several authors and published by Jive in September and December 2004.[57][58] The first volume of a short story anthology compilation series written by Hiro Akizuki and Mutsuki Misaki titled Clannad.(くらなど。) was released in November 2008 published by Harvest;[59] the third volume was released in October 2009.[60] Three volumes of a short story compilation series by several authors titled Clannad SSS were published by Harvest between June and August 2009. Harvest published a novel titled Clannad Mystery File in August 2010 and another novel titled Clannad: Magic Hour in December 2010.[61]
Of the 24 episodes planned for release by Kyoto Animation,[1] 23 were aired on television with the first 22 being regular episodes, followed by an additional extra episode. The last episode was released as an original video animation on the eighth DVD on July 16, 2008 and is set in an alternate universe from the anime series in which Tomoya and Tomoyo are dating.[1] The OVA episode was previewed on May 31, 2008 for an audience of four-hundred people picked via a mail-in postcard campaign.[1] The broadcast time was first announced on August 11, 2007 at the TBS festival Anime Festa, which is also when the first episode was showcased. The episodes aired between October 4, 2007 and March 27, 2008 on the TBS Japanese television network in 4:3 aspect ratio.[7] The anime also aired in 16:9 aspect ratio between October 26, 2007 and April 4, 2008 on the BS-i Japanese television network. The anime series was released in a set of eight DVD compilations in Japan released between December 19, 2007 and July 16, 2008 by Pony Canyon, with each compilation containing three episodes.[1] A Blu-ray Disc box set of Clannad was released on April 30, 2010 in Japan.[8]
On March 15, 2007, the Japanese television station BS-i announced a Clannad anime series via a short 30-second teaser trailer that was featured at the end of the final episode of the second Kanon anime series. Clannad is produced by Kyoto Animation, directed by Tatsuya Ishihara, and written by Fumihiko Shimo, who also worked on other adaptations of Key's visual novels Air and Kanon. The anime aired between October 4, 2007 and March 27, 2008, containing 23 aired episodes out of a planned 24;[94] the broadcast time was first announced on August 11, 2007 at the TBS festival Anime Festa, which is also when the first episode was showcased. The anime series was released in a set of eight DVD compilations released between December 19, 2007 and July 16, 2008 by Pony Canyon, with each compilation containing three episodes.[94] Of the 24 episodes, 23 were aired on television with the first 22 being regular episodes, followed by an additional extra episode. The last episode was released as an original video animation (OVA) on the eighth DVD on July 16, 2008 and is set in an alternate universe from the anime series where Tomoya and Tomoyo are dating, which is based on Tomoyo's scenario in the game.[94] The OVA episode was previewed on May 31, 2008 for an audience of four-hundred people picked via a mail-in postcard campaign.[94] A Blu-ray Disc (BD) box set of Clannad was released on April 30, 2010.[95][96]
A continuation of the first anime series titled Clannad After Story produced by the same staff as with the first series, and containing the same cast of voice actors, adapts the After Story arc from the Clannad visual novel, which is a continuation of Nagisa's scenario. Clannad After Story has 25 episodes, 24 of which aired in Japan between October 2008 and March 2009. The last episode was again released as an OVA on the eighth DVD in July 2009. The episodes were released on eight DVD compilation volumes between December 2008 and July 2009. Sentai Filmworks also licensed Clannad After Story and Section23 Films localized and distributed the television series and OVA starting with the first half season box set with English subtitles released in October 2009.[5] The second half season box set containing the remaining episodes was released in December 2009. Sentai Filmworks re-released Clannad After Story with an English dub on April 19, 2011.[6]
The license holding company Sentai Filmworks licensed the Clannad After Story anime series,[5] and Section23 Films localized and distributed the television series and the OVA starting with the first half season box set consisting of 12 episodes with English subtitles, Japanese audio, and no English language track, released on October 20, 2009. The second half season box set containing the remaining episodes was released on December 8, 2009. Sentai Filmworks re-released Clannad After Story with an English dub in April 2011.[12]
The license holding company Sentai Filmworks licensed the Clannad anime series,[102] and ADV Films localized and distributed the television series and the OVA starting with the first half season box set consisting of 12 episodes with English subtitles, Japanese audio, and no English language track, which was released on March 3, 2009.[103] The second half season box set containing the remaining episodes was released on May 5, 2009.[104] Sentai Filmworks licensed the Clannad After Story anime series;[105] Section23 Films localized and distributed both the television series and OVA starting with the first half season box set with English subtitles released on October 20, 2009. The second half box set was released on December 8, 2009. Sentai Filmworks re-released Clannad in a complete collection set on June 15, 2010, which featured an English dub, produced at Seraphim Digital.[106][107] The English dub premiered on March 25, 2010 on the Anime Network.[108] Sentai Filmworks re-released Clannad After Story with an English dub on April 19, 2011,[109] and re-released Clannad on BD in November 2011.[110]
For the anime television adaptation, the first season of Clannad received reviews ranging from positive to mixed, while the second season Clannad After Story received wide critical acclaim. The THEM Anime Reviews website gave the entire series a score of 4 out of 5 stars, with reviewer Tim Jones describing the first season as "the most fleshed-out and real Key animated adaption to date,"[164] and reviewer Stig Høgset stating that the second season After Story "will play up the tragedies and the drama considerably, quite possibly tearing out your heart in the process. This is where time truly starts to fly by, lending the show some real weight in the emotional departments."[165]
""Toki o Kizamu Uta / Torch" Piano Arrange Disc" is a piano arrange album for the "Clannad After Story" anime series by Kyoto Animation which was released on December 28, 2008 at Comiket 75 in Japan by Key Sounds Label bearing the catalog number "KSLC-0003". The album contains one disc with two tracks, which are piano arrange versions of the opening and ending themes from the anime version. The album is composed, arranged, and produced by Jun Maeda, Shinji Orito, and Ryō Mizutsuki. The album came bundled with the "Toki o Kizamu Uta / Torch" piano sheet music book.
Kim Morrissy of Anime News Network praised the film for finally progressing Rikka and Yuta's relationship, but otherwise felt that it somewhat retread ground covered by the first two television series. He also found the film's animation to be good but lacking, more in line with the TV series than a typical theatrical production, and made special note of the poor inclusion of 3D objects, such as vehicles, into the 2D animation. He appreciated the film's many references to other Kyoto Animation series, such as "Tamako Market", "Sound! Euphonium", "The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya", and "Clannad", and opined that the film would mainly appeal to fans of the series who had enjoyed the second season of the anime, as well as fans of Kyoto Animation's other works.
Most of the releases on the label contain music directly related to Key's visual novels, whether they be original soundtracks, remix albums, or image song singles and albums. There are other music singles and albums produced by members of Key not related to Key's titles. For example, the first album released on the label, "Humanity...", is the only album released by Work-S, a band produced by Shinji Orito. Two maxi singles containing songs sung by Lia were released on the label in December 2002 and August 2003. An album entitled "Love Song" was released in August 2005 containing songs sung by Riya of Eufonius. In December 2006, Key Sounds Label produced the first drama CD on the label, and two more followed in July 2007. In December 2006, the first anime music single to commemorate the second anime television series adaptation of "Kanon" was produced on the label, and an anime single for the "Clannad" anime television series followed in October 2007. A third anime music single, this time for the "Clannad After Story" anime television series, was released in November 2008. A short remix album for "Clannad After Story" was released in December 2008. Music singles and albums for the anime "Angel Beats!" were released between April and December 2010. A single for the "Little Busters!" anime television series was released in October 2012. Two singles for the "Little Busters! Refrain" anime television series were released: the first in October 2013 and the second in November 2013.
Aside from the theme music used for the episodes, the rest of the soundtrack for both anime series is sampled from several albums released for the Clannad visual novel including the Clannad Original Soundtrack, Mabinogi, -Memento-, Sorarado, and Sorarado Append. The cover art for Sorarado Append is also visible as the last shot in the ending video animation of the first season. This includes four insert songs used within the first season's episodes which include: "Kaze no Shōjo"(風の少女,Maiden of the Wind) and "Ana" used in episode nine, "Over"(オーバー,Ōbā) used in episode 18, and "-Kage Futatsu-"(-影二つ-,-Two Shadows-) used in episode 22 which is also the main ending theme from the visual novel.
For Key's second visual novel Air, Maeda admitted he felt he was able to write what he wanted to for the game's scenario, but he later discovered that Air was difficult for players to receive and experience. Due to this, Maeda felt that for Key's next work Clannad, he had a sense of duty to make the game easier to receive for as many users as possible. In any case, he wanted to make it an entertaining game, and started planning on Clannad almost immediately after Air's completion. From the start of Clannad's planning, Maeda did not want to write a story like in Air, but instead wanted to focus on writing a deep connection between the 'people and the town', and 'humanity'.[5] Maeda noted that he exceeded his writing ability when writing most of the scenarios in Clannad, and equates Clannad's writing process as a "wall that I will never be able to get over again."[12] While at the beginning Maeda felt he was prepared, the entire game's story started to increase to a level Maeda never predicted, and Suzumoto noted that it approximately doubled in size from the original projected length. Suzumoto attributed the increase due to the lengthening structure of the game's base scenario which caused the 'branch' scenarios to increase as well.[5]
Clannad achieved a breakthrough in their career in 1983 with the song "Theme from Harry's Game" which peaked at number five in the United Kingdom charts and won an Ivor Novello award. Clannad won a BAFTA for their 1984 "Legend", the soundtrack for the "Robin of Sherwood" series. In 1998, Clannad were awarded a Grammy award for their latest studio album, "Landmarks".
A continuation of the first anime series titled Clannad After Story produced by the same staff as with the first series, and containing the same cast of voice actors,[10] adapts the After Story arc from the Clannad visual novel, which is a continuation of Nagisa's scenario. The second season aired in Japan between October 3, 2008 and March 26, 2009 on TBS in 4:3 aspect ratio with 24 episodes. Of the 24 episodes, 22 are regular episodes, the 23 is an extra episode, and the last episode is a summary episode showcasing highlights from the series. Clannad After Story also aired in 16:9 aspect ratio starting on October 24, 2008. The episodes were released on eight DVD compilation volumes between December 3, 2008 and July 1, 2009. The eighth DVD volume came with an additional original video animation (OVA) episode set in an alternate universe from the anime series where Tomoya and Kyou are dating. The OVA episode was previewed on May 24, 2009 for a limited number of people.[11]
Toei Animation (the same team who worked on the original Kanon anime and Air film) announced at the Tokyo Anime Fair on March 23, 2006 that an animated film would be produced.[90] The Clannad film was released on September 15, 2007, directed by the same director of the Air film, Osamu Dezaki, and the screenplay was written by Makoto Nakamura.[91] The film is a reinterpretation of the Clannad storyline which centers on the story arc of the female lead Nagisa Furukawa. The film was released on DVD in three editions: the Collector's Edition, the Special Edition, and the Regular Edition on March 7, 2008.[92] Sentai Filmworks released an English-subbed and dubbed version of the film in March 2011.[93]
The license holding company Sentai Filmworks licensed the Clannad anime series,[2] and Section23 Films localized and distributed the television series and the OVA starting with the first half-season box set consisting of 12 episodes with English subtitles, Japanese audio, and no English language track, which was released on March 3, 2009.[3] The second half season box set containing the remaining episodes was released on May 5, 2009. A complete box set of Clannad was released on June 15, 2010, featuring a new English dub of the series.[4]
"The Dandelion Girl" influenced Yutaka Izubuchi in the production of the Japanese anime series "RahXephon". The repeated line "Day before yesterday I saw a rabbit, and yesterday a deer, and today, you." from the story was featured in the visual novel "Clannad" and its anime series adaptation. The line was also referenced by the video game "Portal 2".
Clannad has made several transitions to other media. There have been four manga adaptations published by ASCII Media Works, Flex Comix, Fujimi Shobo and Jive. Comic anthologies, light novels and art books have also been published, as have audio dramas and several albums of music. An animated film by Toei Animation was released in September 2007, followed by two anime series including two original video animation (OVA) episodes by Kyoto Animation produced between 2007 and 2009. Both anime series and their accompanying OVAs are licensed by Sentai Filmworks and were released in North America in 2009. The animated adaptations have received high sales figures in Japan as well as critical acclaim abroad.
The first limited edition DVD for Clannad After Story ranked second during its first week of sales selling 17,521 units.[153] The second through fourth limited edition DVDs for Clannad After Story ranked first during their first week of sales each selling over 16,000 units each.[154][155][156] The fifth through seventh limited edition DVDs for Clannad After Story ranked first during their first week of sales selling over 14,000 units each.[157][158][159] The eighth limited edition DVD for Clannad After Story ranked second during its first week of sales selling over 19,800 units.[160] The sixth limited edition DVD volume ranked again the week of May 11 and May 17, 2009 at number three for anime DVDs.[161] The seventh limited edition DVD volume ranked again the week of June 8 and June 14, 2009 at number six for anime DVDs.[162] The eighth limited edition DVD volume ranked again the week of July 6 and July 12, 2009 at number five for anime DVDs.[163]
Jun Maeda composes and writes lyrics for songs and background music featured in games he works on. At Tactics, he composed a single piece of music for "Moon", but did not contribute to the music in "". At Key, Maeda has worked on the music for all of Key's titles except for "" and "Rewrite Harvest festa!". He also composed and wrote the lyrics to the ending theme song for the "Clannad" anime series, and similarly for the opening theme song for the "Clannad After Story" anime series. Music that Maeda composes for Key titles is published on Key's record label Key Sounds Label. On the label, Maeda produced three singles and one album where he wrote and composed all the songs which include: "Natsukage / Nostalgia", "Birthday Song,Requiem", "Spica/Hanabi/Moon", and "Love Song"; the songs on the first three were sung by Lia and the fourth was sung by Riya.
In May 2008, Clannad's version of the traditional song "Down by the Sally Gardens" was featured in the listening paper for Music GCSE from the Oxford, Cambridge and RSA Examinations exam board. On 25 August 2008, Clannad released a new compilation album of their early music to contrast the music of their previous compilation album at the beginning of 2008, "".