Introduction
This review covers both Kanon 2002 and Kanon 2006. Please note that I did not write these reviews so all credit goes to the original author. I have only made minor corrections to spelling or grammatical errors if I found any.
Kannon 2002
Written by Misa_Ryuuguu.
I think now is the perfect time for me to write a review about Kanon, and I'll tell you why. Though it's next on my list, I have yet to watch Kanon 2006. As I watched the original series, I have to say I was a little disappointed in hearing how many people are bashing it just because "it's not as good as the remake". That may be true, I wouldn't yet know that, but given that anime has a long history of releasing several different versions of any sucessful show (TV, OAV, "special", 2!, et cetera), I find it's misleading to rate any individual show based upon a comparison to its peers.
That said, I came into watching Kanon not realizing it was ever an anime at all--I picked up an artbook of it at Melon Books in Shijo when I was living in Japan in 2001, and I had no idea what it was, it was just beautiful enough that I had to have it anyway. The anime doesn't disappoint. Granted, in 13 episodes it's hard to go into an excess of detail. I attribute the fact that Yuiichi rather hastily chooses a girl (I won't say who, this isn't supposed to be a spoiler), while only going so far with any of the others, to the restrictive length.
Yes, the artwork is a bit different from more modern shows. Chins are a bit angular, facial outlines are a bit thick, and eyes are large in proportion to the rest of the face even for the anime style. I ended up ignoring this after I was sufficiently engrossed in the storyline. Whether or not it's going to bother a person depends upon what sort of anime background they have—for those rooted in shows of this decade, it seems a bit dated, while for those more used to the classics of the 90's, it may very well go unnoticed.
Music's pretty average for this type of show. However, they do introduce vocals at appropriately emotional moments, and the score does help drive the point of the show home. It's what's expected without being fantastic or horrible.
This is personal opinion of course, but if I can't keep a dry eye through a show, than I know it's done it's job. It's drawn me in, enveloped me in its plot to the point that I empathize with the characters, and given me an enjoyable experience I won't soon forget. Kanon is right there as far as I'm concerned. Yes, one can prepare themselves for the expected shoujo plot. One gentle, sensitive guy; several women that've either fallen for him already or soon will; and innocent high school romance where simple things like expressions of feelings are enough to throw everyone's "mundane" lives off balance. I found myself shouting "Just say it!" at the screen time and again, but that's at least one advantage to the short length. If I had to deal with Naru Narusegawa telling everybody she loves Keitaro Urashima, but she's "not sure" one more time, I was going to have to bash some heads (and don't get me started on Ranma Saotome and Akane Tendo, heh heh). Kanon has these moments, and though there are indeed loose ends as far as the plot goes, at least the romantic portion of it seems to have some closure.
But I can only tell you so much. I recommend Kanon to anybody that can easily be caught up in a simple, bittersweet, and beautiful romance story. There are some sharp bends in the road as far as how some of the characters end up that I didn't expect, and these left me weepy and thankful that I'd experienced them. Whether you've seen 2006 already, you've never heard of Kanon at all, or you're a few years out of touch and never realized there was an anime (as I didn't), given Kanon a chance, and judge it within the confines of what it is. You'll be glad you did!
Kannon 2006
Written by BakaOnna.
I can confidently say that I have cried more times in this series than any other. It was an absolutely beautiful series that allowed my emotions to run wild. Each of the characters is presented with their own tragic tale of the past. Even the supernatural and fantasy elements are carefully intertwined in the story in such a way that it does not stick out. This is truly an excellent series.
Story:
I admit, the development starts out slow and silly. I was on a hiatus with this series for almost half a year before I started watching again. It is set up like a harem series, but it is different from them, which sets it apart from other harem series. It is not a harem in a story; it is a story with a harem. There is a difference, and Kanon does it extremely well. Look at all the anime out there. Many of them have similar plots, but what makes some better than others? The execution of the story, and this is where Kanon shines. There is a constant air of mystery behind everything: the characters, the setting, the season, and so forth. The story is emotional, dramatic, and even light-hearted at times. With this nice blend, a seemingly simple story of a new boy surrounded by a group of girls becomes a unique tale. The only major problem was that when one of the girl's arc ended, they completely disappeared in another character's arc. This style feels way too much like a visual novel, and lacks blending and character interaction.
Art:
There is not much to say about the art and animation when it is done by Kyoto Animations because most of it is a regurgitation of what other fans have already said: absolutely amazing, gorgeous, and stunning. The setting and season of winter are extremely well drawn so that it puts the viewers into that setting. Falling snow has never look so good in an anime until now. It does not just fall; it falls in a way that I could watch it forever. But enough about the snow. The character designs are a huge improvement from the 2002 version. Yuuichi no longer has a chin that is almost half a foot long. In simple words, I loved the art and animation style.
Sound:
Ah, canon, canon, Kanon. There are reasons why this series is called that, and one of the more obvious reasons is the presence of Pachelbel's Canon in D Minor. Such a lovely piece, especially for one who has already played it. Besides that, the music complements the mood very nicely. When things get dramatic and sad, it is the music that allows those tears to run free. Although I did not find any one track that stood out for me (except for well, the obvious one) the music was nice and fitting. It would not be a soundtrack that I would listen to without the anime playing though. The voice acting was also very good, although every time Yuuichi opened his mouth, I immediately thought of Kyon. It does not help that those two look uncannily similar.
Characters:
I loved the characters in Kanon. If I had not, I would not have cried so much. Every character, from the first time they appear on screen, seems to have a mysterious side. Each of them are different and stands out. And Yuuichi is such an awesome lead. He can be a bit insensitive at times, but he truly deserves all the love the girls gave him. The only downside is I wanted to see more interaction between the girls. I thought that would have really fleshed out their characters.
Enjoyment:
I enjoyed this anime all right; enjoyed it to the point I cried through episodes nonstop. It might have also been the fact that I marathoned three or four episode at once, so the water works just seemed to never stop. There were times where I laughed out loud, times where I cheered (the ending), and many times where I bawled my eyes out.
Overall, I enjoyed this series immensely. It has a touch of everything: drama, comedy, supernatural elements and so forth. I thought it was excellent. 9.5/10
Download
Downloads for this anime will be made available sometime in the future.