Rating: 9.9/10

Overall Series Rating: 9.8/10

Impressions:

I couldn’t help but take this many screen shots, as one, it’s the last episode of such an awesome series, and two, the background art quality seems to have leaped through the roof. The animation quality is still impressive like always though. The subtle background music, midway monologues and the mixture of depression and happiness are all thrown at you throughout this episode, and overall, by the end of it, you can’t help but feel giddy and squishy inside. Well, maybe. As for me though, it unfortunately didn’t quite have this ideal effect I was really hoping for, and part of the reason; I blame it on Nayuki being too cute.

Well, I really was hoping for an AIR-type, where everyone takes out axes and boxcutters in a grand finale of bloody massacres dies, though presents happiness to the series, making it end very literally bitter-sweetly. So yeah, I was almost crying (sorry but I just never cry when watching anything…guess it’s not my thing, so being ‘on the verge of tears’ is already a big thing) when Misuzu ‘died’. Technically, it’s meant to be a happy ending (somewhat) as her eternal curse is lifted, but the show treats life more realistically in the sense that you can’t have everything you want it to be. Essentially, you win some; you lose some.

Kanon however, had a directly opposite ending, where just about everyone survives. Actually, everyone does survive if you count in Makoto being a fox as alive (technically she is of course, just not as a human). The theme is obviously ‘miracles can happen’, which is really disappointing as that it meant Yuuichi’s life in the end is completely amended and he gets to keep his harem AND happiness. Where did the bitter-sweet ending go? I hate it when everything works out perfectly. I mean, Shiori didn’t even die. I knew Ayu wouldn’t (from spoilers SIGH), so at least make a few other casualties. Make it so Yuuichi’s only source for reconciliation is with her.

Actually, my ideal ending is obviously a Nayuki ending since she is just too adorable and sweet. Ayu doesn’t suit Yuuichi at all. She’s much more like a fun little sister to Yuuichi than a soul mate. Nayuki however, is perfect for that role! If only everyone had died except Yuuichi and Nayuki, which would be such a nice but twisted ending for Nayuki fans. It would be sad how so many people died, but then again, there’s still Nayuki for comfort, and so the ending would manage to present that extra emotion, like Air did. That is probably why some people prefer Air over Kanon. And it would be so sweet if Yuuichi actually showed some romantic interest to Nayuki…

Anyway, now for the good things this episode. Apart from the high quality etc, the execution and pace of this episode, and the way it neatly ties everything and everyone together is superb. It’s a little sudden to see everyone alive and well, but then that shocked sense is meant to be created. The portrayal of everything being Ayu’s dream was nicely done, though there is some speculation that it was Mai who healed everyone…except Ayu, since even back in her arc, she was explaining how Yuuichi had to solve his issues with her on his own. Ayu’s time in hospital manages to get everyone together though.

It’s heart warming to see all the characters back (I think even Makoto gets a cameo as a fox somewhere), especially Sayuri. Her ‘ahaha~’ is so pleasing…lol. Too bad we didn’t get to see Amano again in detail (or did we?) She’s one of my favourite side characters, and her flirtatious nature is so much cuter than Shiori’s. She’s also what made Makoto’s arc a lot better, as otherwise I wouldn’t have liked it due to its overdramatic nature. Mai’s arc was good, though I didn’t like Mai, so that was a downer. Shiori’s arc was nice, though it was too short (sigh). Then there’s Nayuki’s semi-arc, which was bad because there wasn’t enough Nayuki. In the end I guess there’s only Ayu…

Judging by all the crap I can come up with to talk about every episode of this series, I’d say this show is pretty thought-provoking. This really is the ideal type of show to blog in my opinion, so now I need to get out of the habit of trying to write about all the shows I like. But then again, that’s something I really can’t help. Ah, and if you still don’t know, Kyoto Animation has announced that they will be doing the Clannad anime. This will probably occur around this time next year. Starting next month, we’ll have the slapstick Lucky Star anime to enjoy by KyoAni, while this fall will be occupied by the glorious return of Suzumiya Haruhi (both of which I will surely watch)!

Rating: 9.9/10

Impressions:

What a stunningly good episode from KyoAni once again! Now the only thing left to do is to hope that the next and final episode will be just as great or better. There would be nothing worse than a fantastic series ruined by the final episode. For some reason, this episode feels all over the place, with the heavy use of flashbacks, though I find that these two reasons are part of why I like the show. Especially the flashbacks; I remember falling in love with the show due to the flashbacks of Yuuichi’s childhood in the first episode. And now, well into the last episodes of many series, I have concluded that Kanon has once again risen to my favourite show from winter 2006.

The only complain I have is the lack of Nayuki. I have said this before but I will say it again: Why, when all the other girls get three or more episodes dedicated to themselves accompanied by Yuuichi, did Nayuki not receive any? Was there even a Nayuki arc? I really don’t care when Nayuki is shown in a normal manner, as that doesn’t count. I wanted to see heavy emotional development between Nayuki and Yuuichi as a separate arc. Just seeing her in her room, rolled up in the foetal position is not what I call a good sight. If only this show was 26 episodes, perhaps Nayuki could have gotten a decent and ‘real’ arc.

As I am sure many people are, I was really surprised when the real Makoto showed up. I had originally thought it was Ayu, though so many things didn’t add up, such as why she was driving a car. But then of course, after discovering who the mystery girl really was, everything made sense. Yuuichi had recognised the girl as the fox Makoto he knew in his half delirium, which is a normal thing to do I’d say. And also, some had speculated that the white light from last episode was basically Yuuichi dying and perhaps ascending to heaven, though now we know it’s nothing special, just a car’s headlights.

The real Sawatari Makoto bears a striking resemblance from future Mikuru of Suzumiya Haruhi no Yuuutsu. By future Mikuru, I mean the Mikuru that comes from even farther from the future than the main Mikuru we all know. The obvious differences are the eyes, as Kanon-style eyes are radically different from Suzumiya Haruhi-style eyes. Perhaps this was intentional or accidental that Makoto resembles Mikuru so much, though I like it regardless. I also like the fox references to fox-Makoto in Makoto’s room, such as the bells and nikuman (pork buns) in her fridge. Too bad we won’t get to see more of her; she seems like an interesting character.

So now we reach the conclusion of Kanon. Although I’m sad it’s going to end in a week, I’m also really anxious to find out how everything ends. What happens to Ayu? (No I don’t want anyone to answer these questions). And what about the other girls? Akiko, Mai, Sayuri and Shiori are all in hospital, and Ayu is probably too. However, at the moment, it seems that only Shiori and Akiko are in critical condition. Will the survive? Ayu seems to be in a coma, if not dead, so another question is will she wake up and be with Yuichi, or die in bed? It’s pretty disturbing though, as it seems all the girls that have any relation to Yuuichi will wind up in hospital or gain misfortune.

The main question that I have is whether this series will end happily or sadly. I guess a sad ending would be Ayu dying, as she is the main girl, so everything revolves around her and Yuuichi. An even sadder ending would be if everyone dies, though I have high doubts for Mai and Sayuri. This would seem to be something like Air, which I found really emotionally depressing; even though technically the ending is a happy ending (the curse is lifted!) A happy ending would be alright too, though I would hate it if everything plays out nicely with no deaths and no sadness. Kanon has always partly been about the angst and sentiments, so it should definitely end that way.

Preview:

Next episode – #24
The grand finale!

Rating: 9.7/10

Impressions:

Aww, seeing as how Nayuki is my favourite character now, this episode makes me feel especially sorry for her. Just watching her suffer and blame herself is so sad. After such a heartbreaking rejection seven years ago from Yuuichi, she has to live with a single parent, and just when Yuuichi returns, Akiko now faces the threat of leaving and never returning. If only this episode focuses more on Nayuki, but I guess there’s a schedule to be kept, with only two more episodes left (although I don’t know what that schedule is, and it seems like Kanon is meant to end next episode, but then what will episode 24 be?)

But I shall continue with this complaint anyway. This is meant to be a significant Nayuki development episode, where she is supposed to recover. However, this is cut out for Yuuichi’s sudden remembrance of what happened to Ayu. This in itself is very confusing, as now everything I ‘thought’ earlier is being doubted. Initially, I was thinking AND hoping that Ayu is dead, and that the material Ayu now is a spirit. Then I was lead to believe that Ayu is in a coma, but now with this episode, it seems she actually dies in front of Yuuichi. Unless Yuuichi completely forgot about taking Ayu to a hospital or something.

Makoto’s return was quite a surprise as well. I have no idea what she or the white light is meant to symbolise, and perhaps it’s something supernatural. Also, as of now I really don’t know how Yuuichi is supposed to end up with Ayu if she is dead. Maybe Yuuichi will die himself to be together with Ayu. He better not bring Ayu back from the dead or something, as I hate it when shows take defying the laws of the universe to such an extent that living and being dead are meaningless. Time travel and being able to move around after getting stabbed and slashed multiple times by a sword are similar ‘law-breaking’ notions I dislike.

I’m also pretty confused about the last few scenes, where Yuuichi is shown giving Ayu that hair band. Isn’t that bad the same one as when Yuuichi decides to give her, but is unable to as Ayu falls and perhaps dies? Maybe this was the spirit Ayu being handed the hair band. Ayu’s fall to her demise is pretty predictable, but just about everything else is a surprise for those who haven’t seen the previous anime. And what exactly is Yuuichi trying to achieve by looking for Ayu in the snow at the end…but then again, I wouldn’t have a clue as to what to do if I was in his shoes.

It doesn’t look like Yuuichi will end up with Nayuki as he leaves her to Kitagawa, but this obviously doesn’t give much of a conclusion. Nayuki hasn’t forgiven Yuuichi and nothing between the two has been resolved. I would really love some nice bonding between the two when or if they make up, regardless of who Yuuichi ends up with. Or if this will be anything like Air, he might not end up with anyone. I have to admit though, Air was pretty confusing. With only two episodes to go, let’s hope Kyoto Animation have what it takes to wrap this series up beautifully like they have done for the rest of the show!

Preview:

Next episode – #23
The end! Or not…

Rating: 9.9/10

Impressions:

Another awesome episode of Kanon, and this time, an episode which converted me to a Nayuki fan. I don’t dislike Ayu at all, though personally I think Nayuki has a better personality. And no, I am not satisfied with this single Nayuki-centric episode. Why should every other girl get several episodes to themselves and Yuuichi, while Nayuki gets only this one? It seems she will star again next episode, but this time it looks like she will be nothing more than the mental wreck, and not a nice sight to behold. I was hoping for more Nayuki and Yuuichi bonding too, since Nayuki’s love for him seems much deeper than Ayu’s, who recently hasn’t shown any affection towards him.

This episode is undoubtedly extremely depressing, and felt miserable afterwards. However, it was not because of Akiko’s tragic and sudden accident at the end of the episode, but rather, the way Nayuki is ‘rejected’ by Yuuichi in the flashback. I understand that Yuuichi is most likely crying for Ayu at that time, and I’m guessing it is after Ayu falls from the tree or something and gets hospitalized. Still, I have no idea whether Nayuki discovers Yuuichi’s reasons for such behaviour. The timing is just so painfully bad. This is also the event, combined with the various cute shots of Nayuki (xD) that won me over as more of a Nayuki fan than Ayu fan.

The entire episode is seemingly sweet, but there’s always the faint feeling that not everything is right. The usage of eerie colours broadens this feeling of dread, and Yuuichi’s slow and eventual remembering of what he had done to Nayuki seven years ago, piled with the realisation of what Ayu had been searching for, and topped with the emotional shock of Akiko getting wiped out by a car…it all adds up in the end and creates a highly depressing feeling. Nothing could be worse for Nayuki it seems now. If only there was an ever so slight chance of a Nayuki ending, instead of an Ayu ending…well, I can dream!

Speaking of Akiko’s death, I reckon the fast, real-time motion of her getting hit by the colliding cars is far more dramatic than the usual slow motion or still shots, with the averted angle or blacked out screen when the character and car impacts. The only thing I dislike is how Akiko seemingly just disappears after getting hit. There is not a drop of blood, and I would have liked to see some for the final touch. Overall, the quality is not as high as Kanon’s standard. The backgrounds and character movement animation are still superb though, with Nayuki’s scene where she changes into her slippers a nice moment of realistic animation.

I really must complain about the execution of this series ever so slightly more. If only there had been some more symbolism or clues earlier in the show of the way both Nayuki and Ayu feel for Yuuichi. There could have a been a few snow bunny and sad Nayuki references in the first few episodes every now and then, just to signify that Nayuki is not as plain as we all think. Ayu also needed to express her feelings for Yuuichi a bit more than just running up to him and jumping onto his back like a 5 year old. This is why I believe the distinction between the various arcs is too apparent, and really tears the story apart.

Preview:

Next episode – #22
Yuuichi gets the kick!

Rating: 9.5/10

Impressions:

Quite a surprising episode, but the disappearance of Ayu basically confirms that she’s a spirit, and strengthens the notion that she is inactive in her real body (meaning, dead or coma, and I know the answer…) And it also allows Nayuki some time now, which she truly needs (Nayuki fan here), though I don’t see how Yuuichi is suddenly going to accept Ayu’s disappearance of forget about it to focus on his other childhood friend. I really have no idea what’s what at the moment regarding the ending, but it looks to me, from reading other blogs, that there might still be a chance of a Nayuki ending…(please don’t burn me if I am 100% wrong).

Of course, Ayu is really cute this episode, with all the blushing and cute poses…(lol no I am NOT a pedo…besides, she’s not as young as she looks). And wow, some fanservice as well with that Ayu bath scene, where she actually looks pretty mature. Really though, Ayu needs to look older. Her current look doesn’t suit the show IMO, and she doesn’t go well with Yuuichi. Speaking of their relationship though, this episode is far too sudden. Yuuichi and Ayu go from ordinary, bickering friends to lovers for life…or so they say. This is the type of unrealistic-ness (goddammit my vocab is so small; I know that’s not a word) that I really am not fond of.

It is pretty hard to believe that a player like Yuuichi would suddenly go all lovey-dovey over someone, with an almost permanent blush now…And as said many times before, the way Yuuichi scrolls through girls is a bit too farfetched for me. I guess it’s somewhat okay though, as Makoto was like a sister to Yuuichi (or maybe pet lol), Mai another sister, only older…But what about Shiori? Did he not have any romantic feelings for her? Did he ever go to Shiori’s place and ask about her? Ok, I’m not really bashing the show or anything, but just trying to illustrate a point…hehe.

I’ve seen some speculation about who the mystery older girl Yuuichi used to like is, though at first I simply thought it was Makoto, the older girl who fox-Makoto gets her name from. But seeing as how no one has seemingly even mentioned this, I will take it as completely wrong…I can’t really make out who the person in the flashback is either, and I didn’t think it was really important at the time anyway. It would be pretty disturbing if it was Akiko, which I highly doubt as the girl in the flashback is a kid, though seeing as how this is a eroge visual novel adaptation…anything could be true…

I would like to go back to Ayu’s disappearance, which I said before is rather surprising, though most likely because it is a bit too sudden. Ayu and Yuuichi are only together for a single episode before Ayu is taken off the screen, and for how long, I have absolutely no idea. If Ayu is actually in a coma, then perhaps Yuuichi will find her in a hospital. However, something like that would take the mystery away, as at first it would seem like Ayu disappeared, got hurt and wound up in a hospital. Seeing as how this series is highly supernatural, a mystical connotation would be nice, though I dunno how KyoAni would do that.

Preview:

Next episode – #21
How will Nayuki fit in?

Rating: 9.9/10

Impressions:

Highlight of this show: is it the Ayu x Yuuichi kissing scene, or the awesome Nayuki race event? It entirely depends on which girl you like more really, and the thing is, I momentarily liked Nayuki more than Ayu in the first half of the episode, but the latter half made me swing back to Ayu’s side. I’m sad to hear that Nayuki has practically given up on Yuuichi, though there is still a chance she will get somewhat closer to him than as cousins/friends. Nayuki basically confesses to Yuuichi this episode as well, and for those of you who somehow failed to pick it up, it’s when she is telling Yuuichi about her childhood crush, and how she was rejected…awww!

Speaking of that scene, it’s quite incredible that Yuuichi is too thickheaded to even consider the possibility that Nayuki is talking about him. He might be a pimp, but he’s pretty crap when it comes down to one on one. Sure, Yuuichi ‘might’ be thinking that Nayuki is talking about him, though usually if he is, he would make some sort of facial expression, as it is important to emphasize such things in media. I really like the idea of a Nayuki x Yuuichi pairing, and at these times it brings out the best in her. This is why Nayuki’s race is so awesome. However, scenes like when Nayuki has the face of an animated sloth in the mornings just destroy her cuteness.

The kiss scene at the end is rather surprisingly; I had never considered that they’re relationship had subconsciously advanced so quickly. Sure, perhaps they had just used the kiss to comfort themselves after remembering about all their hurtful memories, but you need to have some sort of basis to even consider kissing the other to do so. It’s kind of weird too, as neither Ayu nor Yuuichi show any form of romantic attraction to the other beforehand (referring to all previous 18 episodes). This makes it a bit too sudden for my liking, but good in a surprising way nonetheless. I doubt the kiss is the decider for who Yuuichi ends up with, even though an Ayu ending is almost assured.

The cinematography of the scene is superb though, with the long shot, high angle shot of the two leaning together, followed by the common shot of both parties’ lips, and finishing off with something very uniquely Kanon: an extreme close up of Ayu’s tear, before zooming out for about a 120 degree shot of the couple locking lips. Awww how touching! KyoAni utilises their animation skills to the fullest in Kanon, where camera work and lighting/colour-scheming is just as important as the story. It needs to set the mood perfectly, and they have never failed to my notice once! I simply adore Kanon for the quality!

If I remember correctly, Yuuichi once has a flashback of when he was underneath his favourite tree, with a crying Ayu looming over him. This is definitely the same tree as the one in this episode’s flashback, and you can already guess what’s going to happen (Yuuichi climbs and falls, am I right?) However, how does that relate to everything that’s happening now? My deducing abilities are close to zero, so I’m not even going to try and visualise the events in a complex web of facts and try to discern how everything is connected. As I always say, just stop thinking and let the anime surprise you! Next episode, it’s Ayu all the way! I think…

Plot Outline:

- Yuuichi has a flashback of a time when he takes Ayu to his favourite location: a large tree in a clearing
- Nayuki completes a relay race and wins. Afterwards, she tells Yuuichi about her childhood crush
- She explains how she was rejected (by Yuuichi), and that boy is still in love with the girl he was in love with seven years ago (Ayu)
- In the afternoon, a teary Ayu asks Yuuichi whether he has ever lost someone in front of his eyes
- Yuuichi breaks down from this, and the two kiss each other (yeah, probably to comfort each other)

Preview:

Next episode – #20
Moe Ayu all the way!

Rating: 9.3/10

Impressions:

And so…Shiori’s arc is finally over! Or something… Well, I’m not too enthusiastic with this ending, as it’s not nearly as emotionally strong as the last two arcs. In the end, I have to say I like Mai’s arc more, however, Shiori is better as a character. I don’t find Shiori’s arc eventful enough, and severely lacking any sort of climax. The Kaori x Shiori moments needed to be far more emotional, and not in the public, while her death needed to be focused upon IMO. I know that it’s still unknown whether she truly dies or not, and the real conclusion is yet to come, though I prefer something like Shiori dying with perhaps a desperate Kaori by her side, which has far more impact.

Although Makoto’s arc is a lot more impacting and emotional than Shiori’s arc, I didn’t like the former due to the female lead; Makoto. I really did not want to see a human degrading like that, and it was very sickening for me. I also hated how isolate the arc became, with only two people really involved in the entire arc. I’m expecting Makoto to reappear, perhaps as a fox, at the end of the series. This will make the show with that kind of sad-yet-happy ending, which is what Air had (another production of KyoAni and Key). However, seeing Makoto as a fox wouldn’t be very comforting for me…

Mai’s arc is obviously longer and more eventful than Shiori’s arc, and Mai herself has a powerful and highly touching back story. The only problem for me is that I don’t like Mai as a character, which is what brings her arc down slightly. Mai’s arc also involves quite a few characters, especially the wonderful Sayuri. And also, I’m predicting they get some final closure at the end of the series, perhaps when they get out of the hospital. Likewise, Shiori will probably be either confirmed dead or alive some time later as well. I strongly hope that she is dead though, otherwise the impact o her arc would probably be reduced to near nothing for me.

I don’t like how things turned out with Kaori. It’s made to make us believe that everything is good and OK when Kaori decides to call Shiori her sister, when it’s clearly not. I need to see Kaori crying and screaming out her apology desperately when Shiori is near death. It would give the episode a lot more vivacity. The emotions would swell and the entertainment heightened greatly. If you can’t exactly tell, I am rather disappointed with this episode, but the sheer quality of it makes up for a lot of it. I still like the episode though; it is good in its own right. The only thing is I think a lot more could’ve been added to it.

I’m still really questioning what the last few shots of Shiori and Kaori together are (the scenes still shots depicting Kaori and Shiori having fun together). Is that meant to mean Shiori survives and spends a lot of quality time with Kaori? Or perhaps it’s meant to represent Shiori’s own wish for spending her days with her precious older sister. Even with this though, you can’t tell whether Shiori really dies or not. The shots might only depict Shiori in her last days before passing away, or it might suggests she lives far longer than anyone expected. And Yuuichi isn’t in them…I guess Yuuichi doesn’t really fit in, since Shiori isn’t even a girl from his past.

So finally, it is time for Nayuki’s and Ayu’s arc. Originally I thought their arcs are one in the same, but it looks like I’m wrong (I think). And apparently, the Toei version left out most of the Nayuki version. So then, only the game players and those who have spoiled themselves should know what will happen with Nayuki. I really hope the two arcs are shown parallel to each other, instead of with distinct endings and beginnings, unless it’s impossible, such as events clashing with each other. I would have never guessed that Nayuki would get an arc for herself if I had never read about it many times before. She doesn’t seem to even be that important, so it seems that’s gonna change.

Plot Outline:

- Yuuichi meets Shiori during lunch again and tells her about the party that he is throwing for her
- He invites Kaori, who after a lot of thinking, decides to attend the party, which becomes a huge success
- In the end, Kaori acknowledges Shiori as her younger sister and lets her spend the rest of the day with Yuuichi
- Shiori and Yuuichi go around town during various activities, before arriving at the fountain they occasionally visit
- When the clock strikes midnight, indicating that Shiori has lived to this birthday, she disappears, leaving a goodbye note in her wake

Preview:

Next episode – #19
The start of Ayu’s and Nayuki’s arcs?

Rating: 9.4/10

Impressions:

I’m liking Shiori’s arc more than both Mai’s and Makoto’s at the moment (don’t kill me) mainly because Shiori’s problem is more natural. Makoto, being a fox spirit, is too erratic for my liking, as were the demons that terrorise the school during Mai’s arc. Shiori’s arc reminds me a lot of Hanbun no Tsuki ga Noboru Sora, which is about a girl who has not long to live, staying out her last days with a boy in the same hospital. However, this episode doesn’t really make me feel sad for Shiori, which I believe will change later on. The next episode seems to be the last episode, though the arcs so far haven been 4 or 5 episodes, so I’m not sure.

Do I like Shiori? Not really, but I don’t hate her like Impz, who was unhappy last week because Shiori hadn’t died by then. Now go and flame his blog! Nah just kidding. One aspect of Shiori I like is that she is mentally very strong. She is about to die, no, she could die at any moment, yet she is not feeling the least bit concerned. I dunno whether it is because she is used to the feeling, but I know if I were told I had cancer or something and might die today, I would be scared shitless. I would never even be able to think straight. And there’s absolutely no way I’d ever get a peaceful nights rest.

Shiori has to suffer even more though, as her precious sister is completely ignoring her. No, it’s worse. Kaori is treating her like shit, and I dislike her for that. I’m pretty sure that Yuuichi’s goal to bring the two together will work, though I’m hearing things about a boxcutter, and it’s not about Shuffle! At least if she went psycho, it would make things more interesting and less one sided. As to whether Shiori will die or not, I strongly believe she will. I found her words about miracles very true. “I might live if a miracle happens, but it’s called a miracle because it will never happen.” It’s sad, but definitely makes the most sense.

This is another one of Shiori’s strong points, and that is to not lose herself in denial. She takes what she can, and at the moment she is spending as much time with Yuuichi as she can. She also lets go of those she cannot grasp, such as Kaori. She is not selfish, and although she might have an annoying attitude to some, I believe anyone would let her be how she pleases if they knew she’s about to die. That’s what I like about Yuuichi in this arc as well. And that’s exactly why Kaori is being a bitch. I went over why and stuff last time, so I won’t go into it again. Like I said though, Kaori is probably going to change her mind about Shiori at the last minute, when it’s too late…

Plot Outline:

- Yuuichi returns home after hearing about Shiori’s imminent demise from Kaori
- He gives a good think about it as he is accompanied by Ayu, who senses something is wrong
- The next day, he goes to see Shiori at night and talks to her about Kaori
- Shiori also promises him that she will show up at school the next day and surprise him
- As she said, Shiori shows up the next day in school uniform, and explains she is allowed to attend school until Saturday

- Yuuichi has lunch with her, but unfortunately Shiori orders curry when she can’t take hot food at all
- The next day, Shiori prepares large bentos for Yuuichi, who gladly eats it all
- After school he and Shiori head out and explore the shops, mainly the stuffed animal store
- He sees Kaori and tries to persuade her to have some tea with Shiori, but she refuses
- That night, Yuuichi wonders what he can get Shiori for her birthday, and decides to bring her and Kaori together as a present

Preview:

Next episode – #18
The end of Shiori’s arc?

Rating: 9.3/10

Impressions:

Wow, I never thought that Shiori is gonna die. I don’t doubt that she will die, since characters dying aren’t problems when Key is involved. The way Kaori revealed it seemed a bit to sudden to me, as did the entire episode which I hear delved straight into Shiori’s arc. I guess it’s not so sudden after all as Shiori did appear a lot throughout the series. However, that also makes me question why a sickly girl like her who is about to die is fine with being in such cold whether with little clothes on. And I don’t think her getting 0 on the mole-hitting game did her any justice. It kind of made me sad…The date sequence is excellently executed though, with the Last Regrets Xmas Floor Remix playing in the background. It really is a happy moment, which significantly increases the shock value of the final scenes for those of us who have no idea what’s going on. Speaking of the last scene, it’s the first time KyoAni has used such a dark yet brilliant scene set. I thought they would reuse some old backgrounds and lighting, so this really surprised and impressed me. KyoAni is just incredible at these things!

I don’t like Kaori’s reasons for ignoring her sister. She’s just so selfish and heartless. I guess she lost her composure this episode, since from the previews it looks like she goes back to believing she has no sister. I really feel sorry for Shiori though. She’s wanted to spend such precious time with her one and only sister, yet for reasons beyond her control, she is unable to. It’s not her fault she was born to die less than 20 years later. Kaori really should cherish the little remaining time she has with her sister. Another thing that concerns me is Yuuichi’s ability to go from girl to girl so easily. I know this is a visual novel, but I always thought KyoAni, being the excellent storytellers they are, would be able to merge the arcs more, and not have characters from the previous arc disappear completely. This goes especially for Makoto, who disappears before even the halfway mark of the show. I doubt she’s ever gonna appear again. Amano is also probably not going to appear again except for a cameo at the end of the series. I still don’t know anything about her though (past etc).

Mai’s arc is conveniently wrapped up this episode, having her and Sayuri stay in hospital until graduation, which is probably the end of the series, right? How long IS it until graduation anyway? I doubt both of them need to stay in hospital that long anyway, considering how both of them look fine. It’s like breaking your arm; you’re not going to stay in hospital until it heals, are you? Well, I don’t really know anything about this so I shouldn’t complain too much. Something eventful happens at the hospital as well, which I have yet to mention. This is when one of the nurses sees Ayu and notices something strange. I’m guessing the nurse has seen Ayu before, and it would be pretty freaky if someone died and you see someone who looks exactly the same as the person who died the next day. This is probably similar to what happens in this episode. Perhaps she isn’t dead though, but I think she is anyway. But since everyone is going on about an Ayu and Yuuichi ending, perhaps she isn’t. However, does she really need to be alive to satisfy an Ayu and Yuuichi ending?

Plot Outline:

- Nayuki gets up and notices that both Ayu and Yuuichi aren’t at home
- The two are in fact at the hospital, visiting Mai and Shiori
- Both girls are unable to leave until graduation, which also conveniently places them out of Yuuichi’s life for now
- At the hospital, Yuuichi and Ayu also bump into Shiori
- The nurse with Shiori notices something strange about Ayu, but says nothing
- After Kaori gets up, her mother tells her to spend more time with her sister, but she ignores her and leaves for school
- On the way to school, Yuuichi is called back by Ayu as Akiko has come down with a fever, though it is only minor
- During school, Yuuichi and Nayuki help Ayu buy medicine and make porriage for Akiko

- That weekend, Yuuichi goes out with Shiori, heading first over to the arcade (Shiori gets a record score of 0 at ‘hit-the-mole’
- They go to a park next and have a snowball fight, where Yuuichi purposely misses Shiori every single time
- Finally, they go to school and Shiori reminisces about her first day, and tells it to Yuuichi
- She admits her illness isn’t just a common cold, though doesn’t explain her condition fully
- Soon after Yuuichi gets back home, he receives a call from Kaori, requesting him to meet her at school
- He heads over and sees Kaori, who begins to explain everything about Shiori, who she admits is her little sister this time
- The big shock is that next week is Shiori’s birthday, the birthday which she’s not meant to live too (meaning she’s going to die)
- Kaori ends up crying in Yuuichi’s arms as she admits she has being avoiding Shiori to lessen the pain when she dies

Preview:

Next episode – #17
Let’s delve deeper into Shiori’s story!

Rating: 9.9/10

Impressions:

Holy shit, chibi Mai is by far the cutest of all the young versions of the girls in this show. Too bad she turned out to be the opposite as she got older. Seriously, this episode makes me think that the girls should just stay small. The Mai arc would be so much better if Mai herself has her hair down and doesn’t act like a doll. What happened to her super cute voice? And wow, Mai didn’t die? Holy crap! Have I said before that I think everyone is either dead or will die in Kanon? I’m sure I’ve said it before lol. I was also surprised that Mai’s mother lived in her flashback. The fact that the demons were only representations of Mai’s true power is a bit too farfetched in my opinion. I can appreciate the healing ability, but that developing into physical beings that can trash and destroy the school? It hit me that the school must have been built on the field Mai and Yuuichi played in, which is why the demons only attacked there. And of course, this is also why the demons were looking for Yuuichi specifically.

Man Yuuichi was and still is such a playboy lol. I bet he knew all of the girls in his current life a long time ago. He met them ALL in one short summer? That’s some achievement. And it really does tell you something that he made no male friends lol. And because of this, the comparison Mai made between her and Ayu arises. She explains that Ayu was still waiting while Mai couldn’t wait some time ago, and of course this means waiting for Yuuichi to return. Mai could not wait and her demon self surfaced, while Ayu had waited patiently the whole time for Yuuichi to return. Mai must have thought this self-consciously though, as otherwise she should have made the connection between the demons and herself. The problem now is that Yuuichi has already returned, yet Mai says that Ayu is still waiting. Yuuichi sort of ‘finalised’ his reunion with Mai this episode by clearing her head and getting rid of the demons, so I assume the ‘finalisation’ of his and Ayu’s reunion will be when he finds Ayu’s lost possession.

Out of the two arcs so far, Mai’s beats Makoto’s by a mile. Mainly because it has two extremely touching flashbacks; one of Mai and one of Sayuri. The latter girl was never really that involved, though she still presented an excellent side character with a tremendously good basis for her flashback. Hmm, come to think of it, did Amano ever get her flashback? And will she appear again? Or just as a final appearance near the end of the series with no real importance? Well anyway, this episode, in my opinion, is an excellent conclusion to Mai’s arc. The quality is top notch, and the classical music really suits the pace and mood. I was a bit surprised at her sudden attempt at suicide, though I was more surprised that there was no blood on her or the sword, and her clothes weren’t even ripped. Did she really stab herself? Well anyway, next arc is Shiori and Kaori, which will probably take up 5 episodes, and concluding with the Nayuki and Ayu arc. At this point I’m beginning to wonder how this series will end. A happy, life-goes-on-ending, or a sad, everyone-dies-ending is the big question here.

Plot Outline:

- Mai and Yuuichi face off against the demons as they begin to attack
- Mai manages to defeat one demon as the other attacks Yuuichi, who is able to fend it off effectively
- When the demon after Yuuichi is killed by Mai, she reveals the numerous, large bruises on her body to Yuuichi
- She explains that the bruises grow every time she kills a demon
- Mai then asks Yuuichi to take her to the place where they eat lunch together during school
- When the demon appears, Mai launches herself off the stairs, in hope of using the height to her advantage
- However, she fails to kill the demon, so Yuuichi decides to fight it himself

- Mai tells him to lure it to the courtyard for reasons unknown
- However, in the end it is the demon which throws him around and eventually pushing him out the window and onto the courtyard outside
- The reason for Mai wanting Yuuichi on the courtyard was so that she could jump off the roof and get the demon by surprise
- She manages to kill the demon, and suddenly decides that she really wants to eat a beef bowl
- Yuuichi goes to buy one, but when he comes back, Mai is gone and he realises that she had purposely sent him away to find it by herself
- Yuuichi then suddenly becomes suppressed by the last demon and finally remembers his past with Mai
- Mai has actually always had a special healing power, which she used to heal her mother when she should have died
- Because of this though, everyone became afraid of Mai and she had to move

- Yuuichi, however, became her friend and was never afraid of her
- In the end though, Yuuichi had to move back to his own home, leaving Mai by herself
- Mai had convinced herself that demons had come to destroy the fields in which she and Yuuichi often played in, when in fact they were actually builders who had come to construct the school
- Because of this, Mai’s own power became the demons which she so strongly believed in
- When Yuuichi finds Mai again, he tells her all this, and she finally accepts it as the truth
- However, she decides to commit suicide for all the pain she’s caused (for Yuuichi and Sayuri probably) and stabs herself with her sword
- She is saved by her own healing power though, who appears physically as Mai at a young age

Preview:

Next episode – #16
Start of Shiori’s and Kaori’s arc!