…And he did it.
Day 5 – Clannad ~After Story~ 18
The universally acclaimed most beautiful scene of Clannad, anime or game.
I think I recall my eyes watering up here for the second time in my whole anime-watching career. My “first time” had been in Air, for Misuzu’s beach scene, which I can still remember quite vividly 2 years after I’ve watched it. Uncountable tear-jerker attempts in numerous different anime series later, my tear ducts still remained quite perfectly unperturbed; even in episode 16, when Nagisa passed away, I didn’t shed a single tear. Yet why did a little hug between father and daughter breached the supposedly invulnerable wall so easily?
Because those were not tears of sorrow, but tears of joy, warmth, and solace.
It was the moment where Tomoya finally realizes his mistakes and accepts Ushio as his own flesh and blood once again that I had payed tribute for, just as I’m sure most of every other viewer had. Indeed, episode 17 had very aptly set up for this episode by establishing Tomoya’s depression in a way that won’t attract discontent nor have it feel stretched. It made people sympathize with him, but also at the same time learn a little bit about what kind of girl Ushio is. As such, I’m fairly impressed with Key/KyoAni for being able to produce such a powerful scene from a character only introduced in the previous episode. The emotional backing previously built up by Nagisa and Tomoya was utilized very well.
And even if Okazaki Shino’s appearence did feel a tad bit convenient, it was no doubt a fairly crucial knock at the right time in the right place. For Tomoya to understand his duties as a father, he first needs to get past his misunderstandings about his own father, and know what hardships it will bring. Perhaps it can even be said that Tomoya is lucky in some ways, or at least, is somewhat fortunate for once amidst a sea of misfortune.
That is because, unlike him, Naoyuki never had guidance.
The parallels between Tomoya and his father was explored quite indepthly by the series, but it should also be mentioned that Tomoya has it much better off than Naoyuki ever did. Although the latter does have a prettier childhood experience, the pain he received from losing his loved one is certainly no less than Tomoya’s. But he did not give up; he walked forward step by step through sheer willpower, investing his entire being onto his son. It was hard, it was arduous, it was tiring, but he did his best endure it. Despite that, Naoyuki’s no superman; it’s inevitable that he’d make some poor decisions.
The beauty of all this though, is that Tomoya can learn from it. He may have a right to hate his father, but as the victim himself (however much of a victim he believes he may be), he has the power to prevent tragedy from repeating itself in the form of Ushio. He can still redeem himself, because unlike Naoyuki, he is not alone.
Perhaps this is what having a child is about. The opportunity to pass on knowledge from one generation to the next, in hopes that maybe one day, your son or daughter will rectify that mistake, in your name, that you have made in the past so long ago.
Well damn, looks like I managed to finish this thing 5 minutes before the next day afterall~
i think these pics are awsum my freind is a big fan of anime n clannad after story so im going to give her thm