Comments on: Clannad: the Ryou, Kyou and Tomoyo arc http://www.concretebadger.net/blog/2008/04/13/clannad-the-ryou-kyou-and-tomoyo-arc/ Get decultured Fri, 21 Nov 2008 04:07:03 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.3 By: Owen S http://www.concretebadger.net/blog/2008/04/13/clannad-the-ryou-kyou-and-tomoyo-arc/#comment-41690 Owen S Sat, 19 Apr 2008 18:01:44 +0000 http://www.concretebadger.net/blog/?p=443#comment-41690 Yeah, I remember making that Ryou/Kyou mistake recently on IRC. In my defence, I was tired and a bit in need of sleep, but eh. Tomoya/Tomoyo is one that I've had to carefully tread around time and again, and I can definitely sympathise with that one. I forgot to elaborate on what I meant by "altruistic" earlier -- Kyou as a character was that realistic to me, to the extent that I felt sorry for her for not being the destined girl that Tomoya would pick, and wanted to root for her as a result. That was part of her appeal, I guess; if she was the final girl I doubt she'd be all that attractive to me, strange as that sounds. Yeah, I remember making that Ryou/Kyou mistake recently on IRC. In my defence, I was tired and a bit in need of sleep, but eh. Tomoya/Tomoyo is one that I’ve had to carefully tread around time and again, and I can definitely sympathise with that one.

I forgot to elaborate on what I meant by “altruistic” earlier — Kyou as a character was that realistic to me, to the extent that I felt sorry for her for not being the destined girl that Tomoya would pick, and wanted to root for her as a result. That was part of her appeal, I guess; if she was the final girl I doubt she’d be all that attractive to me, strange as that sounds.

]]> By: Martin http://www.concretebadger.net/blog/2008/04/13/clannad-the-ryou-kyou-and-tomoyo-arc/#comment-41651 Martin Fri, 18 Apr 2008 17:45:40 +0000 http://www.concretebadger.net/blog/?p=443#comment-41651 @Owen: I think there's a lot to be said for female anime characters who are proactive and do things to help other people - most of the time they go as far as making lunch and expect their romantic interest to do the chasing or whatever. Kyou is I guess 'finely distilled moe' (that sounds like a particularly interesting type of whiskey!) but she's far from being the meek and submissive moeblob. As a character overall I think that's why I find her so interesting. I'd also like to add that having not one but two pairs of characters in the same show whose names differ by one letter makes proofreading my posts and utter nightmare! Hopefully it should be clear when I'm talking about Tomoyo or Tomoya, Ryou or Kyou, even when I spell their names wrong. You would've thought I'd got used to that this far into the series, wouldn't you? ^_^' @Owen: I think there’s a lot to be said for female anime characters who are proactive and do things to help other people - most of the time they go as far as making lunch and expect their romantic interest to do the chasing or whatever. Kyou is I guess ‘finely distilled moe’ (that sounds like a particularly interesting type of whiskey!) but she’s far from being the meek and submissive moeblob. As a character overall I think that’s why I find her so interesting.

I’d also like to add that having not one but two pairs of characters in the same show whose names differ by one letter makes proofreading my posts and utter nightmare! Hopefully it should be clear when I’m talking about Tomoyo or Tomoya, Ryou or Kyou, even when I spell their names wrong. You would’ve thought I’d got used to that this far into the series, wouldn’t you? ^_^’

]]> By: Owen S http://www.concretebadger.net/blog/2008/04/13/clannad-the-ryou-kyou-and-tomoyo-arc/#comment-41636 Owen S Fri, 18 Apr 2008 08:16:11 +0000 http://www.concretebadger.net/blog/?p=443#comment-41636 This is stunningly clear in retrospect. <blockquote>that is not to say that the other three weren’t entertaining in their own right but the “It’s a shame Tomoyo and Kyou didn’t get together” reaction didn’t enter my head. Just so you know.</blockquote> I've got to admit that Kyou as a character was attractive to me for reasons both primal and altruistic; on one hand, you have what I like to call Key's Finely Distilled Moe™ like she was a vintage harvest, and on the other, that selfless streak you mentioned. It wasn't <em>just</em> how enticing her characteristics were, in my opinion -- the aftermath of the tennis match had the impact required due to us knowing well beforehand that Kyou was holding a torch for Tomoya even as she was trying her very best to push them together, and that made all the difference for me. Maybe I have a weakness for characters displaying unconditional, self-sacrificing love, or something. This is stunningly clear in retrospect.

that is not to say that the other three weren’t entertaining in their own right but the “It’s a shame Tomoyo and Kyou didn’t get together” reaction didn’t enter my head. Just so you know.

I’ve got to admit that Kyou as a character was attractive to me for reasons both primal and altruistic; on one hand, you have what I like to call Key’s Finely Distilled Moe™ like she was a vintage harvest, and on the other, that selfless streak you mentioned.

It wasn’t just how enticing her characteristics were, in my opinion — the aftermath of the tennis match had the impact required due to us knowing well beforehand that Kyou was holding a torch for Tomoya even as she was trying her very best to push them together, and that made all the difference for me. Maybe I have a weakness for characters displaying unconditional, self-sacrificing love, or something.

]]> By: Martin http://www.concretebadger.net/blog/2008/04/13/clannad-the-ryou-kyou-and-tomoyo-arc/#comment-41615 Martin Thu, 17 Apr 2008 17:20:42 +0000 http://www.concretebadger.net/blog/?p=443#comment-41615 @Teeif: now you come to mention it, as far as I can remember Kyou and Ryou were the only two main characters who weren't provided with a background story of their own; this made Ryou a bit dull and forgettable, but Kyou was so likable and lively that didn't really matter. @Teeif: now you come to mention it, as far as I can remember Kyou and Ryou were the only two main characters who weren’t provided with a background story of their own; this made Ryou a bit dull and forgettable, but Kyou was so likable and lively that didn’t really matter.

]]> By: Teeif http://www.concretebadger.net/blog/2008/04/13/clannad-the-ryou-kyou-and-tomoyo-arc/#comment-41597 Teeif Thu, 17 Apr 2008 01:07:56 +0000 http://www.concretebadger.net/blog/?p=443#comment-41597 Kyou was my favourite ever since the basketball episode (16). When she dropped her Tsundere stance and started being girly in her arc, she became more rounded and lovable. The scene when she was teasing Sunohara with a hand on her chin and glint in her eye (8 mins) was full of Moé. The other two characters were pretty shallow. Ryou was Kyou's supporting charactor - I think she's like Kyou's bad end in the game. And Tomoyo is the most unlikely rebel-turned-president, who never drops her defences or shows many emotions at all! Kyou was my favourite ever since the basketball episode (16). When she dropped her Tsundere stance and started being girly in her arc, she became more rounded and lovable. The scene when she was teasing Sunohara with a hand on her chin and glint in her eye (8 mins) was full of Moé.

The other two characters were pretty shallow. Ryou was Kyou’s supporting charactor - I think she’s like Kyou’s bad end in the game. And Tomoyo is the most unlikely rebel-turned-president, who never drops her defences or shows many emotions at all!

]]> By: Martin http://www.concretebadger.net/blog/2008/04/13/clannad-the-ryou-kyou-and-tomoyo-arc/#comment-41585 Martin Wed, 16 Apr 2008 17:37:49 +0000 http://www.concretebadger.net/blog/?p=443#comment-41585 @Zeroblade: yeah, I made same mistake so there are going to be certain plot points later on that won't surprise me. Still, it didn't detract from how sorry I felt for Ryou and Kyou though. I might post my thoughts on Nagisa's arc in the next day or two actually... @Zeroblade: yeah, I made same mistake so there are going to be certain plot points later on that won’t surprise me. Still, it didn’t detract from how sorry I felt for Ryou and Kyou though. I might post my thoughts on Nagisa’s arc in the next day or two actually…

]]> By: Zeroblade http://www.concretebadger.net/blog/2008/04/13/clannad-the-ryou-kyou-and-tomoyo-arc/#comment-41561 Zeroblade Tue, 15 Apr 2008 20:15:27 +0000 http://www.concretebadger.net/blog/?p=443#comment-41561 It's really a shame that I ended up reading the Wikipedia article on the game; I believe spoilers like these end up ruining the experience and I end up either somewhat disappointed, or I have, as you mentioned, "lukewarm reactions". Still this route was pretty much the biggest surprise to me in the entire season of CLANNAD. I'd never expected KyoAni to drop the bomb on the trio in that single, powerful scene. It’s really a shame that I ended up reading the Wikipedia article on the game; I believe spoilers like these end up ruining the experience and I end up either somewhat disappointed, or I have, as you mentioned, “lukewarm reactions”.
Still this route was pretty much the biggest surprise to me in the entire season of CLANNAD. I’d never expected KyoAni to drop the bomb on the trio in that single, powerful scene.

]]> By: Martin http://www.concretebadger.net/blog/2008/04/13/clannad-the-ryou-kyou-and-tomoyo-arc/#comment-41534 Martin Mon, 14 Apr 2008 20:58:29 +0000 http://www.concretebadger.net/blog/?p=443#comment-41534 @zqube: I've just finished watching the Nagisa arc just this evening, and it's really focused on her and Tomoya's relationship - everyone else takes on a very secondary supporting role. This arc did feel rushed, although the after-story is sorely needed to wrap things up as fully as I'd like; I'd still like to have seen, say, Kyou get as much screen-time as Fuuko though. @Peter S: I couldn't see anything other than a Nagisa ending actually, although there was a bit of uncertainty in the first few eps where I wasn't sure if Tomoya would bother to date any of them. Nagisa's parents were two of my favourite characters too btw - they were fantastic right up to the final couple of episodes! @zqube: I’ve just finished watching the Nagisa arc just this evening, and it’s really focused on her and Tomoya’s relationship - everyone else takes on a very secondary supporting role. This arc did feel rushed, although the after-story is sorely needed to wrap things up as fully as I’d like; I’d still like to have seen, say, Kyou get as much screen-time as Fuuko though.

@Peter S: I couldn’t see anything other than a Nagisa ending actually, although there was a bit of uncertainty in the first few eps where I wasn’t sure if Tomoya would bother to date any of them. Nagisa’s parents were two of my favourite characters too btw - they were fantastic right up to the final couple of episodes!

]]> By: Peter S http://www.concretebadger.net/blog/2008/04/13/clannad-the-ryou-kyou-and-tomoyo-arc/#comment-41516 Peter S Mon, 14 Apr 2008 04:08:24 +0000 http://www.concretebadger.net/blog/?p=443#comment-41516 This arc was my favorite, not least for the terrific bento-overload scene. And as zqube hints, it was way too short. I mean, how many eps did Fuka's take? And I kept thinking "He winds up with NAGISA???" Okay, her parents are cool and they take him in, but still ... This arc was my favorite, not least for the terrific bento-overload scene. And as zqube hints, it was way too short. I mean, how many eps did Fuka’s take?

And I kept thinking “He winds up with NAGISA???” Okay, her parents are cool and they take him in, but still …

]]> By: zqube http://www.concretebadger.net/blog/2008/04/13/clannad-the-ryou-kyou-and-tomoyo-arc/#comment-41513 zqube Mon, 14 Apr 2008 01:55:33 +0000 http://www.concretebadger.net/blog/?p=443#comment-41513 As much as I like the Ryou/Kyou and Tomoyo arc, they don't work when the "true" arc the anime is following is Nagisa's. These three arcs really can't work together at all. Obviously Fuko and Kotomi's arcs had enough room to work it in to the anime in more fullness. As much as I like the Ryou/Kyou and Tomoyo arc, they don’t work when the “true” arc the anime is following is Nagisa’s.

These three arcs really can’t work together at all. Obviously Fuko and Kotomi’s arcs had enough room to work it in to the anime in more fullness.

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