This set contains the second twelve episodes of the Clannad series, and has the same excellent art, music and story, and the same almost total lack of DVD extras as the first set. You get clean opening and closings, and some series previews, but the same previews as were on other Sentai Filmworks disks I have purchased. Do not let the lack of extras stop you from enjoying this fine series. With the Fuko story arc over the Tomoya/Nagisa story continues, with other girls doing their part to try to capture Tomoya's affections. However, there is no mystery as to how the story will end up. It becomes clear half way though this set, which girl Tomoya will end up with. There is one particularly touching story where it becomes obvious to all the other girls in the harem that Nagisa has the inside track. When the twins realize this, it sets up a five-kleenex moment when they realize that not only does Tomoya prefer Nagisa, but both sister had been crushing on the hero. This series, unlike Kanon, does not tie up all the side stories neatly. The Fuko story especially is left hanging. After the spirit of Fuka leaves the school Fuko begins to appear as a totally inept magical girl to provide comedy relief. But we never learn if Fuko recovered from her coma or if she passed away. But the main storyline does resolve itself (if you ignore the last episode) with the hero actually making a choice and acting on his decision. It is nice to see an anime hero actually tell the girl he likes that he likes her. It is a refreshing change. Also missing from Clannad are the supernatural elements that crowded Kanon. Aside from the child/robot intro stories, and the whole Fuko ghost storyline, all the characters are down to earth with real problems that any teen might have. This is probably the most realistic "harem" anime I have ever seen.
The story does not end with episode 24. There is an anime called Clannad - Afterstory which is not yet available (at the time of this review) that amplifies on the story. Perhaps some of the loose ends, like the Fuko story, will be tied up in that anime.
This disk ends, however, with episode 23, which is billed as an Extra Story, in which Tomoya and Nagisa's relationship is allowed to finally grow. This is followed by episode 24, which is a very odd story. It presents how the story might have ended if the hero had chosen a different girl. It is one of the most moving of the stories but it almost completely out of continuity with the other episodes. My only guess as to why this odd-ball episode was animated was that they needed one more story to fill out the series and they decided to use their second favorite ending to the original dating simulation game as this filler story.
Clannad is a very good series, without all the mysticism that clogged up the stories in Kanon, and the series improves as the episodes advance. It will make you laugh. It will make you cry. It will make you remember what it was like to try to deal with High School and real life at the same time. And though not every plot line is tied up neatly, not every plot line needed to be. I loved Kanon. I really, really like Clannad. Both deserve a space on your anime shelf. Give the giant robots and hentai tentacles a miss and pick up these series instead. These are suitable for the whole family, and both anime and non-anime lovers alike will enjoy them.