Clannad watch order
Delinquent Tomoya Okazaki meets the shy, oft-absent Nagisa Furukawa on the hill up to school and helps her revive the drama club. Kyoto Animation's two-season adaptation of Key's visual novel, famous for its second half, After Story, which follows the characters into adult life. Toei made a separate film version too.
First time? Watch Clannad and then Clannad: After Story straight through (After Story's episode 24 is a recap you can skip). The two Another World episodes are what-if routes for afterwards, and the Toei film is an optional separate retelling.
First-timer order
The two seasons back to back, then the extras. The Another World episodes are alternate routes that don't connect to After Story, so they work best once you've seen the real ending. The recap episode is left out, and the Toei film comes last as an optional alternate version.
- Clannad
Tomoya and Nagisa's third year of high school, with the stories of Fuko, Kotomi, the Fujibayashi twins and Tomoyo woven in around the drama club. Episode 23 is a light extra set over the summer holidays after the main story.
- Clannad: After Story (episodes 1–22)
A direct continuation that follows Tomoya and Nagisa past graduation into work, marriage and parenthood. The part of Clannad people talk about; episode 22 is the true ending.
- Clannad: After Story episode 23 (optional)
A bonus episode set a year before the first season: Nagisa, repeating her third year, struggles to make friends. A quiet epilogue to watch after episode 22.
- Clannad: Another World, Tomoyo Chapter
A single what-if episode from the DVDs, counted as episode 24: in an alternate timeline Tomoya dates Tomoyo, the student council president, as she fights to save the school's cherry trees. Not part of the main story; watch it any time after the first season.
- Clannad: Another World, Kyou Chapter
The second what-if episode, from the After Story DVDs: Ryou confesses to Tomoya, and the twins and Tomoya have to sort out who feels what. An alternate timeline like the Tomoyo chapter; best after After Story.
- Clannad: The Motion Picture (optional)
Toei's roughly 90-minute film by Osamu Dezaki, released three weeks before the TV series started. A separate, condensed take on the whole story including the After Story material, in a very different style. It spoils both seasons, so save it for after them if you're curious.
Release order
Everything in the order it came out. The Toei film came first but is a separate version of the story; the Another World episodes arrived on the last DVD of each season.
- Clannad: The Motion Picture (optional)
Toei's roughly 90-minute film by Osamu Dezaki, released three weeks before the TV series started. A separate, condensed take on the whole story including the After Story material, in a very different style. It spoils both seasons, so save it for after them if you're curious.
- Clannad
Tomoya and Nagisa's third year of high school, with the stories of Fuko, Kotomi, the Fujibayashi twins and Tomoyo woven in around the drama club. Episode 23 is a light extra set over the summer holidays after the main story.
- Clannad: Another World, Tomoyo Chapter
A single what-if episode from the DVDs, counted as episode 24: in an alternate timeline Tomoya dates Tomoyo, the student council president, as she fights to save the school's cherry trees. Not part of the main story; watch it any time after the first season.
- Clannad: After Story (episodes 1–22)
A direct continuation that follows Tomoya and Nagisa past graduation into work, marriage and parenthood. The part of Clannad people talk about; episode 22 is the true ending.
- Clannad: After Story episode 23 (optional)
A bonus episode set a year before the first season: Nagisa, repeating her third year, struggles to make friends. A quiet epilogue to watch after episode 22.
- Clannad: After Story episode 24 (optional)
A recap: Tomoya retells the whole story on a picnic with Ushio and Fuko. Skip it.
- Clannad: Another World, Kyou Chapter
The second what-if episode, from the After Story DVDs: Ryou confesses to Tomoya, and the twins and Tomoya have to sort out who feels what. An alternate timeline like the Tomoyo chapter; best after After Story.
Explained
Is After Story a second season or a different show?
A second season, and the same story: it starts in the summer after the first season and is by the same studio and staff. The first season is the setup and After Story is the payoff, so don't start with After Story or stop before it.
What are the Another World episodes?
Key's visual novel has several heroine routes, and the TV series follows Nagisa's while folding the other girls' stories in as friendships. The Tomoyo and Kyou chapters animate the romantic endings of two other routes as alternate worlds. Neither connects to After Story's timeline, and nothing depends on them.
Which episodes can I skip?
Only After Story episode 24, a recap. First-season episode 23 and After Story episode 23 are bonus side stories, light but not recaps. Everything else is the main story.
Should I watch the Toei movie?
Only as a curiosity. It's a 90-minute compression of the whole story, including After Story's events, by a different studio with a very different look. Most fans suggest watching the series first or skipping the film altogether.
Is it dubbed, and is there anything new?
Yes, Sentai dubbed both seasons, the Another World episodes and the film, with David Matranga as Tomoya and Luci Christian as Nagisa; the series currently streams on HIDIVE. Nothing new has been announced as of October 2026. Kanon, Air and Little Busters! are other Key stories with no connection to Clannad; Kaginado is a chibi crossover gag series that spoils them all.