General Information: Kanon(Japanese: (カノン) first came out as a Japanese adult visual novel by Key for the Windows PC back in 1999.
A re-released version for the Dreamcast, PlayStation 2 and PlayStation Portable was released without the erotic content of the game.
Since its debut, Kanon became the second best-selling PC game in Japan which sold over 300,000 units across all platforms.
Kanon is a mix of drama, fantasy, harem and obviously romance.
Followings its increasing fanbase, Kanon has made several transitions into other media including the anime industry.
A light novel adaptation by Mariko Shimizu was published on October 1999 with five volumes under its name.
The manga adaptation was illustrated by Petit Morishima and started serialization in Media Work’s Dengeki Daioh magazine since 2000.
Naoyuki Ito directed the anime adaptation of Kanon which aired on Fuji and Kansai TV from January to March 2002. Kanon ended with 13 romantically inspiring episodes.
Opening:
Ending:
Plot:
Kanon follows 17-year old cynical Yuichi Aizawa and the destined reunion of five young girls from his childhood.
When he was young, Yuichi used to visit his cousin in the wintry city.
Due to some rather unfortunate events, he hasn’t returned to the city and would seem to have forgotten almost everything except the minor details of what happened seven years ago.
Seven years have passed and Yuichi returns to the wintry city. On the day of his return, he meets a mysterious young girl carrying backpack with wings on it.
She later introduces herself as Tsukimiya Ayu which later triggers a memory from his long-forgotten past.
He also meet several other young girls who turns out to be connected to his elusive past.
As he befriends them again one by one, the long-forgotten memories resurfaces as he reconnects with friends from his childhood.
Characters:
Yuichi Aizawa is the 17-year old main protagonist of Kanon. Generally cynical about most things, he is also friendly and outgoing. He is oftentimes fond of teasing other girls who turn out to be childhood friends from his long-forgotten past.
Ayu Tsukimiya is 17-year old student who carries a backpack with wings on it. She is reunited with Yuichi who helps her find “something” she lost. Seven years prior to the story, she fell from a tree and hit her head. She has been in a coma since then.
Nayuki Minase is Yuichi’s cousin which he used to visit when he was a kid. Although Yuichi doesn’t seem to remember, Nayuki has always had feelings for him. She is the captain of the school’s female track team.
Makoto Sawatari is the young girl who suddenly attacked Yuichi in the middle of the day out of nowhere. Turns out, she also suffers from amnesia albeit more severe from the one Yuichi has. Prior to the story, Makoto is actually a fox who Yuichi met and due to her strong desire to reconnect with him, she gained a human body at the cost of her own memories.
Shiori Misaka is the frail first year student. She was born with a physically debilitating affliction at birth and has oftentimes thought of killing herself to escape it all.
Mai Kawasumi is the mysterious third year student. Yuichi first meets her at school at night carrying a sword in her hand. Turns out, she is actually fighting demons at school. She is oftentimes blamed for the accidents at school which earned her a reputation as a dangerous delinquent.
A sequel to the original series was directed by Tatsuya Ishihara and aired on BS-I and TBS networks.
The second season of Kanon aired on October 2006 to March 2007 with 24 fun-filled episodes.
It was later licensed by Madman Entertainment and Funimation which were broadcasted on Anime Network Channel.