The visual novel studio Key created some of the most heartwrenching stories adapted to anime. Christopher and Steve look back on CLANNAD, Kanon, Planetarian, and more to see if the emotional beats are still devastating.
Nov 9, 2023 • Subscribe
More like this


This Week in Anime - Toka Gettan Delivers the Mid-00s Visual Novel Nostalgia
It's the start of a new anime season, but for the TWIA folks that means diving into the troughs of anime history. This time, Chris joins up with…


This Week in Anime - Visual Novels Aren't A Joke
Now that the Type-Moon's visual novels have a new lease on life in English, Lucas and Steve look at other great entries in the medium. Visual novels aren't…


The Low-Key Power of 'The Portrait Studio'
Plus: animation news.


Touchstarved: A new monstrous Visual Novel from Red Spring Studio
Indie game developer, Red Spring Studio makes big announcement about their upcoming gothic horror romance visual novel, TOUCHSTARVED!


Visual Novel: Kiss the Demiurge
So just a few things before i get started. First I’d like the thank the developers for sending me a free copy of this vn. Now I’m usually…


This Week in Anime - When A New Studio Takes Over Your Favorite Series
Steve and Chris compare some of the highs and lows of an anime studio change-up, from Attack on Titan and One-Punch Man to Spice and Wolf.


This Week in Anime - The Boys in Toyland
Coop and Chris explore the world of marketable plastic goodies and how anime can turn out to be a half-hour toy commercial.


This Week in Anime - Cashing In
Chris and Lucas dive into the Sargasso Sea of marketable plastic goodies and the all-consuming monster that is capitalism in the anime world.


This Week in Anime - The Anime Movie Magic
Lucas and Steve discuss the new and old trends of anime in movie theaters.


This Week in Anime - SonyFuniCrunchyKadoRoll
Lucas and Coop dissect the SONY/Kadokawa deal and try to sort out what's going on with Crunchyroll.


This Week in Anime - Cramer
The prequel film raises the production a bit for Farewell, My Dear Cramer while expanding Nozomi's backstory. Come for the training montage, stay for the pre-game kidnapping.


This Week in Anime - Fan Anime
The new Berserk animation has been disavowed, but is this the only case of publishers coming down hard on fan creations? Steve and Chris dive into the world…


This Week in Anime - On the Grid
Chris and Coop can't contain their excitement about Gridman Universe—even as they wonder why it took so long to get an official release.


This Week in Anime - The Dirty Pair
With a a Kickstarter campaign to fund an English-dubbed Blu-ray Disc release underway, Jean-Karlo and Steve check in on the Lovely Angels' legacy of sci-fi comedy to see…


This Week in Anime - The Movie Game
Chris and Steve dig into the venerable institution that is game-based movies and anime and the relationship between anime and video games.
Mizuchi – Visual Novel Review
Here’s a spoiler-free review on a thought-provoking, multicultural visual novel!


Unlicensed Visual Novel Hell
It doesn't beat a fan translation or official release, but for unlicensed visual novels it's the best you can probably do.


LoveChoice — Visual Novel Review
If you like romantic stories and can appreciate visual novels with added gameplay elements, then LoveChoice is an option I recommend.


Mizuchi – Visual Novel Review
Here’s a spoiler-free review on a thought-provoking, multicultural visual novel!


PockeDate! — Visual Novel Review
It irks me how much more interesting the pitch for PockeDate is compared to the actual visual novel that you get to play.


Visual Novel: Chaos;Child
Chaos;Child is the sequel to Chaos;Head, with the story dealing with the aftermath of the events in Chaos;Head. It is also part of the SciADV series just like…


S.H.E.L.T.E.R. – Visual Novel Review
While most eroge stick to the anime look and feel, S.H.E.L.T.E.R. settles for a more western look. It's certainly unique, but...


Slay The Princess — Visual Novel Review
I went into Slay The Princess confident that I was far too clever to be manipulated by a video game. I was wrong.


Kiss the Demiurge Visual Novel Announced
Yuri Eureka announce their first Visual Novel about a gay magical girl joining a “magic club”. It’s Kiss the Demiurge.


Summer 2024 Anime Week 2: This Week in Anime!
July 13th, 2024 We are well into the Summer season! Now that I’ve seen at least the first episode of most of the shows from this season, I…


This Week in Anime - The Wheel of Anime Adaptations
Chris and Lucas look at where anime series come from when you get down to the nitty-gritty of adaptation from other mediums.


This Week in Anime - The Anime Community's Leak Culture
Nick and Steve discuss the recent episode leaks and how they connect to the anime community's larger culture of speedscans and other leaked announcements.


This Week in Anime - The Algorithm Demands More Anime
Christopher and Steve look into the recent mini-trend of content creator-focused anime series and how it reflects current entertainment trends.


This Week in Anime - Are the Anime Awards Broken?
What were the biggest snubs of the Anime Awards, and did what earned their rightful place as one of the best? Or is the whole thing a cover…


This Week in Anime - Sports Anime and the Olympics
This week, Nick and Lucas talk about the most "anime-like" moments of this year's Olympics as they dive into the greater relationship between sports anime and the Olympics.


This Week in Anime - Anime Strike Out
Chris and Coop discuss the patchy history of anime on Amazon.


This Week in Anime - Halloween Anime Spooktacular
Happy Halloween, anime fans! We have a special TWIA on this extra spooky Tuesday. Nick and Nicky discuss their favorite horror series and compare notes on which anime…


This Week in Anime - Navigating Anime Conventions
Anime conventions like Anime Expo and FanimeCon are the perfect place for anime enthusiasts from all walks of life to mingle and gather. Join Chris and Nicky this…


This Week in Anime - Reheating Anime Leftovers
Chris and Lucas ponder how anime is rebooting old franchises like they're reheating turkey after Thanksgiving.


GEE: Sailor Moon – Key Visual 1 Lunch Bag
Sailor Moon – Key Visual #1 Lunch Bag Sailor Moon – Key Visual #1 Lunch...


This Week in Anime - The Isekai Saturation Heightens
Nick and Nicky wade through this season's otherworldly offerings to search for at least one gem in a trove of trash.
![Featured image for This Week in Anime - For the Fans[ervice]](https://cdn.aniblogtracker.com/live/20241121/1732206824.93660.135169.jpg)
![Background image for This Week in Anime - For the Fans[ervice]](https://cdn.aniblogtracker.com/live/20241121/1732206824.93660.135169.jpg)
This Week in Anime - For the Fans[ervice]
Chris and Lucas plumb the depths of fanservice and censorship and the lengths some shows will go to to avoid showing nipples.


This Week in Anime - Looking Back
Steve and Lucas discuss creator Tatsuki Fujimoto and director Kiyotaka Oshiyama's Look Back film in all of its heartbreaking glory.


This Week in Anime - Shelf Life
Collecting anime on disc has Coop and Chris beside themshelves.


This Week in Anime - Reading Rainbow
Chris and Coop flip through the pages of western literary anime adaptations.


This Week in Anime - Jigglefest 2025
Steve and Coop explore the exciting and outlandish world of anime boob physics...or should that be "physics?"


This Week in Anime - Shigeru Mizuki
Halloween may have passed but that won't stop Nicky and Steve from taking a deep dive into the OG of horror manga, Shigeru Mizuki.


This Week in Anime - Beyond Bebop
With Lazarus coming up, Lucas and Coop take the opportunity to explore Shinichirō Watanabe's catalogue.


This Week in Anime - Utena's Revolution
Coop and Steve experience the ultimate destiny apocalypse with Revolutionary Girl Utena.


This Week in Anime - Banned Together
Demonizing comics hasn't gone out of style since 1954. Nick and Steve discuss the most recent round of bans of such horrifying series as Sasaki and Miyano to…


Anime, Manga, & Visual Novel / Otome Companies on Bluesky
A list of anime, manga, visual novel / otome companies that are now on Bluesky


This Week in Anime - Snuggling in with Cozy Anime
Chris and Coop discuss their comfort watches for those days when you just want your anime to be the equivalent of a mug of hot cocoa.


This Week in Anime - Sex in Anime is Complicated
Nick and Lucas use last week's Chainsaw Man manga chapter as a springboard to discuss sex and sexuality in manga, from messy to raunchy to endearing depictions.


This Week in Anime - Off-Brands In My Anime
With the new, official WcDonald's campaign, Nick and Nicky revisit some of the off-brand appearances of real products in anime and other official campaigns that seem too weird…


Him, the Smile, & Bloom Visual Novel Review
Although Him, the Smile, & Bloom wouldn't be the first otome game I'd recommend, it's still a good time.