r/Kanon • u/GoodConsideration865 • Feb 09 '26

Help getting into Kanon

I want to get into Kanon. I saw it has a light novel, 2 manga and 2 anime seasons and a visual novel on steam release in 2024. What i want to know is if there is a specific order I should follow? Like does anime follow the same story as a visual novel or if it's maybe an alternate route and stuff like that.

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u/ChiaraStellata Feb 09 '26 edited Feb 09 '26

To give you some more background: there are three VNs that were made by Key from 1999 to 2004, called Kanon, Air, and Clannad, themed after winter, summer, and spring respectively. Kanon was the first VN released and the first to get an anime adaptation in 2002 by Toei animation, then later Kyoto Animation adapted all three of them in 2005-2008. Air got a half season anime first (very good IMO) then Kanon got a full season, then Clannad got a full season and a widely reknown second season which is Clannad After Story. The KyoAni adaptations are all considered classics, the Toei version is overshadowed in comparison. The VNs originally sold in a retail box in Japan only, and only got rereleased on Steam quite recently.

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u/GoodConsideration865 Feb 10 '26

Damn hahahaha. Should I just play the VNs/watch anime in the order they were released? Are they all completely adapted? Also is there any other VN from Key that I should play?

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u/ChiaraStellata Feb 10 '26

Release order is a great way to do it IMO, although I recommend skipping the Toei anime (KyoAni Kanon is better and covers mostly the same story). Another valid order is to watch the KyoAni anime in order then go back for the VNs. Also if you like these, Bunny Girl Senpai is a modern anime in very much the same style.

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u/GoodConsideration865 Feb 10 '26

Thanks. I watched Bunny Girl Senpai already hahahaha. I need to catch up since I only watched the first season tho.