How 2002’s Kanon Holds Up, 20 Years Later

The early 2000s are responsible for some of the biggest, longest-surviving names in anime. Some, such as Inuyasha and Samurai Champloo, helped to usher in the new golden age of anime and attained a timelessness among fans both old and new. Other titles, despite their own merits and popularity, had a much more subtle influence on the genre and therefore fell just shy of obtaining timelessness. The 2002 adaptation of Kanon falls into the latter category.

Based on a visual novel of the same name, Kanon follows high school student Aizawa Yuichi, who is visiting his cousin Minase Nayuki for the first time in several years. Though he often visited her as a child, Aizawa has no memory of their previous encounters and is consequently detached from both the city and its inhabitants -- Minase included.

Most of the story revolves around Aizawa recovering his memories and building (in some cases rebuilding) relationships with Kanon's five female protagonists: his cousin Minase Nayuki, the childlike Tsukimiya Ayu, the sword-wielding Kawasumi Mai, the amnesiac Sawatari Makoto, and the frail Misaka Shiori.

Despite surface appearances as little more than a standard harem anime, Kanon has a great deal to offer. The series blends romance and drama without feeling maudlin, employs humor without verging into zaniness, and utilizes a measured degree of the speculative without going overboard. Kanon's story is direct and concise, and its female protagonists are the pivotal force behind it.

Overall, the 2002 run of Kanon had a lot working in its favor. The story was character-driven, blended elements from a number of genres, and featured a varied cast of strong female characters. However, even considering all of its positive aspects, it's unlikely Kanon would experience the same popularity were it released today.

First, Kanon falls into the harem genre. Harem anime series are notoriously divisive, and are often -- sometimes unfairly -- associated with offensive themes and trends. Of course, not every series is quite so outrageous as High School DxD or the genre progenitor Tenchi Muyo. But a series like Kanon would have to work twice as hard to distinguish itself from other, more brazen harem anime.

Furthermore, Kanon has a glaring, integral character issue: the main protagonist. Aizawa Yuichi is a difficult character to build a narrative around. Compared to his five female counterparts, Aizawa is unremarkable, distant and underdeveloped. Given the fact Kanon was inspired by a video game wherein players must meet pretty girls to discern the events of their past, this should come as no surprise. However, while faithful to the source material, Aizawa's character isn't necessarily conducive to a crafted narrative.

Flagrant as these issues may seem, they aren't indomitable. While a significant number of harem anime are (to put it lightly) problematic, Kanon has an earnestness and sincerity that other titles in the genre lack, thus positively setting it apart. Where Aizawa is concerned, the solution would be simple: shift the narrative's focus away from him and place it on his brilliantly crafted female costars. As doubtful as a revival of Kanon is (a reboot aired in 2006), the series could, if modified in only a couple of areas, plausibly become the progressive, crafted harem anime fans deserve.