Before you read this post:
Please be reminded that this post contains many spoilers, minor and major. If you plan to watch the series (I suggest you do), read this after you finish the whole series, including After Story.

This post aims to explain the existence of the Illusionary World in Clannad as well as the storyline of the anime, a topic that has earned popularity through discussions and debates on its real meaning.

So many lights…

The revelation of the Illusionary World in episode 22 of Clannad: After Story gave its viewers more confusion than revelation, but it did not disappoint. It gave the happiest ending every viewer would hope to see. But still, why is it that the Illusionary World existed? Why is Ushio bound to that world? And how did Tomoya end up also existing in the Illusionary World? Lastly, did Nagisa really die after giving birth to Ushio?

Lets answer the last question first. Nagisa did die after giving birth to Ushio. The events in episodes 17 to 21 in Clannad: After Story did happen. If that is so, why did Nagisa give birth to Ushio, but miraculously survive in episode 22? It’s simple, but unrealistic. Tomoya went back through time to relive him and Nagisa’s life, with Tomoya having the power to save Nagisa from death (the “power” will be discussed later). How did Tomoya go back through time? This is where the Illusionary World comes in.

Shall I take you?

The existence of the Illusionary World has already been proven by Kotomi’s parents in the events of Clannad. Though its existence was not really explained, the world served as a container of the feelings of the city’s people. The lights are the happy memories as explained by Ushio and Yukine in both seasons.

Now, the bond of Ushio and the existence of Tomoya in that world can be explained by the storyline of Clannad. First, Ushio inherited the bond to the world from Nagisa. But how did Nagisa became bound to the Illusionary World? The cause of this is found in episode 15 of After Story. When Nagisa is almost dying from the fever, Akio took her to a meadow and prayed hard for her survival. Akio also mentioned to Tomoya that “the greenery embraced Nagisa.” This is the bond that Nagisa received, a contract to the city, and its Illusionary World. And then Nagisa died after giving birth to Ushio. Ushio now inherited the bond of her mother, giving her an illness the same as Nagisa’s, and making Ushio connected to the city as well.

Papa. It’s cold…

And then Tomoya. How did Tomoya also exist in the Illusionary World? Continuing the storyline – After five years of separation, Tomoya and Ushio lived together. By this time, Ushio got sick that was the same as Nagisa’s. And then by episode 21, Ushio dies on Tomoya’s arms. Tomoya is now filled with despair, after losing Nagisa, and also losing Ushio a few months after reuniting with her. Tomoya’s existence in the Illusionary World is in the form of the junk doll Ushio created for him. And what does the junk represent? Yup, despair.

Even so, why did Tomoya exist there? He did not have a bond. It’s the connection Tomoya, Ushio and Nagisa had. Tomoya is intimately connected with Nagisa, somehow giving Tomoya a connection with the Illusionary World. It wasn’t a direct bond to the world, since he only existed in the world, unlike Ushio who was bound to it.

Both Ushio and Tomoya lost their memories upon entering the Illusionary World, but in the early part of episode 22, Ushio had a dream about who they are in the real world. Ushio realized the purpose both of them had for existing in that world in the first place. Upon realizing this, Ushio sends Tomoya back through time to relive his life with Nagisa and save her in the future.

Zzzzzzz…

So, even if Tomoya went to the Illusionary World for Ushio to send him back through time, how did he save Nagisa from dying upon giving birth to Ushio? What changed with Tomoya that gave him the ability to prevent Nagisa from dying? This is the “power” Tomoya gained in his first life. Remember episode 19 of After Story, the part where Tomoya and Ushio bid farewell to Tomoya’s father? Ushio saw a light that entered Tomoya’s body, a ball of light. Now remember episode 8. Yukine told Tomoya of a story, that a ball of light can be seen where there are happy people, and that a person who acquires one can make one wish that will be granted. The ball of light that entered Tomoya granted him the wish of saving Nagisa. That was what Tomoya had in his second “run-through” that saved Nagisa from dying. Giving them the happy life that they wanted, and the happiest ending every one would want to see.

Now to sum it all up, this is the flow of the story of Clannad. Here it goes:

  • Events of Clannad: School Life
  • Tomoya and Nagisa get married, then Nagisa gets pregnant with Ushio
  • Nagisa gives birth to Ushio but dies a while after, transferring the bond with the Illusionary World to Ushio
  • Tomoya lives with Ushio after five years of separation
  • Tomoya gains the light orb through his reconciliation with his father
  • Ushio gets sick, and then ultimately dies. Ushio is sent to the Illusionary World
  • Due to Tomoya’s despair, he was also sent to the Illusionary World (after dying maybe)
  • Events in the Illusionary World, until Ushio’s realization
  • Ushio sends Tomoya back through time to relive his and Nagisa’s life. Tomoya now has the light orb that can save Nagisa from dying.
  • Tomoya relives his life with Nagisa

    • ***It is possible that Ushio sent Nagisa back through time as well, since when Tomoya stopped Nagisa on the foot of the hill, Nagisa talked with Tomoya as if she knew everything that had happened.

  • Tomoya and Nagisa gets married again, and then Nagisa survives after giving birth to Ushio
  • And then they continued their lives together

And then they became a happy family, just like this:

Yeah, just like them.

I hope I have explained my take on the story of Clannad well. If you have any thoughts, opinions, or anything else, feel free to hit the comments.