In the early 24th century, Mars has been terraformed by mankind into a sparkling planet covered in water. Akari Mizunashi, at the age of 15, has left everything behind to travel to that reborn world, now known as Aqua. More than anything, Akari wants to be an “undine” – a female gondolier who navigates the canals of the Aquan city of Neo-Venezia. As she begins her training with the prestigious Aria Company, will she be up to the challenges that await her on the path to achieve her dream? Contains the complete 13-episode first season. DVD Features: Scene access, Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo audio for Japanese dialogue, English subtitles and English on-screen translations. PLUS: More features to be announced. The shojo (girl’s) fantasy Aria (2005) takes places 150 years after Mars was “terraformed” into the watery planet Aqua. Fifteen-year-old Akari Mizunashi has come to Aqua to become an “Undine,” a woman who steers a gondola through the canals of Neo Venezia, offering information about its landmarks to tourists. She and her friends Aika and Alice study with the three most celebrated Undines in the city. Although Akari can be a bit of a klutz at times, her existence is so tame and wholesome, it makes “The Bobsey Twins” feel like life in the fast lane. Some critics complained that the popular Azumanga Daioh, like Seinfeld, wasn’t about anything. But the girls in that high school cast acted like real individuals; Akari and her friends behave so well they suggest throwbacks to a ’50s juvenile novel. The idea of building a perfect replica of the city of Venice as a tourist attraction fits in with the Japanese predilection for creating theme restaurants and parks of all sizes. A pastel-colored Neverland inhabited exclusively by cute teenagers and cute (if strange-looking) cats may appeal to adolescent girls, but it will quickly bore their brothers and older viewers. Kozue Amano’s Aria manga scored a big hit in Japan, and the animated series spawned two sequels and an OVA. In Japanese only, with English subtitles. (Rated 13 and older, but suitable for viewers two or three years younger: brief nudity, minor cartoon violence) –Charles Solomon
(1. That Lovely Miracle… 2. On That Special Day… 3. With That Transparent Girl… 4. That Undeliverable Letter… 5. To That Impossibly Existing Island… 6. Things That We Want to Protect… 7. That Wonderful Job… 8. That Dejected President… + That Cool Hero… 9. That Star-like Fairy… 10. During That Warm Holiday… 11. On Those Orange Days… 12. That Gentle Wish… 13. That White Morning…)
Buy “Aria the Animation Season 1″ For Only $29.86
Related Blogs
- Related Blogs on Animation
- ChalkBoard Animation Tutorial « CSDL Blog
April 6, 2010
#1
It’s rather hard to explain this anime. If you are a fan of Azumanga Daioh, you will appreciate the rather slow moving, meandering story line. It’s nice to see the beautiful animation and the characters and music all flow nicely. My only complaint is that it does border a little bit on a little too much simplicity. There were a few times where my attention started to waver. Also, having been to Venice a few times, I did like the concept of recreating that city on another planet, but at times the buildings and background seemed a little too bland. I did enjoy this anime, but I don’t think many people would do the extreme slow pace. However I am looking forward to season 2, to see if they up the ante a little with some more complex stories and character developement.
April 6, 2010
#2
The Amazon reviewer is completely out of it, as other reviewers have rightly said.
In fairness, it’s not easy to describe this series in a way which conveys just how good it is, and why it creates that “just one more” feeling which makes you watch half the episodes at a sitting …
There’s no plot worth mentioning, the setting is about as close to paradise as you will ever see, and all the characters are just so … nice. By rights it ought to be terminally dull and horribly twee. It isn’t, but it’s not so easy to explain why not.
I think what makes this special is that, strangely, there is always, somewhere in the background, a deep melancholy. The planet Aqua is a paradise, sure, but it wasn’t always so; people suffered and died to make it the way it is, and in some way, the planet remembers. The Undines’ life is blissful, but they know they will grow up and leave this life one day. The effect is a bit like remembering a very happy childhood, from a perspective of maturity; a happy time that it’s delightful to remember, but which will never come again.
The reviewer has it quite wrong for this reason. The series is much more likely to appeal to older viewers than to small girls, who won’t pick up on the sadness, or will just be mystified or bored.
“Aria” certainly isn’t for everybody. It’s just about the polar opposite of a Giant Mecha anime. But people on its wavelength will want to buy all three of the series, believe me.
April 6, 2010
#3
I downloaded Aria the Animation (and it’s next seasons) because there wasn’t a box set or DVDs available.
Now Right Stuf brings us a box set for the first season of the Aria story.
You receive a rough cardboard box. This isn’t flimsy cardboard, nor is it double corrugated. Feels more like a hardcover book’s material. It houses 4 slim DVD cases and the “Guide to Neo Venezia”, which is a nice addition that features character art and some fun facts that are presented though the series, but in a more informative setup. We miss out on 2 DVD covers, since the Japanese release was in a 6 volume set. Akira and Athena are left out of the box art.
The episodes themselves (13) are split 4-3-3-3 on the DVDs. The quality is great, the series has more color and warmth than the TV rips that I have. Though the TV rips look sharper, I believe this to be from a lack of color. Though the trade off is not having intro credits and TV sponsor delays.
Now here’s why I didn’t give this fantastic bundle a 5. Years ago the anime companies decided to make their subtitles this awful yellow with karaoke text in white. I’m sad to say this hasn’t changed.
Please, PLEASE use at least white thin type. The TV rips have this nice white font type with a blue outline that looks GORGEOUS! And the karaoke fades as the song progresses through the lyrics. I will not believe that it takes a great deal of time to make the font prettier and more appealing without increasing the costs of the package.
Also, this set DOES NOT include English dubs. I can’t tell whether this is a good thing or bad thing. By not making a dub it decreases production values, makes the set cheaper, and allows for better quality video to be on the DVD. But on the other hand a series like this begs for a great cast to be assembled. Maybe they’ll make a dub set in the future.
I’m not going to complain much though. I have a GREAT anime series in a quality box with nice bonuses packed on the DVDs, not to mention the free guide and the fact that it’s finally available.
April 6, 2010
#4
Cheerful but not too sappy. In fact one character yells at another one for sappy lines. The guidebook they provide gives background information for people who did not read the manga and is a fun read also.
April 7, 2010
#5
It is nice to watch an anime without attacking aliens or evil syndicates [Haruhi]; this anime ponders those quiet “wonderful” moments in life. This can easily be mistaken as ‘escapism’ but maybe the more “sensational” anime are the ones that should carry that label. Breath …relax …enjoy.