THIS REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS
Almost 10 years after the airing of Aria The Origination, I still could not find any other anime that comes closer to heart. Beyond a review, let me express my gratitude towards a series I would call the best, and my favorite anime.
I started watching anime since 2009, it was a time where most of the legendary shows were out. Anime has always been my way of life to lose my mind, to find and appreciate creativity, and in recent years more of a place to learn Japanese. Outstanding shows give me inspiration, they fill me with awe. Slice of life shows
...
have always been my favorite, because they resonate with my own nature. Aria is, Aria. It is something I can watch over and over again because it is exactly that particular element that satisfy me, the sweet spot. 8 years of being a fan of anime has taught me to see beyond the extravagance and art, because anime, like all other types of shows, is not meant to be lauded with praise, but to be duly appreciated by time commitment and passion. I will tell you why this is the show for me.
Art
What other show can one find young maidens standing on gondolas gliding through still waters on a distant planet as professional transporters? Animation is always modest, pretty thematic as it also carries your gaze away to a holiday destination. The colors are always self-sufficient, never any strain to the eyes. Oh, eyes, and their gazes, they are timeless and classic. Like still life painting, they relax your eyes while exhibiting emotion which could tell you as much emotion as real human eyes do. They tell so much, by not shedding tears, but by innocence and vibrancy. While there is an apparent step up when we go from season to season, simplicity on their part enables your own interpretation and further refinement through your own senses. No need for fluid motions, just strike the right pose and basic demeanor and let sound do the further elaboration. Exceptions would be the cat mascots, president Aria initially appears to me as some weird creature that does anything other than what cats do. I do not complain as their simple designs aid towards simplistic relief during scenes where rich emotions are in place. I could not say that the background and environment is stunning, and since I have only been to Japan and not Venice, I could not really tell how proper are they drawn and painted. I would say that the natural portrayal of Neo Venezia could pass a genuineness test all by itself should it be referenced from a true country. It appeared to me as a planet or country that is neither wealthy nor in poverty, but in an ideal financial and social state, perhaps large on the tourism side. Floating airships, and carefully positioned dual moons, cramped waterways, open air cafes, as well as downward facing views from the top of buildings are ways Aria displays its space and atmosphere. Truly a relaxing feeling for anyone living in cities. I would highlight that it is due to non-movement or little movement of characters it what makes Aria subtle, true to its genre, it is a bold move to convince viewers that saving costs is merely incidental letting pauses in animation do the real talking.
Sound
Rather than a simple perfect blanket label, I will tell you how sound in the series affects me. Hiyashi, meaning healing in Japanese, is the appropriate word that suits all occasions in Aria. Yoga for the soul, I would call it. While the sound may be more masterful in Origination, my preference lies in Natural. I am a person influenced more by emotions rather than art or sound. The magical part about Aria is that I cannot differentiate between those three elements. They always seem to move as one emotion, one which you could do no more than to let it slide, without praise or complaint. Ever thought of spacing out to daydream in an environment without prejudice? Perhaps it is the way pianos are played in the soundtrack, maybe it is my lack of sleep and introvert needs which made me imagine how the crisp and clear, solidly subtle background music which enables me peace of mind, carried to a land unknown. The musician that needs no applause. It is not sophistication, it is sublimation of senses. Quaint, as if teary moments are just beyond the wall behind speakers where the music sounded. Most of the music in Aria are no more than simple piano and chamber music or a combination of them. I believe this is what the series essentially monopolize. There is no room for more, the piano which bridges conversations, and violins which pan the scenery, not to mention the impeccable timing of their execution. I would say at this point, it is a sense of sincerity that I felt there, nothing more, nothing less. On the other hand, sometimes voice acting can be a little raw to taste. It is because they are in Japanese and not English? Nevertheless, they do not stand out, yet pleasant enough to glide through the scenes. Dialogues open a splendid dimension of depth of meaning, when said in Japanese. In lighter scenes, Aika’s “no embarrassing words allowed” rings a sense nostalgia, towards a time where my worries were less; in more affectionate scenes, I find their timbre is almost ephemeral, to the point where I completely surrender my conscience to the occasion; in bittersweet, endearing moments, I find enlightenment seeped into melodious bubbles. The point is, there is no use separating music and voice because of how well they appeal to my palette. Cellos, yes, towards the end of Natural, where Ai chan makes a surprise appearance at the pier, time froze where I sat. The serenades of guitars imitate the sense of a hometown I never had. Ebullient sentimental waltzes that makes any corner of the city a romance in time. In Origination, when Aika and Al kun are inside a well, that silence, how stellar how so much was conveyed without the two saying much. And the best of all, the song called ARIA, in Animation, where the three main girls float on water in some ruins. They starkly remind me of precious time spent at sandy beaches back in the old days. A heavenly feeling, while still retaining all senses of humanity, is how I would soundly rest the case.
Character
I always wanted to mention that most of the girls’ names begin with the letter A. Perhaps that is where they get their A+ development. Akari serves as a self-sufficient narrator in her mails between Ai chan. For someone who comes from another planet, she doubles as a guide and our representative to explore the world of Aqua since day one. The reason behind such splendid character development in the third season is thanks to the buildup from the first season, and micro development over the episodes leads to their full development ever so unnoticed. Despite being a slice of life, I really felt the development of both generations of undines come at me with a surprise. Since it took me on and off three years to properly appreciate the series which I only watched during special occasions, at the same time the painful feeling of my own personal character development unbeknownst to me all the while. It felt like reading a meta-diary, the girls’ personalities, although remained largely the same as they were from the start, show magnificent departures and improvement in both technical and social aspects of their lives. From our perspectives, it may appear that we are guests to the world of Aqua and that we spectate their livelihoods and wonders, but the show portrays their seemingly idealistically carefree days much the same as what goes on on our side of reality. They address challenges, sort out their own emotions, live through the pain and sorrow of many of the usual rituals of life. As with any long running show, the connections between main and side characters expand into a network, and this is remarkably captured in Akari’s social circle. How supportive are they for one another, how differently they end up treating each other, are the visible harvest resultant of their interaction. And as a viewer, my benefit is to relate this mark of achievement to myself. It is not just friendship that is being considered here, it is fondness, especially towards inanimate objects like Akari’s old gondola, and social settings like retiring seniors and a change in life circumstances like primahood. If only we can go to bed every night summarizing the day as strangely forgiving and mature as Akari, would our lives be Aria? In the supernatural occurrences that are in Natural, they personify unexplained life events that we seek to understand but never have the time nor the heart to explore further. In Animation, we are presented with quirky and marvelous parts of Aqua where the details are explained so vaguely that we have no choice but to turn our minds off and instead shift focus to savoring what we can out of the phenomena regardless of them being healthy or not. To the characters, they are reflections of us too, who continue to mind their days regardless of which. I will further elaborate this in the most interesting part of the show.
Story
All series of Aria get full score from me. Except for Avvenire to which I will watch in the future. This trilogy deserve equal attention due to the different aspect which they address. I wholly agree to the pattern set out by other reviewers here, and would like to offer my personal opinion on how it personally appeals to me.
Aria the Animation
Another fascination I find in anime is how I appreciate intentional ambiguity in their general plot. Distinct from incomplete plot design, how a show hides something they are yearning to tell is a treasure I find in anime. Whether intentional or by accident, the seemingly wacky start to the first season sets of the bell of genuine mystery to me. This is like an entrée, where they feed you samples of what is life on a gondola. As I said before, the homey feeling is the best force at play.
Aria the Natural
In my honest view, this is the best season Aria has to offer. Not because they are confusing me like the first season, and not because how they properly end the story in the final season. How they unconsciously trigger emotional responses from me by how they animate life in a make believe Venice where the medium of conversation is Japanese steeped in Italian culture, how magic and all things weird comes altogether unexplained, is a signal to numb the explanation demanding part of your mind, and to instead be aware of your real surroundings, and to put your focus to what matters to you. These simple things hit me hard and I am ashamed of how I view life till this point, and still brings back the shame every time it hits me because I too, never change, so quickly. Really, the show makes you cry from the inside. How it does it, I do not suppose I need to know. I cannot find an element here which I cannot agree with, as the show actively reminds us of what it means to lead a life, naturally.
Aria the OVA: Arietta
It means little Aria in Italian. But this is the crowning glory of the Aria series. I mean by the theme song. It is the point in time where Akari reaches the peak of her wonder and realize what will eventually come to her in her career in Aria Company. Yes, she perceives change, and changes that will hurt. The way they hold the private conversation between her and Alicia in a sunset clock tower marks the twilight of the series before the actual magic part comes in. This is my most sentimental moment with the series, directly after the events of Natural.
Aria the Origination
For a long time, I find myself repeatedly watching the last few episodes before I decide to roll in the final two to a closure. This season is more delicately done that fine porcelain. Each episode ends up being a parable that vibrates some episode from the previous seasons. However, if one were to judge this season while adjusting the base to where Natural left off, it stands together with the previous two. This final season puts its resources heavily on the character development side, all the while keeping all other things as solid as a brick, amplifying the music part. It froze on exploring the world, or anything that is unnatural besides what matters to the characters. See the buildup? It is one spotlight to the other. True to my own life, pretty much the exact thing happens. Once we put down our books in school, we do not get academically smarter. And it does not seem that our stamina will continue to rise while we go off to work in an office day and night. Who really spends more time with their hobbies and friends after they decide to raise a happy family? Do many of us still find the strength to embark on new ventures once we retire? Life suddenly becomes more precious than gold, rarer than relationships, scarcer than time. It is what originates our consciousness, and what we bid farewell to in search of other interesting things. Suddenly, I felt at a complete loss.
Enjoyment
You see, my enjoyment of Aria is no doubt derived and derived more. It is something that brings out another version of me, whom I subconsciously acknowledge to be a better version of me that I should begin to cherish more. But also, there is one truth in which the show highlights that can completely shatter one that is so vulnerable at heart. Nothing lasts forever. Yes, even my philosophy engraved within these pixels, or the digital records that contains Aria. Memories of its music will probably never linger on more than a couple of more decades. Ultimately, I find that this enjoyment is just plain realization of a profound value that I have long lost touch with, and that is the extent of what essentially Aria does to me. Anime wise, it is a pleasure. A privilege to which I owe it to my choice of watching the series. In the end, it is still my best anime to date, and no other shows can rival the recreation and satisfaction of watching this series. My favorite character of the series, Mizunashi Akari. She is purity in a world as dazzling as the stars. Oh, all OP and ED of the three seasons including the OVA are splendid. The best being the second ED of Natural. All OP deserve credit for their fading in to every episode as well as different animation for each. Sometimes the chibi moments can appear mood breaking, but this is made up by properly animated scenes that count. The music, I will listen for life.
Overall
I have said all that I wanted to, and will leave further interpretation of the Aria series to another viewers that will certainly come to appreciate it in a different light. Accordingly, I warmly welcome any discussion relating to the one series I regard closest to heart. May your days be happy, and thank you for a wonderful time.
From someone who wants to be known as Miku, but also has a secret motive in life.
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Jan 5, 2018
Aria the Origination
(Anime)
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THIS REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS
Almost 10 years after the airing of Aria The Origination, I still could not find any other anime that comes closer to heart. Beyond a review, let me express my gratitude towards a series I would call the best, and my favorite anime. I started watching anime since 2009, it was a time where most of the legendary shows were out. Anime has always been my way of life to lose my mind, to find and appreciate creativity, and in recent years more of a place to learn Japanese. Outstanding shows give me inspiration, they fill me with awe. Slice of life shows ... 
Oct 2, 2010
Kimi ni Todoke
(Anime)
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What was your first impression of Kimi ni Todoke? It is a shoujo anime about a girl, shy and timid, who gets into a relationship with some guy.
Well, it is that in all its essence. The thing is that this show presents itself in a very unique perspective, one which amplifies and embellishes little elements that are usually overlooked in a typical anime of its genre. What's special about this show is the experience one gets from watching it. The story is told mainly through the eyes of Kuronuma Sawako, the main character. She's a shy little girl having a ghostly guise, constantly feared or misunderstood ... |
