Anime Aria the Animation

[Dagger]

[CENTER][IMG]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v632/DaggerIX1/akari.jpg[/IMG][/CENTER]

Mars has been terraformed and renamed Aqua. In the canal city of Neo Venezia, young women train to become professional undines (gondoliers) while enjoying everything that life has to offer them on this beautiful, peaceful and nostalgic planet.

It's really hard for me to pass judgment on Aria. It has low-budget animation, and the messages it conveys are pretty simplistic. At the same time, it's the best slice-of-life anime I've seen, and I love it. Aria the Animation is thirteen episodes long, but it has a twenty-six episode sequel called Aria the Natural.

I wouldn't suggest that anyone go into this expecting to be swept up in awe or blown away. It's a "healing anime"--gentle, relaxing, heartwarming and sometimes a little bittersweet. No drama here; just the quiet beauty of everyday life.

~Dagger~

[kyogrl]

i didnt know there was an anime of aria. i read the manga of aria and it was very interesting. well know that i know theres an anime of aria then il probly watch it^_^

[Dagger]

Yeah, I've heard great things about the manga as well. There's also a two-volume prequel manga called Aqua. Although ADV originally licensed the Aria manga, they've since dropped it, and Tokyopop is going start releasing Aqua (and presumably Aria) in October. Look forward to it!

I ordered the Japanese tanks for both series but won't end up reading them until spring break. I'm just sad that I missed out on buying the gorgeous [url=http://www.animeondvd.com/forum/showpost.php?pid/318529/][u]2007 Aria calendar[/u][/url]... if I had gotten into the show a little bit earlier, I would've snapped it up in an instant.

Anyway, I started watching Aria the Natural, and it's just as lovely as the first season. It's hard to explain, but I have to admit that this anime has wormed its way into my all-time top five. Maybe I'm stressed enough to appreciate it; maybe my tastes are changing--or maybe it's just that awesome. What it comes down to is that as naive and earnest as Aria is, it started speaking to me once I got past the first few episodes of the first season, and I haven't looked back since. It actually heightens my appreciation of my own life and surroundings.

~Dagger~

[2010DigitalBoy]

[COLOR=DarkOrange]After watching 2 episodes, I'd say the series is alright if a little boring. The secind episode was a lot more fun than the first which consisted of many long quiet moments.

To star with the good, my favorite thing about this show is the character designs. Whle the animation isn't really anything special, the charcters look grat, namely Akari-chan who's hair = win. And then there was Ai-chan whi was so adorable I just wanted to draw her :animesmil

What this show seems to do is take familiar anime concepts and put them on a new backdrop. The whole undine, neo-Venice ans stuff is what makes it unique, wile it has the classic slice-of-life anime ideas uder it.

The only downside of this show is tat it's not particularly exciting, but if this is your kind of show, that isn't a problem anyways. Besides, it could be like Haibane Renmei where it starts out all slow but then gradually builds or something.

I totally want a plusie of President Aria! (I cannot be alone in this!)[/COLOR]

[Dagger]

[QUOTE=2007DigitalBoy][COLOR=DarkOrange]
I totally want a plusie of President Aria! (I cannot be alone in this!)[/COLOR][/QUOTE]
I would kill for that. ;) (Of course, I would kill even more for the chance to work as an undine.) Cat lovers should definitely watch this series... cats and cat-related mythology play a huge role in some episodes, especially in the second season & whenever supernatural elements come into play.

It's funny that you mentioned Haibane Renmei, since Aria got me into the mood to re-watch it. Unlike Haibane, though, Aria doesn't have a strong character arc to serve as its backbone. It's mainly about enjoying the small (and big) things--the beautiful scenery, the changing water, quiet memories, little mysteries, time spent with friends. It does have some very wistful moments, though; the underlying emotional force of the story comes from the fact that, as much as Akari and co. cherish these days, someday they'll have to come to an end.

No third season yet, but an OVA (Aria ~ Arietta) was announced at the Tokyo Anime Fair.

~Dagger~

[Desbreko]

[quote name='Dagger']It's hard to explain, but I have to admit that this anime has wormed its way into my all-time top five.[/QUOTE][color=#4B0082]I know what you mean. I finished Aria the Natural last night and watched the OAV earlier today and it's trying to do the same thing with me. It'll be hard for it to oust Cardcaptor Sakura from the #5 spot but it just might manage it.

I can't wait for Aria the Origination to start airing come January. I haven't looked forward to an anime this much since I was waiting for new episodes of Lucky Star each week while it was airing. :catgirl:

And I join you two in wanting an Aria-shachou plushie. Like, really bad. This is the first time I've seriously wanted a plushie (or any anime merchandise) since I was 11 years old and bought a few Pokémon plushies. If I can find one that isn't stupidly expensive I am totally buying it.[/color]

[2010DigitalBoy]

[COLOR="DarkOrange"]So, being overwhelmed by the sheer number of shows I'm trying to watch, I decided to go down my 'watching' list alphabetically and just clear each show. First was ARIA.

I've seen 2 eps of ARIA waaaaaay back and found it okay, but a little too boring for my taste, however since there isn't a ****ing person alive with a negative thing to say about this show I knew I'd need to get back to it, especially since I have a bit more open tastes and besides I'd been watching it with hideously low quality on a ****** streaming site.

Well, I just got done with episode 3 (as a liner note the eps of this show NEVER END, if I ever wanted to make a day feel like a week I'd wach the whole thing at once) and lets just say I was completely mezmerized. I only have one word: Alice. Alice.... Alice.... Alice.... upon first sight of her face I was spellbound. When she turned down the autograph to that girl I actually felt my heart litterally wrench - like I felt the girl's pain in being turned down by this blazing goddess. Needless to say I. Want. More.[/COLOR]

[Dagger]

[SIZE="1"]I remember the first time I read about Alice and possibly Aria in general, well before I actually started watching it, was in [url=http://that.animeblogger.net/2006/11/22/alice-carroll-in-aria-wonderland-pictures-galore/][u]this guy's blog post[/u][/url]. (Lovely pictures.)

ETA: Yeah, Aria is not the kind of show that can be enjoyed on a website. It requires peace and calm and immersion. Akari & co. demand that you give them your full attention. :catgirl:[/SIZE]

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Aria the Origination [url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VZnJh3Fs46E][u]promo[/u][/url]! :love:

~Dagger~