Ranked #379

Air

Even if something has lost its purpose, the fact that it remains is a memory of a time when it had a reason to exist.

And what is the purpose of a girl who can't do anything right? Or a puppeteer who can't put on a good performance? Or a mother who can't take care of her child? In it's own special way, Air tries to give us some answers and show that indeed a memory of their purpose is better than nothing at all.

We follow a traveller named Yukito who decides to work in a small, quiet seaside town. There he meets the estranged Misuzu, a lonely girl with childish innocence that he eventually warms up to. But things are not all that quiet in the peaceful coastal village. There is a tale of a winged, cursed girl who soars through the ageless air; a girl who Yukito yearns to meet. And he learns through the course of the series, his real importance, the meaning of his meeting with Misuzu, and the truth behind the girl in the sky. Also, it seems that this legend has had a profound effect on three other girls Yukito encounters.

This anime has one storyline, a few arcs, and you can say that there is a subplot. The subplot provides related information for the mystery behind the winged girl and the reason why anything in the present occurs. That's pretty much a lot of story for a short series, but Air manages to direct each story, each arc, and each plot splendidly. There is enough mystery to leave you intrigued, enough emotional content to cause those tears to appear, and enough originality for you to really appreciate that watching this anime is an experience.

The art for Air is really good. Some may be turned off from the very nineties style is has: large eyes, shiny hair, cute faces. Others may love it. But the fact of the matter is, the anime uses its style rather well. The animation was absolutely superb. The art direction is magnificent. There are scenes that will cause you to hold your breath and appreciate the moment. From beautiful sunsets, to a mouth contorted in pain or even a scene of tragic violence, Air looks great.

For the sound, there are good OP and ED songs. The background music consists of a lot of melancholy piano and orchestrated versions of the theme songs. It does its duty and sets the atmosphere for the anime. When something is sad, you can bet that the score will sweep to suit, and stir your emotions.

Air has a great cast and an equally great supporting cast. Though we never see most of these people for too long (again, due to the length of the anime), it does still feel as though we have been given a moment with each in which we were allowed to know them. Yukito is a very good guy. He's fun, interesting and cares for people in a way you wouldn't think someone who appears to be a loner would.

Misuzu is arguably a good character as well. While some may think the quality of her characterisation fell flat as she is the typical "cute girl", she should not be pigeonholed as such. In fact, I find there is something quite admirable about her existence. She's not the smartest, or most fun, or most interesting. She's always been alone. She is for the most part, unloved by the world. And yet, she's one of the sweetest persons you'll ever encounter in anime. It makes watching her agony all the sadder to know that someone who deserves something better has been given dealt such an unfair hand.

Misuzu's guardian Haruko is such a wonder to look at as well. The most inappropriate maternal figure who ironically is the most appropriate mother for Misuzu. What you think of her definitely changes throughout the course of the anime. The supporting cast has roles that range from comical to tragic, and while they are on-screen, you can't help but care for them as well.

Now, how can I call one of the most depressing anime I've seen "entertainment"? For the sake of intrigue and for having me absorbed with every minute of this anime, I suppose that I can say that this anime is entertaining. The quality of timelessness is also felt in the pacing of the anime. It doesn't drag on--the series is far too short for that to happen. But there is the feeling that every moment is precious, every scene has its importance, every minuscule, irrelevant detail does indeed have some relevance to the wider picture. But a word of warning: if you're any bit sensitive, you might end up crying a few times during the course of Air. I cannot think of one story arc that hasn't packed an emotional punch.

The themes alone are wonderfully crafted. When have you seen an anime that deals with every aspect of love so intricately? The love of a parent for their child, love between two friends, sibling love, and the love from one human being to another. Also, I think this is truly one of the first anime I've seen where parenthood and family has played such an important role. And there are the sadder themes, such as loneliness, which are portrayed through many images and characters. What is that mythic lone girl in the infinite sky? What are the dinosaurs other than creatures who have lived, died and disappeared? What is a man who is forced to stop by something greater than his own self? Magnificent questions are asked that we have to work out on our own; this anime is great food for thought.

I think people will learn to love the quality of living a little more after seeing this.

Air is truly a breath full of life and a sigh full of sadness. It shouldn't be missed. read more

Air
~ The 1000th Summer...~

Story (9/10)
Air the story of Yukito Kunisaki, a young man carrying on his family's journey to find the "girl in the sky" and free her from a curse. Stumbling upon a sleepy coastal town, he meets three girls: Misuzu Kamio, Kana Kirishima, and Minagi Tohno. He comes to spend more and more time in the town, living at the Kamio residence with Misuzu and her adopted mother.

Some may know, others may not, but Air is based off an ero visual novel by KEY. Thus, each of the main heroines (Misuzu, Kana, and Minagi) each have different scenarios to explore. The short anime tries its best to explore each scenario, but since it was so short, it felt somewhat rushed and the arcs of Kana and Minagi felt somewhat detached. Thus why the story only gets a 9/10.

However, I still rated it so high because the main story (the one of Misuzu) is simply beautiful. It's original, fresh, tear-jerking, and just beautifully done. I'll admit it, I cried at at the end.

Most consider Air to be confusing when they watch and don't understand the Kanna arc. I myself got it the first time, but if you don't, just watch it over -- you won't regret it. Most understand it the second time and come to appreciate the series much more.

Art (10/10)
Kyoto Animation, the company that animated Air, did a stunning job as always. The scenery felt alive like I could just step in, everything flowed smoothly and they're weren't any inconsistencies. Air is set in the summer, and like to watch parts of it in winter when I feel cold -- that's how real it feels. The clouds and skies in particular were stunning, and kudos to them for that, since the sky and flying are important symbols of Air.

Sound (9/10)
I love, love, love the opening theme to Air ("Tori no Uta" [The Bird's Song] by Lia). It's beautiful and the mood and lyrics reflects all the emotions and events in the series. The ending theme ("Farewell Song" also done by Lia) as well complimented the story and plot wonderfully. The BGM was nicely done, giving off the perfect aura for whatever was going on when it was played. Kudos to the voice actors, also -- they did terrific work on their roles. The character's emotions were conveyed convincingly and they spoke with such emotion it could tear your heart out.

Character (8/10)
The characters in Air were all alive and I felt for each and every one's issues. The designs on them were varied and I never was annoyed by any character in particular (a nice change for once). However, the reason this rating isn't higher, is because since the anime was so short most characters did not receive the development they were in need of.


Final Thoughts
I gave Air an "enjoyment" rating of 10. I don't let this affect my score, however, since it's really a personal thing -- someone who isn't a romance, drama, supernatural sort of thing probably won't like this. However, I loved Air every moment, from beginning to end. If you're looking for a nice romance with a touch of supernatural fantasy and great characters, I highly recommend Air. read more

If you’re into drama and supernatural anime, then Air is for you. I actually quite liked it, in fact, I like it better than Kanon 2006. There were similarities between the two, like for example, I though the two series had similar characters. Yukito was a lot like Yuichi and Misuzu’s story and predicament was a lot like Makoto’s. Air’s story is also made up of character arcs. I think Air has 3 or 4 character arcs and each arc focuses on one major character at a time.

It was a sad anime. The scene when Misuzu was crying out “mama!” has been embedded into my anime memories. While it was sad sometimes, there were a lot of funny scenes too. In fact, compared to Kanon 2006, I think Air is the funnier one. Air had a more supernatural theme compared to Kanon as well. Just wait and see what happens in episode 8.

The characters are just great. Misuzu is just adorable. I love it when she goes “gao”. Her story is also the saddest out of all the characters. If you’re into cute anime animals like me, you’ll probably like Potato the dog. Don’t ask – just see for yourselves and you’ll know what I mean. Yukito is great too. He’s sarcastic, manly, witty and likable like all the other KyoAni leads. He is a lot like Kyon from The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya and Yuichi from Kanon 2006.

They were so much alike I thought Yukito was also played by Tomokazu Sugita, but in fact Yukito was played by Daisuke Ono, who was Koizumi Itsuki of another KyoAni series, The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya. I recognized Tomoko Kawakami’s voice as Misuzu right away too, since I loved her work as Sayuri of Kanon 2006. She made Misuzu even more adorable.

And because it’s KyoAni, the animation was just stellar. There’s no arguing about that. Watching Air was pleasing to the eyes as well, because the scenes were very delicate and serene. The animation was also very smooth.

As for the music, I would have to say that it’s a lot similar to Kanon 2006 once again, especially the BGM. The difference is that I liked the music of Air more, because it was less dreary and it complimented Air perfectly.

I also have to note that I like the theme of Air TV, which is the importance of having a family. All of the characters are very close to their family members and you’ll realize that if you watch the series.

I have to say that this is one of the best KyoAni series I’ve seen so far. I recommend this to everyone, even to those who don’t watch a lot of dramatic/supernatural anime. If the story doesn’t work for you, the visuals will. read more

Air was the very first anime from the amazing due Key/Kyoto Animation, and it was definitely one of the best romance/drama animes that you can find out there.

Story: I'm not gonna lie, this story made no sense to me, I watched all the episodes and was left thinking WTF IM SO CONFUSED? but after rewatching it I slowly began to understand it more. The tragedy of Misuzu and the whole theme of flying and freedom and destiny was pretty cool and the story ended up being an enjoyable one despite the complexity behind it.

Art: OMG...Air has to be THE best looking anime I have ever seen, everything on this show was just stunning gorgeous and the colours were bright and alive. The sky and the water and the characters and the background were all just a feast to the eye and made the show VERY pretty to look at. The sky being a main theme looks so great you wish the real sky would look like that once in a while. Kyoto Animation never lets a show have less than perfect animation quality.

Sound: I dont really have much to say about this section since I was mostly just WATCHING the show than LISTENING to it. But the background songs really made the show enjoyable and sad to watch.

Character: Other than Yukito I never got attached to any character and its understandable since these type of shows focus on a certain girl for a set number of episodes and this being only a 12 episode series (ep 13 a recap) you just dont get the chance to truly get used to the characters since their airtime is relative short. But other than that it was still sad to watch their tragedies/problems unfold

Enjoyment: This was a great show to watch, I wish it wasnt so confusing otherwise I would've given it a higher score but Air is still a show I sometimes rewatch because of how pretty it is.

Overall this is one show that does not disappoint and is definitely STUNNING to look at, it was because of Air that I started to watch more Visual Novel adaptations, specially if they were from the dynamic duo Key/KyoAni read more

Air is an anime series, with a great batch of characters to go with a beautiful and heart-breaking story however it can be a difficult story for some to follow. ^_^

From the beginning it is pretty easy to tell that the show originated from an “eroge / visual novel”; with the ordinary guy coincidently meeting a girl that would change his life. Air is an anime with a very weird concept which can be pretty difficult to comprehend to begin with. The story basically follows Yukito, the male protagonist who gets to know three girls, each of them having something mysterious and peculiar about them and their past. It seems that they all are linked in some way to “the girl in the sky” and that’s something they eventually discover. The problem is that behind all the excellent drama lies a very confusing story that can leave anyone thinking “where the heck is this going?” Yet the show still remains great to watch throughout, plus the 2 amazing OAVs are a bit of an extra.

The quality of the animation is the best thing about this show as the story only comes alive with the spectacular visuals that are always on display. The character models are okay, with the cute girls having the typical “moe” look anime fans are used to. The environment is where the animation truly shines, with an incredible amount of detail put into every aspect and object.

On the other hand the music doesn’t really do much for the show and is barely even noticeable. At least it has a decent opening and ending theme song. Thanks to “Kyoto Animation” (the same company later responsible for Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya, Kanon and Full Metal Panic!) the animation quality of the show remains the strongest aspect and can easily overshadow every other aspects, including the confusing storyline.

Overall this is a really interesting, short anime, which can be difficult to understand from the beginning but it improves as more is revealed later on. It always remains very emotional throughout, but the voice actors could have done a better job. So in the end, this can only be recommended to the most open minded romance anime fan or someone whose a fan of other KyoAni works, but I must warn you that this series will get fairly depressing.

^_^ read more

Air was the first of the Key / Kyoto Animation series and in my opinion, it's the one that has left the most indelible mark. Running on an ethereal kind of magical realism and raw human emotion, it is a roller coaster for the heart that, even three years later, I can't bear to forget.

Air is about a young girl named Misuzu Kamio, who meets a drifter named Yukito on the first day of summer. Misuzu wants to make Yukito her friend and so she offers to let him stay at her place with her and her mother, Haruko. Yukito reluctantly takes advantage of her hospitality, and in doing so, learns that Misuzu may be a clue to something he's been looking for.

From there, the story progresses gradually, focusing on the characters, including other girls Yukito meets. Each girl brings another piece of the puzzle to the story. What's so wonderful about the story is how multi-faceted and multi-layered the story is. Because it is so densely packed with vital information, some of it gets lost along the way. This gives the series a massive amount of rewatch value until you can gather all the pieces and understand the entire story yourself. Of course, this doesn't mean you have to watch the series repeatedly to enjoy it. It's just a good idea to watch it more than once if you want to understand everything.

Though the players in this magical tragedy are moe cliches, each is given certain aspects to their personality that set them apart. In most cases, each character comes with a backstory with the intention of ripping out your heartstrings. This may seem overdramatic for some viewers, but I think it works. Especially as it makes some not-so-enjoyable characters early on pretty darn amazing in terms of characterization.

Though it was Haruhi that put Kyoto Animation on the map, Air offers the same lush fluid animation that the studio is now revered for. The character designs are quite wonky, especially regarding the eyes, which are abnormally huge even by anime standards. A blending of Key's design and KyoAni's style, the character look won't appeal to everyone, but you can't fault the quality of the rest of the production.

The animation is accompanied by a grand soundtrack. This is one thing that really sets Air apart from other game adaptations in that the anime keeps the soundtrack of the original game rather than create it's own. This was a brilliant move as the many pieces of accompaniment are epic on an emotional scale, from the OP music, to the background pieces, and especially the unforgettable insert, "Aozora", from the final episode. The soundtrack works perfectly every time, every scene.

Overall, this is one of my favorite anime of all time. Extensive replay value, raw often brutal emotion, set against a rich animated tapestry and set to one of the most beautiful soundtracks known to anime.

Overall I give Air a 9 out of 10. read more

One of the first animes provided by the Key Series and Kyoto Animation Studios. Those that have never cry openly in a anime or movie before are certainly going to be effected with how this anime turns out.

The most frustrating part of the anime would have to be the direction of the storyline, especially to first-time viewers. At the beginning, viewers may see it as simple to follow but the anime eventually goes in a couple of different directions that may baffle viewers at times. However the animation and peaceful-sounded music portrayed from the anime will impress many viewers to stay into it.

As the anime progresses, viewers looking up sad moments will certainly be tug from the emotions provided from a character along with the impact of the situation. Air somehow portrays this as a good example of humanity and may bring us lessons in our trouble situations of reality. It also brings an importance of being with ones we care and love for deeply in life.

Despite the confusing storyline and somewhat lack of character development, Air is certainly worth checking out for anime fans that are interested in great animation and aren't afraid to cry once in a while.



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Depending on what stage you are in your life or what epiphanies or experiences you have gone through, I think affects the way you understand and view things. And from where I stand today, I have to say, I really liked Air.

The story was very good and it flowed at a continuous speed so that was good. The art was nice too although the characters did look very cartoonish at times because their eyes were like 3/4 of the size of their face and it did bother me a little bit that all these young girls had heaving chests. Minor details I guess.

Each character is so different yet so similar, drawn together by the town, the history and lonliness sprung from some misfortune. I thought it was ironic how such a beautifully drawn anime can bring to life the darkest of human experiences - pain, sadness and lonliness. A classic freeze frame that I always envision when I think of Air is Misuzu standing on the ocean dam reaching for the sky with the ocean breeze blowing past her.... she did her best.... so watch it! read more

Going into this anime at first, I wasn't really sure as to what to expect. Upon first look this may seem like your typical "boy meets a bunch of women---perverseness ensues." Trust me though, this anime is far from that.

The story revolves around the legend of "the girl in the sky," who is said to carry the entire world's burdens. Enter Misuzu Kamio, a typical little girl that likes dinosaurs and lives with her mom in a quiet little town, but who may also have some sort of connection to the legend. She lives mostly a solitude life in her town, that is until one day when a stranger happens to visit the small sea side residents. Who finds out that their meeting is not just a mere coincidence.

The character design and art style is smooth, sharp and just purely detailed! I especially liked the character's eyes in this series. That along with a memorable soundtrack and surprising plot twists, this is definitely a series you should pick up. Only downside I could think of was, its short and the story and ending can be a bit on the confusing side.

All in all though,if you found what I said interesting, then you can't go wrong with this title. Check it out! read more

When I was told by one of my friends that everybody should see Air at least once in their lifetimes because it was so good, how could I refuse. This was a person I trusted and who introduced me to Ghost In The Shell. WOW.. Wasn't he wrong. A lot of people have given Air rave reviews, but I found it to be boring and at times, down right annoying.

I found the story slow, repetitive and predictable. The major "Twists" could be seen from a mile away. The best parts of the story were the short and sweet subplots and flashbacks which I must admit, were quite entertaining. But the main story of Misuzu really just annoyed me.

I did think the overall art work in the series was good, it's not my normal taste in style but I thought it was cute and worked well, though some of the characters did seem a little underdrawn, even unfinished, but I liked it, it was a pleasurable change to the perfect well rounded style we tend to see everywhere else.

The characters overall were well presented and all had distinctive interesting personalities. Unfortunately Misuzu annoyed the hell out of me, her annoying voice, bad habbits, The fact that she had a mental age at least 7 years prior to her physical age, and overall demeanor were so bad that it overshadowed the rest of the good characters and made them unnoticeable.

The only other thing I feel I need to say about the characters is Potato, This quirky little puppy is reason alone to sit through the 13 episodes of crap. You are much better off just typing his name into a youtube search and watching the little clips they have of him.

From the 4th or 5th episode watching this Anime became more like work than a passtime, the only reason I watched it through was that my friend was so convinced that it was the greatest thing ever, I assumed that somewhere something happened that made things fall into place and I'd start to enjoy it. Unfortunately this was only a pipe dream.

Overall I wouldn't recomend this anime. Though to some people it must have more meaning or appeal than it did to me, as it has many many other rave reviews.

If you do decide to pursue this anime, I wish you luck. read more