Aoki Hagane no Arpeggio: Ars Nova

In the year 2039, the drastic effects of global warming have caused sea levels to rise, resulting in major loss of land. To ensure humanity learns its lesson, a fleet of powerful warships equipped with advanced weaponry emerges, causing overwhelming defeat for naval forces throughout the world. Calling themselves the Fleet of Fog, each ship has a "Mental Model," a humanoid avatar which represents the ship's heart, its "Union Core." Each model has a different personality but all follow an unknown authority known as the Admiralty Code, who have implemented a blockade to prevent humans from traveling across the sea.

Seventeen years after the blockade, Gunzou Chihaya, a National Marine Academy alumnus, stumbles upon I-401 and its Mental Model, Iona, who sides with mankind for unknown reasons. Utilizing this newfound hope of achieving peace for humanity, Gunzou and his friends form a group of privateers, known as the Blue Steel, as they set out on a dangerous journey.

[Written by MAL Rewrite]

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Background

Episode 1 was previewed at a screening in Oosaka on September 21, 2013. Regular broadcasting began on October 8, 2013.

Episode Videos

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Related Anime

Adaptation:	Aoki Hagane no Arpeggio
Other:	Aoki Hagane no Arpeggio: Ars Nova - Kirikumas
Alternative version:	Aoki Hagane no Arpeggio: Ars Nova Movie 1 - DC

More characters

Characters & Voice Actors

Iona

Main

Fuchigami, Mai
Japanese

Chihaya, Gunzou

Main

Okitsu, Kazuyuki
Japanese

Takao

Supporting

Numakura, Manami
Japanese

Kongou

Supporting

Yukana
Japanese

Haruna

Supporting

Yamamura, Hibiku
Japanese

Kirishima

Supporting

Uchiyama, Yumi
Japanese

Maya

Supporting

Mako
Japanese

Hyuuga

Supporting

Fujita, Saki
Japanese

Watanuki, Iori

Supporting

Tsuda, Minami
Japanese

Hozumi, Shizuka

Supporting

Touyama, Nao
Japanese

More staff

Staff

Satomi, Tetsurou

Producer

Yamazaki, Fumiki

Producer

Shiba, Hirokazu

Producer

Fukuda, Jun

Producer

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Opening Theme

"Savior of Song" by Nano feat. MY FIRST STORY

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Ending Theme

	1: "Savior of Song" by Nano feat. MY FIRST STORY (eps 1)
	2: "Blue Field (ブルー・フィールド)" by Trident (Mai Fuchigami, Manami Numakura, and Hibiki Yamamura) (eps 2-4, 6-8)
	3: "Innocent Blue" by Trident (Mai Fuchigami, Manami Numakura, and Hibiki Yamamura) (eps 5, 9, 11)
	4: "Our Story" by nano (eps 12)

Reviews

Jul 1, 2023

Ardee_Uchiha

Recommended

Introduction:
An engrossing anime called Aoki Hagane no Arpeggio: Ars Nova skillfully combines science fiction and naval combat. This series has a fascinating idea that keeps viewers on the edge of their seats from beginning to end. It is set in a post-apocalyptic world where mankind is under the influence of a mysterious fleet of advanced sentient warships known as the "Fleet of Fog."

Animations and Visuals:
The amazing animations and visuals in Aoki Hagane no Arpeggio: Ars Nova are one of its most notable aspects. The battleships' elaborate patterns, flashing blue lights, and svelte shapes give off a strong, enigmatic air. The battle scenes are well coordinated ... and display fierce naval combat using a special combination of CGI and conventional animation. The people' and the nautical environs' attention to detail provides a level of realism that improves the entire visual experience.

Characters:
A great high point of the series is the varied ensemble of characters in Aoki Hagane no Arpeggio: Ars Nova. Each character in the story, which is led by the cunning and charismatic captain Gunzou Chihaya, lends a unique personality and drive to the story. The tale is further complicated by the sentient warships, sometimes known as Mental Models. The series addresses issues of friendship, loyalty, and the nature of mankind via their interactions and developing relationships with their human counterparts.

Stories and Themes:
The intriguing storylines and ideas explored in Aoki Hagane no Arpeggio: Ars Nova transcend beyond the scope of a normal action anime. The show examines the moral ramifications of war and the effects of technology advancing beyond human control. It poses intriguing queries concerning the origins of consciousness and the meaning of life. It is engrossing and intellectually stimulating to watch because the story is well-paced and strikes a decent mix between times of fierce naval combat and quiet reflection.

Sounds and Music:
Aoki Hagane no Arpeggio: Ars Nova's immersive atmosphere is greatly enhanced by the sound design and music. Exhilarating sound effects that heighten the impact of each explosive encounter are used during the fighting phases. With its gigantic orchestral pieces and ethereally lovely tunes, Masato Kouda's musical score perfectly matches the tone of the series. The show's opening and closing themes further enhance the overall fun factor by preparing the audience for the exciting events ahead.

Conclusion:
An exceptional animation called Aoki Hagane no Arpeggio: Ars Nova skillfully mixes science fiction, naval combat, and gripping storyline. This series creates a lasting impression because to its stunning animations, well-rounded characters, provocative topics, and alluring sound design. Whether you enjoy philosophical discussions or action-packed combat, Aoki Hagane no Arpeggio: Ars Nova provides a really exceptional and captivating experience that should not be missed.

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Dec 17, 2019

JakuTheSloth

Mixed Feelings

Aoki Hagane no Arpeggio: Ars Nova
Arpeggio: the sounding of the notes of a chord in rapid succession instead of simultaneously.
Ars Nova: refers to a musical style which flourished in France and the Burgundian Low Countries in the late Middle Ages

First let me disclaim that I haven't consumed any of the other media around Aoki Hagane no Arpeggio: Ars Nova (if there is any), this review is solely aimed at the anime itself. Overall I'd say this anime is above average overall, but isn't really special in any department. The show is visually average, I'd never describe it as gorgeous but for a show heavily ... CGI it's not grotesque either. For a show with musical terms in it's title I'm happy to say that the soundtrack was one of the show's stronger points imo. The battle themes used were really good especially the ones with a chorus, and I really enjoyed the opening. The central theme was executed well but it's offset by a rather disappointing plot. Finally there were a few characters that shined in this show, but for the most part I found most of the cast uninspired or uninteresting. I'd recommend this show if you have a personal interest in naval battles as some of the sequences were really nice in detail or if you happen to really enjoy stories that center around robots(replace robots with anthropomorphized battleships) discovering their humanity. However if neither of those reasons are enough for you then you can skip this show without having any regrets.

Art:
Use of CGI isn't the prettiest but is definitely serviceable, and each of the Fleet of Fog ship characters are rather distinct with their designs which is nice. That being said there is never really a moment in the anime that stunned me with visuals or revealed a beautiful background or setting. To be fair most of the time there just at sea/under the sea anyways but this isn't an anime to be watched for visually artistic merits.

Sound:
Some of the battle themes definitely feel they have an epic gravitas to them, especially the songs that contain a chorus of voices. I also enjoyed the opening which was energetic while containing an appropriate message for the show.

Story:
I was sold on the adventure the first episode described. I expected to discover the mystery between Iona who has come to meet and obey the MC Chihaya Gunzou, I wanted to know why Chihaya's father was suspected of defecting to the Fleet of Fog even though he was declared dead. I wanted to know who or what exactly the Fleet of Fog is and what was the Admirality Code for the Fleet of Fog. There is also a potential story to be told in how Chihaya's classmates were convinced to join him and Iona as crew members on a fugitive ship that wasn't truly at home with either humans or the Fleet of Fog. It's mentioned that traveling by land is impossible due to the civil strife, but it ends up just being a one line excuse to keep the setting on the sea rather then ever being seriously addressed. Unfortunately the main plot is considerably sized down in the actual anime, with barely any of the above being explained aside from a few parts of the Admiralty Code. Thematically the story revolves around the value of humanity using primarily the different egos the Fleet of Fog develops as they interact with humanity. While all of the battleships agree that the human capacity to anticipate the future (allowing them the use of more sophisticated tactics) is useful, there is disagreement and friction that arises due to the human emotions they are exposed to. While I was disappointed in quite a few story elements being completely glossed over I did enjoy the message of the anime.

Characters:
Honestly most of the characters are throwaways. Chihaya Gunzou is a perfect male protagonist with discernible faults that I could find except perhaps that he's a bit on the cynical side "politics are mere sophistry" (really had to dig for that). The last episode has Iona say to him that he looked pathetic when they first met, but nothing in the anime really reflected that, when it comes to Chihaya there is virtually no development that takes place. None of the other human crew really get any love either. I really wanted to like Iona a bit more but had a hard time doing that since the only explanation they gave for her being there is that her only order is to follow Gunzou's orders. At least her character feels a lot better than Takao who's sole motivation for falling into a perverted lust for Chihaya is being beaten in naval battle. Hyuuga is equally pitiful except that her character falls for Iona instead of Chihay. To add insult to injury Hyuuga's ravaging happens off screen.

But that's enough about some of the characters I didn't like, I felt that some of the other characters were the bright spot of the show. Kongo was alright as the main antagonist, and was used effectively to move the plot along as well as deliver the shows most powerful themes. I understand this is fantasy but she was definitely demonstrated the main conflict of a weapon acquiring human emotions, understandably rejecting the change she was experiencing while simultaneously feeling anguish and confusion as her comrades abandoned the Admiralty Code and fell into Chihaya's camp. I also really enjoyed the humanization of Haruna and Kirishima and their interactions with Makie Osakabe and felt that the episodes dealing with that relationship were done very well.

Enjoyment:
I definitely enjoyed the show when it came to the action sequences. For the most part the show definitely favors brain over brawn, acknowledging that while the Fog won war due to better firepower/technology, they'd definitely lose if technology levels were equal due to humans tactical prowess and adaptability. I felt the final action sequence was kinda of a shame because while most battles seemed to be dependent on tactics and risky gambles, the last battle kinda hand-waved its way to explaining the victory of the protagonists. It's also amusing how most of the time a fleet of enemy ships comes, everyone but the main actors gets kame hame ha'd out of existence. I found myself really only enjoying a few characters which seemed a shame. The theme of the story, robots (battleships) becoming human isn't original but it was definitely executed above average. I found some of the ecchi scenes a bit off-putting (refer to the scene of Hyuuga humping Iona) but that's just my own personal preference speaking.

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Jun 7, 2023

ThatAnimeSnobRE

Not Recommended

Arpeggio is one of those shows which will forever be remembered as “that bad CGI anime with the battleships turning to girls”. Well, there obviously are far more things going on in it but who cares; you will remember it just for that, since it is ensnared in the middle of the uncanny valley effect. This is what it boils down to; and in case it went over your head the first time, allow me to repeat it once again: A show with bad CGI and battleships that are in fact cute girls. We live in the post Avatar era, fed up with schools and ... moe and THIS is what some create in an attempt to make us give a damn? What were the creators trying to do; spend money for the heck of it? Burning them in a fireplace would have the same effect and would also keep some poor orphans warm. It sure as hell ain’t entertaining, so why not make a few poor children happy?

… What? What is that you say? Some people liked it? It has lots of cool stuff in it? It’s very entertaining? Oh, that’s right, silly me, I was talking about myself all this time while writing a review that is aimed at everybody; I should take both ends of the spectrum if I am supposed to be objective. Even though objectivity does not exist. Anyways, let’s go over the several amazing traits of this show which apparently managed to mesmerize thousands of people.

1) The manga is good.
Well, I guess that is good for the manga. This though is a review about the anime, so it doesn’t really manage to prove anything to its favor, especially when they omitted a lot of scenes during the adaptation. Plus, it’s bad CGI.

2) The premise is interesting.
You don’t say; the premise is interesting, let’s give it an 11/10 then. And here I thought you are supposed to DO something with it, aside from making it interesting. Wait, what is the premise again? Mankind is prevented from traveling through the seas because magical evil girls which turn to battleships are shooting at them. Since Japan is an island nation, they are trapped there, until a bunch of teenagers with hax powers save the day. Well, that’s interesting if you are still 10yo I guess. If you aren’t, well, it’s completely retarded. Not to mention, a rehash of Attack On Titan, which aired a few months prior to this, so it can’t even be considered an uncommon premise. Furthermore, we get so little exploration of the setting the story takes place in, that it doesn’t even manage to excuse its silliness. A ton of technobabble may have made the whole concept of magic girl battleships more plausible, and it turn would allow better immersion to whatever else there is in it. And nope, there isn’t any. Instead of that you get lots of badly fitting comedy and fan service, which makes it impossible to take seriously a story about humanity being annihilated by doomsday devises in the form of cute girl battleships. So no, besides a couple of interesting ideas you get nothing else.

3) The battles are tactical.
They sort of are. They don’t simply use raw force but occasionally head for stealth and deception. Until you realize it’s only the lead ship, controlled by a cooldere schoolgirl, that is the only powerful enough to defeat the other evil ships, which are controlled by stereotypical girls of all fetishes. That sort of renders everybody else in the world completely useless. Tactics mean nothing if they are used only by a handful of people and work only against a handful of girly personifications of battleships, only to be proven worthless in the longrun. You are left watching hax superpowers versus other hax superpowers with the illusion of brain power thrown in. Sort of how Code Geass is plain retarded and just pretends it is smart and full of tactics. And of course let’s not forget how bad the CGI looks, which makes the battles even harder to like.

4) The characters have internal struggles.
Both the human military and the evil battleship waifus occasionally argue and worry about each another. That manages to make the cast 2-dimensional at times. Emphasis on “at times” since they follow the stereotypes pretty close and even their supposed development is predictable. It’s not like they are gray, or complicating, or something more than just not autistic to their surroundings. This detail is hardly enough to make them worthy to remember, especially when there is very little character development to back it up. Heck, the evil waifus get more development than the main crew, which remains as a barely explored bunch of teenagers throughout the series. You have a main character who boasts being super smart, and a main heroine who is an emotionless girl battleship, and that is pretty much all you get. The rest of the human characters offer you even less to remember them about something. So yes, the villains get the entire spotlight, and even then it is hard to like them when the show treats them as sluts in need of a psychiatrist. Plus, ugly CGI.

There you have it, a show which did everything wrong and ends up being bad. Have fun not watching it.

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Aoki Hagane no Arpeggio: Ars Nova

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