Spotlight Anime: Aria the Natural

How would you rate this anime?

I have not seen this anime

Aug 31, 2012 4:14 AM

santetjan

Offline

Feb 2008

2484

Spotlight Anime: Aria the Natural

MAL Anime Information Page: Aria the Natural

MAL Score – 8.47 (by 7290 users)
Ranked - #100
Popularity - #794

For the next week I would like to have a discussion about the anime that focuses on the key elements that we here on MAL use to critically rate an anime: Animation, Sound, Characters, Story, and Enjoyment.

I would like everyone to approach this thread as if you were going to write a review and structure your initial post like this:

Animation - insert rating
Sound - insert rating
Characters - insert rating
Story - insert rating
Enjoyment - insert rating

Animation - discuss any pros and cons of the animation styling used in the series, try to include some specifics.

Sound - describe any of the things you liked or didn't care for in regards to the music and sound effects used in the series

etc...

If you are having trouble writing up a review or coming up with specific pros and cons, please don't worry. Just do the best you can with it and if you can only write two or three sentences about any of the 5 elements then that's OK. Not everyone here is currently at a level which will allow them to articulate their thoughts and opinions.

After your initial post is made you can feel free to civilly discuss issues of contention. I am sure there will be many opinions expressed here that some of us will disagree upon and criticise and it is for that reason that this entire club exists. So I hope everyone has fun and I am really looking forward to watching this discussion unfold.

RESULTS OF THE YOU DECIDE POLL

Aria the Natural was PERMANENTLY inducted into the club Anime list:
36 Yes - 80.0%
9 No - 20.0%

38 Don't know this anime - 45.7% of the total number polled
0 Abstained - 0.0% of the total number polled

Challenge You Decide results:

Aria The Natural (Anime) (26/5/19)
- Yes: 16
- No: 7
- Haven't Watched: 21
~ Abstained: 2

- 69.57%

HiroM_Dec 7, 2019 3:16 PM

You do not beg the sun for mercy.

Aug 31, 2012 1:40 PM

lpf

Offline

Aug 2010

1056

As far as anime series are concerned, the Aria franchise has been widely praised ever since its first appearance on screen seven years ago, where 'Aria the Animation', for what it was worth and what the Critics and Connoisseurs thought it was, managed to make a name for itself. Nevertheless, it's in 2008 that the series became most well-known thanks to Aria the Origination, described by many as the culmination of the series, outdoing its previous instalments and making countless anime fans pick up the show for the promise of an El Dorado they would find after roughly 40 episodes of slow, yet somehow pleasing gondola ride in the midst of Aqua's oceans.

But then how does the nearly forgotten Aria the Natural manage to compare, preceding the so-called 'culmination' of Aria which apparently deserved its induction among Critics and Connoisseurs? Despite the fact that one mostly hears about the Natural's sequel, my opinion is: 'brilliantly.'
Yet how does this anime stand on his own, beyond the comparisons with other titles? My answer is 'admittedly: with its flaws'.

To understand why Aria the Natural stands out as an excellent anime on par with its 'big sister', it must be made clear that the intended (as well as actual) appeal of both instalments differs and justifies the separation into several seasons.
On the one hand, Aria the Natural was focused on the worldbuilding of the planet and city where the gondoliers live, dedicating an important amount of its screen time to the various aspects constituting the city of Neo-Venezia.
On the other, it is evident that the focus of Aria the Origination shifted to the gondoliers and their career: the setting purposefully occupies a back seat, being the subject of merely two episodes (disregarding the episode 5.5 being a separate entry on MAL), and a considerable amount of time is henceforth spent on the characters' relations with one another or their progression as apprentice or professional gondoliers.

The Critics and Connoisseurs have established that the latter appeal met a definite standard. What of the former, then?

It's no secret for many viewers that the world of Neo-Venezia is a simply brilliant setting, stealing the show each time the characters start to even slightly stand out by being more than what their uncomplicated personalities allow for. While this lack of a complex personality may harm the audience's appreciation of the characters, it actually forms one of the major aspects of Neo-Venezia: the inhabitants' mentality. Indeed, Aqua's populace is depicted throughout the show as remarkably different from that of 2012's Man-Home.

This can be noticed on many occasions: for instance, the New-Venetians, in spite of having access to a fairly advanced technology, prefer to use traditional missives, in accordance with the widespread, albeit goodhearted discontent towards technology. The latter can be seen as abusive from the audience's perspective, but is perfectly consistent within Aria's universe where technology has reached a point that humanity will inevitably reach in the future, to such a degree that Man-Home's seas are described as being unsuited to swimming, suggesting many reasons behind of the excess felt by the citizens.

More directly, each and every character living in Neo-Venezia is described as considerate of others and eager to socialise. The most heartfelt illustration of this aspect was certainly in the episode where many people found the hidden treasure boxes, yet all of them ultimately replaced them where they were found. Other examples can be found in the encounter with the owner of the café, or the multiple encounters with other citizens as Alicia and her apprentice were making a giant snowball. More generally, this general mindset makes the dialogues almost implausibly devoid of the slightest conflict. Perhaps this society is more understandable from the perspective of a New-Venetian, and by stretching it a bit, perhaps Neo-Venezia boasts its own Marie, a spiritual guardian watching over the citizens - the Casanova, the master of ceremonies: the Cait Sith.

Which leads me to another primary aspect of the setting, to wit the supernatural. The latter makes its appearance regularly throughout the anime, usually foreshadowed by the matter-of-course 'cat culture' which the companies revolve around. As such, the supernatural seldom comes across as awkward or out of the place and almost naturally finds its way in the main character's life. Slightly separate from the 'cat culture' (yet actually pertaining to it in the second case), other few supernatural events take place: the fox's wedding, a popular expression in several languages, or the incident with the lady in black, a fruit of Aqua's own folklore.

Other examples of Neo-Venezia's culture include the entire reproduction of Venice's original customs, mixed with additional elements. Accordingly, the show depicts the rosebud festival (Feste del bocolo), the annual flood (Acqua Alta) and how the inhabitants must deal with it. Among these events finds its way Aqua's own background. For instance, a New-Venetian tradition consists in dropping a nightshine stone that can only be found in Aqua's waters in the sea. There are also inherent elements the colonisation of Mars involves: thus are depicted in the series a floating island from where a population regulates the weather, and the underground of Neo-Venezia, both of them being two more splendid places to visit if one ever comes to Neo-Venezia.

Because Aria the Natural is also the visit of a beautiful city. A sizeable portion of the storyboard is focused on the exploration of Neo-Venezia and its fascinating streets, nooks and crannies. For the most part, it is simply about appreciating the different landscapes and architectures, but a number of shots are specifically made to be beheld, showing particular parts of Aqua, such as the abandoned train, or the aforementioned floating island and underworld.

However, this is where the problems begin. The rendition of Aria's setting has the potential (and is supposed) to be one of the main appeals of the franchise. Yet there technically is no need to compare this capture to other series to understand the fatality that the visuals simply do not meet a certain standard of quality. The architectures are highly repetitive, the shot has a very unambitious angle and, as such, is flat (the general flatness creates perspective issues like in this picture), the lines aren't nearly as bold as they should be and the lights and shadows are poor.

If you aren't convinced, you may have a look at the manga counterpart of this scene, or check what standard could be expected of a setting-oriented series: [1] [2] [3].

Inasmuch as this level was a very important aspect of the manga, most of the time offering at least one two-page spread per chapter, one could wonder whether the Natural was as good as it should have. While it is true that some potential is wasted, there is something that compensates to some extent this lack of a good visual quality: the soundtrack.

It seems to exist a general consensus I agree with as to the Aria soundtrack, stating that the musics used in Aria, from the opening and ending songs to background tunes (and even the less relevant ones), are splendid and on par with the better anime soundtracks on the market. What I will add, is that its usage was nearly flawless, and managed to tremendously emphasise the climaxes of the episodes in spite of the lack of good visuals.

If the above paragraphs clicked with you then you must know why Aria the Natural has no reason to be jealous of its big sister. It utilises an aspect almost absent from Aria the Origination and, to boot, makes arguably the most out of it. For this reason, Aria the Natural is in my mind worthy of induction. However, does the curse that, whilst being good, it could have been much better should prevent it from entering the list?

I don't know, but I will not let it prevent me from voting 'Yes'.

Sep 2, 2012 1:23 PM

Don_Don_Kun

Offline

Apr 2008

523

Hmm, it will be difficult to add much more here since lpf already summed up most of my thoughts about this series quite nicely, but I'll try to touch upon some aspects which he hasn't covered.

Though we've already inducted the Origination with flying colours, I would like to point out that it wouldn't have been nearly as successful as a "culmination" of the series without the foundation which the Natural (and to a much lesser extent, the Animation) set. What made the Origination so powerful in my mind was the bitter sweet feeling of all good things coming to an end, as reflected by the character's changing lifestyles. Now while the development towards this climax was built up exceedingly well, what really made it stand out was the show's effortless ability to allow the viewer to experience the same emotions (provided one actually enjoyed the previous instalments, of course). Now what was responsible for creating such a high level of intimacy with the setting is none other than, as lpf likes to put it, Origination's little sister, the Natural.

The main aspect which made the Natural stand out from its predecessor was undoubtedly its thorough level of interaction with the setting and substantial world building. Through the character's daily lives, we are able to see a vast level of insight into Neo Venezia's inhabitants, its culture and natural phenomena. The mentality of the residents is also fleshed out through some very casual conversations, essentially making the setting feel more than just a backdrop for the characters to carry out their daily activities.

Aside from that, another aspect which makes the Natural a far cry from the previous season is its more definitive focus on exploring the nooks and crannies of Neo Venezia. Though the animation quality does leave something to be desired at times, it's hard to ignore the level of depth the show goes into with these explorations. While the relaxing mood is still present, the Natural possess a certain type of adventurous quality which essentially places the viewer in the character's shoes as they bask in awe at the world's wonders (some apparent, and some hidden). The type of intimacy which is brought about from these excursions is highly apparent throughout the series, and is arguably a large part of what allowed the Origination to carry such a bitter sweet feeling during its climax.

One last aspect which may seem a bit out of place in a series which takes the time to flesh out its world's mechanics is Akari's encounters with the supernatural. However, what makes these moments actually enhance rather than detract from the overall experience is how well they are integrated into the show's episodes. The faint, almost hazy quality of these moments, coupled with Akari's responses gives them a childlike, whimsical quality. Not only does their ambiguous quality help to flesh out Akari's character a bit, but they also show another side of Neo Venezia, and it's undoubtedly one off the beaten path. It's a subtle taste of magical realism, but one which has a great effect on the variety of moods the series is able to convey.

Though the series does have some minor detractors such as a lack of overall direction, the Natural still remains an excellent entry in the series. The lower animation quality compared to the Origination may seem like a detractor, but the excellent integration of the soundtrack and the thorough exposition given to exploring the setting largely makes up for this slight drawback.

For all those reasons, it's a definite "yes" from me.

Don_Don_KunSep 2, 2012 1:27 PM

Sep 3, 2012 7:02 AM

ladyxzeus

Offline

Dec 2007

9219

My main grip with Natural is the whole "cat-world". It just felt forced and unnecessary.

Waratte Oemashou Sore ha Chiisana Inori

Sep 3, 2012 11:46 PM

Don_Don_Kun

Offline

Apr 2008

523

ladyxzeus said:
My main grip with Natural is the whole "cat-world". It just felt forced and unnecessary.

How so? If anything, the cat world encounters served as a way of depicting Akari's transition from her childish naivete. As I mentioned in my above post, these moments were integrated with a subtle touch of magical realism so as to not feel overbearing or out of place from the rest of the show. They may have conveyed a vastly different mood than the Undine's regular daytime expeditions, but this only helped to flesh out another side of Neo Venezia that may have otherwise gone unnoticed. Far from being forced or unnecessary in my view.

Sep 5, 2012 6:18 PM

santetjan

Offline

Feb 2008

2484

Part of the problem of introducing the 'cat world' in the Aria anime is that the original order of the manga chapters was done away with. The first 'cat world' chapter turns up in the first volume of the Aqua manga, i.e. pretty soon, and was really introduced as simply a mystery of the planet, something that made Mars/Aqua different from Earth. Its addition is about as forced as any of the more magical elements, which is to say, hardly. If anything, the (otherwise lovely) fox's wedding is far more intrusive, it being as culture-specific as it is: how exactly did that specific piece of mythology arrive on Aqua?
What also needs to be mentioned in this context is that it isn't always Akari on her own who experiences the more magical episodes, even if this is often the case. Hence, one cannot simply explain it away as a somewhat childish vision of things: what is seen is quite real, is just another of Aqua's wonders.

As for the rest, lpf basically covered everything, and I could refer to my own posts in both the Origination and the Aria manga thread. Personally, I consider Natural the best of the three Aria anime, as it's more squarely focused on the world, but it is the highly imperfect rendering of said world that, to me, destroyed its chance to be inducted. If we really need to have an Aria in the anime list, it ought to be the Origination special, not this one.

You do not beg the sun for mercy.

Sep 5, 2012 8:58 PM

Jolon

Offline

May 2011

182

I value Aria the Natural so highly that it is hard to form a reasoned, non-emotional defense of it- but that, in and of itself, is the strongest endorsement of the show I feel I could give it.

Having read both the manga and seen the anime, I am dismissive of claims that the world of Aqua was done dis-service. Animation in and of itself gives it more punch; the voices, movement and music contribute to a fuller world than Ms. Amano was able to give on paper alone. Shortcuts were sometimes used in illustration, but then, more was illustrated than was ever the case in the manga.

Much has already been said about why The Natural is great, so I will merely state my objections to some of the criticisms laid out.

I will of course vote yes.

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Spotlight Anime: Aria the Natural

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