Aria the Animation

More than a masterpiece.
Seriously, to make this you need to be much more than a genius. Slice of life? I would not say so. It does not look like life at all. "Aria" series is a different world, which drags you into like a tornado. And once you are there, you don't want to go back.
Objectively, nothing happens for the whole 53 episodes + OVA. There is, literally, no action or plot. At all. What we see is a girl's everyday life in Neo Venezia, an imaginary city in the future at Mars. She works as a tour guide, hangs out with friends, etc ... etc. Why is the show so facinating?
The answer is atmosphere. I don't know what should you do to create such an atmosphere of love, innocence and peace. Artwork, pretty simple but stunning in its simplyness, along with soundtrack create something impossible... You turn this show on and your daily worries melt away into the endless ocean of peace. Aria is a cure for my soul, the best medicine I ever found. I keep rewatching this show - slowly, gradually, repeating my favourite episodes... I don't want to leave Neo Venezia. Ever.

My favourite anime. I would put hundreds if availible. 10/10

Sometimes, the mundane and ordinary can be the wellspring of life's greatest stories. Aria takes this idea, bludgeons it mercilessly, and runs with it. Strangely enough, it works. Actually, bludgeoning likely isn't the best verb. Sedating is more suitable, since Aria is probably the most relaxing show in recent memory.

Aesthetically, Aria the Animation is a gorgeous series. From the pristine water that the gondolas so gracefully glide over to the well kept stone buildings, the city of Neo Venezia is brought to life by its splendid colors and vibrant tone. There's a feeling of life and soul breathed into it, yet it's calming in ... its tranquil beauty. History is exuded from every structure, almost as if Neo Venezia has existed for well over a thousand years, like its Earth-born counterpart.

The characters are well designed and well animated, all unique and memorable enough to endear themselves to the viewer. Even the bit characters are given appearances that don't feel entirely generic, which is a definitely plus. During its more amusing moments, the characters' faces turn into some of the best chibi faces ever brought to anime.

The audio, from the stellar voice acting to the soothing background music, is simply divine. While the music wouldn't likely stand on its own, it's the perfect complement to the series, bringing to life the soothing rhythm of Neo-Venetian life through acoustic guitars and soft singing.

As a slice of life series, the story aspect takes a backseat to the characters and their interactions with each other and their environment. Strangely, it's when the story veers away from everyday life that Aria's at its weakest. The few supernatural-themed episodes are a strange departure from the norm, not really having any bearing on the overarching plot.
While it can be argued that they're perfectly fine since the whimsical overarching plot is broad enough in scope to allow the encompassing of a few more somber subplots, I still feel that Aria is at its slowest during these strange few episodes.

Also, as a slice of life anime, the characters are the focus. The three undines in training, Alice, Aika, and Akari, are supported by their superiors Athena, Akira, and Alicia respectively as they go through and explore their daily lives, becoming ever closer to achieving their collective dream of becoming master gondoliers (Undines, as they are known).

To make for even more lighthearted fare, the main trio are usually accompanied by the absurdly cute President Aria, a cat who has the sheer force of personality to carry an entire episode by himself... and seems to be harboring a deep secret that has only been alluded to. Animals have been put in series for the sake of cuteness overload and comedy before, but President Aria is arguably the best around.
Most will probably argue this, and I can see why. He's obnoxious enough to deter some viewers, though it didn't work on me in the slightest, so fair warning if you find small animals who yell random gibberish annoying beyond belief.
Now, before I write a dissertation on why I think President Aria is the best cat in history ever (He has a sailor hat! What's not to love in a cat who wears a sailor hat?), I'd best wrap things up.

Aria the Animation is a fun little series that does well in breaking away from the mold. Original for slice of life fare, with a few deviations that I felt detracted more than added anything, it will sedate you with its snail-like pacing and soothing aesthetics. Some may be put off by this, but rest assured that it's not nearly as boring as it sounds. Also notable is the overall optimistic tone. While the mood may drift into the melancholic at times, it never loses its upbeat charm and aforementioned whimsy.

While I haven't viewed its sequels yet, and I do plan to, I can comfortably say that Aria sits toward top of my favorite series list. It does Slice of Life differently, and it does it well. Like an actual gondola drifting through the canals of Venice, Aria is relaxing and slow, the whole purpose being an observation of the everyday life of the people.

Never before has a show left me feeling completely at ease, unburdened by the hardships of this world. 9/10 stars

Story: it looks like an episodic slice of life on a somewhat fantasy world, but if you rewatch this show or you are a bit smart you may notice the true: this is about a girl who arrives in a fantasy world from a couch, this is a metaphor of the "Drug's world".

Sadly, Aria follows our main character, Akari, who is a 15 years old girl inserted in the drug's world (probably powerful narcotics, or LSD) by a woman called "Alicia". It evens gets more dark when Aria wants you to think Akari doesn't know she is affected by these narcotics " When ... i came to Aqua ( Alice's house) i wanted to be ......( i dont want to make any spoiler) ....... but then i started to see everything of this world was awesome (probably because of the narcotics)", every time i see it that chapter i have to pause, cry and after 4 hours i continue watching. After 3-4 chapters Akari starts having visions of a big cat (2 times more tall than the girl) and fantasy shit.

The art is beautifull and it gets even better while the anime progresses. You may not like the idea about chibi faces but trust me that chibi shit its so fucking great in Aria, I can't understand why the fuck I liked it.

The music (ost, opening, ending, what ever) is relaxing and well placed i dont know what well placed means but i am sure Aria did it. The characters' voices are great, someone told me the characters' voices were made by real people. I think if you got surprised as i was for this fact you have another reason to watch Aria.

The characters aren't clichéd and they perform as a normal person, considering they are normal people living in THE BEST FUCKING PLACE IN THE FUCKING UNIVERSE. Maybe two or three characters may dont seem like normal people the first time you watch it but they are unique.

Overall: This is a weird show about chibi, adorable characters, drugs, rape and racism ( all the characters' name start with A except for the black guy, even the white cat name starts with A).

Aria has garnered one of the most interesting reputations I have seen. Put on such an impossibly high pedestal yet still as polarizing as any other slice of life series if not more so makes it an oddity that one can't help but be curious about. And, if nothing else, Aria is a very unique challenge and experience for just about anyone.

Aria is about a group of girls who want to become the best professional boat rowers possible. There is a lot of food and tea in between.

Aria, for better or worse, doesn't change much throughout the course of the series. For ... me this caused an already episodic and formulaic series to wear thin even faster. Most of the episodes end with a message about appreciating the beauty of life, or something similar, accompanied by scenery porn and calming music. While this is admittedly quite comfy, it would work infinitely better if the series didn't run fifty-two episodes and one OVA because there's is only so many times you can impress me with an all too similar life lesson and scenery porn, Aria.

It goes without saying slice of life series usually don't have much in the way of story in their attempt to be as feel good as possible. While not unexpected Aria sacrifices more than most since it actually does have clear overarching story with the three main characters trying to become Undines. Unfortunately this only gets sporadic focus throughout and ultimately isn't as rewarding as it should be. Instead we get a a lot of episodes focusing on the main characters doing something outside of that main goal and there is really no sense of progression.

Regardless of the meandering structure I did enjoy the main characters of Aria a good deal despite not knowing if I wanted to pat their heads or violently face fuck them. A wise man once told me multitasking is key. They all have good characterization as well as cute designs, which is all that they really needed to have for this type of story. Like many other things in Aria they can come off as overly sappy but I suppose that is part of the charm.

Aside from that there are a few minor issues I had with Aria. I didn't quite understand the character of Alicia who everybody in the series has a massive lady boner over. She is portrayed as ethereal and perfect which I suppose is setup for later episodes which show her face some of her faults, but these are less faults than they are sympathetic and endearing traits thus making the odd direction of her character pointless or at the very least not as effective as it could have been. The super natural elements in the series seem like they are abandoned just as quickly as they are picked up which I assume there is more to them in the manga but we are left with what we get in the show. Finally, the dialogue gave me diabetes. I know that just kind of comes with the territory of Aria but it really is over the top sometimes.

Despite all my misgivings with Aria I still find the series incredibly thoughtful and charming. The atmosphere is unmatched and with the soft colors of the art and serene music the series is just on another level when it comes to aesthetics. Though I probably will never appreciate Aria and the slice of life genre as much as most, I can't help but enjoy the simplistic beauty of its tranquil and contemplative moments. And really, what else does Aria aim to do if not that. Well, besides making your friends and family think you are a closeted gay.

This is NOT a review. This is a spoiler-free guide to enjoying ARIA. It is only fitting that a guide is written for a story about Aqua's guides.

First off, let me state that this is a guide to the -entire- ARIA collection, i.e. Aria the Animation, the Natural, the OVA and the Origination. I feel that it is necessary for the entire collection to be presented together since a potential viewer should watch the entire collection instead of just any one part.

I won’t be describing what ARIA is about; it is well-described in the synopsis and other reviews. You too, would want to be the ... one discovering and understanding what ARIA is about to you.

Let me first give you a rundown on what you can expect from ARIA:

1. You want to take a break from the usual action-packed and angst-filled anime. ARIA is a slow-paced and smooth-sailing anime. Every single episode, except the ending episodes of Origination, is standalone, but all of them will contribute to creating your vision of the world of Aqua. ARIA will not invoke strong emotions and desires, only a sense of calmness and curiosity.

2. You want the feeling of happiness. ARIA epitomizes happiness. Every single act or occurrence or thing that appears in ARIA will bring happiness to its characters. And happiness is contagious.

3. You wonder about the state of the world today, and think that the future of the world is bleak. ARIA will make you think otherwise. ARIA is filled with so much faith in its people and so much optimism in its future. It is the animation equivalent of chicken soup for the soul.

How you should watch ARIA in order to enjoy it?

1. Watch it in order. Aria the Animation will introduce to you the setting and its characters. Aria the Natural will take you on a tour of its world and the many mystical happenings that occur within it. Aria the Origination will delve and develop each character to the fullest before concluding.

2. Don’t rush through the story. Savor every moment and every scene, like tasting a glass of well-aged wine. Heck, re-watch an episode if you want to. I sometimes tend to replay a single scene over and over before being satisfied of the feels it was conveying.

3. Open your mind and suspend your disbelief. ARIA will contain varying degrees of supernatural elements; pause and think about its nonverbal meaning and how it relates to you.

Whenever life is giving you too many lemons, ARIA is here for you. Watch it and have a good night's sleep. Cheers.

Story: The story is slow-paced which offers a relaxing atmosphere, although it also doesn't do much to draw you in. The story does however give a romantic view of the world, from small things to big, and is quite beautifully done at times. One of the points that I really like about the story is how the concluding episodes tie back to the beginning to give the story a very wholesome feeling.

Animation: The artwork was splendidly done and really enhanced the mood. I noticed that the series' depiction of water especially, a central theme to the show, was beautifully portrayed and could be mesmerizing ... in its serenity.

Sound: The sound is elegant and fits well with the rest of the anime. Although not outstanding on its own, it really works well to create the tranquil mood that defines the series so well.

Character: The characters were solid and thoroughly enjoyable. The main trio's personalities worked well in tangent with one another which provided for a lot of fun scenes. The supporting roles were also developed well and they contributed to the anime's overall theme and storyline. Every new character that Akari met had something to add that gave more meaning to the story.

Enjoyment: Despite a lot of solid good points about the series, the slow pace was honestly boring at times. There wasn't enough to draw me in and give me incentive to continue watching other than a desire to see watch a beautiful story. The story didn't have much tragedy, romance, or action through which to provide excitement and could feel lacking at times. In the end, the slow pace really impaired my ability to fully enjoy the show.

Overall: There were many points I liked about the story and several others I disliked. In the end though, the story synthesized its elements into a well-developed piece. The story, art, sound, and character development all came together to produce a beautiful and idealistic story that leaves you feeling relaxed and content.

There's just something magical about the way Aria the Animation strikes a chord deep inside you. It doesn't show up in the typical manner nor in an easily discernible way, but slowly, inexorably, steals your heart and before you know it, you've fallen in love with each and every character. There is no moe; there are no crazy plot turns; there is no artsy action. Instead, Aria the Animation goes deeper than you think; judging a book by its cover becomes less and less relevant when diving into the waters of Neo-Venezia.

Story: 9/10

I really, really wanted to label this as "slice of life" and ... move on. But honestly, I couldn't - not because there actually was a crazy, flip-flopping story you'd normally expect, but because every episode was fresh and had meaning, not just some slapstick humor and that was that. There were several heart-warming moments; nothing so sad it left you depressed and nothing so happy it seemed fake, but lessons like enjoying the little things in life really hit home here. This wasn't an anime of plenitude, but instead one of deeper meanings below a facade of happy, go-lucky trio of girls. The constant references to Italy, Italian mythology and beliefs, as well as traditional food and drink kept the atmosphere lively and had a unique sense of familiarness, despite this being on a completely different planet. In general, though, I loved every last bit of every part of the story. There wasn't a plot point I didn't enjoy. The warm feeling inside after each episode made me think that this really hit the spot.

Art: 9/10

Now this is slightly older than I would have liked, but the animation was excellent. Nothing was skimped, from the beautifully recrafted Venice (hence the name Neo-Venezia) to each character's uniform ornamental arrangements. I couldn't find anything wrong with the animation style; everything was beautifully crafted and honed to near-perfection. There were frequent changes in style, such as when a character said something sarcastic, their faces become much simpler, to reflect such humor. In my book, any sort of simple, yet elegant art gets a darn good score anyway. Plus, nothing was ever an eyesore, and every scene generally had something new in it, reflecting the continually entertaining and changing environments the characters interacted in.

Character: 9/10

The characters really shine in this anime as well. There wasn't too much of an airhead, too much of a tsundere (kind of) or any sort of typical anime characterizations; no, this was something much more special. Each character fit the role laid out for them almost too perfectly. Every personality was represented, albeit in a toned-down and subtle sort of way. I found it hard to find a character I hated, for crying out loud. Every anime has that one character you wish were dead or flying into another dimension, forever forgotten and alone. But this was something unique, something I found vaguely comforting that I wasn't willing death, but life. Their daily interactions, though very wistful, belies a childlike tone and lessons of life, things rarely found in anime nowadays.

Overall: 9/10

Anyway, this was n interesting amalgamation: a blending of whimsical, steampunk-like science fiction, slice-of-life, some slapstick humor and genuine life lessons really impacted my heart. I kept feeling all warm and tingly inside, something you should be prepared for with plenty food items, because the food on here looks dang delicious. Generally, though, this deserved a high-ranking score, because of the lack of things I had problems with. I never had to pause for effect, never had to stop watching it because of boredom nor because it was too much; but it floated along at its own pace, never quite hurrying, yet never becoming tedious. It was interesting to say the least; I highly recommend it. Embarrassing remarks aren't allowed, sorry, I was getting all gushy.

Aria is Italian and in English it means air, looks, and expression. I'd like to translate it myself as, atmosphere. Atmosphere, yes, because this is the main thing that Aria sells.

First,
Let me tell you upfront, aria is NOT for you who is a die-hard fans of action, tension, thrill, and suspense.
Second,
Again, read the first.

I'm telling you guys this because Aria has none of them. Like i said before, Aria sells the atmosphere.

Aria tells the story of Mizunashi Akari and her adventure becoming a Prima Undine. Almost every ecounter, conflicts, and adventure is meant not to amaze you, but to make you realize how important ... small things are, and relaxes you at the same time.

The visualization of Neo-Venezia(Yes, Neo, because the real Venezia is sunk here.) is very sublime, so imaginably fitting with the sci-fi concepts that Kozue Amano presents.

The great visualization is accompanied with amazing scoring and sound tracks. As i'm writing this, the ending song of Aria, Rainbow, is playing in my head.
The opening song, "Undine", is very hypnotizing, hits me in the very heart of mine. I dare you, when you hear "Undine" you will think of Neo-Venezia and it's beauty.

Not that this series is perfect, i almost fell asleep too many times watching this, which is not a good thing, but hey, i fell asleep not because it was boring, but because it's "Aria", which makes it a good thing on the other hand.

Watch this with your heart wide open and feel the magic of Neo-Venezia, and then you'll see small things around you differently and appreciate them more.

Aria the Animation is a bonafide masterpiece.

I don't use that word lightly, either. I'm not just some weeb who's watched too much anime and read too many manga. I'm a real, honest-to-goodness writer, and I know good storytelling when I see it. And Aria the Animation is good storytelling. It's the kind of thing that transcends genres and demographics. It's the kind of thing that appeals to the part of us that wants to believe in magic.

The story is set in the future, on a terraformed Mars. The planet is now habitable for human life, and as such, people have begun to colonize it. Our ... protagonist, Akari Mizunashi, is a new arrival to the city of Neo-Venezia. She's come to the city to become an Undine, a gondola pilot who ferry tourists around the canals of the city.

The thing that sets Neo-Venezia apart from other cities is its adherence to the old ways. Despite being a colony on a newly-terraformed planet, the people of Neo-Venezia have decided to live their lives in much the same way as the people of Venice did centuries ago. Akari arrives in the city just as it's beginning to transition into autumn, and the whole season is beautifully realized in both the art and the writing.

But Akari's story is not just about marveling at the pretty sights of Neo-Venezia. It's also a coming-of-age story, as she slowly adjusts to life in the city and learns more about herself and her place in the world. The show does a fantastic job of depicting her growth as a person, and by the end of the series, she's transformed from a wide-eyed newbie into a confident young woman.

Aria the Animation is a beautiful show, both in terms of its visuals and its writing. It's a must-watch for any fan of anime, and even for those who aren't usually into the genre. It's a magical story that will stay with you long after you've finished watching it.

Feeling a little melancholy? Had a rough day at work? C- on that last history exam? If so, Doctor Penguin recommends a good dose of Aria the Animation to cheer you up. This delightful slice-of-life story is sure to have you smiling again as you follow along the training of three young undines (gondoliers) on the newly terraformed planet, Aqua (Mars). Known for its sleepy pace, serene settings, and whimsical nature, it is sure to delight any slice-of-life fan. Fans that require more story driven shows or action sequences will obviously want to avoid this one. On to the breakdown!

Story: 5/10 - Slice-of-life shows ... certainly aren't usually known for their complex plots and storytelling. Aria is no exception to the rule. In fact, it probably contains the simplest plot out of any show I've seen. The show is episodic in nature, with each storyline propelling the characters toward a new life lesson. I enjoyed that the writers for the show avoided overly sentimental or sappy story lines for the most part. They kept the same lightheartedness atmosphere consistent through the entire series. I still have to give it a low score though, because like I said, there's not much story to be found.

Art: 7/10 - The art style works well for the anime. The artists use lots of bright vivid colors to reinforce the cheerful atmosphere. Their recreation of Venice was competently done, but I think they missed out a little on a chance to really make the settings spectacular. Character designs were fairly traditional, but they worked. The only oddity in the show was the design of President Aria, the mascot for the Aria company. What the hell was up with that cat?

Sound: 7/10 - The voice actors (I watched the Japanese version) were average. No one performance stuck out as incredible or awful. The soundtrack fit well with the animation, but isn't something I'd listen to as a standalone.

Character: 7/10 - The characters above all were very likeable. That's probably the most important aspect of a slice-of-life series. I found myself emotionally connected to them throughout the story, which is very crucial for my only personal enjoyment. If I were to be more critical each character in the show is a little underdeveloped. I would have liked to have seen a little more back story for the main characters. At only 13 episodes, with each of those having very little plot, it's an understandable problem though. The only other thing I can say about the characters were that a few were a bit too idyllic. A few flaws always helps make a character more believable.

Enjoyment: 9/10 - On to the intangibles... How is it that everything else gets rated 7 or below, and this receives a 9? I really don't know. It just made me really happy as I was watching it.

Overall: 8/10

I absolutely LOVED THIS SHOW! ~ This is a feel good anime with funny, unique characters. You can sit and watch the whole show in one sitting. It is one of my favorite shows and I can watch it again and again. This was the first anime I ever cried to, and still love the feel and atmosphere given from it. You will love it so download, sit-down, and enjoy this loving, fun, calm, and brilliant story of Aqua in the future, a dream that is waiting to begin.

Aria the Animation is a series of beautifully gentle science fiction tales - some are whimsical, some are strange, some are mystical and none are scary - combined with the most consistently spectacular art I've ever seen; and the music is right behind it. If you are a male under 25 years of age odds are you won't like Aria the Animation. If, on the other hand, you like sitting on a pier on a beautiful day and watching the world go by you'll probably love it.

The central character is Akari who has come to the water world of Aqua to be an apprenticed gondolier ... to the Aria Company of New Venice, the planets major city. In each episode she discovers a person, place or a time presented to her and the viewer as a simple treasure on her adopted planet.

(I'm going to reference the Minami sisters if you haven't seen the series, I recommend you do as a warm up before watching Aria.)

If Akari was a Minami sister she would be between Haruka and Kana. The reason I mention the Minami's is that that the three other major characters are, indeed, the Minami sisters minus most of the gags: Alicia (Haruka) who is the lead gondolier of the Aria Company; the gentle, wise, patient mother figure; Aika (Hana), Akari's best friend, apprenticed to the Hime Company is the broad comic character,she insists that she must the best in everything and keeps telling Akari she should be much more serious; and finally Alice (Chiaki) is the character constantly bemused by the others, apprenticed to Orange Planet Company, she's a prodigy, several years younger than her two friends and serious beyond her years.

Of the 13 episodes about half were wonderful to watch and about half were very good, there was one that was too talky and too static, although still beautiful to look at. Aria the Animation is kind of like a basket of beautiful, delicious fruit - only have a piece or two (maybe three) at time, don't attempt to consume the entire basket at once, take a moment to appreciate each for what it is and savor it.

Mother of Iyashikei genre, when I say this; I mean it because the whole aura of the show just takes you in and forces you to feel warm and fuzzy.

Story 7/10
I was quite surprised to find out that the story takes place on a planet other than ours, yes, the story takes place on Mars! And now it's known as Aqua because it's filled with water.
In a place called Neo-Venezia of planet Aqua, Venezia means Venice if you already couldn't tell... There lives a girl named Akari who's on her way to learn the masteries of an Undine or you can just call it ... gondolier, each episode shows her daily life and of those around her as she gets to meet them after and after. Even tho it sounds basic but that's what makes it better.

Art and Animation 10/10
This show is from 2005 and god, it's so beautiful and aesthetic! The background art of the whole city as it's shown in different episodes of Akari's journey, the way water is portrayed, the way characters are shown and animated is just great.

Sound 8/10
The aural aspects are substantially good with not only being limited to OP/ED and soundtracks but all the background noises including the sound of water and it's waves as it splashes.

Characters 9/10
The show's 'plot' is very basic but what makes it good are the characters since their daily lives are the main focus. All the main cast is of female characters albeit each character is written adequately well and feels real, they have their own ambitions and goals they want to achieve and their interaction with each other is not only enjoyable but pleasing as well.

Enjoyment 8/10
It's not anything cosmologically amazing, it doesn't have any flashy action sequences with over the top animation but that doesn't mean it's not enjoyable. It's a relaxing show, if you had a tough day then you can just sit down and watch this peacefully as it soothes your soul and you'll surely enjoy the heck out of it even tho the story itself won't progress much.

Overall I'd easily give this show 8 out of 10.

I will be straight and honest now in the beginning when writing this review in my heart i would call this a masterpiece in some ways because of all it gives the one who watches it but the problem is if i just gave it a 10 i would feel like that would be too little critical of it so i will try to give it as good and calm as i can.

First of all the story. Again this is a part i will have problem with staying objective because if there is a city i love it has to be venice and when ... i found an anime that created a perfect new venice i couldnt help but love it. It has parts of being supernatural in it but it stays true to what it is about. Aqua and the beautiful world of new venecia. It gives you a feeling of wanting more no matter how far you get in it and it can bring you to a sleepy state of dreams there you are trapped into the anime and cant help but to float with it and follow the story as they tell you everything there is about this new planet aqua and its city new venecia. Granted if i want to be more objective i will honestly say that this might feel very slow for some who watches it i will be honest there but for those who appreciate a story telling through and anime like this its capturing.

Again art isnt what im good at but for me it was a nice fit for the anime with a good original feel to it.

The sound was another thing that gave the story life of its own. Granted it might make you sleeping and relaxed too much which might be a bad thing but it also throws you into a sleeping feel there you just want to listen to the soundtrack as the anime floats by.

Every character has something to offer they tell the story of each of the more central characters in its own time. Though Akari will stay a mystery in a way you will still love the characters with their own personal beliefs and stories. Again this anime follow what some might call my pace but that is something i hope those who watch this anime will realise and enjoy to the fullest. '

There was never a moment that i didnt enjoy this anime but there was always a moment there i just wanted more and more because this world felt so vast eventhough its mostly just in the area of neo venecia. There were times i even shed a tear or two because the feels you get from the characters story and music can wring your heart yet give you a laugh or two.

So overall i want to call it a masterpiece eventhough an objective side of me is trying to tell me otherwise i cant really help but loving every part of this great anime. 10/10 Because beautiful and calm anime like this is the rarest out there and this captures that.

I like Mushishi. I like Hetalia. I like Fruits Basket.

I don't like Aria the Animation!

Just to make one thing perfectly clear, I'm not above of SoL-shows or even a shows that have no over-branching story to give! As long as the premise and the characters are enjoyable, I can pretty much swallow any kind of SoL-experiences there is... mostly! When I was adviced to pick the Aria up, I was spectical, yes, but still optimistic enough to give it atry, and after the experience that I would describe at best as a "4 hour nap-time", I'm greatly dissapointed!

First of, what is good? Or "good", ... if you will. Well... the art is decent, often times quite pretty, actually! The Aqua as a location is pretty to look at, but not very innovative nor interesting to look at. I mean... when you have a Mars turned into "secon Earth", there should be imo something much more interesting to invest into, than snowflies and bizarre cats for crying out loud! The sounds of the characters are really mellow and soft - read; I hate them! - but the music is really beautiful, expecially the opening songs and endings, with their lovely animations - I just adore those "brush-painted" endings so much! Is there anything else to praise about?

Well... not really.

The story is really bare-boned, shallow, and completely lacking any kind of conflict, or suspence. Which is to be expected, I quess, when the story revolves around these three clones... I mean "truly individual and/or unique" girls, dreaming to someday "row, row, row the boat, gently down the canal of this not-at-all-copy-pasted-image-of-an-Venice-that-comes-to-mind-to-every-japanese-animator-that-hear-the-word-of-condola-and-ask-if-it's-some-kind-of-musical-instrument", because apparently, the profession of the condoliers is in this world pretty much at the same level, as the supermodels and popstars... before they hit the meth.

The show is very linear - despite it taking a place in a city, that's covered in water! - and can often times feel either quite draggy, or rushed, which is very easy to pin-point on the fact that it's a short show. I for one refuce to accept that as an excuse! I know, that if the story is good, the amount of episodes has nothing to do with it! The story told in under a 13-episodes can be amazing, if the story is good, just as the show with 50-episodes or more can be jut as afwul, if the story is bad! Aria the Animation has a bad story, and no amount of episoded couldn't have saved it from it's predicament.

Okay, so, the story didn't obviously win me over. So, how about the characters then?

What characters?! There are none!

Atleast... not anyone that I would whole-heartedly think of as a character! They're all the same - you're typical "nice-girls" with their sweet expressions and "cute" quirks, with no actual dilemmas, or flaws to speak of. They all even have the exact same goals, and what ever little personality they all have, leaves them just bland, boring, and one-dimensional. The humor is also really dry, and wears off really quickly, but it's actually not that visible, so my brain was pretty save from that one.

But let me swear... if I hear that "my, my, my" even one more time I'll...!

That being said... did I hate it?

Not really!

It's mellow and soft atmosphere was actually quite pleasant, and a nice breather from my more common, action-oriented and plot-heavy shows with multi-dimensional characters, that I seem to favor over more light-hearted shows.

That being said, I wouldn't watch it agains, since it didn't have that same SoL-hook, that so many other shows tend to have over me. It doesn't invite me to come back and pick it up againd, which leaves me quite cold towards it.

But, would I still recommend this?

Sure... if you happen to ride condola for a living!

No, seriously!

I would recommend Aria the Animation for those, who like mellow atmosphere, aren't really into action or heavy plots, and just want something relaxing and comforting to watch, without any conflicts, drama, or villains. Those who enjoy their animes with a little bit more content, and more fleshed-out characters, this is a easy skip!

I can only hope, that the Natural is better than this, because I really wanted to like Aria! Sadly, this isn't an promising start.

"My, my, my!"

Aaaargh!!!

STORY: 2
ART: 7
SOUND: 8
CHARACTER: 2
ENJOYMENT : 6
OVERALL: 5

After rewatching the Aria, I've decided it's definately personally my favourite SoL series. I hope this review will help you decide wether Aria will be sometihng for you or not.

Story? Not rated, if you want to see sometihng with a deep and profound story, atleast the first two seasons are probably not what you're after. Reasons why you may be interested though are: a desire relax and lose stress. Seeing little wonders or amazing things. Aria is basically a feel good anime.

Aria is mostly about Akari, a girl from Manhome (24th century earth) going by herself to Aqua (terraformed Mars which is now mostly covered ... by water). By the first episode she's already been there for almost a year. So there's no "settling in" and the "story" can start right away without any delay. Akari is training to become an undine (it's not important what an undine is, but it's basically someone rowing a gondola for tourism purposes). You don't see her overcoming all kinds of obstacles because that's not what the anime is about. Instead you see parts of her life and her adventures (with her friends) in the days passing by as she's trying to become a professional.

The art is pretty good. There's not much to be said about this. The scenery is gorgeous. Eventhough the anime is (currently) not available in any kind of resolution near HD what you see is still amazing. There is some chibi/exaggerated facial expersions stuff going on in the series (mostly when depicting people their quirks and traits), but if you don't mind it too much it should be fine.

The sound is absolutely amazing. I like pretty much all voice actors (I don't really like Alice's VA but other than that I have no complaints. The music fits perfectly. I personally think Aria has the best soundtrack I've ever heard. I don't like a cappella for example, but I can't help but appriciate it when it plays. Most of the songs are soothing, calming and cheery fitting the general scenery and mood of the anime.

The characters are all unique within the anime. Every person showing up has a strongly distinct personality. Though sometimes certain traits seem a bit exaggerated, their acts and decisions are all very human. Nothing seems out of place in this aspect. The diverse cast I think can make you appriciate Aria even if you don't absolutely love Akari. Characters other than Akari also get plenty of screen time.

I also like the structure of the anime. It usually starts with a short introduction of the episode, which naturally flows into the opening (the OP gets different scenery every episode which has been made to fit the mood/story of the episode). By the time the OP fades out the it has naturally flown into the main body of the episode. It's a bit hard to explain, but if you decide to watch Aria you'll know what I mean.

The first time I watched Aria, I did it within about 2 weeks. I really enjoyed it a lot. However after hearing multiple people saying that watching it slowly would be better I decided to rewatch the whole series 1 episode a day (before going to sleep). That is when I found out the soundtrack wasn't just very good, it was in fact, amazing. It also made me appriciate every episode more.

I rated everything a 9, because I do think that Aria isn't perfect. But the small imperfections don't really matter to me as it gets compensated by being amazing as a whole.

To me there's no real difference between in setup or quality within the series. So what I wrote will apply to all 3 (currently finished) seasons.

If you're reading this there's a good chance you're interested and didn't stop reading after the first few lines. I know I wrote amazing a lot. I did it because it amazes me how much I like Aria. I guess I could have written "wonderful" (suteki) instead to make it look more like Akari's point of view. You'll find out what I mean by that if you'll watch the series.

As someone who is not a real fan of shounen, sci-fi or not particularly fantasy either, Aria does not look like the show I’d enjoy a lot. Or to put it in other words, the introductory page of the show with its sci-fi and futuristic elements created a completely different image in my head than my personal experience of it. It is in no way a typical example of the above-mentioned genres and it is always a worthy experience when a show transcends your preconceived ideas.

Aria, as the synopsis already reveals, takes place in Aqua, formerly known as Mars, a completely ‘man-made’ world. Within ... this brave new world, the story centers on a young girl who aspires to be a great undine in the canals of Neo Venezia, a place that reminisces Venice in Manhome. Contrary to what you’d expect from a futuristic show, the series does not offer a world that is a continuation of life on earth but rather a re-start, (even the names of the characters all starting with A gives us an Adam-like sense of a fresh beginning) thus, offering a world devoid of the robotic experiences of the technological urban life. Here, you are exposed to beautiful scenery of Neo Venezia, like a guest in the gondolas of sweet undines, gazing through the city surrounded by nature and the serenity that comes with it. Not to mention the relaxing music that accompanies you in every step of the way.

Another interesting aspect of the series that I did not expect is the way the ‘story’ is revealed. If you expect to get curious about what is going to happen next, it is not the case with Aria. The whole experience is like the acknowledgement of little things in life that are more than enough to make someone happy. Instead of a storyline, the series reflects an alternative dream-like world, an anime version of Neverlamd,so to speak. The imaginary elements such as gondoliers being called undines - mythological nymphs - and the top three gondoliers being the three water fairies add to the man-made, dreamy nature of Aqua. Here, you can get away from the worries of mundane life affairs and take it easy. If anything, it is not a travel to the future but to the depths of human nature, revealing its secrets, wishes, and dreams.

As can be inferred from what I already mentioned, thematically, the show focuses on what it means to be human, how to appreciate the small things we normally take for granted in life and more than anything, what it means to be able to dream without any boundaries of the adult perspective on life.

If you need some tranquility and recharge for your soul, this show surely feels like a warm hug and the whole experience will tickle you all the way to the end, letting you take a taste of exploring the future in the most nostalgic manner possible. Wish you all a good sappy time!

This will be the first of my series of reviews for the ARIA animes. My perspective on these reviews will be based on how I felt after finishing the season my first time.

ARIA the ANIMATION is the first season of the series adapted from Kozue Amano's AQUA and ARIA manga series. I will say right off the bat that this is not an anime for everyone, for those who cannot stand slow paced, happy and calm slice of life shows this anime IS NOT for you and should turn around now :P

Story: In the year 2301, Mars has been terraformed into a water planet and ... renamed Aqua. Neo Venezia, an exact replica of the old city of Venice, was build on Aqua. It is there where Mizunashi Akari, a girl that has come from Man-home (formerly called Earth), has arrived in hopes of becoming one of Neo-Venezia's trademark female gondoliers called undines. As a slice of life anime, there is not much of a real ongoing plot going as most of the episodes consists of the day to day life of Akari as she trains under Aria Company with her friends in order to become a full fledged undine. Regardless, each individual episode has a certain charm to it that draws you into the world of Aqua, so its not so bad.

Art: As far as the character art goes, it is nothing incredible, but it is consistent and well animated. The real charm in ARIA's graphics are in the backgrounds and landscapes which resemble the real Venice with incredible accuracy. The sky, the oceans, and the city looks beautiful in this anime and is a real treat to watch.

Sound: This is without a doubt the best aspect of this show, the various instrumental and vocal songs in this show really makes you lose yourself in the world of ARIA and are just very enjoyable to listen to. Some of these songs are so relaxing you might find yourself slowly drift into drowsiness sometimes when watching this show.

Character: Another great aspect of this show are the characters, the six main undines we are introduced all have their own distinctive personalities and they all interact so well with each other that just watching them talk about everyday events is very entertaining to watch. I would describe ach character to you but its better to just experience them yourself to fully enjoy it.

Enjoyment: I'm surprised I managed to watch such a slow paced show yet not feel like I wasted my time. I was on the verge of falling asleep various times watching this yet I did not hate it. There is a certain charm in this show that kept making me come back to it. And im glad i did.

Overall: This is a very good show, however if you decide to watch it I recommend that you DONT marathon this 4-5 episodes at a time. This is an anime meant to be enjoyed at a slower pace over a longer period of time. Watching this show felt like going a tour around a city that both fictional and real. It was a very calming experience and i can definitely say I enjoyed watching it.

"Lots of things change with the flow of time. But there are things that never change. Things that are precious because they change, and things that are precious because they don’t change… Both are precious. Don’t you feel the same?"

I watch anime to enjoy myself. Every fan does. I have horrible days, awesome ones, but always after, I find myself opening up my Laptop and watching some good ol’ anime. You see, there’s a special charm to the medium. A unique aspect that distinguishes it above all the rest. Whether it be its exclusiveness to its respective origin country, or just the shows in general ... that can only be made from the minds of the Japanese, I always find myself appreciating the wonderful world that anime has given me. I haven’t watched enough shows for my opinion to matter, if I’m being completely honest, due to time constraints and a filled-up schedule but whenever I come across an anime that I love, I obsess over it for days, weeks, even months. With this obsession comes my desire to write a review that expresses my thoughts and why I cherish the said anime with all my heart. And it seems Aria the Animation is one of the few that have rekindled this feeling.

Enter the beautiful world of Neo Venezia, the city of a now-populated, man-made planet named Aqua, which to no surprise to its name, is filled mostly with water. A Utopian wonderland filled with the bustling life of citizens and tourists alike, Neo Venezia is also the setting of which we meet our main protagonist for the first time, Mizunashi, Akari. Akari is a bright and cheerful girl, always optimistic in the face of conflict. Due to her positive mindset in life, she is constantly greeted with many characters who all come to be drawn into Akari’s liveliness. Among them are Aika and Alice, two other trainees who share the same goal as Akari. To not just be a Prima, but to also surpass their seniors. In the show, Prima’s are basically tour guides who introduce newcomers to the wonderful city of Neo Venezia in their gondolas. In reality, Neo Venezia could very well be Venice, located in Italy, with most of its area being filled with water and the presence of gondolas being felt everywhere. Think of Neo Venezia as the future of Venice.

Through Akari and her friends’ desires, they come across many kinds of obstacles but always overcome them in one way or another. They help each other as friends should and trud through it all no matter how tough the going gets. Yet, the problem that matters most is not about achieving their goal and becoming a Prima, it’s when their expedition ends and they are forced to part ways due to the fact they’re all in their respective rival companies. An internal conflict that lingers in the mind. What happens when they become Primas? Will they be able to maintain their friendship? Will reaching their destination bring more hardships? Questions like these are addressed in the anime in a way that stirs up drama genuinely, not with any half-assed melodramatic exaggeration and tons of crying, but with actual sincere emotion that is believable and convincing.

Each episode begins with an opening monologue that leads to the pleasant and calming Opening, Undine, a song so beautiful, you could end up trying to sing along with it (at least that’s what I did). Each episode is devoted to fulfilling its role as individual short stories, every detail matters and every bit of character interaction helps in developing the characters, making them realistic and authentic. The main appeal from Aria the Animation lies in its overall message. Every episode contains a neat little adventure that almost always gives us a reason to appreciate whatever we have in life. Not just that, but the Ending song perfectly wraps the story without leaving any bitter aftertaste. Aria is not merely just an (extremely) well-done Slice-of-Life. It’s an entire experience. The city of Neo Venezia is brought to life with the help of Akari and her friends. Every character has a purpose, each and every one of them all have one unique facet to their personality that is needed for the show to thrive. It is solely dependent on its characters, and while each individual story that Aria carries around with it is certainly intriguing and required some actual thought, it’s the characters that bring this anime to the pedestal that it is now standing at. They are the reason the community praises the Aria franchise to be the truest to the Slife-of-Life genre. That is the core of Aria.

Unlike many other SoL’s, it does not rely on any sub-genres or anything exciting for that matter. There is nothing spectacular, nothing that makes you leap off of your couch. Due to this, when reading the premise of Aria, the show can come off as “lackluster” or “uneventful”. It’s common to think that there isn’t anything really special about Aria, that it’s wholly plain and not worth your time. But if you’re willing to embrace this show for what it is, for what it wants to offer us, the audience, that’s when you can fully understand why it’s repeatedly regarded as the best SoL to exist. Period. In Aria the Animation, you come to appreciate the little details, the tiny things that may have just been forgotten, all these little aspects that surround the anime are all connected and realised in some way. It persuades us to appreciate life, OUR lives, for what it is and what it could be. Aria inspires us to be able to reach for what we initially thought was impossible. And that was what drew me into embracing Aria and fully loving what it’s all about. I’ll be honest. It does take a while, I admit the first few episodes seem like a slow trip, you might even want to stop watching as it doesn’t look like it’ll go anywhere, but trust me. You’re about to be in for a sweet ride. The show takes its time and it does so for good reason. Every episode matters, no matter how unimportant it may seem while watching, as the show begins to come to an end, everything will fall into place and you’ll come to realise that every single element ties itself together forming a united whole.

And that’s not all. Aria doesn’t just give us compelling and wonderful characters, it goes above and beyond with its animation and soundtrack. Aria the Animation makes good use of its animation and despite it being old and outdated, it still accomplishes its purpose. Every beautiful scene is dazzling and alluring, showing that even an anime that's more than ten years old can still hold up against shows such as Violet Evergarden and Koe no Katachi, known for its beautiful exterior. The same can be said about the anime’s music and sound design. The songs are attractive and easy to listen to. The sound is the backbone that supports the show and brings the emotions to its full scope. Consisting of piano melodies and string instruments, each minute of music causes Aria to be 5 times as elegant as it already is.

Aria the Animation is an overall endearing, soothing ride that casts a net of serenity on the viewer, utilizing its animation to its full extent and incorporating a soundtrack that can only be described as perfect, with a graceful Opening and a lovely Ending that surround the show. Because of its calming nature, there’s a certain way of watching the anime for you to fully enjoy it. First, take a shower, grab a cup of coffee, and press play on your Laptop. There needs to be no distraction. Nothing else needs to be in your mind. With that, you can truly acknowledge this masterpiece. I can understand why it might be easy to dismiss Aria completely. Some people just can’t get into it no matter how much they’re persuaded. Others just don’t like Slice-of-Life. Every person’s taste is different. Anime, like all other mediums, is subjective. It’s art that can be interpreted in many ways. But if you’re a fairly new anime fan or just someone who wants to get into the genre of Slice-of-Life, then Aria the Animation is the perfect introductory piece. This anime will remain as one of my all-time favorites and I’m eager to watch the two next seasons of the franchise. To put it simply, Aria the Animation is gorgeous.

When i saw that this show has sequels and good ratings I thought it something deserve to be watched but it wasn't
First episode was boring and slowwww, funny i thought that my life is boring!
I said to myself it's just the first one give it a chance but... the other ones were slow and boring as well
Any conversation in the world would be more interesting than watching these female characters being nice, gentle and kind while having tea with cakes 😩
Character design is beautiful but i am ready to watch stick figures doing interesting things more than them