Much like the main protagonist, Mizunashi Akari, you will find yourself repeating this phrase as you continue discovering the wonderful world of Neo-Venezia and delving deeper into the relationships between the characters. This final season of Aria is a very heartfelt and satisfying ending to an overall unforgettable series.
As all the other reviews say, it is absolutely necessary that you watch the previous two seasons and the OVA: Aria the Animation, Aria the Natural, and Aria the OVA: Arietta.
Why? Watching Aria the Animation will familiarize you with the characters; watching Aria the Natural will familiarize you with the many beautiful and magical wonders of Neo-Venezia; and Aria the OVA: Arietta will help you transition naturally into the final season on an emotional level.
What's so "wonderful..." about Aria the Origination?
Generally, the Aria series takes on an episodic style of storytelling, so that each episode feels like its own, with its own heartwarming message. What Aria the Origination does differently than the previous two seasons is that it starts to connect all the dots together. All the seemingly random places of Neo-Venezia and all the seemingly random encounters, both social and magical, all come together to mold Mizunashi Akari into who she ultimately becomes by the end of the series. And it’s not just Akari; the other main characters all go through some form of change… and how unexpectedly bittersweet some of these changes turn out to be. Every episode towards the end of this season starts to speak to you on a much deeper level and will definitely move some of you to tears (at least for me it did).
What's so "wonderful..." about Aria in general?
1) Neo-Venezia: The viewers are basically in the same position as Mizunashi Akari, in that both want to learn more about Neo-Venezia. The beauty of this is that the viewers get to experience Neo-Venezia vicariously through Akari, so that the viewers come to love Neo-Venezia as much as the protagonist does. If there is one important thing that this anime teaches me, it is the fact that even the most remote places can be turned into something beautiful. The protagonist’s love for the city and all its hidden treasures is almost foolish, but also very endearing.
2) Characters: Despite every character's name starting with an A (besides Woody), it is easy to distinguish all the characters. The viewers are constantly introduced to each of these characters and his or her demeanor, flaws, habits, and behaviors in several episodes, so as long as the viewers put in the time to watch the whole series, the viewers will start to connect with the characters on an emotional level. And no doubt, all the characters are relatable and lovable in their own ways.
3) Messages: The first few episodes had me cringe a bit because of how corny the messages were. Sometimes, I even felt that they weren’t delivered very well. However, some of these messages have stuck with me and have never left my mind since.
Some off the top of my head are:
-Scolding may be one of the greatest gifts you can give to a loved one.
-Some of the things (or even people) that we take for granted may seem unnoticeable to us, but they are always supporting us secretly, in their own ways.
-Some people are born with natural talents, making it seemingly difficult to catch up to them. However, that gap means nothing as long as you do not lose heart and keep on persevering.
-Do not be afraid of making new encounters.
Music: Soothing and delightful. The soft and pure vocals from the opening ease you into the episode as it plays in the background over the first few scenes. The ending is just as soothing, if anything a little more carefree and light. The overall soundtrack is perfect for a lazy day, a rainy day, or simply a calm day where you want to drink some coffee or tea. All in all, the soundtrack succeeds in emphasizing the ambience, the scenery, and the mood of the anime. (10/10)
Art: Fluid animation, especially with boat rowing and flowing of hair (a LOT of wind blowing scenes). All the characters are beautifully designed and animated as well, staying true to the manga. The scenery depicted is breathtaking and memorable, and I recommend checking out the manga too because the artwork in the manga is just as breathtaking. (10/10)
Much like Neo-Venezia, the Aria series itself has many hidden treasures to provide for viewers; some treasures that I may not have discovered yet. I can’t wait until the next time I revisit this series to discover something else.
Hopefully, after reading this review, some of you may watch the series, treasure it, and discover something that I never did.
10/10
