It's always difficult saying goodbye. Whether it is watching that last season of a favorite anime or seeing off your sibling as he or she leaves for college, there's this certain feeling that one gets in the heart. One begins to wonder if everything is fine, if such a decision is correct, and if the future will be as bright and cheerful like it was before the goodbye was had. Nobody likes to say goodbye, but that's just a facet of life. But as my own Grandma says, one shouldn't say "goodbye" but rather "see you soon." Because even if one path ends, many new ones begin. Such is the case with Aria the Origination, a beautiful conclusion to a beautiful series.
STORY
For the final time, we enter the world of Aqua. And within, our gaze falls once more upon Akari, Aika, and Alice, who are still aspiring to be the Prima Undines they're destined to be.
Once again, any talk of the Aria series needs to address the mood that it presents, since it not only does it head-and-shoulders above other anime but it also sets the overall tone of the series. Quite surprisingly, the show completely moves away from what it is "known" for, and that is a completely and wholly encompassing feeling of calm. Instead of a peaceful atmosphere, what Aria the Origination gives is analogous to a present. At first, it's surrounded by wrapping, ribbon, and boxes. But once opened, the gift inside brings an immense feeling of joy and elation. In other words, every episode of this season is veiled by sadness; what plays out is always a smidgen lower than neutral. But at just the right moments it -- like the OP aptly states -- spirals back, bringing the audience more happiness than it knows what to do with. This "one step back, two steps forward" approach works wonderfully, making the entire experience an emotional ride.
And it should be. This isn't because it's the final season, but because what is shown is a culmination of everything that has taken place so far. After 45+ episodes, nearly every loose end is succinctly wrapped up, like the presents they were presented as being. We witness Aika and Al's love coalesce in a talk about attraction under a moonlit, nighttime sky; we experience Alice's legendary rank-skip from Pair to Prima; and we finally get to see Akari's ultimate dream become a reality. It isn't just an ending of the series that is hastily sewn together. There are still those tender moments of helping a vendor or visiting a previous Aria Company employee, all of which help to space out and smooth over the transition from one climactic moment to the next. But the whole package is a magnificent farewell that leaves the audience absolutely satisfied.
Aria the Origination, though, goes one step further. While it is a farewell, and as my introduction talks about, that doesn't mean it's the end. From the first episode, the foreshadowing was evident; the girls were going to become Primas, it was just a question of "When?" not "If?" That's what the first half of the season focused on, easing everyone into realizing that "the time has come," and that the beginning of the end was at hand. The second half brought about those aforementioned high-points, while showing us a rather somber fact: everyone walks a separate path. Be it with family or friends, the same path cannot be walked forever. So "see you soon" is had, tears are shed, and sadness for a time follows. But the anime lets us know that even when that present is opened up, there's another one waiting on the horizon, bringing with it a brand new path to tread. And while it may not be exactly the same as before, those memories, those wonderful moments, will always be there, forevermore.
ANIMATION
Aria the Origination sticks to its roots here, focusing on the backdrops, environments, and locales that the series is known for. More pillared buildings, more cramped canals, and more familiar sightings; it's a highlight of the show to see the nicely drawn art that composes Neo-Venezia. At the same time, Akari and the cast obtain much greater detail, especially so in their faces and their eyes. This is most likely due to the higher-than-normal amount of close-ups that are done in order to let the viewer immediately see a characters often smiling or crying expressions. And, of course, the funny-faces never leave, even leading up to the final scene.
Reiteration isn't favorable, but the character designs are as nice and relevant as they've always been. The girls' past-and-future Undine attire, their everyday garb, and the various townspeople all look the part once more.
While the characters see improved detail, actual animation remains at or ever-so-slightly above-average. There is a lot more gondola riding this time around, as is slow-motion, over-lay segments, and other movements (running, kneeling, walking, etc.).
CHARACTERS
As the culmination of the story is had, so the characters find in their arcs and their respective developments.
Alice had always been known to be the prodigy, the young girl whose talent and prowess of the gondola was unmatched. The first season got her out of her solitude, and the second matured her. Here, in the third, what Alice undergoes is self-realization. She discovers, with Alicia's helping hand, that some people do things differently, that not everyone learns and teaches the same. This for her, someone that has everything come extremely naturally, is an important lesson, because she's never had to endure harsh criticism or be beleaguered heavily. And upon learning to "do what you love and love what you do" at just the right moment, her transformation from Pair to Prima is complete, earning her the alias, "Orange Princess."
Similar to Alice, Aika undergoes self-realization, partly without her knowing it. Her "gondola" block had always been self-esteem, but interestingly, that wasn't always the case. She learns from herself that hard-work and dedication truly do pay off, and that only you can make the best out of any given situation. She never had the skills of Alice or the personality of Akari, but being around them and Akira gave her the motivation to keep moving forward, no how good the people around her might be. Her newfound wisdom later helps her in a literal well of emotions, giving her romantic fulfillment alongside her "Rosen Queen" nickname.
As for the lovable Akari, she too continues the self-realization trend. As the focus and star of the series, she began as a young woman wanting to experience what Aqua had to offer, while aiming for that goal of Prima the entire time. And by the end, it's apparent just how much she's grown, not only as an Undine but as an adult, too. That is, she no longer is the one being helped; she is the one doing the helping. Simultaneously, she looks inward, finding that she was supported by her best friends, her mentors, and the people of Neo-Venezia ever since she first arrived at her new home. In a way (and getting sappy to honor her), Akari was a child, being mothered by Aqua and its inhabitants. She lived in the city, lived with the city, and eventually became the city, harboring all of its special, endearing, and heartfelt memories. In essence, Akari is the byproduct of every wonderful moment had throughout the whole of the Aria series, earning her the penultimate title, "Aquamarine."
As with the two previous seasons, the show also manages to delve beyond the main girls and look toward their teachers: Alicia, Akira, and Athena. And what's given is quite intriguing; the Three Great Water Fairies are not so "great" after all. Of course, their abilities as Undines are still unquestionable, but they are no longer humanly infallible. Athena is deeply concerned with how people think of her, Akira isn't as confident as she lets on, and Alicia is slightly selfish in her actions. These developments don't take away from how kind and amazing they have been to their customers and to their respective apprentices. It simply "brings them down" to a more realistic level; that becoming a top-tier gondolier isn't so impossible after all.
And that's what Aria the Origination leaves off with. Despite Akari, Aika, and Alice reaching the pinnacle of their craft, they really haven't. Akari gets distracted, Aika is still a crybaby, and Alice doesn't like being alone. Part of the journey they -- and the audience -- have had, through their own actions and their mentor's, is realizing that there is always room to grow. No matter what stage of life a person may be at, there are still experiences to be had, memories to be made, and new things to learn. One doesn't stop developing or learning at a specific point in time; rather, "there is always room for improvement." A simple statement, but the series truly couldn't end on anything other than simplicity.
SOUND
The OP is of moderate pace, in comparison to much of what occurs throughout the story. Its low drums, ringing, and tame vocals actually create a track that isn't as powerful as it intends to be. On top of this, it doesn't "feel" like anything; it's not happy, sad, foreboding, creepy, or any other kind of emotion. It's just there.
The ED, on the other hand, fits nicely with the somewhat melancholic feeling of the show. The slow guitar duo and handful-of-notes piano is short, sweet, and to the point, getting across the notion that the season isn't all happiness and fun times to be had.
The soundtrack this time around manages to hit "all of the notes," as it were. The same memorable and nostalgic tracks permeate the show, but the lyric-heavy ones finally refrain from detracting from those incredible moments and instead elevate them one step further.
And it goes without saying that the voice-acting remains well above-average. A special shout-out to Erino Hazuki as Akari for her "Yay!", Chiwa Saito as Aika for her "Wha-?!", and Ryou Hirohashi as Alice for her "Mu-mu-mu!"
ENJOYMENT
Even with all the sadness around, the show still managed to make me laugh with its "overused" go-to's. The silly faces, President Maa attacking President Aria, and Akari and the gang's usual retorts and responses never ceased to make me smile. If anything, despite making it all the way through everything it threw my way, it was only getting funnier as time went on.
And in this season more than the others, I really wanted to know what was going to happen. Anticipating Akari's inevitable Prima exam, Al taking Aika's hand, and Alice acting frantically due to forced "seclusion" were instances that had me jumping from one episode to the next. I had to know where my favorite Undines ended up, and the ending that was given brought the closure necessary.
Finally, while no outright crying was had, I was quite close on a few occasions. Specifically, Alice's Hope Hill graduation, Akari rounding the corner to see the Aria Company during her test, and Alicia and Akari parting ways caused many tears to well up in my eyes. I was even getting that lump-in-the-throat feeling while writing this, thinking about those various events unfolding again.
When it comes to sequels, and sequels of sequels, Aria the Origination is one of the best. With a satisfying resolution to its story and characters, emotionally stirring moments, and a resounding soundtrack backing it all up, Akari, Aika, and Alice leave as Undines. But while they may leave on their own, separate adventures, I won't be forgetting the time I spent with them for a good while to come.
SUMMARY
Story: Great, a present-like mood, climactic moments, and new beginnings
Animation: Good, nice art style, appropriate character designs, average actual animation
Characters: Great, Akari, Aika, and Alice reach their dreams, Alicia, Akira, and Athena are more human than let on, and everyone has room for improvement
Sound: Good, okay OP, good ED, great soundtrack, nice VA work
Enjoyment: Great, laughing, engaging, and saddening, but wonderfully memorable
Final Score: 9/10
