"Origination" is that season that just manages to stick to the original idea, but give more with it. Characters with more spotlight, new fresh music, and an ending with a bang. Though as our time at Neo-Venezia is ending, it's still there for everyone else to experience, and definitely something everyone should try. The episodes in "Origination" slowly build up more and more emotion as the series goes on, and eventually closes with an ending like no other. We're introduced to a past member, and how the company even came to be where it is now. The season will focus a lot more on what the past has brought to make up where we are now, and the moving forward of all the members to signify development.
It's note worthy that Aria has been sticking to its original story since the very first episode, so there isn't much of a change to describe in this aspect. "Origination", however, does offer much more back story to the characters giving them more meaning than ever before. This season does take the route of "Animation" rather than "Natural" of being more character based, and the opening episode shows it from the start. Since it's been a whole year without Aria since the ending of "Natural", the first episode is more of a reintroduction to the undines. From that point on we're watching the characters come to their peak of training, and them moving forward with their life. I'm not saying there isn't any scenery focusing episodes, but the episodes are mainly just acting as the character's final time with us.
While experiencing the daily life of Neo-Venezia with Akari you'll see a lot more of the citizens around this season, even some unique jobs that we have yet to discover. One of the more notable ones is the traghetto gondola. It's another branch of a job that Undines can have, but this involves two rather than one to row the gondola. It requires more teamwork and balance all around, which in turn helps both of them to learn in a team environment, and also work on their gondola skills. Aside from this, we get a lot more views of the town square and more buildings that resemble some of our own Venice on Earth.
The characters in "Origination" are generally the same, but each of them individually change over the course of our daily trips to Aqua. In "Animation" and "Natural" it would have seemed as if nothing was ever changing or occurring rather than the typical episodic adventures that were present, but knowledge and lessons taught to the characters from every place, every person, and every memory they obtained structure them to become who they are now. Don't worry about not having enough time to spend with any of them, every episode will focus on a different character, and even on the fairies. You won't need to fret about experiencing time with any of them, as they're given the same amount of time as one another.
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"You alone are reason enough." - Akari Mizunashi
Akari is the first character we were ever introduced to on our first trip to Neo-Venezia, and quite a bold character. She left Man-Home to become an Undine and her first mistake was learning to row backwards. She has come quite a long way on her training, and on her impact on the planet. Her purpose and spot in the story is like no other. She manages to help her friends get through tough times, and has qualities that are only unique to her. She's the expert of happiness, as one would say, and illuminates an aura around her like an effect only she can produce. While she may not be the most sharp and smartest of people, she definitely portrays change and development in character in a fashion that only she can produce.
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"Things you don't have, you can just make." - Aika Granzchesta
Aika is a character that is flawed in many ways, but that's the best thing about her. Her personality and sense of what an Undine is, is heavily influenced by her adoration for Alicia. In "Natural", you learn that she is heavily striving to be something that isn't the real her, but after an event such as what she faced, she changed into someone new. Nothing about her changed to an extent of not being to even recognize her new self, but in way that she's more herself. Slowing down and looking at her own self rather than becoming a replica of someone she adores. Aika even influences her mentor in ways she wouldn't even imagine, her spot in Aria is much more than any other, and it wouldn't have been the same ride without her being there.
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"As a matter of fact, I am the best pupil of Siren, who is one of those fairies." - Alice Carroll
Alice is one of the most realistic characters in this series without a doubt. Her attitude and personality is so much like a lot of people, and towards the end of the series she blossoms into a character like no other in this series. At the start of the series it was very apparent that she was very shy and cautious towards everyone except for her senpai Athena. Her skills gradually develop more and more as the series progresses and truly shows how much she improved in "Origination". Her confidence and ability to put herself out there dramatically improved, but for the better, and she still manages to retain her playful personality and sarcastic sense of humor. Alice is definitely the example of experience setting in and helping the character grow, while also having people there to help guide her in the right direction.
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"Because after all, I am an imperfect human being." - Alicia "Snow White" Florence
Alicia has come a long way from the start of the anime. While it may not seem like she has even changed from the series, she's changed from how we perceive her. Rather than the typical kind and caring instructor, we're given more and more glimpses of her personality and thinking as the series goes on. There's even an episode in "Origination" focused on her teaching strategy, and thought process behind it. Seen as perfect and the ideal model on the outside, she is just as much human as the next person. It all plays into key for her method, while at the same time giving off the personality that calms the mood. In the past, we learn that Alicia is very much different from how she is now. Hinted in the OVA, we find out that she was hesitant in herself and her abilities, more or less similar to Akari. She goes past the typical senpai trope, and is actually given a story, and an ending that will definitely make a memory that stick with you for a long time.
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"I'll become a prodigy." - Akira "Crimson Rose" Ferrari
Akira is shown to be the more prominent of the three fairies, but we don't really get a glimpse of her back story or true personality until "Origination", and it does a hell of a good job just showing what she went through. If you've noticed that Alicia is a genius in gondola rowing, as she was the first to become a prima of the three, and kept on the legacy that Grandma left with Aria. Then, that Athena is gifted in singing, what is Akira gifted in? There's an episode spent with a feeling of confusion going on in Aika's life, but Akira shares a story from her past that really gave her character more meaning than it ever could. Akira is the prime example of not having any "special" quality that is just naturally given to her, but more so hard work paying off. She was the last of the three to become an undine, and her dilemma was shown realistically. She's not there just to show face, but there to give support to the up and coming Himeya owner.
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"Because I always make stupid mistakes, I always cause trouble for you, right Alice-chan? Because of what happened this morning, I thought you really hated me. It made me feel very insecure." - Athena "Siren" Glory
The last Fairy, and possibly the best, is Athena. Her character throughout the anime seemed more like a comedy relief to just add more to the seemingly easy going instructor Alice, and tyrant personality mentor Akira. Her character is explored as more time passes and we learn that overall, each and everyone of the fairies are just like any other person, same with Athena. She's insecure about the people who she treasures most, and the person she sees as family. Her influence onto Alice is very strong as you'll see their bond deepen as our journey comes to a close in Aqua and their story finishes off. No one person is perfect with every great quality given to them, and Athena's character just shows that up front. The message you take from her purpose in the story can be however you want to interpret it as, but she was definitely more than the clumsy character that is in a lot of anime today.
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The soundtrack for this anime has always been the same, and there's nothing wrong with that at all. The same soundtracks seem to never get old and fit every scene possible. Even the new opening and ending are just as wonderful as the last. You'll notice that the ending this season isn't as mellow as the last, but it's more trying to show the change from the very start of the series to the point of where it is now. The insert songs in the episodes that they appear in are just as great as any of the opening and endings. They provide another level of emotion for the respective scene that they play in, and just all around makes the experience better. The animation itself is a lot more fluid and flows from scene to scene, a lot better than the "Animation" season, but still retains its calming art style. The colors are beautifully chosen to show the hidden beauty in the town, and the sky beautiful. Just the sunset combined with the architecture that makes a view that is awe inspiring without being there.
Aria has definitely been a ride of emotions for me. It quickly became one of the best slice of life for me due to its relaxing atmosphere and calm pace that anyone can enjoy by just watching one or two episodes per day. The closure for this was better than anything I could have asked for, and it retained its theme from the very start not straying away and becoming something else. Even as the pace fastens and characters change, they still are the same characters that we began to know and love. While our time with Aria is done, the legacy left behind will forever carry on in Undine history. Aria will always have a special place in my heart, so why not try it out for yourself too?
