Aria the Natural #9: Those Honest Stars…

 The gondola is an icon of Venice. Those in the 20th century are built to a uniform standard: 10.8m long, 700kg, made from 280 piece of 8 types of wood, and all painted black. There is a blade-like ferro on the prow and a curled risso on the stern. The undines of Neo-Venezia are allowed to have more elaborate gondolas. Primas helm full-size white boats while the apprentices practice on smaller black ones. The risso has evolved from floral ironwork to a tall double-spiral. Instead of just a blade, ferros have many shapes, such as Aika’s lantern.

The aesthetic of a gondola has a practical side to it. Their flat bottoms allow them to navigate the Venetian lagoon. The ferro and risso are made of metal to protect the boat in a collision. They are built asymmetrical so they can be steered with one oar. The forcola is shaped to allow eight different maneuvers. Each feature was added to the gondola by boat builders with the insight and imagination to do what was necessary. What we see today was the result of facing challenges with the attitude of what is possible, and not bemoaning the impossible.

 This is the lesson that Alicia teaches to Akari. There are infinite discoveries waiting to be made in the universe. There is always something new to learn, someone unfamiliar to meet, or paths untrodden that you can venture on. (Didn’t we learn this when Alicia was excited to be the first to walk into a snow-covered lane?) Even today, gondola builders continue to innovate: the size of the risso is having to be reduced to account for the rising sea level. What will the Venice of the future look like? Perhaps one day there will be robotic self-rowing gondolas.

After a few months without celebrating any notable birthdays, there are three this week. Last Monday the 18th was the birthday of Akeno Watanabe (Albert Pitt) and Chinami Nishimura (President Aria). Tomorrow, the 22nd, is Junko Minagawa (Akira E. Ferrari).

Next week is the Thanksgiving holiday so I’ll be visiting family on Thursday. But I’ll make time for Aria the Natural #14: That Newest Memory…

Aria the Animation #2: On That Special Day…

Inclement weather can interfere with the normal flow of human activity. A sudden storm, heat wave, or flood makes travel difficult. But there are things that can’t wait for the air to clear. Food, medicine, and important business must be seen to even when it is inconvenient. We don’t get to choose how we interact with nature. It’s a relationship not unlike that of a family member. A parent or sibling may be difficult to deal with at times, but you never have the option to stop being related to them. You just do your best to endure the storm and hope that the sun will eventually break through the clouds.

Aika is treated respectfully, but it’s a limited respect. She can rely on other people in Himeya only as far as it’s convenient. The polite smiles she receives are like a storefront that shutters its windows when the rain comes. We never see anyone from Aika’s family (who must all be very busy conducting the business of the company). So when Akira rolls in like a thunderhead, it’s without any polite formalities.

Akira’s strictness interferes with Aika’s normally easygoing and impulsive attitude. But if she’s to become an undine, Aika knows that she can’t ignore her or choose to only listen to the kind things she says. After all, Aika is just as strict to the people around her, Akari in particular. She’s not so foolish to think Akira is being mean for no reason, and is self-conscious enough to know when she’s at fault. The arguments they have are a natural part of their relationship. It’s because Akira will fight with her that makes her family to Aika. 

Next week’s episode is Aria the Natural #9: Those Honest Stars…

Aria the Natural #11: That Precious Sparkle…

Brand identity is the key to building a steady business. Being a prima of Aria Company is an exclusive permission that gains Alicia many admirers, such as Akatsuki. “Snow White” is a title unique to her that can’t be imitated. Someone who wanted a tour from Alicia would not be happy if Akari took her place. But this is the position the artisans of Murano Island are in. Their glass can’t be said to be the same as the classical Murano glass.

Even so, Akari reminds Anton that he’s a part of a unique city with its own life and culture. It may be only a reflection of the true Venice, but Neo-Venezia is not lacking attractiveness. People come to the city to experience it as it is right now. So they will also appreciate the new Murano glass because of his craftsmanship, and that of the maestro. In the same way, Akari will gain her followers for being who she is and not merely Alicia’s apprentice. Even someone like Akatsuki could be a fan.

Anime glass horses

Real Murano horse

In the present day, real Murano glass is suffering the opposite problem. Counterfeiters thrive on the demand for cheaper and more readily available alternatives. As long as glass has been made in Venice, there have been imitation Venetian-style glass makers. Alicia hints at this when she mentions the ban on emigration from Murano. The law was never very effective. But restricting glass foundries to the island was also done to keep the large furnaces away from the fragile wooden buildings of Venice. However, smaller furnaces for beads were allowed to remain. So Akari was wrong that all the beads for the New Year festival were from Murano.

Next week’s episode is Aria the Natural #15: In the Center Of That Large Circle…