Aria the Animation #4: That Undeliverable Letter…

An encounter with a young girl leads Akari on a tour of the ocean and a brief history lesson about how Mars was terraformed. Aqua is not a paradise; the current peaceful life Akari and the others enjoy comes from the sacrifices made by the engineers at the pumping station and others. The letter she delivers is a message of gratitude to the people who created a world that they themselves wouldn’t be able to enjoy.

Akari is told that she’s the only one who can deliver the letter. Ami pleads for her message to be heard. Does she mean the contents of the letter? Or is it Akari that she’s reaching out to? This is her first meeting with the cats of Neo-Venezia and Akari isn’t afraid. Though that may be because she doesn’t yet understand what she’s stepped into. With kindness and sincerity she passes the test. Cait Sith must be standing in the shadows, watching this and smiling mysteriously.

Next week’s episode is Aria the Origination #8: That Important Person’s Memories…

Aria the Natural #5: The Wonder Of That Rainy Day…/The Discoveries On That Spring Day…

This episode could have been titled “Wherever you go, there you are.”

In two short stories that take place away from Neo-Venezia, we see Akari come across diverging paths. Because she isn’t a cranky old man living in New England, she doesn’t spend much time in thought, but chooses one then goes along with it. The ability to live in the moment is Akari’s gift. When she makes a decision, it’s with little hesitation and no regret afterwards. If you look too far into the future, or are not able to leave the past behind, you’ll miss the world around you right now.

The fox’s wedding can be attributed to this. We see the boy the whole time, playing with President Aria, then following Akari. At first, Akari isn’t aware of him because Alicia is with her. But when left alone, Akari’s clear vision allows her to see the spirits that surround her. A similar thing happens when she meets Cat Sith. Most people are wrapped-up in themselves and ignore such fascinating creatures. It is more difficult to see them because they are unusual and unexpected. That Akari is able to see them is just as fascinating to the spirits. In a more metaphorical sense, these “spirits” represent the fascination of ordinary things that often go unnoticed. When your mind is filled with thoughts about what was, what will be, or what you think should be, you lose the ability to see things for what they really are.

Cherry blossoms are commonplace throughout anime, and so are quaint railroad cars. This isn’t the only time I’ve seen a scene like this. Unlike an American show where a broken-down machine is a symbol of neglect and misery, the lone rail car here has a sense of peace to it. It looks more like a retired horse idly living out its last care-free days in a breezy pasture. The young undines come to visit and reflect on the past efforts that led to the world they’re living in now. It fills them with hopeful ambition to work just as hard as the people who built that railroad. Then, far in the future, they’ll be able to retire to their own pasture. This also makes me think of another breezy hilltop that overlooks Neo-Venezia. But there’ll be time for that later.

Spell Card: Undine Sign “Suteki”

No Aika in this episode. But we’ll more than make up for it next week with Aria the Natural #19: That Crybaby…/That Young Girl’s Heart…

Aria the Animation #5: To That Impossibly Existing Island…

Akari: Wow, it’s high.
Alice: But the sea is below.
Akari: That’s right. Then let’s jump together!

I could talk metaphorically about throwing yourself at your ambition. Or say the unknown future is a sea of time. Or relate memories to hidden islands in your heart. But looking for deep meaning in Aria can be put off for another day. Like all good beach episodes, this is just about having fun and showing off cute swimsuits.

Of course, this excursion is a chance for Akira to teach things that aren’t possible in the crowded canals of Neo-Venezia. It isn’t said, but I imagine the same thing was done for her, Alicia, and Athena when they were apprentices. The most important lesson is in the invitation to “Neverland.” It’s a reminder not to grow so old that you forget to take time off for play. Oh, and even though she claims it was for endurance building, the reason they were sent to the opposite end of the island is to give the seniors time to catch-up.

I remarked last week that Akari rowed out to Burano. This time she’s on the open sea. Are gondolas really meant for this kind of work? Then again, the gravity of Aqua is less than on Man-Home, even with the tinkering the gnomes do underground.

This was an unfair episode to watch when it’s just below freezing outside. Next week, Aria the Origination #3: Those Feelings Within…