Aria the Animation #13 & #12: That White Morning…/That Soft Wish…

The year ends with a surprise visit from a friend. Ai is excited to meet the people she had read about in Akari’s letters. Her tour of Neo-Venezia even includes a visit to one of the mysterious alleys that’s hidden to most people where they meet a ghost from the past. The cat that appeared as a human had asked Akari to deliver a letter for her. She also had to receive the message, because it’s original had died long ago. But it still had meaning to her as someone living in the world they created. Each year that goes by is a page in a letter written for future generations to read.

Akari wrote her so Ai would understand how much she loved Neo-Venezia. Because Ai will become an apprentice undine herself one day, and follow in Akari’s footsteps, it’s as if she’s been reading her own future. Unlike the messages of history, Ai is able to meet the people who are preparing her place in the city. The people of the past are separated by time. But by the magic of Aqua, Akari is allowed to cross an unpassable bridge.

Alicia tells her that the bridge used to be a place people visit out of nostalgia. There are prettier landmarks in Neo-Venezia. Why would a visitor want to see a run-down bridge? A covered bridge doesn’t fit the image of Venice. What it provides is a reminder of the ambition of the people who built Neo-Venezia. The excitement Akiko feels is in seeing the young children who are watching the city be born. It also comes from the patience of the older settlers. They won’t live to see their creation fulfilled, but are happy knowing that the next generation will take what they started and carry it for a time before passing to their grand-children.

The story of Aqua is the story of Aria Company. What Grandma began was continued by Alicia who leaves it in Akari’s care. Even Ai, having learned from Akari’s letters, will think of the child Aqua as she takes her place in this continuing saga. And if we turn the pages backward to before there was an Aqua then it must have started when someone on planet Earth looked to the sky and thought, “What letter can I write for future generations to read?”

Or perhaps she just said, “Happy New Year.” It means the same thing.

This is the last week in my year of Aria. The experiment to watch the series out-of-order was not as successful as I thought it might be. I admit to forcing this week’s two episodes to be the last. But Aria is enjoyable no matter how you approach it. This way I could see contrast between the earlier and later episodes, and also the similarities or when an event had been set-up by something that happened earlier.

The staff and cast of Aria have reason to be proud. Although there will not be any more Aria, Kozue Amano continues to write the charming and uplifting manga Amanchu!. Satou Junichi has gone on to direct many other “healing” anime such as Tamayura. (A story I describe as being about Akari’s great-great-great-great grandmother.) It seems to me that everywhere I look I hear Chiwa Saitou’s voice. And who cannot help but think of Alicia whenever Sayaka Oohara laughs?

But most of all I remember Tomoko Kawakami and Eri Kawai. The time we’ve been given can be taken from us easier than we’d like. As you turn the calendar to a new year, do your best to treat every day as wonderful encounter.

Thank you for reading.

Aria the Natural #17: After That Rainy Night…

The long, cold nights of winter are a time of introspection. Families around the world gather for large meals, gift giving, and celebrations of the year past. Akari’s new gondola is stronger and prettier. The boat itself is easily replaced and not worth having an attachment to. Where her affection comes from is her past experiences with the gondola. It reminds of things she’s learned, enjoyed, or was frustrated by. She shares those memories with Alicia who relates her own adventures with the gondola. Their similar memories let Akari feel more closely connected to the people around her. Festive gatherings and hearty meals keep us from feeling cold in the winter. And so sharing her memories keeps Akari from feeling alone in Neo-Venezia.

Aria the Origination Picture Drama #7

Prima Akari is having some not unexpected growing pains as the new head of Aria Company. Grandma urges her to visit Alicia. Akari doesn’t want Alicia to worry about her. What she hasn’t realized is that Alicia is going to be concerned regardless. After four years together, she wants to know how her former apprentice is doing even if it isn’t all good news. Akari doesn’t have to be ashamed to ask for advice because she won’t be an apprentice asking her teacher but asking as a friend.

For the final week of the year I’ll watch Aria the Animation #12 & #13: That Soft Wish… / That White Morning…. Have a merry Christmas!

Aria the Origination #12: Embraced by That Blue Sea and Wind…

Why are Akari and Aika friends? They couldn’t be more different. Akari’s cheerful optimism clashes with Aika’s emotional outbursts. Aika was born on Aqua and is supported by a wealthy family. Akari left Manhome to pursue an uncertain future by herself. Although they have both chosen to become undines, even their career paths are opposites. Himeya has grown large enough to open branch offices, of which Aika will begin her professional life as the manager of.

When Alicia asked Akari what kind of prima she would be, Akari turned her gondola to home. Akari wants to preserve the Aria Company that Grandma envisioned. While Aika is growing and evolving Himeya (to compete with Orange Planet), Aria Company will remain the same as it was under Alicia.

Yet despite these opposing and contradictory viewpoints, they’re the closest of friends who support and encourage each other. So much that the proud Aika feels guilty for having become a prima before Akari. She recognizes that Akari deserved to be the first to be promoted. Even Alice must have realized it. Speaking of Alice, isn’t it unfair that she was able to skip the narrow canal that other primas are tested with?

As I enter the final month of the year, I bid a happy birthday to Sayaka Oohara on Friday the 6th. Next week’s episode is Aria the Animation #1: That Wonderful Miracle…

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 Natural #26: That White, Kind City… & Aria the Animation #10: That Warm Holiday…

Alicia is using her zen teaching technique again. Akari is thinking about her hopes and dreams, so Alicia begins making a snowball. She doesn’t say, “I want to make a snowman,” or even “I want to make a big ball.” All she does is add a little more snow, then a little more, and keeps trying to grow it one step at a time. Eventually it becomes larger because of her own patient effort and also by the kindness of people she meets.

That snowman was the result of a community working together, supporting each other, and can accomplishing something that a single person couldn’t do. But someone had to start the snowball rolling. If Alicia hadn’t stopped at that courtyard, the people who lived there would have remained inside their houses. Her arrival caused the neighborhood to gather for an afternoon party.

Humans don’t get to hibernate during the winter, even though we sometimes wish to. On pleasant days people will find ways to enjoy the weather, such as building a snowman. Other days it’s better to avoid the cold by seeking out a natural hot bath. Harsh weather also drives us to consider practical matters. When a storm threatens, people congregate at markets to buy the food they’ll need in the coming days. Much like the aphids who sense the impending snowfall and seek out a tree for their wintering egg.

The desire for warmth and light is the motivation for having festivals during the winter. Today is Halloween, the start of the cold season. At mid-winter we will celebrate Christmas. And when the nights begin to shorten and Spring nears, there is Carnival.

Next week’s episode is Aria the Natural #7: To The Kingdom Of Cats…

Aria the Natural #1: That Encounter At The Carnevale…

The fairy standing in the doorway holds up his hand. Behind him, Akari can see figures moving about as jasmine petals drift in the warm breeze. It’s a world off-limits to her. That morning, she was looking through a different doorway and seeing a different vision. “I’m a member of Aria Company today,” Ai proudly proclaimed as Alicia served her breakfast. One day she’ll be able to say that while wearing the gloves of an apprentice as Akari stands in Alicia’s place. This is their future, but like the kingdom of the cats they can only look through the doorway.

The Carnival, as is well known, is the time leading up to the Lenten fast. Carnival-goers spend two weeks indulging in food, wine, and each other to prepare themselves for the month and a half they will have to go without. The first Carnivals of Venice were held to celebrate the victory over Aquileia in 1162. The patriarch Ulrich II was made to give 12 pigs and a bull as tribute. This may be why during the 17th century the city would host a running of the bulls during Carnival. Thankfully, this is a tradition that has not been carried into modern times.

Putting on a mask is like becoming a different person. It gives you the courage to try things you might not normally do. As her friends gathered together, we saw Akari standing back and looking at them as an outsider. We learned in The Center Of That Large Circle that she has the habit of excluding herself that way. The invitation from Cait Sith was to become part of the Carnival celebration; run through the streets of Neo-Venetia, singing and dancing. He is urging Akari to see herself as part of the city, and part of the group of friends who surround her.

Ai is the only human other than Akari to have seen Cait Sith. Why did he allow her into this hidden side of Neo-Venezia? Cuteness needs no excuse.

Because I want to finish watching all the episodes this year, I’m doubling-up next week. Aria the Natural #26: That White, Kind City… and Aria the Animation #10: That Warm Holiday…

Aria the OVA: Arietta

Akari is again feeling anxious about her future. Not an uncertain future, but one that she knows what’s to come. She see’s it as a big change in her life and is worried that she isn’t ready. Alicia shares her own worries and shows that Akari is closer to her than she realizes.

Akari’s loneliness is easily cured by the many people she encounters during the day. Not only her close friends, but the other people who work and live in Neo-Venezia, and the customers who come to visit. One day Akari will have Aria Company to herself, but she won’t be alone. Just as Akira and Athena were there to support Alicia after Grandma left.

Alicia then, as Akari is now, felt the next stage of her life as a looming presence. She hesitated to move on because it seemed too big for her to handle. She needed to look at her life from a different perspective, one that made her problems appear smaller. Like the view from the top of the Campanile. Seeing the city from that height put her worries in perspective. For Akari, she didn’t need to see it but just hearing the quiet pulsing of Neo-Venezia at night was enough to put her at ease.

We’ll see just how at ease Akari is next week when I watch Aria the Origination #13: To That New Beginning… The very last episode of Aria.

Aria the Animation #11: Those Orange Days…

Winter in Neo Venezia is the slow season for tourism. It gives the undines a chance to get together and chat. The apprentices hear stories about the past and learn the importance of living in the present.

Which is quite a trick since we’re watching a story set in the future. It leads to a question about the world of Aria, and of other futuristic stories, and that is where are the futurists of the future? The stories told about people living in on other planets, or traveling through space, or building fantastic populated by robots and flying cars… do the people in these stories read science-fiction?

This apparent blind-spot in futurism reveals a truth about the stories. Although set in the future, they are not meant to describe the future. The storyteller places herself in a world separated from us by time, then turns her gaze back at us. The story she tells us is about our time and our lives as seen by someone in the future.

While Akari hears a story about the past, we see a story about the future. But the message is the same, that the most important time is right now.

Next week’s episode is Aria the OVA: Arietta.

Aria the Natural #12: Chasing That Mirage…/The Light From That Nightshine Chime…

Akari’s attitude can be attributed to making time for relaxation. If she’s busy during the day, she’ll just take her tea at night. The environment of Aqua is well suited to her lifestyle. The sea is always calm and the weather usually pleasant.

The Summer midday sun may drive you indoors. Typical for her, Akari finds herself in a cat café. No, not like that. She has a tendency to stumble into the supernatural without meaning to. But was this an accident? Or was the door left open for her? Cait Sith will never say.

The weather here has been very warm, even though Summer is over. Next week’s episode is Aria the Animation #11: Those Orange Days…

Aria the Animation #9: That Starlike Fairy…

 Aika, feeling tired from the daily practice routine, asks Alicia for advice on how to rejuvenate herself. Alicia gives it some thought then replies, “Why don’t you take a break and go visit Grandma.” The girls take her advice believing that Grandma will teach them an important lessen about being an undine. What they don’t realize is that Alicia has already told them what they need to know.

 Because she missed the meaning of Alicia’s words, Aika is concerned that they seem to just be having fun and not learning anything. Having fun, of course, is the lesson. In the end, Grandma has to spell it out. Being concerned about the future does you no good if it makes you miss the things going on right now. Learn how to make the most of the present and time will take care of itself.

Alicia’s advise also contains what seems to be a paradox. In order for Aika to become a better gondolier, she needed to stop rowing. The stress of working was preventing her from relaxing. The time in the country gave her a chance to stop worrying about being an undine, and focus on just being herself. “Why don’t you take a break,” she said. That is the most important lesson there is.

The next episode I’ll watch will be Aria the Natural #10: That Heartwarming Town And Its People…

Aria the Natural #25: The Fruits Of That Encounter…

As a story that takes place in the future, Aria has a message of hope running throughout. This is brought to the forefront in this closing episode to the second TV broadcast. The apprentices have to host a party. It’s something they’ve never done on their own, but not something they aren’t ready for. The confidence and maturity of these young girls is not lost on their mentors. The older undines may be the “Three Fairies,” but watching Akari, Aika, and Alice row together, it’s apparent that they will one day take that title for themselves. Which is just what they’ve been training for as the successors to Alicia, Akira, and Athena. When they become primas, it’ll be the realization of the hopes that have been passed down from their seniors.

Wishing alone won’t make anything happen, though. It takes work to turn hope into reality. So the first half of this episode shows the girls preparing for the party. It’s a reflection of their life as apprentice undines. The preparation required to become a prima is a difficult ordeal. Aria tells the story of this time and how Akari remains cheerful because of her hope that she will be able to succeed.

The uncertainty of the future means that we sometimes have to hope for something when there is no assurance that it will happen. Akari invites Ai to the party even though she hasn’t been receiving her emails recently. It almost doesn’t happen, but Ai is able to arrive just in time. She and Akari are bound by destiny, it seems. Much like Akari’s ability to attract the supernatural forces of Aqua.

The Redentore festival ends with a display of fireworks. And on that note, we turn to Aria the Origination Picture Drama #5: Alice’s Ghost Story. This also occurs during a summer festival. Alice shows valiant patience as she tries to tell her story with so many interruptions by Aika and Akari. Or she was just that committed to finishing because she put a lot of effort into the story. Like how she made those Redentore invitations “during a lunch break.” (Or so she claimed.)

Seeing fireworks seems fitting for this time of year. Next Thursday is the 4th of July, after all. I’ll be watching Aria the Origination #5: That Keepsake Clover…

Aria the Origination #10: The Excitement on That Moon-Gazing Night…

Close friends are often said to be able to read each other’s minds. That may be an exaggeration, but it’s true that when you understand someone well, you can communicate indirectly. When Akari and Aika are caught spying on Alice, she says she doesn’t like being watched while she works. However, she also asks for their opinions about her demeanor. The unspoken message being that she’s happy her friends care about her so much.

When Akari suggests they have a moon-gazing party, she doesn’t need to say that it’s to celebrate Alice’s first day as a prima. And when Aika teases Alice about the dango, she’s really telling her to cheer up. These tacit conversations are how friends share feelings that are too embarrassing to say out loud. If Aika can barely mention wanting to see Al without stammering in front of Alice and Akari, how could she possible say it to his face?

So those two talk in a maze of indirection and shadowed allusions. But this night Aika learns an encouraging secret about Al. No, not that he’s perhaps the only gnome to ever be afraid of the dark. What Al tells her, by metaphor, is that he’s just as nervous about their relationship as she is. The two of them are not separate bodies floating in space, uncertain if they’ll draw closer or drift apart. Rather, they’re trapped in a well of love, both feeling the same fear but also happy to be together.

What a delightfully romantic episode. Even President Aria and President Hime were feeling it. Another sentimental episode next week as I’ll be watching Aria the Natural #25: The Fruits Of That Encounter… And to kick-off the second half of my year on Aqua, I’ll also watch Aria the Origination picture drama #5: Alice’s Ghost Story.

Aria the Natural #20: That Shadowless Invitation…

Legend and rumor spring forth in all places at all times. Stories told about something that happened to “a friend of a friend” are repeated, embellished, and become almost alive themselves. Perhaps the most mysterious thing about myths is how they seem to want to be told, and will seek out victims to entrap in a web of lies, half-truths, and distorted reality.

If you don’t want to be “spirited away” by a myth, you need a vigilant skepticism. It’s no wonder that Akari so often finds herself drawn into that ethereal world. But the attention she’s received from the spirit of Aqua is a good thing now. As early as that morning, the cats of the city were watching her. Perhaps they keep an eye on her every day, and report their observations to Cait Sith. Or did they sense that the lady in black was in Neo Venezia? Whatever the case, Akari is fortunate to be under their protection.

The “Columns of Justice” were erected in 1268 after being taken from Lebanon. A third pillar sunk during the voyage. They are topped by statues of St. Theodore, the original patron of Venice, and a lion representing St. Mark. As well as holding executions there, it is the only place in Venice where gambling is allowed.

Today was hot, and watching this episode made me feel hotter. I bet Aika is glad she has short hair now. By the way, what happened to Akari’s gondola?

Next week, Aria the Natural #8: The Day of Festa Del Bòcolo…

Aria the Animation #6: That Which You Want to Protect…

The letters between Akari and Ai provide a deeper reflection of the story. What does Ai’s cooking have to do with the relationship between Alice and Athena?

Mistakes are rarely a good thing, but they aren’t necessarily disasters; it depends on how you respond to them. Akari’s boundless optimism helps her overcome her inexperience, but her clumsiness doesn’t compare to Athena. Whether this bothered her in the past we don’t know, but now she accepts her mistakes, deals with them, then carries on. To someone with a strong sense of decorum, like Alice, this looks like carelessness. Athena, however, has more trust that other people will be forgiving of her.

It would be sad if Alice weren’t able to trust others. She doesn’t seem to have many friends at Orange Planet, even though the other girls are kind enough. It’s true that her age separates her from the rest of her class, but it isn’t like the intimidation felt towards the princess Aika at Himeya. Despite being at the largest company, she still ended up practicing with two older girls from Aria and Himeya. Even then, she finds it difficult to open up to Akari as she admits she’d rather ask advice from Aika. Never mind letting Athena know how she’s feeling. Because she doesn’t think they’ll have an answer that she’d be happy with. That desire to know the answer to a question ahead of time stops her from ever asking in the first place. So she struggles to deal with problems by herself. And when she makes a mistake, it embarrasses her and makes her want to hide it even more. It’s her own imperfection that she’s afraid of. The trust she’s lacking isn’t the belief in the goodness of others, but that they won’t see the goodness in her. Being able to let yourself be seen at your worst is the lesson she has the most difficulty with. And there’s no one more qualified to teach it than Athena.

Relying on other people isn’t about how much you believe in them. It’s how much you believe in yourself and accepting your imperfections. Then you won’t be afraid of making mistakes, because you’ll have the confidence to act knowing that your friends will help you out. And what you thought was a failure, such as burnt potatoes, may not be so bad after all.

Okay, next up will be Aria the Origination #2: That Smiling Customer…

Aria the Natural #3: The Night Of The Meteor Shower…

Where else but Aria does a discussion of astrophysics turn into a love story? The metaphor is effective, though. Gravity is a mysterious thing that’s readily apparent everywhere in the universe, but difficult to explain in detail. It’s a force that is easily counteracted, but impossible to ignore. So as Al and Aika talk about the effects of gravity on Aqua, you wonder if they are still referring to attraction between planetary bodies.

Aika spends much of the evening looking not up at the sky, but at Al, and also inside her own heart. Of course she loves him, but she can’t explain why. Because she’s easily embarrassed and often hides behind a strict demeanor, to say this directly to Al is out of the question. The meteor shower gives her a chance to share her thoughts, and maybe get him to understand her feelings. It doesn’t seem, at first, that Al knows what she means. Men tend to interpret words literally. If you say you want to hear about meteors, he’ll talk to you about meteors. But Al is pretty smart, so he tells Aika that not all meteors burn up in the atmosphere. Sometimes they reach the surface after all.

Of course, as much as Aika tries to hide her emotions, she doesn’t realize how obvious she is to others. She insists that saying embarrassing things is forbidden, but the most embarrassing line of the night was said by her. (“Once you become enchanted by Aqua, it’s over. It draws you in and burns you out.”) It’s good that she has Akari to show her how to set her worries aside and sing a silly tune, even if the path she’s walking is pitch black.

What a nice coincidence to get such a romantic story on Valentine’s Day.

Next week will be Aria the Origination #6: That Wonderful Extracurricular Lesson…

Bonus Aika-being-cute picture just ’cuz.