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 #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…