Aria – Life undistilled

26Apr/0815

Aria – Life undistilled

Despite my undying love for moelicious Alice and utmost admiration for babelicious Alicia, I've always felt that it is Akari who infuses Aria with its unique aura. I love Aria not because of the fantabulous Kozue Amano artwork, nor because it has babes from the lolicious to the moelicious but because it exudes an innocence founded on a profound appreciation of beauty in simplicity. Akari, with the heart of a child and the soul of a poet, serves as the perfect channel to dispense such wisdom as she always turns the most mundane to thought-provoking/edifying gems.

Before Aria, I never thought I would like "slice-of-lifes". As it is, some parts of life is already mundane without it extending its tendrils into our leisure time. One of the primary reasons I enjoy a good movie/anime/SUNRISE is because it's life-distilled. These visual tales are condensations of the most memorable moments in otherwise mainly boring existences. But Aria took that thought to cast it into the depth of anime purgatory. Akari can probably find insight and meaning in the most routine of tasks like queuing up to pay bills or washing dishes (which was what inspired this post actually.)

Even though RL is nowhere being Aria-esque, I believe humanity has a great deal to learn from Akari. A positive attitude and the childlike appreciation of the many things we've come to take for granted would bring new perspectives and a fresh love for life. (Though I'm still learning how to revitalise my passion for dish-washing.)

Yes, embarrassing comments are allowed.

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intro
April 26th, 2008 - 11:50

Routine is beautiful :O

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Adun
April 26th, 2008 - 17:06

When I first found out about ARIA, I loved it simply because of Akari’s view on the world around her and how she can appreciate all the little things that we overlook in our daily lives. Before ARIA, I wouldn’t have watched many “slice of life” animes but ARIA has certainly changed my perspective on that. Although other series will never reach the level of ARIA, they each do show a world through different perspectives.

Of course discovering Amano Kozue’s artworks after that just made a beautiful series such as ARIA much more beautiful.

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Asrialys
April 26th, 2008 - 19:21

Here’s something I posted elsewhere after finishing the Aqua manga. May or may not be related to this. Unfortunately, I have yet to watch this series. I have all the episodes except for the newest season. I really should get to it this summer. Anyway, what I posted some time ago…

“Just finished the second and last volume of Aqua. A very calming series. I especially liked Chapter 10, the one with fireworks because of how Alicia explained how Akari was feeling both happy and sad after everything she’s experienced for the first time since coming to the planet Aqua. Alicia said that it was probably because of nostalgia, even if all those things were for the first time. I think that’s a fitting reason why I like slice-of-life anime and manga. Even though I usually never experience some things I see in anime and manga in real life, I do get a sense of nostalgia. Maybe it’s because if things like that did happen in my life, I’d never experience it again, or at least not in the same way. It would never feel the same as the first time. Slice-of-life anime and manga pull me in with the characters and sometimes it’s like I share their feelings. And when it’s over, it’s over. It’s a bit sad. Sure, I can watch or read it again, but it probably wouldn’t be the same.”

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vexx
April 26th, 2008 - 21:09

There’s something about ARIA (and some other slice-o-life shows like Sketchbook) that is just … .I don’t know… intrinsically Buddhist in some marvelous way.
Enjoying the present, the now, the little things.

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Stripey
April 28th, 2008 - 06:32

intro: wow! I can’t help but notice what a great figure Utada san has. Am I already breaking out of my routine?

Adun: Indeed. Aria is simple yet profound and unpretentiously charming. Amano sensei’s work surely accentuates its simple beauty

Asrialys: In that case we both have something to look forward to! I haven’t seen season 2 and 3 too. But the OVA was simply breathtaking.

vexx: Looks like I need to catch Sketchbook

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TheBigN
April 28th, 2008 - 14:52

Yes, embarrassing comments are allowed.

I applaud you for this move.

I still haven’t finished Origination yet, but ARIA is going to be something that will stick with me for a while to come. Hopefully for the rest of my life. :3

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vexx
April 28th, 2008 - 22:24

omfg… yes, Stripey — you NEED to watch Sketchbook….

My mind can only muster an homage to an old film:
“My god… its full of ARIA!”

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ron~
April 29th, 2008 - 22:01

Sketchbook is good, but it cannot match Aria, so don’t expect too much from it

Aria is one of the greatest anime ever released

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Stripey
May 1st, 2008 - 08:14

TheBigN: I haven’t seen Natural myself either XD Only season 1 and the OVA. Looks like we have lots to look forward to.

vexx/ron~: Have moderated my expectations for Sketchbook but still looking fwd to it!

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Asrialys
May 1st, 2008 - 20:29

ARIA now has been licensed for R1 release! First season box in September. Now we can all own nice DVDs.

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Stripey
May 3rd, 2008 - 21:15

Thanks for the highlight! Preordered!!

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vexx
May 5th, 2008 - 15:35

I don’t know if Ron realizes that Sketchbook is a direct explicit *homage* to ARIA and is full of ARIA references — there’s even a specific bonus pic at the end of the series that makes it perfectly clear. I wasn’t even implying Sketchbook was trying to “match” ARIA and neither were the producers of the series.

And yes — the entire ARIA series (all of them) appears to have been licensed.

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Stripey
May 7th, 2008 - 07:37

I haven’t seen Natural and origination so I’m SOOOO looking forward to my DVDs. It’s be the first time I watch a new series on DVD…. discounting Sister Princess which I’m trying to forget of course XD

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flaskis
May 7th, 2008 - 14:30

I just finished watching the first season of Aria. I have no idea why I have neglected this anime. I just love the whole world of Aqua, everything from Akari’s laid-back attitude to the mysterious happenings/time travels that is used as a tool to further deepen our views of Aqua. (Dunno if this counts as a embarrassing comment) xD

/me goes to watch Aria the Natural now

puinyu~

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Stripey
May 13th, 2008 - 08:53

heh, embarrassing comments are allowed on Hontouni! Love Aria especially ep 11 (the passage through the bridge) I was very very touched by the hope the people of Aria bore for the planet.

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