A Fanboy Moment
February 8, 2008 | Television | Aria
I’ve been using this image as my desktop wallpaper for a week or so now, and every time I look at it, I’m reminded of how attractive the Aria character designs are. Like many female artists, Amano Kozue really knows how to draw beautiful women. Funny how that works.
And since I can never pass up an opportunity to talk about Aria, let me say this: the third season is incredible. While there’s no such thing as a “bad” episode of Aria, there were episodes in the first and second seasons that were especially memorable and a cut above the rest. So far, the third season has been nothing but episodes of that quality. The fourth episode alone is one of the best of the entire franchise, if you ask me.
I’m also happy to see Hal Film Maker pouring a lot of sweat and tears into the production. Aria has always been a pretty show, but as I’ve mentioned in the past, the animation has never been particularly extravagant. That changed somewhat with last year’s OAV, however, and continues now with the third season. It’s not flashy, but it looks great. There’s some sparkle and polish that was never there before.
It’s a shame Amano Kozue will soon be putting Aria to rest, but I’m sure I’ll be rewatching the anime series for years and years to come. Next time you hear someone say, “there’s nothing good coming out of Japan anymore,” tell ‘em to put a sock in it.
What a coincidence. I’ve found this picture 2 days ago while browsing through ARIA walls, and it’s been on my desktop since then. And it will most likely stay there for a while.
Now if you will excuse me, the 4th episode of Origination is waiting for me to watch it.
I totally agree with you. Episode 4 and 5 just made me go wide eyed and say “wow.” I have a hard time wondering how Aria can get so much better with each episode, especially after believing that I’ve already seen the best of the best. I can only look forward to more though, no matter how little time is left.
Aria will forever be my favorite feel good anime.
Any hints as to where the rest of us can find that lovely wallpaper?
Here’s the full size scan, Civilis.
I’m still working (except it’s not work) on Season 2, and I refuse to watch ahead. However, with such praise being lavished on S3, I’m watching maybe 4 episodes a night… so I’ll be into S3 by the end of the weekend.
Which is good, because this has been one helluvaweek.
I do wish that the adventures of Akari and friends would continue forever. :(
Neo Venezia for the Soul?
We need more Aria! MORE!
‘“there’s nothing good coming out of Japan anymore,” tell ‘em to put a sock in it.’
- Well, technically - that is the truth. If we compare the majority of the anime to the ones ten years ago (esp those by CLAMP - remember X?), we see a dramatic decrease in fps and details - especially in characters. Now, Aria has excellent landscape designs in the animated series - and so does ef… and True Tears - but somehow - the lack of details in the hair and faces (sometimes, we don’t even see shadows on faces anymore) are extremely disappointing. Being a design student, I may be too critical, but I really, really, hope that animators are aware of the fact that character design has a huge impact on the series.
Other fine post. Thanks Jeff, for the great wallpaper. This is indeed a superior blog.
For all we know, Kozue Amano might start on a new manga. After all, Aqua ended after two volumes, but the story did not. Here’s to hoping for more whatever-comes-after-Aria!
Episode four was a particular highlight for me as well.
> Like many female artists, Amano Kozue really knows how to draw beautiful women.
Amen to that.
Shoot. The link doesn’t work for me. Thank you for trying, though.
Really? That’s strange. Try here, then.
This is going to sound like a silly question, I’m sure, but…
Do we KNOW that this is the last season of ARIA? I know the manga is coming to an end; has the anime been following the manga so closely? Or has it jumped around, leaving stories that could be told after S3 ends?
I really don’t know, so could someone enlighten me?
Since this season is only supposed to run for 13 episodes (last I heard, at least), there’s probably enough material for another season of similar length. Depends on the pacing.
For now, I’m operating on the assumption that this WILL be the last season, if simply because the anime storyline is pretty far along and it makes sense to end it concurrent with the manga. I suspect we’ll have a better idea what’s going to happen come early March.
So, yeah, alluding to this being the last season is jumping to conclusions, but it’s a reasonable conclusion to jump to. At the same time, however, I wouldn’t be surprised to learn another season is planned.
Jeff, thanks. That worked.
Aria is such a visual series that I find the difficulty in finding good images odd. What I’ve found , though, has been consistently good. ARIA the Origination and ARIA the OVA: Arietta have had such wonderful visuals I’m almost tempted just to go back and take dozens of screen captures. Between the excellent character designs and the colors and details of the world, the series have been an absolute joy to watch.
There was definitely an improvement in the art department. I don’t know about the rest of you but someone watching me watching ARIA might note a striking resemblance to a certain Clannad character looking at Starfish.
I keep hearing that Amano Kozue is actually a guy… Internet “sources” are remarkably contradictory in this case, and I don’t have the means to verify it either way.
Given the focus of ORIGINATION thus far (the characters spend practically every waking moment contemplating the jump to Prima!) I’d be surprised if this -isn’t- the end of ARIA. There also isn’t really a whole lot of source material left, given the anime has drawn from as late as volume 11 (out of a total 12) in recent episodes.
I’ve heard that rumor, too, and I thought about it when I wrote that sentence about female artists. There are male mangaka out there who work under female pen names, after all. However, all the knowledge I have points to Amano being a woman, so that’s what I’ll assume for the time being.
And one thing I didn’t consider with regard to this being the last season of the anime or not is the possibility we might get a couple of OAV episodes at the very end.
So does anyone know when there will be information released as to whether there is a fourth season or not? if so where would that information be published first?