You know, as much as I love both Nino and Makino Yui’s work on Aria, I’m glad they tapped Arai Akino for the ED this time around, because she sounds absolutely incredible. What a great song.
By the way, has anyone else noticed that Ai sounds a bit older in her replies to Akari at the end of each episode? I wonder if that’s intentional…
Yes, you can has third season.
I really adore Maaya Sakamoto, but I haven’t been terribly impressed with her work ever since she stopped collaborating with Yoko Kanno. Her previous studio album, Yunagi Loop, is decent enough, but… well, it’s just kind of pedestrian. Unfortunately, the best thing about her new studio album, 30 Minutes Night Flight, is the title track. That one song alone is amazing. The rest of it? Meh.
Anyway, with Kanon over and done with and the Spring anime season still a couple of weeks away, I’m not watching much for the time being. Manabi Straight (which has turned out to be a great show), Hidamari Sketch, and Nodame Cantabile are pretty much it. I’ve been trying to supplement my anime diet by rewatching old favorites, but I’ve been having trouble finishing what I start. I think I’m rewatching three different shows at the moment, and I’m not entirely certain I’ll finish any of them.
Spring Fever, I guess.
Oh, and in case you haven’t heard, there was some good news for Aria fans this morning. Time to break out the provisions!
Ahh, Venice. Shame it’s sinking. Perhaps that’s why they packed it up and moved it to Mars.
All good things must come to an end, I suppose. But when it comes to a good thing like Aria, I just can’t let go. Life without Aria? Say it ain’t so! I still remember the little jig I danced when I first learned a second season was in the works. And I remember the toast I made when I learned it would be twenty-six episodes in length. I’m already stockpiling tequila and fireworks in preparation for any future announcements.
So, yeah, I’m in love with Aria. And I know I’m not alone in feeling this way. I’ve said it before, but I’ll say it again: it’s the show everyone seems to like, yet no one likes to talk about. After a bit more consideration, however, I feel I should add, “… and that’s OK.” Why? Because, when it comes to Aria, there’s little to discuss. What’s so special about Aria, you might ask? I don’t know. It’s Aria. Why watch Aria? I don’t know. Because it’s Aria?
In other words, I don’t know how to pitch Aria. Nor do I know how to explain Aria. It’s just something you have to experience firsthand. It’s as if Aria isn’t so much a thing as it is a feeling. You know the feeling of sitting out on the veranda on a summer afternoon, puffy white clouds floating on the breeze, children laughing in the distance?
That’s my Aria.
It really warms my heart to see the cast of Aria doing so well in 2ch’s Saimoe Tournament. Athena is a contender in one of today’s contests, and a quick look at the voting thread shows her cruising toward victory. Tomorrow, Aika does battle with Utawarerumono’s Yuzuha and To Heart 2’s Tama-nee. I’d expect the healthy girl to mop the floor with the sick girl, at least… can Aika win in the end, though? It’d make me very happy.
Not as happy as the result of the preliminary Ayumu (Gokujo Seitokai) vs. Belldandy (Ah! My Goddess) vs. Raising Heart (Mahou Shoujo Lyrical Nanoha) match, though. Ayumu won in the end, but Raising Heart still beat Belldandy by a couple hundred votes.
That’s right. Belldandy got beaten by a talking stick.
