AIR, Volume 1 - Anime News Network
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"Air is one of the most visually pleasing shows out there right now."
"Chock full of cute little girls and cute little creatures"
"The art is bright and happy, the character designs are conventionally pretty, and it's magnificently crisp."
"Air is based on one of those games where, if you play your cards right, you get to sleep with as many ladies as you want."
"Whether it's cute girls you want, or cute animals, or just a reason to kick back, Air has it all."
Shelf Life
Jane Air
by Bamboo Dong, Sep 10 2007
Chock full of cute little girls and cute little creatures, Air is one of the most visually pleasing shows out there right now. The art is bright and happy, the character designs are conventionally pretty, and because of its recent age, it's magnificently crisp. Personally, I think the music is great, too, if only because I'm addicted to harem music.
Air is based on one of those games where, if you play your cards right, you get to sleep with as many ladies as you want. But, like most of the successful game-based anime series out there, you can barely tell, which is nice. The story begins when a young man wanders into town, hoping to earn some money by putting on puppet shows. He's made it his life mission to find a certain winged girl in the skies that his deceased mother always talked about. In town, he befriends a small gaggle of girls, all of whom capture his interest with their earnestness, their desire for (platonic, because this is family-friendly) friendship, and their solemn wish to fly.
Perfect for those days when you're too lazy to get off your comfy Ikea couches, this series tumbles along at a very gentle pace. All of the characters get along, none of the conflicts are too taxing, and it seems like no one is ever upset or angry—just sad, but quietly. Although the lack of action would usually make a series more dull, it doesn't seem to be the case with Air. It's a very dreamy show that places most of its focus on the characters' pasts and aspirations, which makes for a very calming viewing experience.
It's worth noting that ADV kept in Misuzu's trademark “gao!”s. This is spectacular for two reasons: 1. “Gao” is an intensely cute sound, and should be kept in at all costs. If dinosaurs actually said “gao,” they probably wouldn't be extinct right now. 2. I'm glad they didn't cut it out, or replace it with something like “roar,” because somewhere out there, a small legion of fanboys would have cried themselves to sleep.
Oh, and something for the ladies: despite its lackadaisical atmosphere, Air has a ridiculous abundance of cute things. “Gao”s aside, it also has a mountain of cute dinosaur plushes, and sloth plushes. It also has a dog named Potato that looks like a pile of mashed potatoes (I am proud to say that I have a Potato plush, which is top-heavy and amazing). Truly, the mark of a good show. More animals should look like popular food items. Seriously, though, whether it's cute girls you want, or cute animals, or just a reason to kick back, Air has it all. It's not the next great masterpiece, but if the summer wind could somehow materialize into an anime series, it would look something like this.
And onwards we go, from wanting to fly, to actually flying. From junky Slayers transfers, to pretty Air art, to the majesty of High Def.
Posted on Monday, September 17, 2007 (Archive on Wednesday, October 17, 2007)