"I reject your reality and subsitute my own..." - Air fans
Anyways, we don't talk about the cake. Never. The cake is a lie.
Air tv Review
When he was young, Yukito Kunisaki's mother told him of a winged girl in the sky. Yukito's family has been searching for this girl for generations. Finally, Yukito's journey takes him to a small seaside town where he meets Misuzu Kamio, a girl who is eager to make friends with Yukito. Yukito ends up staying with Misuzu and her mother, Haruka, while he searches for the girl in the sky. In the town, however, there are strange occurences, and as the days pass by, Misuzu starts to have strange dreams.
What is the truth behind Misuzu's dreams and her failing health? And how is everything connected to Yukito and his journey?
The manga adapted from the game is illustrated by Yukimaru Katsura.
Story & Characters
Sweet Jesus there's a lot of Air reviews on this site. I've had this show recommended to me so many times now that I simply decided to watch it so I never have to hear a recommendation again. I guess being the "shoujoboy", everyone assumed this was the type of show for me. So... was it?
Yukito Kunisaki is on a life long journey. He is searching for a lonely, winged girl that his mother spoke of when he was a child. This girl lives beyond the clouds and will forever be lonely unless he can find and comfort her. During his journey he stops in a small town to make a little money and encounters a clumsy girl by the name of Misuzu. Misuzu is readying herself for a lonely summer vacation and asks if Yukito would like to play. Since he's traveling, she decides to let him live with her and her aunt... well that and she just wants the company. What does the summer have in store for the two of them?
Even just reading that opening, it's painfully obvious what's going on here. Seriously, could there be a more obvious setup? But let's get one thing out of the way now; Air has one goal and one goal only; to make you cry. Air WILL make you cry in one of two ways. If you are prone to bawling every time sad music plays and an on screen character cries, then prepare to be dehydrated. If you aren't, then prepare to be bored to tears.
In a nutshell, Air is an incredibly boring, nonsensical show. It's main "draw" is the lovable characters and discovering their problems and how they overcome them, namely Misuzu. The problem is, the plot is so weak and so poorly told that it is next to impossible to really empathize with any of the characters. But it gets worse... the plot has a tendency to jump around without any decent segway. Halfway through the series, it goes to a completely different group of people in what is supposed to be an explanatory flashback. After a couple episodes, it goes back to the original group and shows you what you've already seen from a different perspective. With such an unengaging and hard to follow plot, the only people who will enjoy this show are those who are predisposed to crying at the drop of a hat.
Rating:
Art
While most people will first notice the vibrant colors and gorgeous animation, my first thought was "damn this looks good in HD." Yes, this is one of the few shows that really shines when put in HD (too bad you thieves out there probably won't ever get to experience that). But yes, it's true that this show is gorgeous. Being my first experience with this animation company, I'd say I'm very pleased with the overall presentation. Characters are all very detailed from facial appearance to varying clothing. Environmental effects on the characters are also paid attention to from the casting of shadows to gentle breezes blowing through their hair.
Background animations also see the same level of detail. There is no real deterioration of animation during any scene throughout. Normally there is a problem with animation when shown from a wide angle, yet Air does not suffer that same pitfall. Characters and backgrounds meld together to create a seamless atmosphere.
Rating:
Sound
Opening: Tori no Uta by Lia
Ending: Farewell Song by Lia
Obviously the first thing that needs to be addressed when it pertains to the sound section is the opening and closing songs. The opening is quite possibly the most generic techno song I've ever heard. It's almost as if I've Sound had a retarded child that wanted to grow up to be like it's more successful parent (if you don't know what "I've Sound" is, then just let that comparison fly over your head). Weak, uninspired singing coupled with generic techno is not a good start. The ending fairs considerably better. The tone of the song fits the subject matter closer and feels like a throwback to the type of music you'd hear in early to mid 90's animation. A refreshing end to each episode. The BGM is absolutely perfect for the atmosphere. This show rarely has a happy moment, so the vast majority of the BGM is slow, piano based music. Coupled with the emotional characters, it's quite a good pairing.
The voice actors of the show also do a fine job. With the show centering around Yukito and Misuzu, it was key to find a coupling that would provide enough chemistry to engage the viewer in their friendship. Daisuke Ono and Tomoko Kawakami make a great on screen pairing. Topping their work was Aya Hisakawa as Haruko (Misuzu's aunt). Haruko goes through a massive transformation throughout the show, and Aya helps drive that home. But the best VA was Kikuko Inoue as Uraha. Sure, Uraha was only around for 3 eps, but it's Kikuko freaking Inoue. 'Nuff said. Don't like it? Tough, it's my review.
Rating:
Presentation
Air is supposed to be one of those shows I love. Now the show did have all the ingredients necessary to create one hell of an experience; great animation, moving music, adorable yet fragile characters and more. But essentially Air is like a cake batter that has concrete added to it just before you bake it (the concrete obviously being the plot). It weighed down and absolutely ruined what would be an otherwise tasty cake (no more cake analogies I promise).
Of course, if a stirring plotline isn't a requirement for you to enjoy a show, then this still may prove to be a wonderful experience. If viewed simply as a superficial work of cute characters, then it's bound to be a good time. And if you're the type to cry when your favorite person is kicked off American Idol, then by God you'll enjoy crying to this one. Otherwise, it might be a good idea to steer clear of this one. Either way, NO MORE RECOMMENDATIONS!
Rating:
Final Verdict
4.8333 (moderate)
Reviewed by shoujoboy, Sep 02, 2008
Comments
-
BossMac Sep 02, 2008
-
davidh01 Sep 02, 2008
It's good to have you back in the reviewing seat again, or is this just a one-off? Anyways, you've convinced me not to bother with this one as it was one I was scoping to check out. Pity that the story is so stolid otherwise I may well have enjoyed it (probably with some reservations on the music).
-
XRW175P6MQ4 Sep 03, 2008
Quote by jakulito"I reject your reality and subsitute my own..." - Air fans
Anyways, we don't talk about the cake. Never. The cake is a lie.
No, that would be Adam Savage from Myth Busters.
merged: 09-03-2008 ~ 01:23pm
Wait I think i've seen the first couple of episodes to this. I actually thought it was kind of good.Fixd troll post
-
BossMac Sep 03, 2008
Epic win.
-
info-0 Sep 05, 2008
At first I thought it was a good show... But the more I got into it the more the story was lacking. I recommend to stay away from this anime. You'll most likely be disappointed.
-
xxKurumi Sep 07, 2008
I was going to watch this. However, thanks to your review I think I'll decline. Thanks for the informative review and accolades.
-
Akaiken Sep 08, 2008
Your reviews really amuse me. It's very objective... and I just lol'd on the art part!
-
crazy-kuro Banned Member Feb 09, 2009
The character design is really realistic . I actually king of love the girls .
-
tsuyoshi7171 Feb 21, 2009
key de los mejores
-
chumbariwap123 Apr 23, 2009
this is one of the series that i love, kamsa~hamnida for this review, deserve my two thumbs up :D
-
AndreVillar Restricted Member May 16, 2009
=D
merged: 05-16-2009 ~ 11:42pm
=Dmerged: 05-16-2009 ~ 11:42pm
=D -
pigmypuff Jun 03, 2009
love the air
-
hackershark Jun 07, 2009
GOOD :)
-
yuyuppi Jun 17, 2009
so blue..
-
Fanatik007 Jul 04, 2009
wonderful review
-
ResonantSoul Jul 23, 2009
Sounds pretty~
-
lordryo Jul 28, 2009
Good review.
-
SchRita Aug 23, 2009
Thanks for the review!
-
vangjlee Oct 14, 2009
good
-
SchRita Oct 31, 2009
Thanks for the review!
-
rukasu04 Mute Member Nov 10, 2009
Nice review
-
animalandia Nov 14, 2009
esta bien la rese
-
Baraka-Senpai Jul 05, 2011
so good this anime! Thaks
-
fishshell Dec 20, 2013
I find that Air is an interesting one and quite okay actually :) Just need to solve the puzzle at the end of story....
page 1 of 1 24 total items
Only members can post replies, please register.