The appeal and reviews of "AQUARION": A deep look into the legendary robot anime

The appeal and evaluation of "AQUARION"

"AQUARION" is an original TV anime series created by Shoji Kawamori and Satelight that aired in 2005. The series aired a total of nine episodes on TV Tokyo from August 2 to September 26, 2005. It is positioned as a sequel to "Genesis of Aquarion," and while the story has new developments, it is a mix of nostalgia and freshness for existing fans.

story

The setting of "AQUARION" is the year 0011 of the Genesis Era on Earth. Humanity lost two-thirds of its population due to a major catastrophe 11 years ago. This catastrophe was caused by the melting of the ice in Antarctica and the emergence of Atlandia, a world that was supposed to have been destroyed 12,000 years ago. The winged "Fallen Angels" were resurrected from Atlandia, and they used advanced scientifically created biomechanical weapons called "mythical beasts" to capture humans and ingest their bioenergy, "prana."

To counter this crisis, humanity established a special organization called "Diva: Earth Regeneration Organization" and excavated three hybrid fighter planes called "Vector Machines" from underwater ruins. These machines combined to create the "Machine Angel Aquarion" and fight against the Fallen Angels. To operate Aquarion, humans with special abilities called "Elements" are needed, and these abilities were awakened by the electromagnetic field changes after the Great Cataclysm. In particular, Aquarion's pilots were required to have sharp senses and pure souls, so boys and girls in their mid-teens were recruited to be its pilots.

The story begins when Element Sylvia, searching for a savior known as the "Wings of the Sun," discovers Apollo, a street kid. Rumor has it that Apollo is the reincarnation of Apollonius, Atlandia's strongest guardian angel, and his existence is at the center of the story. With the attack of the Fallen Angels, the fusion of Aquarion begins, and the fate of humanity begins to change dramatically.

character

The characters in "AQU Arion" are all unique and attractive. The main character, Apollo, is voiced by Takuma Terashima and is portrayed as an orphan with wild instincts and high eyesight. The fact that he was Apollonius in a past life adds depth to the story. Sylvia (Yumi Kakazu) is the princess of the Alicia Kingdom and a competitive girl with telekinetic powers. The fact that she was a Celian in a past life also has a big impact on the development of the story.

Other characters include Sirius (Tomokazu Sugita), Pierre (Masaya Onosaka), Reika (Sanae Kobayashi), and Lina (Hiromi Sato), each with their own unique abilities and backgrounds that add excitement to the story. In particular, the individuality of each character adds color to the story, such as Lina's role as a prophet, Tsugumi's (Ami Hikasayama) talent as a mechanic, and Jun's (Daisuke Sakaguchi) knowledge as a hacker.

Mechanics and battles

The mechanical design of "AQU Arion" is where Shoji Kawamori's unique sensibility shines through. The scene where the three Vector Machines combine to become "Machine Angel Aquarion" is visually very impactful. Each form of Aquarion, such as Solar Aquarion, Aquarion Mars, and Aquarion Luna, has different abilities and is an important element in livening up the battle scenes. In addition, new forms such as the aggressive Aquarion and high-dimensional combined Aquarion also appear, keeping viewers entertained.

The Fallen Angels' weapons, the Cherubim Soldiers and Mythical Beasts, also have a wide variety of designs and abilities, making their battles with Aquarion a sight to behold. In particular, the unique enemy characters such as Cherubim Blumenblatt, Xibalba, and Titania add tension and excitement to the battle scenes.

music

The music for "AQU Arion" was composed by Yoko Kanno and Hisaaki Hokari, and is an important element in enhancing the atmosphere of the work. The opening theme "Go Tight!" combines AKINO's powerful singing voice with Yoko Kanno's composition, making it a song that symbolizes the theme of the work. The ending themes "Omna Magni" and "Celiane" are also sung by Yui Makino and Gabriela Robin, enhancing the moving story. In addition, the insert songs "Nike 15 Years Old," "Heath of the Wilderness," and "Genesis of Aquarion" are all masterpieces that stir emotions as the story unfolds.

Evaluation and Impressions

"AQU Arion" is highly acclaimed for its appeal as a robot combination anime and its deep story development. In particular, Shoji Kawamori's unique worldview and the way the characters grow leave a strong impression on viewers. Yoko Kanno's music also adds excitement to the story, making it a work that can be enjoyed both visually and aurally.

However, some viewers feel that the short broadcast period of nine episodes is not enough. For fans who were expecting it to be a sequel to "Genesis of Aquarion", some say that the story development is too rushed. Nevertheless, the dense story and the charm of the characters, despite being short, have attracted many viewers.

Related works and recommendations

"AQU Arion" is positioned as part of the "Aquarion" series, and related works include "Aquarion", "Aquarion: Wings of the Sun", "Aquarion: Wings of Betrayal", "Aquarion: The Movie - Genesis Myth Arc", "Aquarion: The Movie - One-Shot Turnabout Arc", "Aquarion EVOL", "Aquarion EVOL TV Edition First Broadcast Episodes 1&2 SP", "Aquarion EVOL Episode 26 Director's Cut", "Aquarion EVOL", "Aquarion Logos", etc. By watching these works, you can gain a deeper understanding of the world of "AQU Arion".

The reasons why we recommend AQU Arion are as follows:

• A unique world view and fascinating characters
• Visually impactful mechanic design
• Yoko Kanno's music adds excitement to the story
• A short but dense storyline
• Enjoy it as part of the "Aquarion" series

I especially recommend "AQU Arion" to those who like robot anime and those who want to enjoy deep stories and character development. It is also a must-watch for those who like Yoko Kanno's music. By enjoying the entire series, you will be able to experience even deeper emotions and excitement.