The appeal and reviews of ARIA The OVA ~ARIETTA~: A must-see special edition for fans

The appeal and reviews of ARIA The OVA ~ARIETTA~

"ARIA The OVA ~ARIETTA~" is an OVA released on September 21, 2007, based on the popular manga "ARIA" by Kozue Amano. The work is made up of 30-minute episodes and was distributed by Media Factory. It is directed by Junichi Sato, produced by Hal Film Maker, and produced by Shochiku, Media Factory, TV Tokyo Media Net, and AT-X.

story

The story of "ARIA The OVA ~ARIETTA~" begins one morning. The story unfolds with a scene in which an unfamiliar junior opens the door and enters the breakfast table while Alicia is absent. After the protagonist, Akari Minami, dreams that she has become a prima ballerina, she feels confused by the unusual scenery of her everyday life. Even after waking up, her anxiety does not disappear, and she wonders, "Why did Alicia choose me?" After confiding this question to Alicia, Alicia begins to talk about her past. It is a page in the unknown history of the ARIA Company that leads to Akari's joining the company, and depicts the feelings that have been passed down from senior to junior Undine, from Grandma to Alicia to Akari.

Commentary

The setting of "ARIA" is the water planet "Aqua", which was reborn through planetary remodeling in the year 2301 AD. The tourist city of Neo-Venice on this planet is a city of waterways, where gondolas are the main means of transportation. Gondola rowers for tourists are called Undines (pilots), and are a popular occupation in the city. Akari Minami, a 15-year-old girl, comes to Aqua from the planet Manhome with the dream of becoming an Undine, lives in a rooming house at the pilot shop "ARIA Company", and works hard every day to train to become a full-fledged Undine.

cast

The main cast includes:

• Akari Mizunashi: Erino Hazuki
• Aika: Chiwa Saito
• Alice: Ryo Hirohashi
• Alicia: Sayaka Ohara
• Akira: Junko Minagawa
• Athena: Tomoko Kawakami
• Eye: Kaori Mizuhashi
• Aria President: Nishimura Chinami

Main Staff

The main staff are as follows:

• Original work: Kozue Amano "ARIA" (serialized in Monthly Comic Blade/published by Mag Garden)
• Director, scriptwriter, storyboard: Junichi Sato
• Character design: Makoto Koga
• Design works: Hiroyuki Kasugai
• Directed by: Kenichi Takeshita
• Animation director: Hiroyuki Kaido
• Layout: Roman Thomas
• Art director: Hirofumi Yoshikawa
• Color design: Yoshimi Kawakami
• Director of photography: Hiroshi Yoshida
• 3DCGI: Kaoru Matsumoto
• Special effects: Takatoshi Abe
• Edited by: Shigeru Nishiyama
• Sound: Kimitaka Kawasaki
• Effects: Toshiya Wada
• Song selection: Yasuno Sato
• Music: Choro club feat. Senoo
• Music producer: Masao Fukuda
• Music Production: Victor Entertainment
• Produced by: Hal Film Maker
• Produced by: Shochiku, Media Factory, TV Tokyo Media Net, AT-X

Main Characters

The main characters are:

• Akari Minami: A girl who is training to become an Undine. Although she is still a beginner, her unique rowing technique makes her invincible.
• Aika: Akari's first friend. She is the heir to Himeya and a big fan of Alicia.
• Alice: An apprentice Undine belonging to Orange Planet. She is unsociable but highly skilled.
• Alicia: Akari's senior and a top-class Undine in the industry. Everyone looks up to her.
• Akira: An Undine belonging to Himeya. Alicia's childhood friend and rival.
• Athena: An Undine belonging to Orange Planet. She is clumsy but highly skilled.
• Ai: A girl who lives in Manhome. She meets Akari and falls in love with Aqua.
• President Aria: An aqua cat who serves as the president of ARIA Company. An iconic figure with blue eyes.

Related Titles

The following works are related to "ARIA The OVA ~ARIETTA~":

• ARIA The Animation
• ARIA The NATURAL
• ARIA The ORIGINATION
• ARIA The AVVENIRE

Theme songs and music

The theme songs and music are as follows:

• OP1 "Seven-Colored Sky"
  • Lyricist: SONOROUS
  • Composer: SONOROUS
  • Arrangement: Choro Club
  • Sung by: SONOROUS
  • Strings arrangement: Joji Sawada
• ED1 "Tomorrow, Until Dusk"
  • Lyricist: Rieko Ito
  • Composer: Kitagawa Katsutoshi
  • Arrangement: Kitagawa Katsutoshi
  • Vocals: Erino Hazuki
  • Strings arrangement: Yasushi Sakurai (piano performed by Takeo Senoo)
• IN1 "Kokoro"
  • Lyricist: Eri Kawai
  • Composer: Mina Kubota
  • Arrangement: Mina Kubota
  • Vocals: Eri Kawai

Evaluation and Appeal

"ARIA The OVA ~ARIETTA~" is a work that faithfully reproduces the worldview of the original work while pursuing the depth and beauty that only OVAs can offer. In particular, the story of Akari's growth and her bond with Alicia will deeply move viewers. Director Junichi Sato's delicate direction and Makoto Koga's beautiful character designs bring out the charm of the original work to the fullest. In addition, the beautiful melodies of the music by Choro club feat. Senoo will liven up the story and soothe the hearts of viewers.

The appeal of this work lies above all in its beautiful visuals and heartwarming story. The waterside scenery of Neo-Venice and the graceful movement of the gondolas are not only visually beautiful, but also have a soothing effect on the viewer's soul. In addition, the relationships and growth of characters such as Akari, Alicia, Aika, and Alice are carefully depicted, allowing viewers to empathize with their lives and feel the joy of growing together.

Furthermore, this work is closely related to the other works in the ARIA series, so you can enjoy it throughout the entire series. Starting with "ARIA The Animation," the series continues with "ARIA The NATURAL," "ARIA The ORIGINATION," and "ARIA The AVVENIRE," depicting the history of the ARIA Company along with Akari's growth, drawing viewers into the consistent story. "ARIA The OVA ~ARIETTA~" holds a special place in the series, making it an essential work for fans of the series.

Recommended points

Here are some reasons why we recommend "ARIA The OVA ~ARIETTA~":

• Beautiful visuals: The Neo-Venezia waterfront scenery and gondola movements are beautifully rendered, providing plenty of visual enjoyment.
• Heartwarming story: The story of Akari's growth and her bond with Alicia will warm the hearts of viewers.
• Delicate direction: Director Sato Junichi's delicate direction brings out the worldview of the original work to the fullest.
• Beautiful music: The beautiful melodies of Choro club feat. Senoo will enhance the story and soothe the hearts of viewers.
• Series relevance: This is a great addition to the ARIA series and is an essential read for fans of the series.

In conclusion, "ARIA The OVA ~ARIETTA~" is a work that can be recommended to many viewers due to its beautiful visuals, heartwarming story, delicate direction, beautiful music, and its connection to the series. I recommend it not only to fans of the ARIA series, but to anyone who wants beautiful animation and a moving story.