Hoshitachi☆

Aria (アリア) is an utopian science fantasy manga by Amano Kozue (天野 こずえ, Amano Kozue). The series was originally titled Aqua (アクア) when it was published by Enix. The series has been adapted as an anime, with first season broadcast in 2005, a second season in 2006, an OVA in September 2007, and the third season on 2008.

The series is set in the 24th century in a terraformed Mars, an follows a young girl named Mizunashi Akari as she trains as an apprentice undine. The series has been praised for its calm-pacing, optimistic worldview, beautiful art, and for the anime, the quality of the soundtrack.



~STORY~

Aria and Aqua takes place in 24th century, starting in 2301 AD, in the city of Neo-Venezia on the planet Aqua--formerly Mars, which was renamed after being terreformed into a habitable planet covered with oceans around 150 years ago. Neo-Venezia is a harbour city of narrow canals instead of streets, traveled by unmotorized gondola.

The story is about a young girl named Mizunashi Akari, who arrives from Manhome (formerly Earth) to become a trainee undine with Aria Company, one for three most known water-guide company in the city. As she trains, she befriends with her mentor and her senior in the company, Alicia Florence, trainee undines from rival companies, Aika .S. Granzchesta from Himeya, and Alice Carrol from Orange Planet, and others in the city.

Aqua covers her arrival on Aqua, an early training as a Pair or appretience, while Aria countinues her training as Single, or journeyman, and also contains the graduation of her, Aika and Alice as a full Prima, or fully qualified undines.


~Adatation To Anime and Games~

Aria has been adaptated as an anime in three seasons and one OVA. The first season called "ARIA the Animation", the second season called "ARIA the Natural", the third season called "ARIA the Origination" and the OVA called "ARIA the OVA: Arietta". There's also two visual novel games based on the story; "ARIA the Natural: Tooi Yume no Mirage" and "ARIA the Origination: Aoi Hoshi no El Cielo".

The anime has the same story with the manga, but some of them are different, but still it's enjoyable to watch. The soundtrack is just a masterpiece, a slow-smooth music that make me calm. And also Makino Yui's soft voice really fits the opening and the inserts. Kawai Eri, who sung Athena Glory's (Alice's mentor) songs are great. The highest ranking ARIA soundtrack is "Euforia" single, which used for ARIA the Natural opening theme, which sung by Makino Yui, reaches #18 in Oricon Charts.


Overall, I like this manga. The artwork is gorgeous and detailed. I like how Amano-sensei draws water and building. Her colouring is great too, and the background is just simply awesome. If you read this manga, you'll never get bored to read it, specially with such a great artwork and interesting stories.