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Just finished Air TV

You're mistaken but still forgiven.

AIR the TV contains the same three arcs as the game (Dream, Summer, Air). The OAV showed some additional material from the game's Summer arc. There's isn't really anything left to use for a second season, so they would have to come up with new material.

I just finished Air the other day. I'd say it was pretty mediocre over all. I prefer a somewhat more straightforward apporach. There were too many thing that they didn't tell you why they we're happening. They also switched gears too abruptly. It went from the story revolving around Yukito to it revolving around Misuzu. The episodes that focused more on Misuzu just didn't stack up to the earlier episodes.

I just finished Air the other day. I'd say it was pretty mediocre over all. I prefer a somewhat more straightforward apporach. There were too many thing that they didn't tell you why they we're happening. They also switched gears too abruptly. It went from the story revolving around Yukito to it revolving around Misuzu. The episodes that focused more on Misuzu just didn't stack up to the earlier episodes.

I should start by saying that I'm something of a fanboy for these sad/dramatic/game-based series like Air and "Rumbling Hearts" , so keep that in mind and apply the necessary grain of NaCl.

As I see it, three main things drive the popularity of Air:

1) Animation/artwork--some opinions may vary, but the animation is beautiful, fluid and detailed, at a level considerably above the average stillframe and "mouth-only" animation-filled series. Some may dislike the character designs, but at least they're not the same designs you see in 80% of anime series.

2) Storyline--sure, it's weird, it jumps around, it's complex, it doesn't make sense, but for me, it was a story the likes of which I had never seen in anime or anywhere else. You've got to admit, with many series, it's possible to say, "Gee, this series is just like ***** and ______ and ~~~~~~" and name a few similar stories, but that's not really the case with Air. True, there some similarities with Kanon in terms of art styles and types of stories, but I give Air points for pushing the boundaries of time and plot and not being afraid to challenge viewers. There's nothing wrong with viewers who prefer straightforward storylines, but those kinds of viewers probably won't get as much enjoyment out of Air. I didn't really mind that the focus shifted from character to character spoiler[to the point where Yukito became a crow and faded from the main plot,] since most stories have one protagonist that they stick to, and Air was a change of pace.

3) Emotional appeal--this is where Air sinks or swims, and what makes it into such a love-hate series. Okay, some will say that Air appeals to "base" human emotions. It's also been said that these kinds of anime depend on the viewers' attachments to / affections for the female characters for their success. Call it moé or whatever you want, but it's certainly not the same "affection" that guys feel for the lovely ladies of Girls Bravo, for example. For me, Air had enough sympathy/endearment power packed into its twelve episodes for me to be emotionally invested in certain characters, and the payoff was there at the end. If you don't care about or dislike certain characters, then certain key scenes won't have the impact necessary to create the "Wow, I really like this show!" impression.

Also, Air is certainly going to appeal more to people who like sad anime spoiler[and who like to take "sentimental journeys," if you know what I mean. When it comes to Misuzu, I think there are three reactions: A) people who are indifferent to her or hate her, and thus either welcome her death or don't care about it (B) people who like her, but want her to live so much that they hate Air for killing her (C) people who like her and are swept away by the tragedy and pathos of the situation, and thus adore the series.]

^ Regarding some of the material in the spoiler, I think many hardcore anime fans / fansub downloaders (or at least the ones who seek out series beyond the mainstream like Naruto, Bleach, FMP, Mai Hime, Mai Otome) are "that sort" of fan, thus Air's popularity among the rabid fans and lack of marketability to the casual anime buyer / the masses.