Forum - View topicREVIEW: Air DVD 1
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nkaze
Posts: 30 |
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[Edit: Flames and one-liner attack removed. You're welcome to disagree with the reviewer and discuss the merits, or lack of merits, of the title but just saying the review sucks isn't going to fly. This is a discussion forum, you can discuss the topic and be civil about or don't bother posting. - Keonyn]
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Zac
ANN Executive Editor
 Posts: 7912 Location: Anime News Network Technodrome |
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I give this post a A+ in being a worthless whiny waste of time |
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Splitter
 Posts: 1276 Location: Knockin' on Heaven's Door |
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The review is fair. The things that make Air such a worthwhile series aren't apparent this early in the series and the H-game haremesque feeling remains consistent in the early episodes. As this is a review of the volume and not the series, I believe this is quite an appropriate rating.
You can't deny it's visual quality though. KyoAni poured their souls into the scenery and it shows :3 |
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Randall Miyashiro
 Posts: 2451 Location: A block away from Golden Gate Park |
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There are just too many "eligible" girls in this series for me to take seriously, None of the characters are developed enough, unlike the two very solid girls in Rumbling Hearts, the Air girls end up feeling more two dimensional. Some of the Air girls in comparison only get minor bit parts in some episodes and not all of them even get to have their name displayed in the OP credits.
Although I do like the animation, and am intrigued enough to follow the rest of the series I can't get as into this series as other erogame series like Utawarerumono or Fate/Stay Night. |
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Redbeard 101
Oscar the Grouch
Forums Superstar  Posts: 16963 |
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I can only imagine either the now deleted post was either a flame against the reviewer (most likely) or another one of those many "ADV has ruined Air" nut jobs (less likely). Regardless I have to agree and disagree the review.
I disagree in that the show gives nothing to merit a recommendation with just the first volume. Yes I consent it shows many dating sim qualities but that doesn't bother me. I think the characters are diverse, if predictable, and interesting. Fine, maybe they're not original but anymore it's harder to find things that are truly original. i personally think the time spent introducing the characters was well done as this is a full length series and not a short 12 or 13 episode series or OVA. Perhaps I'm just more forgiving but i feel the shows does provide a basis for recommendation. You have a diverse cast of characters and I think the fact the main plot has yet to be hinted at actually kept me interested. It means I have to watch the next volume before making up my mind. Instead of seeing a brief glimpse in the last episode of the volume that may or may not interest me. This way it's guaranteed if you want to know where the show might be headed you have to watch the second volume. I also will disagree, personal preference here, and say I think Vic has done a good job so far. His performance here reminds me of his work as Dark in DN Angel, which I actually liked. So i don't mind him at all as Yukito. I also like Christine Auten as Hijiri Kirishima. I think so far she's done a fine job and I always enjoy hearing her work. I'm undecided about Monica, Luci, and kira at this point. Could go either way. i agree with the review on 2 parts very much. For starters the animation quality is superb. I think the scenery and background is given lots of attention and I was very impressed by the start with the beach and how they did the surf coming in. The sky and clouds look visually appealing and the background noises fit very well. It really gives the effect this is a quieter country town. Just my initial thought anyway. Kyoto Animation has done a fine job indeed. I also agree that the characters themselves are visually appealing. While fitting a dating sim theme perhaps the characters are diverse in look. There's a nice mix of hair, facial (beyond the big eye round face aspect), and clothing traits. I also happen to personally think Yukito is done especially well. His over all look, especially with the face and hair, really work for me. i think this series has a lot of potential and is going to be one of those series where the second dvd really makes or breaks it. Either it picks up some and we start to see something of a plot forming, or it fizzles out. I just hope I can get through volume 2 with hearing as few of the ADV ruined Air people as possible (just watch it subbed ya whiny brats!). |
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d.yaro
Posts: 528 |
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I wasn't quite sure what the episode count on this first volume was based on the review. Checked on Amazon and they listed 100 minutes as the running time. So, I'm going to assume there are four episodes on this first volume.
The impression I had when I first watched this series was that as a whole it is a "mood" piece. That is, the emotional response one has to the characters per se and their circumstances is more important that narrative flow or viewers' opinions of the relationships between the characters. This is the only addendum I have for the review. All in all I have no complaints with the review. PS: I did find the OP sequence song enjoyable. |
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Redbeard 101
Oscar the Grouch
Forums Superstar Posts: 16963 |
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In all fairness though you're comparing a more drama inspired erogame type series to two action oriented ones. So it's obviously not going to develop as quickly. Plus remember Rumbling Hearts was more serious in nature so the characters had to develop themselves at a heightened pace. If they didn't they simply wouldn't have at all given the seriousness of the show. Air has the luxury of taking more time with that. I'd at least give the 2nd dvd a shot. For me with full 24-26 episode series I always find it best to go by the 2 dvd rule instead of the 1 dvd rule with half series. Just my opinion, and with regards to anime series I am more patient then others in terms of plot development. I try to enjoy the ride as much as the destination, unless I know the ride is in a broken down Ford Fiesta and the destination is the end of a cliff....... Last edited by Redbeard 101 on Wed Aug 22, 2007 12:58 am; edited 1 time in total |
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frentymon
Forums Superstar
 Posts: 2362 Location: San Francisco |
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What do you mean by this? At 13 episodes, Air is even shorter than KgNE, which is 14. |
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Mohawk52
 Posts: 8202 Location: England, UK |
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Redbeard 101
Oscar the Grouch
Forums Superstar Posts: 16963 |
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That's a mistake on my part hehe. I did a basic search for the number of episodes listed. That way i didn't have to back out of the post I had started and look on ANN (yea I know it's called select all and copy....  ) The results I got listed it at 25 episodes...the problem was the site I found that listed anime series and their length had the first name highlighted...I failed to notice the word after Air, which was Gear. So I mistook Air for Air Gear it seems. My mistake. Edited my previous post to make more sense.
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Fronzel
Posts: 1906 |
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Air is fairly weak until it gets to the main story(about halfway in, if I remember correctly). The other girls' stories are exactly what you'd expect from a sappy porn game, but the real deal is pretty intriguing.
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Karine
Posts: 6 Location: Orange County, CA |
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Are you referring to the "Summer" arc of the story? If so, then I agree that it is the strongest part of the show. But I don't know if it's the main story - more like the tale the story is based upon. |
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daedelus
 Posts: 743 Location: Texas City, TX (ajd: 6/11/05) |
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I can remember back a year or so ago when I first read an article in Newtype USA about an anime currently under development in Japan called Air. I don't know what it was, but for some reason the description of the story really grabbed ahold of me. I really wanted to see this show!
As the months passed, and lots of people were speculating that the show was too niche to be licensed. I was disheartened and I decided that it just wasn't meant to be. Fast forward to April 2007 at the ADV panel at Anime Matsuri. When they announced they had acquired Air, I almost fell out of my chair! Keep in mind that all I knew about the show was the brief write-up I read a year ago; but as I watched volume one, one thought kept entering my mind: "I'm actually watching this! Yay!" . Seeing as how my glasses are very rose-colored towards this show, I loved volume one, and am looking very much forward to volume two. When I think about it, the review does have merit; but I'm still in love. |
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Ari-chan
Posts: 215 Location: Florida |
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While I thought the review was a good review overall, I do have some disagreements and agreements here and there.
While the reviewer is correct about the lack of storytelling in this volume, I don't believe that is a place where AIR should be strongly judged. Air seems to be primarily a "feeling/mood" anime. So rather then following the show for it's story (which it does have, just not right away), you follow the show for it's atmosphere. The music, animation, art, and characters are all supposed to give you a sort of warm summer feeling as you watch, allowing you to sort of, drift with it. Air also seems to have story pace that says "you need to see all to understand all". But I defently agree about the beautiful Kyoto Animation that makes AIR so calmingly fun to watch. As for ADVs dub, I thought it was decent enough. Vic's Yukitou was actually very good I thought, and I didn't even like his Dark voice. Monica I thought was a rather decent Misuzu as well, getting the light sounding voice right, the only thing I thought could've been done better is if she tried to sound a little more "cutesy". Luci as Haruko was just great, definitly fit I thought. Minagi took some getting used to for me, but now I really like it, especially the clapping part. Everyone else was good too. The only problems voice voices I had were with the Kanon girls Nayuki and Ayu. I was hopping Jessica Boone would use her cute "Misaki" from Angelic Layer voice, rather then something so deep. Ayu also seem rather deep for a girl who is supposed to be mistaken for a child and say "Uguu~" all the time. But since those were only cameos I wont give it to much thought. I'm sure it'll be better if they actually were in Kanon. Also, I don't mind some of things they did with the script, but I kinda feel gipped that they took out some of Misuzus "gao~s". Also her "V's". Not much of a problem though, because I really liked how they gave Misuzu a more casual speeking voice as well. So it just a win some lose some thing I suppose. Either way, want volume two!!! |
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Michi
Encyclopedia Editor
 Posts: 741 Location: Los Angeles, CA |
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I instinctively wanted to be defensive, but I remember when I first watched AIR those years ago that when I saw the first few episodes I got bored. I liked it, don't get me wrong, but the pace was so slow. I'm glad I stuck with it, though, because it ended up on very high my favorite list.
A liiiitle bit further back than that. It came out in the beginning of 2005, so you would've read about development probably late 2004 or early 2005. ^_~ But I'm glad you like it so much! AIR is one of my favorite anime ever, and I'm so glad it has an American release now. Too bad I'm going to Japan for school in a week, or else I'd've picked it up already.  ;;
I'm pretty sure they actually have the same cast they're using for Kanon doing the cameos in AIR... |
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