Forum - View topicIs it just me, or... (Aria-related)
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Apollo-kun
 Posts: 1213 Location: City 7, Macross 7 |
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I love subtlety in anime. I love it when the plot in anime transcends the more mainstream affairs which plague many manga anthologies and airwaves today. And I especially love it when said anime contains a likable cast of characters who develop, and aren't your average, cookie-cutter moe/shonen/shojo stereotypes. Because of this, I was
recommended the "Aria" series. DVD Talk called it "anime's answer to poetry", after all, and that's a pretty serious claim. So I gave it shot. And now I ask: why so serious? This show is beautiful to look at, sure, and the girls are spunky and likable, certainly but... How is this "poetry" exactly? The whole show reeked of moe trappings (i.e. girls doing mundane things in a fantasy world while looking cute), and seemed to be otaku-bait disguised as art. Maybe I was missing the point, but this anime didn't relax me, or make me optimistic; it made me irritated that so many people found something like this be remotely artistic. Just because a show has beautiful animation and a gorgeous score doesn't make it art. I apologize if I've agitated any fans of the show, and I would encourage them to tell me why they love it so much, so I can give it another shot with a different mindset. The same thing happened with me and "Nana", which I initially hated but grew to love after being convinced by ANN forum members to give it another shot, and I hope the same thing happens here, and that I was wrong the whole time. So, Aria fans: why do you like this show so much? [EDIT: Altered post title to actually give a clue about what this thread concerns. - Key] |
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the Rancorous
 Posts: 2248 Location: Sac, Ca USA |
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Honestly, asking that is pretty useless as you're likely to not be able to understand even with the fans' explanations. My conclusion: it offers an extreme form of escapism without stressing out its audience? I don't really know. I'm sort of in the same boat you are; I watched most of the 1st season, and to quote Justin Sevakis from the Live Pod-cast: "Aria is dry as dirt." Oh, and for the record, I don't hate Aria, but it is fun to poke fun at it every now and then  .
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PetrifiedJello
Posts: 3782 |
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First: Fix your thread title. Nothing pisses me off more than trap threads and the only reason I'm here is an accidental click. I'll answer the question since I'm watching this right now, actually. I enjoy this series for its art and tranquility. The mere fact there are no antagonists within its 3 seasons allows me to sit back and simply enjoy the girls bantering about how life should be. Wonderful encounters, keeping one's heart open, and warm flames from candles in the heart are so unrealistic, it's just impossible to take this series seriously. It's nothing more than a nice "what if life were really like this" viewing, given any quick change of the channel to a news program quickly destroys every message within the series within 0.0034 seconds. Also, Akari is hot. As one who deems this the Greatest Anime Ever Made (that's 3 times in less than 1/2 hour!), I also state this anime sure isn't for everyone. In fact, I would believe there are far fewer of us who can re-watch this once a month than there are who can even get through the first 12 episodes without puking. Thus, it's why there's Strike Witches to make up for this. I will have to say, despite the over-the-top diabetes-inducing dialogue, it does have some incredible art and animation (save the 2nd art team's complete disregard to this in the second season). Now, if only Max Factory would get off its ass and release a figma line of all the girls. I'd buy them in a heartbeat and put them right next to my lithograph. 
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ArmchairTitan
 Posts: 34 Location: Shropshire, UK |
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It really depends on your personal definition of art. You have to keep in mind that, despite any strict clinical definitions, art is simply a satisfying aesthetic created to please others. It is due to its subjective nature that there are so many debates regarding exactly what constitutes art...
With that in mind, I would argue that if the perceiver believes something they are witnessing to be art, then for all intents and purposes, subjectively, it is. Of course, because of that there will always be inconsistencies between viewers of shows like Aria. The recommendations you've received are from enthusiastic watchers who genuinely had a pleasing experience which, to them, constituted art. However, your perspective has turned out to be, and fairly so, different. I believe that viewers of Aria enjoy the utopian aspect, the relaxed tone and cute characters, but it certainly isn't for everyone. 
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Apollo-kun
Posts: 1213 Location: City 7, Macross 7 |
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But yeah, I don't hate it; I just don't think it's really as amazing as a show like, say, "Serial Experiments Lain" or "Paranoia Agent". To me, THOSE are examples of art in anime, especially "Lain." Then again, there is the distinct possibility that I am comparing apples and oranges again... |
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Apollo-kun
Posts: 1213 Location: City 7, Macross 7 |
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Perhaps I'm too young and restless to be ready for a show to relax and soothe me at this point in my life; perhaps I'll revisit the "Aria" series when the world has left me a bit more stressed and pent-up, an effect our society seems to have on most. As a high schooler, I don't really have much to worry about... lol So, in short: thank you for your response, and no offense to the others, but I think this may be the best answer I've gotten. Arigato, Mr (Ms?) Rancorous! |
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Hentai_JP
 Posts: 605 Location: Toronto, ON |
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That is probably it. Here is my story with Aria. First things first - I love it! String attached however. While I did marathoned season two and three in 3 days it took me long time to understand what the purpose of ARIA is. Months ago I had watched first season and though it was more or less OK. But as soon as I tried moving on to second one... the though of 26 more episodes of that snorefest just turned me off completely. So I dropped it. Then about a week ago I was quite bored and didn't really have anything to watch and then my eyes came upon Aria. So I tried watching it again... and BAM!!! I instantly understood why it's so damn awesome and marathoned the said second and third seasons... (although I took short breaks every three-four episodes so I don't start dozing off during the show, and if I did I would rewind and watch the missed part - it's that precious.) Now it worked for me because I was bored, I knew what to expect, I had free time and I was in the right mood. May be different for others. Also make no mistake - Aria is boring. Only it's boring not because of simply being a horrible series but because boredom, I believe, is a necessity for setting the right mood. It has to be slow, ever optimistic, cute and happy. Aria is about feeling good about the world and enjoying little mundane things. The fact that the series manages to achieve and maintain such themes is outstanding. That is why it's an art, that is why fans love it. Give it another go or two later on. You already know what to expect from the franchise so it will go easier. If not don't bother... many people hate it because they can't accept it's world, they don't let it in. As I said elsewhere Aria is never "watchable" series. It's either loved or hated.
Thats a lie! Alicia is HOT! Akari -> cute. 
Last edited by Hentai_JP on Wed Jul 21, 2010 10:28 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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Redbeard 101
Oscar the Grouch
Forums Superstar  Posts: 16974 |
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Because it's simple and relaxing? That's the premise of the show really. To just provide a nice, relaxing, easy going show. One that takes pride and excels in just being slice of life and easy going. It's got likable characters striving to succeed but there's no rush. It's a show that enjoys the ride and not just getting to the destination. Like taking the time to smell the roses along the way instead of speed walking past the old lady in front of you. Yes it can be dry at times but it does have a very high art quality and it's just relaxing. You know that cool down period sports athletes have after a game? This is your anime cool down series after watching something very fast paced like Black Lagoon, Strike Witches, or any other in your face show. If you're Buddhist this show is your enlightenment. Last edited by Redbeard 101 on Sat Jul 24, 2010 2:28 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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Apollo-kun
Posts: 1213 Location: City 7, Macross 7 |
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[quote="Psycho 101"]
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DKL
 Posts: 1962 Location: California, USA |
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OH GOD DAT SCRIPT. But, eh, yeah... I like the show enough (and I like Junichi Sato enough... not the most gifted storyteller, but his heart is in the right place; there's this sincerity to him that I find appealing), but I'm actually kinda critical about the production values; I don't feel like the location is being used as well as it could be (I like how the supplementals talk about trying to get the boat animation down or something, but they're not actually getting it down). |
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the Rancorous
Posts: 2248 Location: Sac, Ca USA |
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Woah, now! The misquoting is getting pretty bad here! Psycho 101 and Apollo-kun, know that my username has now twice been credited with what I did not say in both of your latest posts in this thread; I ask that some correction be done
 ...
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nasanu
Posts: 6 Location: Tokyo |
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I watched the first aria series because it was so highly regarded. Personally I think it is anime trash. There is nothing of interest. The animations is not great, the characters are very boring, the story has no depth... I fail to see what anyone could possibly see in the series.
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Zin5ki
 Posts: 6680 Location: London, UK |
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I would consider the appropriateness of the term "art" being applied in reference to Aria to be a matter of whether you, the speaker, strongly appreciate or value the show itself and not just certain components thereof, such as its music or animation. (I impose further conditions when concerning the definition of "art", but those aren't particularly relevant to this thread.) Note that responding in a certain way towards the music and visuals may plausibly suffice to cause a separate appreciation of the show in which they feature, but this may not be true in your case regarding Aria. Vis-à-vis ArmchairTitan's contributions regarding the role played by personal response, which happen to coincide with my own considerations quite soundly, I would encourage you to further develop the rules for your own use of the term "art", if indeed you consider the concept of art to be bound within identifiable constraints. (The fact you are a Buddhist renders the completion of such a task beyond my immediate conception however. The distinction between experiences of subject and object is emphasised quite prevailingly in the theories of western aestheticians, whereas this distinction is apparently considered to be not only irrelevant to aesthetic appreciation within Buddhist traditions, but perhaps detrimental to such appreciation as well. Alas, I don't know anything about the aesthetics of the latter traditions beyond this.) |
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ailblentyn
 Posts: 1688 Location: body in Ohio, heart in Sydney |
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i'm not going to have a go at defining art, but i do know i'm in the camp that doesn't like Aria. and it's certainly not because it's slow paced and more character- than event-focused in its incremental development. (i really love NieA_7 for exactly those qualities).
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HaruhiToy
 Posts: 4118 |
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Is it art or is it not art. Who cares.
Aria is an anime where absolutely nothing happens and you like it that way. P.S. It is art. |
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