Air - Reviews

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delolmo's avatar
Jan 24, 2016

I am confused as how to properly explain my feelings about this anime. I feel like the story line is rather confusing and is basically left to the audience to interpret the ending. There is no clear answer as to what happens and the key roles that he characters play. Because you could stay the story spans for thousands of years, it could be hard to fully understand. Likewise, the story didn't seem to pick up for several episodes, but at the end a lot of them tie together to a nice plot. All in all, not only did I hate the ending which was rather sad (like most of the story, not many happy memories/events), but found the plot very confusing! Perhaps this is not my cup of tea but I would prefer giving this story a 5/10 for said reasons.

The animation is great in my opinion, typical from Key such as with Kanon 2006 and Clannad. I actually like the graphic design and think it helps the story rate somewhat higher.

Since I just finished watching this anime, I am still debating how I feel about the characters. Because all of their stories are so sad, it's hard for me to feel positively about any of them. I mean, their stories were sad, their personalities sweet, but yet I don't seem to connect with them because the story line got so confusing and their stories were so sad.  Yukito is to me an enigma and the main character is a strong yet weak character (as put in the anime). I think my favorite character was her "mother" because it shows some growth and pure love. But again, the ending just undid me!

5/10 story
10/10 animation
8/10 sound
5/10 characters
7/10 overall
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angelsreviews's avatar
Jul 15, 2013

The story line is rather cute and sad, part of the trinity of Key Animation. I am really sad that this show is so short. They don’t seem to take enough time to flesh out the story lines or the characters. There are way too many girls that are really strange and you never really get much story line about them. The only girl you get to know is Misuzu but she doesn’t have much personality except for the whole girl in the sky thing.

They also never talk about the girl in the sky much even if she was supposed to be the main focus or even give us an answer about her. The answer we do get comes too late in the story line and it leaves more questions than answers. It’s mostly about what strange effect happens when someone finds one of her feathers but even then I don’t quite understand it. Are the feathers some sort of wish maker and if so, then why does it always end up in sadness?

The ark with Minagi Tohno feels very out-of-place in a sense and as though it was rushed. There really was no backbone to the story and the ending, though it made me cry seemed rather out-of-place.
All in all, this story is really slow and hard to keep watching; sometimes almost dull in some parts.
The animation is rather pretty, bright and colorful. Unfortunately, some of the characters are actually lacking a bit and I’m not really happy that Misuzu’s mom looks more like an older sister instead. All the artwork is pretty much fan based. Potato the dog doesn’t even really look like a dog too which threw me off. The beginning has a lot of aspects of a beginning for a visual Game rather than an actual anime so it means that it looks good and helps set the mood of the show.

The music is beautiful, both the beginning and ending made me want to find the actual music. The background music is sometimes not very loud and hard to hear, mostly consisting of silence or sweet gentle feelings. The montages that help make time pass seem to be used way to often with the same sappy song. The voice actors are good but some don’t seem good enough. I have to say, I like the English voice actors better than the Japanese, probably just because I’m more used to English voices.

I like this but it is rather slow and I don’t think I will be watching the whole show at once again. I may watch one or two of my favorite episodes though.

8/10 story
9/10 animation
6/10 sound
5/10 characters
8/10 overall
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eaper's avatar
Feb 15, 2010

For a series of any genre, especially in romance, slow-paced, or drama genres, to be considered "good," it is necessary for the series to either have something that sets it apart completely, or for it to hit all the major aspects expected in its respective genre and excel at them. Air definitely manages to do the first of these, and at least comes close to the latter, as well.

The series starts off somewhat slowly, and, story wise, averagely, following a vagabond puppeteer. After a few episodes, however, it begins to do original arcs between the male lead and female secondary characters. After several of these you are finally taken back to the beginning of the "1000 summers" that the story promised, and taken into a full fledged fantasy. This is where the series truly begins to set itself apart. Characters that are only around for one or two episodes are managed to be fleshed-out extremely well, and many secrets about the leads are revealed.

This being said, after this is finished, many unusual things take place, and, in my opinion, manage to get the viewer even closer to the characters. Finally, after it is all finished, it leaves the views emotionally attached to the plot and characters, and satisfied with the series.

Apart from the story, the series has acceptable voice actors, strong character development (although somewhat wasted on a few characters with very little to do with the story), a great sound track, and amazing artwork (apart from the slight google, wide set eyes Kyoto is so fond of for females). All-in-all, a definite see for anyone that enjoys Key series or dramas.

8/10 story
9/10 animation
10/10 sound
8/10 characters
8.5/10 overall
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SEGHE's avatar
Sep 15, 2023

"Air" by Kyoto Animation - A Visually Beautiful but Confusing Fantasy - 4.5/10

Story: 4/10 "Air" weaves a complex narrative involving a young man named Yukito Kunisaki and his encounter with a mysterious girl, Misuzu Kamio. The story is heavily laden with fantasy elements, time loops, and supernatural occurrences. While it attempts to create a mystical and emotional experience, it often becomes convoluted and confusing. The plot struggles to maintain coherence, leaving viewers perplexed rather than engaged. It may require multiple viewings to fully grasp its intricacies, which can be a barrier to enjoyment. The storytelling earns a story rating of 4 out of 10.

Animation: 8/10 Kyoto Animation's trademark quality shines through in the animation of "Air." The visuals are stunning, with beautifully detailed backgrounds, fluid character movements, and a dreamlike color palette that complements the ethereal tone of the series. The animation successfully immerses viewers in the fantastical world it seeks to create, deserving a high rating of 8 out of 10.

Sound: 6/10 The sound design in "Air" offers a soothing and atmospheric soundtrack that complements the series' dreamy ambiance. The background music enhances the emotional moments and adds depth to the storytelling. Voice acting is competent, with characters' voices conveying their feelings convincingly. While the sound quality is solid, it doesn't reach the level of excellence achieved by the animation, resulting in a sound rating of 6 out of 10.

Characters: 5/10 The characters in "Air" are a mixed bag. While some, like Misuzu Kamio, possess depth and emotional complexity, others remain underdeveloped and enigmatic. Their motivations and connections are often shrouded in mystery, which can be frustrating for viewers seeking relatable and engaging characters. Misuzu's journey provides moments of emotional resonance, but the lack of character development in other key figures hinders the overall impact. The characters warrant a rating of 5 out of 10.

Overall: 4.5/10 In conclusion, "Air" by Kyoto Animation is a visually captivating but narratively confusing anime. Its intricate plot and ethereal atmosphere may appeal to some, but it can be a challenging and disjointed viewing experience for many. While the animation is a standout feature, it cannot fully compensate for the shortcomings in storytelling and character development. "Air" may find its niche among fans of complex and abstract narratives, but it falls short of delivering a consistently enjoyable experience. Overall, it earns a rating of 4.5 out of 10 in my assessment.

4/10 story
8/10 animation
6/10 sound
5/10 characters
4.5/10 overall
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Tomo90's avatar
Aug 18, 2011

A travelling puppeteer, Kunisaki Yukito, has made his way to a small seaside town in search of a ‘girl in the sky’. After arriving in this town he found that his puppet show was not that popular with the local children and found himself without any money. After being woken up by a local girl, Yukito suddenly had a vision of the girl in the sky. Who is this girl and is she the one he has been looking for?

Air starts of slow at the beginning and sort of drifts away from the main story because the story is still establishing itself and the main characters. I’ll say this upfront the story is quite complex and a bit of confusing at times. After I finished watching it I needed to think about what happened and I even looked up what other people thought to confirm my suspicions. But with that being said it was a really nice story and is definitely a bitter/sweet anime. There is a bit of comedy thrown around to add a different dimension which added a nice touch.

The characters seem unique, not too many stereotypes. Each of the characters has their own personal struggles and issues which created nice depth to them. The emotions of the characters seemed real and the audience can certainly connect and sympathise with them.

The music was good and added a nice touch to the sad and tender moments. The artwork and animation were very well done. It was detailed and displayed the emotion of the characters very well.

This anime has a nice and complex story with some symbolism. If you’re after an anime which makes you think, has a good story and touch you emotionally then Air is what you’re looking for.

8/10 story
8.5/10 animation
7.5/10 sound
8.5/10 characters
8/10 overall
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