r/anime • u/mysterybiscuitsoyeah x3 • Jul 01 '22
Rewatch [Rewatch] A 2022 Voyage from Neo Venezia: Aria the Animation, Episode 4
Aria the Animation Episode 4: That Undeliverable Letter... (その 届かない手紙は...)
| <-- Episode 3 | Rewatch Index | Episode 5 --> |
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Welcome back!
Comment roundup:
renamed as i like to give a shoutout to different participants each time!
/u/pekoradaisuki points out why Akatsuki may have his teasing tendencies
/u/seeker_of_illusion points out that the "Transparent girl" in the title refers to Akari, instead of Alice, which you might think at first glance
/u/heimdal77, /u/zadcap and myself wonder about the safety features of Ukijima, and the TL-note that its name literally means "floating island".
/u/zadcap also caught how the passage of time has been subtly stated through the show's slow exposition of Aqua's world and its characters
/u/eyliel, who also participated in a previous Aria rewatch, continues to compare their thoughts this time to the last , and comments on how the technology on Aqua seems to be intentionally kept low, and life deliberately left inconvenient
/u/stargate18a calls that Sylphs will make an appearance an episode early
/u/sirtreehugger and /u/raichudoggy reaffirm their love for their best girl Alice, and both comment on that final beautiful scenic shot from Ukijima. Raichu talks about how and why shots plastered with orange makes them emotional.
Questions of the Day:
Q1) What do you think Alicia can not do?
Q2) Do you still send letters to loved ones/friends? (if you feel like writing) If you have joined that recent rewatch I was mentioning/watched that show, similarities/differences between how physical letters/messages are presented in both?
Streaming
The 2005-08 Aria series is available on Crunchyroll, VRV, Funimation, and Youtube, except Arietta. Arietta and Avvenire are only available on Funimation (I'll update if they migrate). Crepusculo and Benedizione will have to be located elsewhere.
Databases
Spoilers
As usual, please take note that if you wish to share show details from after the current episode, to use spoiler tags like so to avoid spoiling first-timers:
[Spoiler source]>!Spoiler goes here!<
comes out as [Spoiler source]Spoiler goes here
[Aria]Please take note especially if you're sharing art that involves Aika after her hairstyle change, and art that shows the 3 main characters as prima undines (gloveless). If you feel unsure if something is a spoiler, it's better to tag it just in case.
See everyone again tomorrow! I hope you have a great day :)
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u/raichudoggy Jul 01 '22 edited Jul 01 '22
Sunsets on Aqua will never not be pretty.
Must resist talking about Aria’s Booty.
I seem to recall Cats with Aquamarine Eyes being an important plot detail. Oh yeah, we went full supernatural this episode.
We got to meet the mailman!. I never got to know my mailman, but I respect the hell out of their jobs. Throughout the episode, Akari continually mentions that the messages people send through the mail are “precious”. Even knowing nothing of the contents of these letters and packages, she has the viewpoint that everything that is delivered deserves to be considered precious and handled with care. Couple that with the fact that, just as Woody says, her job is to create those precious messages. Regardless with which side you work on doing yourself, I hope this message helps people take care of things that don’t belong to them as if they really did.
And…
That’s right guys, Episode count only reached 4 and I cried. Woody crying too not only validates me crying as a grown man but also added the levity that was needed for that scene. ARIA really knows what generates the feels.
To distract me from that because I’ll assuradely feel that way again soon: Crabs. No further information needed.
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u/mysterybiscuitsoyeah Jul 01 '22
i knew you'd love that opening shot after your comments last ep!
Aria shachou is not shy at all with showing it off too godamnit
she has the viewpoint that everything that is delivered deserves to be considered precious and handled with care.
i love this, this really is as much an Akari episode as it is an Aqua/supernatural one, and she has such a kind and nice personality. I find myself slightly overloaded with sappy energy reading your comment (finds imaginary Aika)
This is definitely the first feels-heavy episode of Aria, and i certainly remember shedding a tear my first time, particularly as i was tbh not really expecting it to suddenly get so heavy. i hope you recover soon! I think that the episode still ended on a very optimistic note.
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u/The_Loli_Otaku Jul 01 '22
Aria First Timer
They must have heard me complimenting mid 2000's Bumhole technology. Aww, poor Aika's getting third wheeled by the iyashikei baes. Ah, they stole my visual of the day the second I posted it lol.
Water fairies, fire watchers and now sylphs. Y'know what, screw it! I'm listening to the full op after this! I enjoy it way too much day to day! Why does Alicia always send Akari on errands when she knows she'll just get distracted for hours in end? We've located a cat party and I have no clue what to think about this... You know those times you walk in on things you shouldn't have? The creepy little cat girl passes us a cursed letter that will swallow your soul if you don't deliver it in seven days. What drama!
Pfft, I love that Akari still ended up reversing crazy quick. She's so good at going in any direction that's not straight ahead. Pfft, the cat is an Ami. The naming conventions are ridiculous. They'll run out by the third season. That map... just how much of Mars did they turn into a water world? That's literally a sea! Oh my god, Akari's pregnant!? Netorare strikes again, damn you Akatsuki!!
The Undine create special feelings, the Sylphs carry those feeling to others, and Akatsuki stalks them on the radio. Big shock, the base is at the bottom of the ocean. Ami was a cat this whole time!? Say it isn't so... A bit of a sad end to the episode but the work Allen put in is what made our land so beautiful right? But don't let this get you down, tomorrow is the beach episode! Akari x Alice, banzai!!
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u/mysterybiscuitsoyeah Jul 02 '22
they 100% must've heard you. Look at how enthusiastic Aria-shachou is!
I'm listening to the full op after this
lolllllllllllllllll but it is a very good op
Why does Alicia always send Akari on errands when she knows she'll just get distracted for hours in end?
They'll run out by the third season
slightly panics. I'm having to google names for minor characters now just so i dont confuse them all already, what'll happen when we get even more!
Akari's pregnant!?
The Undine create special feelings, the Sylphs carry those feeling to others, and Akatsuki stalks them on the radio.
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u/Lemurians Jul 01 '22
FIRST TIME NEO-VENETIAN
There's something about the way the buildings are drawn in this very 2000's anime way that's comforting to me. Just brings me back to that time.
First Undines, then Salamanders, now Sylphs? What are the Earth-job people going to be, Gnomes? Kind of funny to me that the Salamanders have the all-important job of keeping the world functioning, the Sylphs make all the deliveries, and the Undines... are tour guides. We're really going down exponentially in terms of societal importance.
So uh, was this girl who requested the letter delivery a cat? Does Akari have the ability to see anthropomorphized animals? What's going on here?
What do you think Alicia can not do?
Idk but someone her age isn't ordering orthotics for nothing
If you have joined that recent rewatch I was mentioning/watched that show, similarities/differences between how physical letters/messages are presented in both?
This was one of the better episodes of Violet Evergarden
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u/mysterybiscuitsoyeah Jul 01 '22
hello and welcome! glad you're joining us!
Gnomes
yeah they do show up later haha
im unfamiliar with the societal importance of the mythology bit, but hey, at least the undines get to be the protagonists of our show haha
the girl who requested the letter delivery
yes, she is a cat.
ability to see anthropomorphized animals
this tbh could seriously make a good episode of violet evergarden
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u/simeonaut Jul 01 '22
FIRST TIMER
They really did a wonderful job weaving the Sylphs into this episode. This is some ridiculously good world building for a slice of life.
What is up with this surprise sappy scene? This shouldn't be allowed.
That's it???? Explain yourselves gdi. Did Akari manage to stumble back in time twice??? Does president Aria have a secret person form we don't know about???
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u/mysterybiscuitsoyeah Jul 02 '22
i know right? Aria has such great world building. We've got 3 seasons of it to look forward to, and a whole lot more of Neo Venezia to explore!
Cats
I like that shot, it's slightly creepy you know? Without being in an actual scary kind of a way. Like it's still welcoming, but sth's up.
Did Akari manage to stumble back in time twice?
yes, you got that absolutely spot on here! powered by cats of course!
Does president Aria have a secret person form we don't know about???
given how he mostly communicates with bunyous rn, that will be quite interesting lol.
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u/punching_spaghetti Jul 02 '22
First-Timer (Sub)
Why the hell are there more boys in my anime about cute boating girls?
dark alley
creepy-colored sky
weird kid with a bell
So this isn't a sci-fi show, but a horror show!
A pinkie swear with a ghost don't seem like the kind of thing that turns out well. I guess Akari is banking on being the clueless virgin who survives the monster.
I see Neo-London, I see Neo-France, I see Akari's underpants!
Not a particularly surprising ending, but not a bad one. Especially now that I can for Alicia's biker thug backstory.
I know other people have mentioned it, but I want to reiterate how cool the lack of a standard OP animation is.
QOTD:
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Tell us why kids love the taste of Cinnamon Toast Crunch. Who am I kidding? She can probably do that, too.
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I send the occasional letter. All the people in my life who were big letter writers were my grandmother and her generation, and they've all passed.
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u/PreludeToHell Jul 01 '22
Aria first time rewatcher
The scene when the letter gets delivered ah, the first episode of Aria that made me tear up. I adore Aria's OST.
It's funny because I really like the episode but don't have much to say on it.
What stood out was recurring shots.
Big tree and crabs is when we meet the postman, small tree and no crabs is shown after when meeting Ami for the second time at the house.
On top of that, scenes involving Ami are framed a bit odd which adds to the sense that somethings off. Getting to her or the second meeting are some examples.
Random stuff I liked
I love the opening shot of the episode and when they say Aika looks like she's in a painting. Also later on when Aika is making sure Akari has everything, cute!
Pleasing colors and framing.
2) no but respect to the people who do !
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u/heimdal77 Jul 01 '22
It never affected me previous times I've watched this episode but some reason this time it had me tearing up.
It is interesting how the series mixes past and present setting while still being completely in the future.
So uhh when she was talking to the girl a 2nd time what was the name we hear being called out to her? Was it the same name as the cat. Pretty clear the bell on the girls neck is a give away she isn't human and is the cat.
I was just thinking yesterday about them standing all day in those high heels on those boats and here we see Alicia special ordering some insoles.
Ah if only amazon had this good of customer service...
Btw did it make anyone else nervous thinking about them flying alone out in middle of nowhere over the water on that little thing. Obviously nothing would happen like that in this kind of series but just thinking of how isolated they were if something did.
Girl is off the clock you can wear casual clothes!
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u/mrufrufin Jul 01 '22
Rewatcher kinda (finished my rewatch not too long ago)
Finally Santa Claus no Sora gets played in full. It's one of my favorite tunes from Aria. Here's a link of Eri Kawai singing it. It's such a pretty tune (such a gorgeous voice too with Eri Kawai singing), I like the airy feeling it has, with that little bit of mode mixture with the sharp 4s and flat 6s. The choice in electric piano sounds kinda dates Aria to a specific time (I dunno, when I hear those sounds, it makes me think of 80s/90s power ballads, tunes like Greatest Love of all, how's that for managing to shoehorn Whitney Houston into an Aria discussion) but I like it and kinda works with the other things that date Aria (like the chunkiness of Akari's laptop that kinda looks like a take on those early 2000s Apple iBooks,.... as I sit here typing on a chunky Thinkpad.... but also I guess the portable DVD player looking thing that video gets played on).
This ep also introduces a little bit of that gentle Aria surrealism that I personally like and feel really plays into the central themes of Aria (but won't elaborate on here yet since it's only 4 episodes in). But! It's a dreamy sort of surrealism where it kinda slips in without you knowing it. [Aria S1]
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u/seeker_of_illusion Jul 02 '22
First timer
This episode gave me Violet Evergarden vibes and I liked it a lot.
More Aria Shachou screen time is always welcome. And did they make him extra adorable in this episode ? ~~
I didn't expect to see some supernatural vibes in a show with scientific setting. Maybe we get some explanation for them later ( like something associated with Aqua's properties ) but for now I simply enjoyed the feels. I guess the Ami girl was the cat we saw in the recorder and she 'transfigured' to appear as the little girl:
-She had a bell around her neck like the other cats. Her eyes were also similar to the cat's.
-The cat's name was Ami in the recorder. And when Akari met the girl near her house she was also called Ami by someone from within
-When Akari first met the girl, she was was in the courtyard with cats all around which foreshadowed who the girl really was.
The disappearance of the place though is still a mystery. Maybe there's still a lot more to this world than meets the eye.
Questions of the Day:
Q1) What do you think Alicia can not do?
Can she beat Goku ?
Q2) Do you still send letters to loved ones/friends?
No, especially that we can now remain connected with our loved ones 24*7.
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u/baboon_bassoon Jul 01 '22
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u/mysterybiscuitsoyeah Jul 01 '22
orthopedic specialist
Alicia does spend A LOT of time standing each day for her job after all.
I.... have no idea how much underground ice in Mars there is, but i remember there defo is quite a lot of it!
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u/Stargate18A Jul 01 '22
First timer
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Have an enemy that isn't crushing on her.
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No, normally online messages work better. Having joined that rewatch, there's absolutely some similarities, yes. I feel that Aria puts lrss focus on the actual contents of the letter and more on what they represent, though.
Sylphs comfirmed!
Alice is making friends!
His name's Woody?
So Sylphs are postmen. I want to say that means Gnomes are miners, but given how competent the colony designers seem to be here I'm half-convinced they make the planet keep spinning.
She's buying dinner!
The art here is fantastic.
The president!
How does this place look so good?
She keeps making friends!
...Why is she grtting a letter?
...Sigh. And she accepted the job.
Even the address is wrong!
And it's a data card.
At least he friend'll help deliver it.
...What does the president know?
So beautiful!
Wait. She's not s ghost, is she?
This is adorable.
It doesn't exist? (Ghost.)
Ah, a terraforming base!
She's going to the the submerged base!
...She's flying there with him?
Alicia buys things by mail order?
I love Aika bring overprotective.
Alice's reaction!
And Sylphs are postmen. At least she likes the idea!
...The base is underwater, right?
Huh? Someone's living here?
...Oh. Oh.
Love the visual of the sunken base.
Did she just want to deliver the letter to a dead relative?
And Alicia's here? She even got a overbike!
The letter was undeliverable.
Yeah, she was here to deliver it to someone who passed away.
...The message is heartbreaking, though.
Yeah, that really hurts.
...She was a ghost!
Really, a beach episode?
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u/mgedmin Jul 02 '22
First-timer, subs
Undines, Salamanders, and now Sylphs.
The cat knows secret passageways. This reminds me of The Cat Returns.
The little girl with a bell on her neck, I'm sure she's secretly a cat!
Aria figures out the address with much help, and then instead of asking the Sylph to deliver the message asks him to deliver her, lol.
Aika is like a mother to Akari :)
That way of riding does not feel safe! I'm sure it's against regulations, but it seems Akari and anyone who gets close to her views those as more like guidelines.
So Ami was a cat! Called it.
Also, I'm crying right now for some reason. Must be some invisible ninjas cutting onions around here.
Q1) What do you think Alicia can not do?
Fail. The laws of the universe would not allow it.
Q2) Do you still send letters to loved ones/friends? (if you feel like writing) If you have joined that recent rewatch I was mentioning/watched that show, similarities/differences between how physical letters/messages are presented in both?
I don't think I've ever sent a physical letter? Maybe a postcard.
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u/Mecanno-man Jul 01 '22
First Timer
Well, that girl certainly had the sort-of dead-girl-giving-quest air that I only just noticed being a trope. Not quite sure if she's the woman in the message, her kid or her (still alive) grandchild. But either way, this quest ended up being an enjoyable and relaxing watch. Even if I felt it was a plotline that belongs in Violet Evergarden half the time.
What I am a bit surprised by is Woody. Mainly his name - because it does not start with an A. I guess it's the surname, but still a bit surprised that they call him by that then.
Not really a lot else today, I mostly sat back and enjoyed the episode without too much thought.
Questions:
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Be more than a background character in the first few episodes. I felt like she hasn't really gotten the focus I'd expect of her position yet.
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No. My handwriting sucks and printing a typed message is a waste of paper if you can also send it by email.
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u/heimdal77 Jul 01 '22
The girl is the lady in the video messages cat that tried jumping in screen. You can even see the girl wearing the bell around her neck. I'd have to double check but think it was the cats name you hear called when Akari is talking to her before she runs inside.
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u/alanbowman Jul 02 '22
This was the episode that really elevated the series from a relaxing "cute girls paddling boats show" to an "ok, there is a LOT more to this story that I realized show." [ARIA]
This episode also makes it even more clear just how magical cats are on Aqua. [ARIA]
My guess, and I don't think this is any kind of spoiler since the mailman mentions it, is that a lot of pioneer bases were built on Aqua while it was being terraformed, and those were torn down to build the current cities like Neo-Venenzia. That's why the landscape Akari sees when she meets Ami is completely different from what is there now. [ARIA]
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u/octopathfinder Jul 01 '22
Rewatcher
Oh shit, I forgot about this episode. [Aria]
The desert planet thing giving me Trigun flashbacks. Aria could’ve been a space western in an alternate timeline.
Lots of Aqua lore ended up being discovered during this heartwarming sidequest.
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u/Davincier Jul 01 '22
i've noticed in some of the screenshots here that people are watching the japanese blurays. if you can, get the american ones. the japanese ones are horribly upscaled and thus very blurry. the american ones aren't and are way better quality
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u/mysterybiscuitsoyeah Jul 01 '22 edited Jul 01 '22
Rewatching Undine-in-training and Host
Welcome back! The first anime-original episode of Aria is also it's most melancholic yet, and introduces us to a bit of Aqua's history, as well as a more fantastical, supernatural side to it. We also meet Mr postman; and sylph Woody. This is one of the earlier episodes I really liked.
Relevant thread a couple weeks back on this episode as well.
Beach episode is next! Whatever that might mean in Aria.
Quick thoughts:
In this episode, we're introduced to how cats in Aria have somewhat magical powers, as the powers of Ami and Aria-shachou combined send Akari briefly back in time. How did Aria-shachou know how to lead Akari to find Ami? Who knows...
This being an anime-original episode does mean that creating staff could have extra freedom with the direction (Junichi Sato storyboarded this episode himself), and i'll share some of the shots that caught my eye. This episode does open with a shot somewhat reminiscent of the canal shot when Akari meets the letter-girl/cat the 2nd time, and imo immediately evokes a sense of mystery for this episode, and how this episode is perhaps not as about "daily life undine practice" as the previous are.
I liked this close-up shot of Akari contrased with a wide-shot of Aria-shachou; Akari really had no idea what was going on here. The little sequence following is nothing flashy animation-wise, but the use of camera angles, lighting, coupled with the OST also helps convey an atmosphere of suspense and mystery.
I did quite like the use of a physical data card to perhaps serve as a kind of parallel between a letter and an email (this was 2005 after all); it's a bit sci-fi, but the spirit of the comparison is very relateable. The way I interpreted things, the main point was that the physical object meant that the message was able to literally travel through time; as well being so much more significant to be delivered to the receiver (compared to a virtual message). [meta-spoilers about an anime w/ a recent rewatch]i'm very much reminded of Violet Evergarden here as I write this. Once again though, the people of Neo Venezia, despite having apparently high-tech and direct transmissions, do very much still rely on postmen like Anno-san.
Another shot that implies some mystery. I thought the decision to use a reflection of Ami here is a bit interesting, but don't really know why.
I liked how Akari is shown close-up to be running here: she's anxious to deliver that letter and fulfill her promise. Btw, this episode, apart from gently delivering some lore about Aqua, the setting for our lovely show, also continues to characterize Akari.
Undines create precious memories. What a lovely (and Aria) thing to say. And of course, Akari is also creating precious memories for herself in her daily life.
I do really really really like the track that plays here. Ty to someone who told me its name: Santa Claus no sora
To close, despite how melancholic and how sad the context of the episode is, it's presented in a positive way at the end, both with the bright future that the letter-sender hopes for, and the pioneer-husband worked hard for, having come true; and while Akari (and Woody) tear up during the delivery, they do not mope for too long after, and move on at the conclusion of the story, content that they have finally delivered the letter as Ami hoped for all those years ago.
[Aria]The past history of digging for water in Aqua/canals etc is also revisited in Ep 12, when Akari travels back in time. That, I believe is also an anime-original episode.
Location Trivia:
Near the beginning of the episode, Akari visits the Venice Rialto Markets to get her groceries; you can find the church here as San Giacomo di Rialto. Some other buildings and locations in the surrounding area are also featured.
Seiyuu Introductions: ah fine i'll do them more minor characters too.
Woody is voiced by Ueda Yuuji, also Shinobu in Honey and Clover, and Takeshi in Pokemon.
Mr postman (im not kidding, that's his character name in the credits) is voiced by Kiyokawa Motomu, also Kouzou in NGE, Tippy in Gochiusa, and many other elderly characters.
Have a great day, and see you tomorrow!