"Air" ~ Apparently 'Beautiful'. Can you help?

M

minister3333

Brigade Leader
Hi,

I've been adding Anime to my DVD collection for the past year. I'm currently enjoying Studio Ghibli's work (Howl's Moving Castle being a favourite).

I now have my eye on Trigun, Cowboy Bebop, Macross/Robotech and Neon Genesis Evangelion. But my question concerns a seemingly rarer Anime... "Air".

Alas, Air is not listed in the UKAnimeNews.net Encyclopedia.

I like the sound of Air's storyline ("wandering puppeter searches for a Princess in the sky"). People say online that it is a beautiful piece of work. I personally like the beauty/grandeur of the Ghibli films, as opposed to the over-glorified violence and awful gratuitous pornography of so much other Anime. Thus, Air rather appeals.

But it is seemingly impossible to find much information about Air. I found this entry on Amazon.co.uk which states that "Air TV" is scheduled for UK release on 14th August 2007. This suggests it's a TV Series, right?

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Air-TV/dp/B000R ... 83&sr=1-62

But looking through the UKAnimeNews.net Release Schedule on this website, there is no mention of Air to be released. (???)

Then I found numerous original Japanese DVD release entries for Air on the website Play-Asia.com. The entries are for various Air Volumes, Vol. Limited Editions and versions of a Movie. See:

Vol 1 [Like the one on Amazon] (Released Apr 06, 2005):
http://www.play-asia.com/paOS-13-71-a7- ... 0-lwk.html

Air The Movie / + Special Edition (Released Aug 05, 2005):
http://www.play-asia.com/paOS-13-71-a7- ... 0-pxb.html
http://www.play-asia.com/paOS-13-71-a7- ... 0-pxa.html

Although Amazon suggests Air is a new forthcoming Anime, Play-Asia.com suggests it was released in 2005? Is this just a case of Anime getting delayed UK/Region 2 releases or Amazon getting the finer details incorrect?

So:
1) Is Air available on Region 2/UK DVD? If so - Where can I buy it? (Note: eBay only offers a Japanese import). Or is Amazon right and it's about to be released?
2) If available on Region 2 (or even 1), is Air available with an English dub?
(I don't wish to go into the "Japanese with Eng Subtitles Vs English Dub" debate here - I like to flit between the two and so would like to have the option of the Eng Dub on the Air DVD).
3) What's the deal with the Anime itself? Is Air a series or a one-off film? Or both?

So if you can please offer some guidance to any of the above, or have views on Air in general, I'd greatly appreciate it.

Apologies for the convoluted post - I'm rather confused by this Anime!

Cheers.
minister3333

P.S. Purely for interest sake: There is also a PS2 game of Air. I wonder if anyone's played it?
http://www.play-asia.com/paOS-13-71-43- ... 0-rb2.html
 
http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclo ... hp?id=4093

If this is the series you are on about then;

1) Air hasn't been released on R2 UK DVD yet, as far as i'm aware. American release at this moment in time is your best option.
2) There is an english dub.
3) Air TV is the 13 episode TV series, Air Movie is an alternate retelling of the story.

I haven't seen Air yet, it's in my que. But if you watch air and like it i would highly recommend Kanon 2006.
 
AIR TV is a series of 13 episodes, its the show itself is ish.
There is also two extra episodes called AIR In Summer (i have yet to see them)

There is also a movie, and from what i hear it is basically a re-telling of the series'

But, all in all, it really isn't worth your time of day
 
Well it seems like you've already gained the factual answers so i'll just add my small opinion hehe.

Not too sure about Air to be honest, a fellow forum dweller recommended it to me a while back so i travelled with it for about 5 or 6 episodes. It seemed alright - very slow paced but im not so bothered about such things. I can't really say much overall as i have yet to pick it up again, i just havent managed to get back into it with a lot of work and other things going on it.

From what i've seen of it i'd consider "interesting" but probably not groundbreaking. It certainly seems like the kind of series that you need to watch till the end to give a full opinion so i'll try and dig it out and finish it sometime soon. Be careful around it as it seems that its gained a bit of a "love it or hate it" following.
 
Air was always considered a fairly risky series to sell outside of Japan, so it was quite a surprise when it was licensed in America. I would imagine that european licensors will be watching to see how well it does over there before thinking about picking it up.

I haven't played either the PC game or the PS2 port, partially because I much prefer KyoAnis character design versions in the TV series, but mostly because an H version of Air would be icky.

Air can be a very hit-or-miss series. It's a fairly slow paced tragedy/drama series, so if that's not your kind of thing I'd avoid it. If that is your kind of thing however, it's definitely recommended - the production values are awesome, and the story really draws you in. Personally, it's one of my favourite series.
 
Don't bother with this. It's another thing that stops KyoAni from puting out quality animation to the tune of Full Metal Panic, Haruhi and Lucky Star.
 
as said above, it's a hit or miss thing, much like marmite, so the only way you'll know is by trying it.]

me personally though, i love it
 
Conan-san said:
Don't bother with this. It's another thing that stops KyoAni from puting out quality animation to the tune of Full Metal Panic, Haruhi and Lucky Star.
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I'm sorry, but did you call Haruhi and Lucky Star "quality"? Granted, FMP is made of epic win, and then some, but the other two aren't amazing. Don't get me wrong, I like them, but they're both rather shallow anime. Air is far above both Haruhi and Lucky Star in every aspect, other than fun/comedy. In fact both fit into the whole moe factor that so many anime fans are clamouring for these days. Air isn't as well known because it's not a moe vacuum like Haruhi and Lucky Star, and tends to get shunned because of this. Besides, KyoAni animate. They don't pick the writers.
 
I dunno if you read his post right but he said quality animation, not saying Lucky Star and Haruhi are quality. Eh.
 
Lupus Inu said:
I dunno if you read his post right but he said quality animation, not saying Lucky Star and Haruhi are quality. Eh.
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Yeah, but the animation in Air is just as good as the other two, so his post makes even less sense then.
 
Lupus Inu said:
I dunno if you read his post right but he said quality animation, not saying Lucky Star and Haruhi are quality. Eh.
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He could well have been but he could also have been talking about animation as a form entertainment, and not just a part of the show. It's a perfectly normal use of the word. It's like saying "*insert random cartoon here* is a good animation". Don't play the Devil's Advocate.
Ramadahl said:
Yeah, but the animation in Air is just as good as the other two, so his post makes even less sense then.
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Which was the other point I was going to make. :p
 
Air is an adaptation of a Japanese game by Key. In 2005 they made a 13 episode TV series of the game, which was then followed by a 2 episode OVA. At the same time they released a movie version, which is a seperate adaptation of the same source material.

Then early in the year, much to everyone's amazement, ADV licensed it for R1 release (and only for R1 release, the chances of it being released overhere are vanishingly small). The TV series and the 'Air in Summer' OVA that follows it will be released monthly over four volumes, with the first due next month. This is the item that's listed in the amazon link. ADV have also said they'll release the movie as well. As with most R1 anime, this release will be both dubbed and subbed. The Japanese R2 does not have either. It's in Japanese only, like most Japanese anime releases. If you want to buy Air, you'll need to get the R1.

As for whether to buy it. Air is a very good show, but it is very hit and miss. Personally, I'm not to keen on it, but if you like good emotional dramas it's worth giving it a shot. I wouldn't call it less moe than Haruhi though, about the same level but not less.
 
And like Marmite, Air seems to provoke hostile or embracing responses. :D

Thank you all for such swift and useful replies! Very helpful! I like anime that Ramadahl refers to as "fairly slow paced tragedy/drama series" so I intend to purchase Air upon its new English-Dub release.

I see on closer inspection that Amazon's listing of Air TV says: "Region: All Regions". I shall expect this to be amended to Region 1 upon release (if amended at all!), rather than UK Region 2 as I initially thought.

Thanks also Nyu - the weblink you provide is indeed the right anime. Cheers. I will add "Kanon 2006" to my list to check out.

Ramadahl, Thanks for your answers. I'm rather new to the Anime scene so what do you mean by "H" when you write?:
"an H version of Air would be icky"
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And thanks Noratav - your answer rounds the info off nicely. What does "OVA" mean though? I've seen this term used around Anime sites, but have no clue what people mean? I also wonder What "moe" means? You wrote:
"I wouldn't call it less moe than Haruhi though, about the same level but not less."
Click to expand...

Cheers EVERYONE!
minister3333
 
minister3333 said:
And thanks Noratav - your answer rounds the info off nicely. What does "OVA" mean though? I've seen this term used around Anime sites, but have no clue what people mean? I also wonder What "moe" means? You wrote:
"I wouldn't call it less moe than Haruhi though, about the same level but not less."
Click to expand...

Cheers EVERYONE!
minister3333
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Original Animation Video & Original Video Animation (OAV / OVA) are interchangeable terms used in Japan to refer to animation that is released directly to the video market without first going through a theatrical release or television broadcast.
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http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclo ... .php?id=35

Moe (萌え, Moe? mo'e, pronounced "mo-eh" literally 'budding', as with a plant) is a Japanese slang word originally referring to fetish for or love for characters in video games or anime and manga.
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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moe_%28slang%29
 
Jayme said:
minister3333 said:
Ramadahl, Thanks for your answers. I'm rather new to the Anime scene so what do you mean by "H" when you write?:
"an H version of Air would be icky"
Click to expand...
Click to expand...

I'm assuming you know what Hentai is, H is a common term for it.
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Uh, yeah... the anime versions of Air and Kanon are adapted from pornographic computer games. However there's no sex in either anime, resulting in some rather different (and I'd say better) characters than those portrayed in the games.

Ryo Chan said:
Moe (萌え, Moe? mo'e, pronounced "mo-eh" literally 'budding', as with a plant) is a Japanese slang word originally referring to fetish for or love for characters in video games or anime and manga.
Click to expand...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moe_%28slang%29
Click to expand...
Eh... that's kinda a confusing way of putting it... I'd say that a character described as moe is intended to evoke a protective, parental response in the audience. It's also non-sexual.
 
Thanks everyone for the replies and definitions. I didn't realise Air was adapted from an adult video game. Good to hear the TV series/Film takes a different path though.

Looking to get a hold of Air when it's released this month with Eng Dub, so I'll let you know what I think.

Cheers.
minister3333
 
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