Otakuism

The star of the ARIA OVA is really the excellent animation. If you thought ARIA looked pretty before, which almost everyone did, then you’ll be blown away by the OVA. Everything is just so much more detailed, from the characters to the city. Neo-Venezia is really shown as a character in its own right in this OVA, more so than usual.

The actual story is pretty good, too; normal ARIA fare. Akari dreams of becoming a Prima and losing Alicia, which leads her to ask Alicia if she’s felt like that and why she chose Akari. Get a nice flash back to the undines earlier days when they were just starting out as Prima’s. Sidenote: Athena looks hawter with the longer hair. Then back in the present Alicia takes Akari up the Campanile, the big tower in the main square, and shows her that even if things change their love for Neo-Venezia won’t. Cue credits and tears.

A dream sequence Ai-chan is fine too.

A wholly satisfying thirty minutes especially with the excellent animation. I wish the third season would get this kind of budget. I don’t know how much longer I have to wait for more ARIA, but as long as I love it everything will be alright.