Mizunashi Akari | Solaris Japan

My favorite time of the year has started, at least in Japan: late summer. That blissful period of warmth without sweat and of breezes without rain clouds, which calls for a lot of outdoor time. The parks are full of people walking, exercising and chatting, right in that golden hour of the day, when the sunlight is gentle and the shadows are long. ( ´ω｀)

Sorry for waxing poetic (´ ∀｀；) but I really love this time of the year. I love it so much that I wish it could last forever. Luckily, I’m an otaku (｡•̀ᴗ -)☆

The peace and the bliss of these absolutely perfect days have already been immortalized in a beautiful series: Aria the Animation. Originally a manga by Kozue Amano, it became a 3-season anime series by the touch of Junichi Sato. Yes, the same Junichi Sato who directed Sailor Moon!

Aria may be less sparkly than Sailor Moon, but it’s no less fantastic. Brace for the short summary, because if you’re an iyashikei fan like me, you’re gonna want to know more. (･`◡´･)

A new life in a new world (no trucks needed)

In a not-so-distant future, humanity has successfully terraformed Mars. Rather, aquaformed it; we were so successful in bringing water to the red planet that we had to rename it to “Aqua”, since there was more water than land. 🌊🌊🌊 On such a planet, a beautiful city was created: Neo-Venezia.

Manhome (Earth)-native Akari Mizunashi has traveled to Aqua to learn how to become an Undine, an elegant Neo-Venetian version of Italy’s gondolieri. We follow her in her journey up the ranks of her craft, as she discovers what it takes to become a top-tier gondolier.

◦°˚\(*❛ ‿ ❛)/˚°◦

Her company, the Aria Company, is the home office of two of the greatest Undines Neo-Venezia has seen in the century and a half of its existence: Akino, the “Grandmother”, and Alicia, the current top Prima of Aria and Akari’s mentor.

In Neo-Venezia, all Undine agencies have cats for presidents. In Aria Company the president is a white, chubby Aquan cat named Aria Pokoteng who meows very strangely. He’s known more as “President Aria” rather than by his name.

The city may be new, but the legends of the original Venice follow it across the stars. Akari’s job as an apprentice Undine is to discover them and instill a sense of wonder into them, so that in the future, once she graduates, she can inspire tourists to cherish Neo-Venezia just as much as she does.

And that’s basically it! As a good slice-of-life, each episode is one story, carefully written to leave no cliffhangers, just a satisfying feeling of a well-enjoyed day. Even the soundtrack is soothing to your ears! (ृˊ◡˴⁎৲ु॰∘♡

The series has 3 seasons in the following order:

1. Aria the Animation

2. Aria the Natural

3. and Aria the Origination. 

There are also three movies:

1. Aria the Avvenire

2. Aria the Crepuscolo

3. Aria the Benedizione.

And an OVA: Aria the Arietta. Tons of episodes to soothe your hearts and inspire your dreams!

Finally, a figure!

If you want to get a scale figure  of the Aria series, I would personally advise you to go for the one by Wing, because that base covers the most important themes of the series: the water, the city and the beauty of the seasons. We also happen to have it in stock, pre-owned. (๑ゝω・)

Granted, I’m biased, because I am an iyashikei addict. I also have this theory that maybe the reason why there aren’t as many figures from the Aria series is because the series predates the golden age of anime figures. q(╯ᆺ╰๑)

However…as always… Good Smile Company saves the day!!! ٩( ๑╹ ꇴ╹)۶

Welcome to Aria Company!

This super cute nendoroid of Akari and President Aria is love at first sight! Who wouldn’t fall in love with this bubbly smile and these big, sparkly eyes?

(´♡ᴗ♡`)

(also getting strong Anya Forger vibes from this pose)

“Thank you for waiting! Welcome to Aria Company! My name is Mizunashi Akari and I will be your tour guide today!” The puppy-eyed undine calls out brightly as she opens up the counter welcoming the guests waiting outside. ヽ(^o^ヽ) She wears an immaculate white uniform with elegant designs in royal blue, matching the colors of the sky and the clouds.

One nitpick: the two black lines running down her dress aren’t supposed to be designs…on her original uniform, they’re seams. But really, it doesn’t look bad the way it is now. ╮ (. ❛ ᴗ ❛. ) ╭

 “This is President Aria, and he will accompany you in the gondola today. We hope you enjoy the tour!” She holds up a tubby white cat, with a belly as round and soft as fresh mochi.

“Hahi…be careful, please!” Akari cautions an overly eager customer who has stepped onto the gondola ahead of time, making it rock and splash.

This Hahi (￣ﾛ￣ ) face is the trademark Akari face, and this nendoroid is the first figure to show it! If a Pop Up Parade version is in the works, I hope it will also include a version with this expression, because it’s absolutely necessary for true fans of Akari Mizunashi.

“Here, I’ll hold it for you.” She elegantly pulls the gondola closer to the pier with one foot, and holds it steady for the other customers to enter. This gentle smile isn’t just for service; it’s heartfelt. Even as a junior Undine, Akari already knows a lot about the magic of Neo-Venezia and is eager to show it to her customers!

“Well, then! Let’s go!” She declares, wielding her oar with a flourish.

This super cute nendoroid of Akari and President Aria is scheduled to be released in February 2024. Aria Company is super popular with tourists, so I recommend you book, I mean, pre-order your tour soon!

Bonus: an unintended prequel?

OK, so the next bit is headcanon borne out of much wishful thinking. But hear me out.

What if…Yurucamp were the prequel to Aria the Animation?

Though the series were created by different manga artists, they are quite similar in all the ways that matter: both are iyashikei slice-of-life stories centered around real-world locations that bring out the magic and wonder in ordinary days, as seen through the eyes of happy-go-lucky pink-haired characters and their friends.

I mean, just look at the two of them.

Practically sisters. (ᴖ◡ᴖ)

Maybe, just maybe, Nadeshiko is Akari’s ancestor. The Mt. Fuji fangirl imparted her puppy-like wonder into her children and grandchildren and great-grandchildren, until one of them finally had the opportunity to travel to Aqua (Mars) to marvel and “hahi (￣ﾛ￣ )” at the wonders beyond the stars.

In any case, this adorable Nadeshiko nendoroid is coming out in November 2023. Pre-orders are currently open as well.

We hope you enjoyed this one!

Until next time! ヾ(＾∇＾)