Aria as Monomyth ← ¬.Q

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Aria as Monomyth

It struck me that though Aria seems slow-paced and gentle, ultimately it mimics an often-mimicked pattern identified by Joseph Campbell as “the Hero’s Journey.” It’s what made mythology survive and it’s what made Star Wars a “saga.” When I think “heroes” and “journeys” I think Lord of the Rings for whatever reason, and I don’t think I’m alone in that: the word conjures the old, the sword-and-spell fantasy, the mythological and grand, the legendary. And yet, after much thought, I have discovered that Aria follows the same pattern. That Akari is a hero. That her time on Aqua, her time that spans three years (seventy-two months) and fifty-two episodes, is a journey.

Aria as Hero’s Journey
~the adventures of Mizunashi Akari~

The Call
Akari decides she wants to be a professional gondolier and sets out to achieve this goal.

Allies
Joining Akari in her quest are Aika and, later, Alice. Providing guidance are the Three Water Fairies and Those Warm People‚Ñ¢ (includes Cait Sith and Grandma).

Preparation
Akari arrives on Aqua, joins the Aria Company, begins basic learning stuffs and practice routine.

Crossing the Threshold of Adventure
Akari takes on her first customer, Akatsuki.

Road of Trials
Aria the Animation 1-13, Aria the Natural 1-26, Aria the OVA, and Aria the Origination 1-8. Akari goes about her training, seeks out more knowledge/power, overcomes obstacles, learns valuable lessons, and becomes more and more wonderful with every passing frame. Also, she befriends new allies as she overcomes obstacles.

The Belly of the Beast
Aria the Origination 9-11. Akari is falling behind her allies as they go on ahead and pass through the gates of victory before she is able to. Suddenly she is ‘alone.’ Though she is too wonderful to actually be down about it, it’s a downing experience—it is a dire period.

“Saving” Experience
Aria the Origination 12-13. Akari becomes a professional, accomplishing her quest’s goals.

Transforming Changes
Akari is no longer the incapable darling we remember from Aria the Animation. Alicia leaves the Aria Company, leaving Akari to fend for herself. Akari matures as a person and learns her final—and most important—lesson: that nothing lasts forever, and that change is whatever you make of it.

The Return
Akari returns to her friends as a caring and mature professional. Also, she has attained a new level in life: she has become an expert of wonderfulness.

Sharing the Gift
R1 DVDs!

it is moist & delicious meta

and it's not even a lie!

lolikitsune penned this last love song at 18:24 on May 14, 2008.

It's categorized as Anime, and it's tagged over nine thousand things, including: the animation (9), the hero's journey, the natural (4), the origination (13). What a slut.

At least it only has 15 comments and 1,501 views.

15 Responses

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At 6:35 pm on May 14, 2008,
Michael said:

This is highly reminiscent of Yokohama Kaidashi Kikou.
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At 6:40 pm on May 14, 2008,
DrmChsr0 said:

Well once you look at it everything’s a monomyth :P
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At 6:56 pm on May 14, 2008,
scottfrye said:

Another post to promote Aria? Well Aria should be promoted. It’s is that good and all the world should know of its greatness.

Also Yokohama Kaidashi Kikou were awesome OVA. I just wish that there was more of it.
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At 7:11 pm on May 14, 2008,
lolikitsune said:

Looks like +2 on my to watch list.
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At 7:47 pm on May 14, 2008,
scottfrye said:

This maybe obvious but there are 2 OVAs for Yokohama Kaidashi Kikou. Not sure which one is the first one. I think when I first saw it I watched it out of order. Not sure if makes a difference.
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At 7:55 pm on May 14, 2008,
lolikitsune said:

This maybe obvious but there are 2 OVAs for Yokohama Kaidashi Kikou.

Please allow me to quote myself:

Looks like +2 on my to watch list.
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At 7:58 pm on May 14, 2008,
scottfrye said:

Just wanted to make sure you knew that. (I’m an idiot.)
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At 7:59 pm on May 14, 2008,
lolikitsune said:

Nah, ‘s cool. I figured it out quickly, and am already acquiring all of the necessary media.
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At 4:00 am on May 15, 2008,
Michael said:

FYI (correct me if I’m wrong),Joseph Campbell concoted this idea when he analyzed Finnegans Wake. Yes, that book actually does mean something to scholars, hahaha.

Going back, I really do believe you’d enjoy YKK. What happened in Aria was simply a reiteration of a central theme in One Hundred Years of Solitude:

“What did you expect,” murmured Jos√© Arcadio Segundo. “Time passes.”
“That’s how it goes,” √örsula said, “But not so much.”

:D
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At 5:35 am on May 15, 2008,
TheBigN said:

If you’re going to check out YKK, I’d say check out the manga first, since the OVA randomly yanks out chapters from there. But YMMV. :P
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At 4:04 pm on May 15, 2008,
lolikitsune said:

Most. Painful. Pingback. Ever.
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