Summary:
While buying some groceries, President Aria uses his sixth sense and runs off through a series of narrow alleyways. Akari gives chase, and stops in a small courtyard full of cats. A little girl named Ami with a bell around her neck comes out and gives Akari a strange letter. Akari has little success finding the address, and a friendly mailman (Namihei Anno) notices the letter contains an old data card. With help from a Sylph (a wind messenger whose job it is to deliver feelings) nick-named Woody (Udo Ayanokohji), Akari sets off to the approximate location of the letter’s address.
It turns out that the recipient, Allen Honda, is one of the deceased engineers who worked at the Kai Tak base. This was one of many bases that drilled to cover Aqua with water, and the letter is from his wife on the day of their wedding anniversary. Unfortunately, bases back then were often destroyed in flooding accidents, and everyone at Kai Tak base died when it sank into the sea. Akari is able to play the message in front of Allen’s gravestone, and mentions that she never did find Ami again.
Reaction:
OMG, reverse Shigofumi! Of course the twist in this episode is that Ami was actually the cat. While this is touching, it also gave me a serious case of the heebie jeebies. I was on guard the moment that Akari stepped into that square full of cats, and I was really worried it was going to be like when Sakaki got attacked by the cat gang. The connection with Ami was somewhat subtle, but as soon as I saw her bell, I immediately thought that was very catlike of her. BTW, I don’t believe that Alicia really bought a “foot massager” either.
I like how every episode is crammed with lots of interesting little details. We learned that President Aria’s need for mail-ordered gourmet food is what prevents the company from hiring any other Undines. There was Alice wishing she had eagle eyes like Aika to spot the Akari pantsu shot, and there was Alicia demonstrating her amazing racing skills. Alicia took a customer out, researched Kai Tak base, got a compatible data card reader with audio and video, went to the florist, borrowed a wind Vespa, and still arrived at the island only 10 minutes or so behind Woody. Is Woody that slow, or is Alicia that awesome? I say it’s probably the latter.
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This post was written by...
Kabitzin – who has written 1938 posts on Sea Slugs! Anime Blog.
One of the founders of Sea Slugs, I handle most of the blog admin tasks while wearing my I AM BOSS shirt. I like my action series well choreographed, and my romance series extra trashy. I also have a soft spot for puns.
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You think thats bad? Wait til you get the “Chubby Wuhbies” in ARIA THE NATURAL!! I admit that this also gave me goosebumps when I first saw it.
Its definitely the latter! YOU ARE NOT A TOY!!!! *gets smacked with fan* Thank you, I’ll be here all week!!!
First Necoconeco and now more Azumanga references! YAYNESS! In regards to that Sakaki pic on the wiki page, I always get so aroused when I see her sweater… for obvious reasons! I mean look at it! It looks SOOO REAL!!! *touches screen*
Oh yea, you have definitely been converted! It only gets better from here! ^_^
Akari is the anti-Sakaki, and there’s lots more cats to help prove it. Aria rocks, though. All three seasons and the OVA!
Alicia is the real Speed Racer.
Blue is the best color.
Reading these posts are funny, because this show is like one of the only anime that I can actually remember ever episode of. I guess that’s Aria for you.
SO not Shigofumi.
It’s because she has blue eyes. I think skin-colour is best but that has nothing to do with ice.
I remember tearing up a lot when I was watching this episode. ARIA has a knack for making me so damn emotional.
Natch.
“Reading these posts are funny, because this show is like one of the only anime that I can actually remember ever episode of. ”
Just seeing the screenshots make me go “OH! I REMEMBER THAT ONE!,” and then all the memories come rushing back.
Yeah, this was an emotional episode, and it was sweet how Allen’s wife told him that whenever the water flowed by the house, she imagined Allen returning home.