Collection
Description
After 150 years of transformation, the planet Aqua (formerly called Mars) now has more than 90 percent of its surface covered by water. A young girl named Akari arrives in the city of Neo-Venezia, an exact replica of Italys Venice, hoping to become an Undine, the most coveted job on Aqua.
Language
Original language
Japanese
User reviews
LibraryThing member PhoenixTerran
Although Kozue Amano's two volume series Aqua is generally referred to as the prequel of her longer series Aria, as far as I can tell it was really more of a title change when the original manga serialization switched magazines. But ether way, I've been meaning to read both Aqua and Aria for a
The year is 2301 A.D. During the terraforming of Mars, the ice caps melted more than originally anticipated, covering nearly ninety percent of the planet, now also known as Aqua, in water. The port town of Neo-Venezia was modeled after the city of Venice, Italy which no longer exists on Manhome. But like the original city, Neo-Venezia attracts many tourists, sightseers, and travelers. The premier tour guides are gondoliers known as undines. Akari Miuznashi has traveled from Tokyo to Neo-Venezia to study to become an undine. She is fortunate to have been accepted by the Aria Company to become the apprentice of Alicia, considered by many to be one of the best undines on Aqua. Akari has the potential to become a great undine through hard work and practice, although she'll have to unlearn a few bad habits that she picked up as a self-taught gondolier first. But with the help of Alicia and Akari, an apprentice at the renowned Himeya Company, Akari is determined to make her dream come true and enjoy herself while she's doing it.
What appealed to me most about the first volume of Aqua (beside the whole Mars thing) was the artwork. Amano's landscapes, waterscapes, and cityscapes are gorgeous. And she doesn't forget to include details like the water life or Mars' double moons. Her use of water is lovely, a good thing since there is a lot of it. Even the spaceships feel like they're floating through the air. The panels with Alicia are generally striking as well. The elegance and grace of her movements and her skill as an undine are clear, especially when compared to the more awkward attempts made by Aika and Akari, although they have their moments, too. Not everything is so beautiful, however. The Mars cats are very odd looking creatures but delightful in their own way and Aika's facial expressions can be a bit peculiar from time to time.
For someone whose dream it is to become an undine, Akari seems to know surprisingly little about Aqua and Neo-Venezia. However, this does give Amano the excuse to take the readers along with Akari on a sightseeing trip of sorts as she learns more about and explores her new home. She might come across as clueless fairly frequently, but Akari is also extraordinarily earnest and enthusiastic--her romanticism and innocence are utterly endearing. Aqua is not a series that everyone will be able to appreciate. If you're looking for an action packed science fiction adventure, you will be disappointed. But if you're in the mood for a charming and relaxing journey, Aqua is simply perfect. It's gentle and laid back and even the tension in the story (what little of it there is) is fairly subdued. If anything, the first volume of Aqua might be too pretty and serene. But, I did enjoy it. It's a feel good manga and I will be reading both the second volume of Aqua and Aria as well.
Experiments in Manga
Show More
while now. I was pleased when Aria was selected for the March 2011 Manga Moveable Feast because it gave me the last push I needed to finally get around to picking the manga up. The first volume of Aqua was originally published in Japan in 2001 and then again in 2003. The English edition was released in 2007 by Tokyopop. Tokyopop also published the second volume of Aqua and after ADV suspended the publication of Aria, Tokyopop picked up the license, so far publishing the first six volumes of the twelve volume series.The year is 2301 A.D. During the terraforming of Mars, the ice caps melted more than originally anticipated, covering nearly ninety percent of the planet, now also known as Aqua, in water. The port town of Neo-Venezia was modeled after the city of Venice, Italy which no longer exists on Manhome. But like the original city, Neo-Venezia attracts many tourists, sightseers, and travelers. The premier tour guides are gondoliers known as undines. Akari Miuznashi has traveled from Tokyo to Neo-Venezia to study to become an undine. She is fortunate to have been accepted by the Aria Company to become the apprentice of Alicia, considered by many to be one of the best undines on Aqua. Akari has the potential to become a great undine through hard work and practice, although she'll have to unlearn a few bad habits that she picked up as a self-taught gondolier first. But with the help of Alicia and Akari, an apprentice at the renowned Himeya Company, Akari is determined to make her dream come true and enjoy herself while she's doing it.
What appealed to me most about the first volume of Aqua (beside the whole Mars thing) was the artwork. Amano's landscapes, waterscapes, and cityscapes are gorgeous. And she doesn't forget to include details like the water life or Mars' double moons. Her use of water is lovely, a good thing since there is a lot of it. Even the spaceships feel like they're floating through the air. The panels with Alicia are generally striking as well. The elegance and grace of her movements and her skill as an undine are clear, especially when compared to the more awkward attempts made by Aika and Akari, although they have their moments, too. Not everything is so beautiful, however. The Mars cats are very odd looking creatures but delightful in their own way and Aika's facial expressions can be a bit peculiar from time to time.
For someone whose dream it is to become an undine, Akari seems to know surprisingly little about Aqua and Neo-Venezia. However, this does give Amano the excuse to take the readers along with Akari on a sightseeing trip of sorts as she learns more about and explores her new home. She might come across as clueless fairly frequently, but Akari is also extraordinarily earnest and enthusiastic--her romanticism and innocence are utterly endearing. Aqua is not a series that everyone will be able to appreciate. If you're looking for an action packed science fiction adventure, you will be disappointed. But if you're in the mood for a charming and relaxing journey, Aqua is simply perfect. It's gentle and laid back and even the tension in the story (what little of it there is) is fairly subdued. If anything, the first volume of Aqua might be too pretty and serene. But, I did enjoy it. It's a feel good manga and I will be reading both the second volume of Aqua and Aria as well.
Experiments in Manga
Show Less
LibraryThing member hemlockclock
Exciting new story, very different from many of the manga I've read but still keeping with the manga traditions of pretty girls, big eyes, and and the melodrama that I love. The story drifts form most manga not only in that the story is not set in Japan and the world is more like the watery city of
Show More
Venice, but the focus is not on fighting demons or boy-meets-girl. I like that someone has moved on from these plot repititions. Show Less
LibraryThing member keristars
This manga is not going to appeal to everyone, but I quite like it. I don't really remember what prompted me to look at it, but I had downloaded some fan scans/translations of this and the second volume several months ago. After reading through those files several times, I decided that I may as
Aqua has only two volumes, because the mangaka switched from one magazine for publishing the story to another, and in the process change the name of the series. Some events early in the Aria chapters make more sense when you've read this first volume of Aqua, at the very least.
The art style is very pretty, with lots of beautiful scenery of Neo-Venezia, which is a city on terraformed Mars (called "Aqua" now) made to resemble Venice, Italy. The character designs are very cute, though the cat President Aria is a bit freaky until you get used to him.
I'd say the style and designs match very well with the style and pace of the story, which is slice-of-life about a young woman named Akari, who has traveled from Earth to Neo-Venezia to become an Undine. Undines are women who give guided tours of the cities via gondolas, a very prestigious job due to the various skills required.
In this volume of Aqua, we see Akari arrive on Neo-Venezia and installed as a Double, the word used for apprentices because they wear two gloves, for Aria Company, one of the best of the Undine companies. In fact, she's one of only two employees and her senior, Alicia, is known as the best Undine, according to the new friend Akari makes from Himeya Company, fellow Double Aika.
Show More
well buy a physical copy of the books, so I did. It was a good decision, because I love the series, and I've already read this book three times since getting it.Aqua has only two volumes, because the mangaka switched from one magazine for publishing the story to another, and in the process change the name of the series. Some events early in the Aria chapters make more sense when you've read this first volume of Aqua, at the very least.
The art style is very pretty, with lots of beautiful scenery of Neo-Venezia, which is a city on terraformed Mars (called "Aqua" now) made to resemble Venice, Italy. The character designs are very cute, though the cat President Aria is a bit freaky until you get used to him.
I'd say the style and designs match very well with the style and pace of the story, which is slice-of-life about a young woman named Akari, who has traveled from Earth to Neo-Venezia to become an Undine. Undines are women who give guided tours of the cities via gondolas, a very prestigious job due to the various skills required.
In this volume of Aqua, we see Akari arrive on Neo-Venezia and installed as a Double, the word used for apprentices because they wear two gloves, for Aria Company, one of the best of the Undine companies. In fact, she's one of only two employees and her senior, Alicia, is known as the best Undine, according to the new friend Akari makes from Himeya Company, fellow Double Aika.
Show Less
LibraryThing member Shimmin
A slow-paced, gentle manga about a young woman who travels to future Mars to become a gondolier (it makes sense in context). The story is basically just about Mars, her getting to know people and such ordinary things. I enjoyed the soothing tone of the story, but I have to say that as a result, not
Show More
much happens. It's fairly short on dialogue, and at times is almost a picture book. But it's done well. Show Less
LibraryThing member DeweyEver
Prequel to the anime/manga series Aria, Aqua is about Akari, a young girl who goes to Neo-Venezia to become an Undine, a gondolier tour guide for the city.
In this two-volume story, the reader is introduced to Neo-Venezia, a replica of the old Italian city of Venice, and Akari and her friends as she
In this two-volume story, the reader is introduced to Neo-Venezia, a replica of the old Italian city of Venice, and Akari and her friends as she
Show More
trains to become an Undine. The artwork, especially for the buildings and waterways, are detailed and lovely, and the artist manages to make rowing a boat look graceful and dynamic. It's enjoyable more for the atmosphere than real plot. Show Less