WARNING: THIS ENTRY IS LONG AND DOES DEPICT BASICALLY THE ENTIRE STORY OF 'AIR'.Alright, first of all 'Air' is anime I watched last week. I know what most of you think about anime and to be honest, I really don't care. Okay, so 'Air' isn't like most other animes with all the fighting and stuff. It's like Escaflowne(another anime) but without the fighting. You guys might think it's lame and stuff but I love the story line. Anyway, I will be spoiling the story here because I want to share what I felt about it and what in the show caused me to feel like that and stuf. So, Air is sweet, cute and just 'nice. It's for the sentimental guys and the compassionate girls among us.
Anyway, it starts off with this guy Kunisaki Yukita and it's the first day of the summer vacation. He's a traveller who goes around putting on a show with this one puppet to make money off kids. He meets this girl called Kamio Misuzu who wakes him up and they spend the whole day toegther without knowing each other's name. At the end of the night, he has nowhere to sleep because he has no money but Misuzu asks him to stay at her house and she says her mum will be fine with it. At this point, they find out each others' names. So he goes back and the mum lets him stay. She also takes a liking to him thinking he can be the one to 'save' her daughter. Through the series we find out the mum rejects Misuzu and pushes her away. Oh, and I love Misuzu's character. She's so sweet, angelic and cute. So it's quite sad to see her mum treat her like that. Her mum works all day so Misuzu makes her own breakfast, lunch and dinner. Kano and Kirisihima Hijiri come in within the 2nd episode. Hijiri is Kano's elder sister; she owns a clinic and runs it alone since their parents died. She gives Yukita a job because she sees his one-puppet puppet isn't making him much money. Eventually, Minagi and Michiru are introduced. Minagi's like really smart, quiet whilst Michiru seems about 10 years old and she's hyper and does 3 things - eats, sleeps and plays. She also gets into the habit of kicking Yukita in the face everytime she sees him. Michiru and Minagi are like sisters. Anyway, Michiru is mysterious, we know nothing of her family or her past except that she met Minagi when she was at a train station when they were both young. Yukita and Misuzu become close and she wants someone to play with because she's never had that before. As we find out in the later episodes, she's a 'strange kid' and that's why people won't play with her. So, it's her birthday. It appears her mum as completely forgotten because she comes home late from work and when she does, Misuzu is asleep. Yukita argues with her at how she can treat her daughter like that. The next day, Yukita agrees to play cards with her (up until now, he had refused) and she ends up crying hysterically. Her mum rushes in and Yukita is dumbstruck as to what is going on. Her mum sorts her out and puts her into bed. We find out she acted like that because she has an illness which makes her cry hysterically when she gets really close to someone. Sounds like a stupid illness? Well, yeah it is but that's not all it does to her. So Yukita decides he has to leave the house because if they continue to be close, she will keep crying. But even though he has left the house he says he'll still walk her to and from school. She doesn't want him to go and she gets upset. He doesn't know. Oh yeah, he's been staying there since that first night, btw. He has nowhere to go so he stays on a bench. The next day, he gets taken care of by Minagi who cooks for him. Oh yeah, he's been getting close to her and Michiru whilst Mizusu went to summer school. Misuzu sees this and gets jealous/upset. We find out that her mum isn't actually her mum, she's her aunt who got forced with Misuzu and that she actually didn't/still doesn't want to look after Misuzu.
Anyway, to keep you suspence I'll tell you about the story of Minagi, which is also developing. Her mum has amnesia and thinks Minagi is actually Michiru. Michiru was the name of Minagi's mum's 2nd baby who died before birth. However, one day, her mum forgets she even had any daughters and Minagi is forced to move out. She ends up staying somehwere and Yukita joins her. Then we find out the story of how Minagi's parents fought and split up after the death of their 2nd child, Michiru. This led to her mum suffering amnesia and Minagi had to pretend to be Michiru because it made her mum smile to think Michiru was alive. Anyway, we see the mum leave the health clinic and Hijiri tells Yukita that she knows she has lost something of great importance but she doesn't know what. Yukita then goes back to Minagi and tells her he is leaving and that he wants Minagi to go with her. But first, he makes her say goodbye to her mum. She says "
mum?" and there's a long blank silence of staring. Minagi's mum then says "M
inagi?". Then they both smile, run to hug each other and Minagi shouts '
MUM!'. It's sweet. So Yukita was bluffing about leaving town and Minagi has been reunited with her mum. Then one day, after playing, Yukita and Michiru are invited back to Minagi's for dinner. At the dinner table, Minagi's mum asks Michiru what her name is. Michiru hesitates then tells her but thinks this will cause the mum distress. The mum says "
what a beautiful name!" and they enjoy dinner.
So, back to Misuzu and her aunt. One day when Yukita is playing with Yukita, her mum speaks to Yukita and tells him that she is leaving for a 'pointless hot springs tour'. She doesn't tell her daughter and leaves her daughter in Yukita's care. So he's staying there again and she's really ill. She can't move out of bed and she can barely walk. Yukita reads her picture diary, very briefly that night whilst she is still awake wondering what the book is. It has loads of things she has done with Yukita. It's sweet and Yukita says '
don't write about what you do each day, write about what you want to do and I will do them with you'. She tells him she wants to go to the beach and play so he says he'll take her the next day.
Oh yeah, I forgot a major bit of plot. I'll fill in here because it really becomes important now. Basically, Yukita lost his mum when he was young. All he remembers is that she was searching for a girl on the other side of the sky with wings. She told him a story that the girl with wings is suffering. She told him that there would be one person who could save her but that person and the person she is closest to will suffer. The girl will dream and the dreams will '
destroy that girl'. The dream sequence his mum speaks of also follows that of the dreams Misuzu is having. She alks about her dreams with Yukita by the way, he's very interested. His mum also said the girl who dreams will '
eventually forget everything. She will not even be able to remember the person most important to her. And the morning she sees the final dream, she will die. She will always be alone. If their two hearts grow closer, they both fall ill. They cannot be helped, that is why she said "Get away from me!" ' His mum also says about a child wanting to go to see but she couldn't take that child. Anyway, when Misuzu's aunt is leaving Yukita says to her '
Before long, Misuzu will forget...about me and you! And when she sees the final dream, she'll probably die.'
Anyway, when is taking her to the beach, she collapses and can't make it. She cries uncontrollably and he has to take her back home. Her legs are giving up on her and she tells Yukita of the dream she had. She then tries to get up and her legs become paralysed. The next day, she suffers more; it's her back. She thinks she'll be okay and only thing she says to him is '
stay with me'. She then says to him a bit later "
If I'm with you, I don't need anything else". Oh, and she repeats the wish she keeps wanting to fulfil. She says:
"I want to go to the ocean with you...and play on the seashore."
He then tells her he has been thinking about leaving because otherwise '
they won't be saved'. So the next morning she wakes up, finds him and say "
I want to go with you! I want to have a journey, like I did in my dream, with you." It's so sweet and he says "
I'm not leaving the house, I'm running away from you. We can never see each other again." That night, he falls asleep and dreams of his mum and some things she said to him. One of them was
"You will meet with a girl in some city for sure. If you feel that you want to save her no matter what, put your heart into the doll." The doll is his puppet, for any who were wondering. Anyway, when he wakes up, some kids are trying to wake him up. He's at a bus stop, btw. He decides that he must improve his puppet show to save Misuzu. He shows them his act and they show him how to improve it. By the end of the day, he has improved it so much it makes them laugh like crazy. He returns to Misuzu that night when she is sleeping, bringing her favourite juice. He then says to her "
I won't go anywhere...anymore!". She opens her eyes but then closes them quickly and seems to go through a lot of pain. The expression is taken from her face and she's just lying there. A bright light grows across the screen. We then get an insight into what he is thinking:
"I want to be with Misuzu. If possible, I'd like to start over from when we met. And this time...forever...with Misuzu..."
We go back to her room. He's gone but the doll is next to her pillow. She is perfectly fine, or so it appears and she sits up. She asks where he is. No reply...
Insert flashback of Yukita's ancestors; we see the girl with wings. She was a good friend of a guy who looks like Yukita and a woman, who must be his grand mother or great grand mother. Yukita's male ancestor had a thing for the girl with wings but she gets killed, so he and the woman decide to have a child in her honour. All very weird but very sweet.
Back to the present. Yukita's soul has been put into a bird's body and time has gone back to the day before she meets Yukita. He remembers he was next to someone 'extremely important to him' but he cannot recall what happened. So we see Misuzu living out that day where she sees Yukita sleeping, but he will not wake. She becomes friendly with the bird and takes it home. Then the next day, the day goes on as the first. Yukita acts exactly as he did the first time. So the story goes on and we see what we didn't see before to fill in the gaps. The first time Yukita leaves, we see how Misuzu acts. She cries and says "I'm all alone". Then when her mum leaves, story gets deep. We find out 'her mum' has been scared to love her because she doesn't want Misuzu's dad to just turn up and take her away. So 'her mum' goes to get custody of Misuzu but doesn't tell Yukita or Misuzu about this. They just think she has abandoned Misuzu. Yukito stays with her, as you know. Then he leaves her when she is very ill. Misuzu cries and cries. She's truly alone. We then find out why she's crying that she loves him. She decides she doesn't care about living anymore, and goes to sleep crying. Then we see Yukita's doll by her face. Camera zooms out...he's kneeling by her telling us how he's finally realized that when she laughs, that is what makes him happy. She doesn't wake up, he cries. A glow starts to take up the screen. Suddenly it covers the screen and suddenly, we see Misuzu sleeping. She wakes up to see the bird on her table, next to her bed. The bird's looking at her. Then Misuzu wonders why she thought she couldn't move anymore...she calls Yukito. The bird stares at her and we go into the bird's thoughts...he remembers. He remembers that he was Kunisaki Yukito and he "was close to Misuzu".
Back to Misuzu. She's healthy again. The bird stares at her and we hear Yukito's voice..."Misuzu". Bird shatters and it turns into several bits of glitter. The room glows as the room sparkles. The glitetr turns into a glowing spirit of Yukito. I shall now type what it said between him and her..
Yukito: I'm right here. Right here!
Misuzu: Yukito-san!
Yukito: Misuzu...
*they both hug*
Misuzu: Yukito-san! Yukito-san! Yukito-san!
Yukito: Misuzu.
Misuzu: I'll try my best, okay? I'll try my best! So, don't go anywhere, anymore. Stay near me forever. Yukito-san.
Yukito: It's all right. Since you're a strong girl, you can definetly reach the goal no-one has reached. You can make it.
*she hugs him tighter*
Misuzu: I don't want you to go anywhere! I don't want you to..
*he gets hugs her tighter*
Yukito: I'll be near you forever. I'll never forget you. I'll be with you.
Misuzu: Yukito-san?
*she steps towards him, upset and scared. Her arm stretches towards him because he's stepped away*
Misuzu: Yukito-san?!
Yukito: Ah, my head is growing hazy again but Misuzu, I'll be with you. I'll be with you forever.
Misuzu: Yukito-san! Wait! Don't go!
Yukito: Let's try our best, Misuzu. Let's try our best until we reach the goal, Misuzu.
Misuzu: Okay, I'll try my best! Let's try our best, Yukito-san!
*they both stretch their hands out and hold each other*
He disappears as she lays up in bed. The bird is on her desk, looking at her. She goes to sleep, the bird is on her bed. She remembers the night before with Misuzu. She wakes up and goes out to buy a drink. She gets to the machine and can't decide which to buy. An arm stretches out from behind and Misuzu's favourite drink appears. This bit makes me smile, because we see her mum. The bird knows the person but can't remember who it is. We see Misuzu and her 'mum' walking together. Her mum then explains why she went away. And now she's her mum! Yay! She got permission from Misuzu's dad's parents after pleading. She says "If I loved you, it would be harded on me when you leave".
Oh, and quick bit to pop in. She got Misuzu a birthday present but didn't give it to her because she didn't want to get attached.
So, Misuzu's still sick so she goes to bed. Her mum brings her some soup but Misuzu tastes it and says she doesn't like it. Her mum is clearly upset. Misuzu cries and her mum thinks it's because the cooking was so bad. Misuzu says "It's not that. If we get close, you'll get sick". Her mum tells her she doesn't care and if she gets sick, that'll make her 'really happy because that'll mean they're really close'. Her mum gives her more soup, and she likes it. They end up falling asleep together that night. Her mum then cuts her hair, but she cuts it too short and it reminds them both of when Misuzu was small. Okay so then, Misuzu loses the use of her legs. So her mum gets a wheelchair. The next day, Misuzu doesn't recognise her mum - just as Yukito predicted. Her mum is bewildered. She walks Misuzu to the beach because that is where Misuzu wanted to go the day before. They bump into Misuzu's dad who does not know her aunty has got custody. He wants Misuzu back. Haruko, Misuzu's mum is adamant to keep her. The dad decides to ask Misuzu. Haruko doesn't let her answer and begs for 3 days then he can ask and Misuzu wants to go with him, she can. The rest of that day goes badly for the two. Misuzu is very cold towards Haruko. Next day, she tells Haruko she wants to go to the beach. So on the way, Misuzu gets too hot and want to go back. Misuzu gets in a stop because Haruko insists they go. Then Haruko loses it and walks off. Misuzu wriggles onto the floor. She can't move - she's helpless. Haruko runs back crying and helps her up. She says sorry and takes her back home. They get home and they get on. But Misuzu wants Haruko to leave her room during the day. That night, Haruko interrupts Misuzu playing cards to close the curtains and wish her goodnight. Misuzu wants her to stay and play cards. Her mum's delighted. =) The day comes when it's make or break for Haruko and Misuzu. She takes Misuzu to the beach where they meet her dad. Haruko gives Misuzu up without Misuzu answering because she can't bear to hear Misuzu say she wants to go with him. But then, Misuzu puts up a fight in his arms falls to the floor. We can't hear what's being said but Haruko runs to Misuzu. Misuzu gets up and walks to Haruko putting her arm out. Her dad looks distraught....the bird is in the background...
Haruko's crying but when they get there, they hug and hold each other. They got on really well from then. So they go out the next day and they find the present Haruko got Misuzu for her birthday. It's a nice moment. Misuzu goes to sleep and Haruko takes her home. Then on the day of the last dream, Haruko gets scared. She makes Misuzu stay up the whole night. Haruko falls asleep and then near the end, so does Misuzu. She has the final dream. In the morning, Haruko wakes her up and asks "does it hurt anywhere?" Misuzu says no, but that's a lie. A few nights before she says "my wings hurt" but her mum thinks she is imaging things. Her back hurts when Haruko leaves. Obviously her wings, again.
So Haruko thinks everything is alright and says "hah! The freeloader was wrong! I knew it". So they go out to the beach and Misuzu gets her favourite drink, again. Then Misuzu decides she wants to walk even though her legs have been very immobile. She decides to make Haruko move a certain distance away, about 5 metres and tries to walk to her. The bird is still Misuzu's companion, so it watches. Misuzu's about to fall, Haruko runs to catch her. Misuzu dies in her arms and they have a teary conversation. Haruko thought she could start again and is all sad. Dad comes back, talks to Haruko after Misuzu's funeral and then he goes. Haruko tells the bird that he can fly now. And he does...like Yukito wanted to. =)
That's it, basically. However, I cannot do this series justice. It's amazing. If you want to watch it, I will gladly led you a DVD with the files on it. Only be able to play it on a PC, though.
