Aria: The Masterpiece, Volume 5

ARIA The MASTERPIECE #5

by Kozue Amano, Katie Kimura (Translator)

On the planet Aqua, a world once known as Mars, Akari Mizunashi has just made her home in the town of Neo-Venezia, a futuristic imitation of the ancient city of Venice. In pursuit of her dream to become an Undine — a gondolier who leads high-end tours around the city — Akari joins as a trainee with the Aria Company, one of the three most prestigious water-guide companies in Neo-Venezia. There, she explores the beauty of the city and the world along with other trainees from Aria and rival companies, working hard for her dreams and making new friends along the way. 

Genres: Manga, Slice Of Life, Science Fiction, Graphic Novels, Animals, Fantasy, Cozy

358 pages, Paperback

Published March 17, 2020

About the author

Kozue Amano (天野こずえ Amano Kozue) is a female Japanese manga artist. She is widely known as the creator of Aria, which proved to be a best-selling hit, and was adapted into an anime television series consisting of 3 seasons and an OVA.

Reviews

[Mehsi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this manga from Netgalley in exchange of an honest review.

This one bundles volume 7+8, we are slowly nearing completion of this manga which in ways delight me and also make me sad as I don't want it to stop. Argh! I guess after the manga ends in this bundled form, I will rewatch the anime again.

The seasons for this volume are Spring and Summer and we see how things are slowly transitioning to Autumn! I just love that we see all the seasons and waht the girls do. We see outfits change from winter to summer, we see events that have to do with the seasons (though I do wish there was more of them). It really gives an extra special feeling to the manga. Plus, I look forward to all the things that go with those season.
But the seasons aren't the only things that show that time is passing by. Just look how everyone looks in this volume, they are much more mature than in the first volumes, they look older.

Right from the first chapter I just got an overdose of the feels. Poor Aika, but I am happy with how the story progressed and what she learned. Then each chapter brings another special thing, I had so much fun reading it. Each girl is growing up and that just brought a big smile to my face. I just love it when characters grow and that we can be part of that journey.
I just love that we also see romances happening and I was just in tears (sorry, very easily emotional it seems) when Aika went to meet Al because she wanted to know what he thought about her haircut. Aww, girl.

Each chapter has such a wonderful story, it is part of the story in a whole, but also a story on it's own. I loved seeing more of Athena, see what happens to gondola's when they are too old, see the friendship between the girls, get hungry from the bbq, and go awww when I see those cute cats (I totally agree with Maa, needles are scary), we meet a ghost and I think it is good that Akari has such a friend or else..., .

And once again, I know I mentioned it before, but I just love this series so much more now that I visited Venice on my honeymoon last year. To see all those spots again in the manga is just a magical experience. Knowing that you went to those spots. Yes, it is Neo-Venezia, but it is based on Venice.

The art was once again stunning and I just love how each chapter gets better and more gorgeous.

I can't wait for the next volume to be released. I look forward to it, I want to know what Autumn and Winter will bring. I would highly recommend this series to all.

Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/

[osoi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Эти два тома используют ту же схему, что и предыдущие. Рассказывают немного о работе ундин – становится понятно, что происходит с теми гондолами, что по результатам т/о более непригодны для перевозки пассажиров. Кроме этого, наконец представляют еще один вид водного транспорта (ведь было понятно, что не гондолами едиными). Из особенных милостей – шестилетний Акацуки. Честно говоря, я не против почитать целую серию, посвященную главгероям в детстве :D

Еще в наборе кошачий профосмотр (вполне понимаю президента и разделяю его слезки). И неожиданно триллер с участием персонажа из urban fantasy, что выливается в полнейший сюр на острове-кладбище. Пожалуй, первый раз за всю серию героиню лишили защитного купола (о причинах можно поспекулировать отдельно).

I hate to see the summer end. Заканчивается все очередным праздником – на этот раз трогательным фестивалем, знаменующим окончание лета. Очень резонирует, хотя у нас лето еще не началось, а у меня стойкое ощущение, что уже сентябрь.

hisashiburi

[Gulshan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Questo volume è il mio preferito!
Ha le vibrazioni giuste per essere il migliore, al momento: io ho adorato la storia iniziale con Aika, la storia di Alice e anche quella successiva di Athena.
E le special navigation? Una più bella dell'altra.
Anche se il capitolo che mi ha impressionata maggiormente è stato uno con Akari protagonista.
Possiedo già il sesto volume, ma aspetterò di andare in fumetteria a recuperare il settimo prima di leggerlo.
Questa serie è sicuramente nella mia top five dei manga!

[Dawie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another feel good manga with some amazing art work.

[Wayne McCoy · Rating 5 out of 5]

'Aria The Masterpiece 5' with story and art by Kozue Amano is a welcome return to the gondoliers on the planet Aqua.

I've been lucky enough to read three of these volumes for review, and they are always a lovely breath of fresh air. The conflicts are manageable, the characters are mostly nice to each other, and everything just seems so nice in this world. This time around, there is a Spring festival with grilled meat. One of the gondoliers has a hair crisis and gets help. Another gondolier says a heartfelt goodbye to treasured boat. Another has amnesia and learns how others feel about her.

If you had told me about this series, I would probably have never read it, but I adore these stories, which always make me smile, and I seem to read most when I need them. The art is lovely as is this wonderful world. I hope to return there again soon.

I received a review copy of this manga from Tokyopop, Diamond Book Distributors, and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this manga.

[Pepper Parker · Rating 5 out of 5]

These were all new chapters for me, and you know what? Worth waiting a decade to read in person for. Overall, I think this volume has some of the best art out of all of them, especially the spread on page 62-63. Kozue Amano uses scale to make things seem more magical, more surreal, more mystical, and that's on full display throughout this entire volume. Vaporetto, Gondola, and The Cemetery Island are my personal favorites, and I'm determined the get a tattoo of the ghost woman in black. The top panel on page 287 is... not something I'd expect from this series, but at the same time, of course Kozue Amano has that sort of range. It's so beautiful and unsettling, all at once. Vaporetto is so nice since Akari isn't the narrator, and getting to watch other people watch her really just fleshes out what makes her so special. Gondola made me so nostalgic!! Remembering my old cars, places I've lived- it just tugs all of my heartstrings.

[S.J. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am so happy to see that- after 10 years- Aria has finally had a complete English official release. It's been about as long since I read the previous volumes (and I did not buy volumes 1-4 of the masterpiece edition since I've hung on to the original release), but with the nature of this series I was basically able to jump right in with minimal confusion.

Reading this manga has just always made me feel comforted and at peace. The art is stunning, especially the new Masterpiece volumes which include full color pages. I definitely recommend it to someone looking for something lighthearted, happy, and whimsical.

[Jenny Clark · Rating 5 out of 5]

So, this is the first volume that was new to me. I had read the first 6 volumes, and Aqua, when they were originally published, but got rid of them when the series was not completed.
It continues being charming and beautiful, and we see some new sides to the characters. It is very episodic, so I can see why some people may not really like it.
I find it such a relaxing read, and the art is beautiful, as well as the backgrounds.

[Howard · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful Sci-Fi, Historical, Slice of Life manga. The artwork, as usual of this series, is absolutely stunning and the story is a peaceful meandering with some great characters. Highly recommend this series to anyone.

[Starbubbles · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think it is weird that Aika got a short hair cute. It is as if noone can have medium length hair. It is a little strange. It is either long or short, or in Akira's case, both. Oh well.

I loved this one too.

[Craig Schorling · Rating 4 out of 5]

This series continues to be such a relaxing joy to read. The art is gorgeous and the humor is decent. Nothing has changed. It is still a story about young women wanting to become gondoliers and learning about their journey and the city that they live in.

[Luana · Rating 3 out of 5]

3,5

Lo sapevo io che c'era del potenziale per del romance 😏🤭
Probabilmente farò una recensione di tutta la serie una volta letti gli ultimi due volumi, visto che sono curiosa di vedere come si concluderà la storia.

[kerrycat · Rating 5 out of 5]

another gorgeous volume of this sweet story - just when I think it couldn't get more beautiful, color pages appear and I'm just stunned.

[Jillian -always aspiring- · Rating 3 out of 5]

2020 Read #325

This volume dragged a little, but there’s a sweetness and lightness to this series that just doesn’t come around very often. Two more left to go!

[Séverine · Rating 5 out of 5]

C'est toujours un immense plaisir pour moi que de retrouver Akari et ses amies à Néo Venise. Ce 5ème tome n'est pas mon favoris mais il n'en reste pas moins un coup de cœur tant j'aime cet univers. J'ai notamment adoré le passage sur Aika, ainsi que le chapitre dans lequel Akari passe plus de temps avec Alicia. Difficile d'offrir ma préférence à un personnage tant je les adore toutes !

[Mary Catelli · Rating 4 out of 5]

Further incidents in the life of Akira as an aspiring undine (gondolier) on Aqua (terraformed Mars), in Neo-Venezia. Spoilers are minor for earlier works.

A friend gets her hair burnt and needs a severe hair cut; Akira and another friend persuade her to see her boyfriend after; practice; a ghost story where some incidents from the past have effects; reflections on change; one weak episode about lost memories.

[Engel Dreizehn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hehe visit to Vet hehe...and ok home grown (not earth born!) ghost stories that actually could be real is probably the creepiest episode in the series so far!