CAA: Christian Anime Alliance

I just got this title today and I really like it. The story in a nutshell is: the upbeat heroine wants to be a gondolier and is training to be one with a friend under a teacher she loves and respects. There's been no cussing, no violence, no nudity, and I love the art! There has actually been no depressing material in the first volume. It doesn't have much going on plotwise yet, but I think that will get better. It also had an unexpected bonus: an accurate and respectful bit on the Bible! The heroine was telling an acquaintence the story behind a statue of a winged lion that is suppossed to represent Saint Mark and is one of the 4 winged beasts from the Old Testament (Ezekiel 1:10). There is also a panel with a statue of a lion opening a book with the caption: "The lion opening the Bible is the embodiment of justice. It protects the peace of the lands." Of course, it's not a Christian series. The acquaintence promptly declares because of his job of controlling the weather, he should actually get the kind of credit the lion represents. The way it's presented though makes it clear that his little self-glorifying speech is to make him look bad for saying something so stupid, not mock what the heroine said. Although, in the next chapter the heroine goes to a Japan-like palce (think Disney world type recreation) and some Japanesse folklore comes into play but it's not made into a big deal. I want to go get the next volume tommorrow. Anyone else heard of this series?

Yeah, I have Volume 1 and I read parts of 2. Honestly I loved the art...but storywise I was ready to fall asleep.

Tell you what, if anyone wants my copy....PM me and we'll see about arranging it or something.

Yeah, I tried to read it. I really did, but I'm not a big fan of the sort of spice of life manga.

I really needed a series that was laid back and just a fun read (according to my tastes) without getting overly deep. I'd say I got it then. ^^;;

OH WOW!!! O_O I didn't think anyone else was reading "Aria." I LOVE the art. It's the reason I bought the first volume. I finished reading volume 3 quite a while ago and have been impatiently waiting for the 4th volume. In the 3rd volume things pick up the pace a bit. However, this is more of a slice of life type manga, and you just wallow in the folk tales and the land this depicts. I'm an art nut, so I just love to peruse the pages and look at the art.

And, the clothes designs are awesome. I would love to do a manga like this, with these type of outfits. It's just so... so beautiful. ^________^

The characters develop much more around the 2nd volume and there are some new and very interesting characters introduced in the 3rd volume. But, it has been awhile since I've read it last, so I forget so much. I'll have to go get the books and check them out again.

DS, let me know if you buy the next book in the series. ^__^

Yup, got the second one today during my study break (a book store with 6 shelves of manga within walking distance! I was ecstatic when it opened!)! I was looking for a new series now that I had finished Pretear and Imadoki and it was exactly what the doctor ordred! I really like the nice quite read, and it's all about the art for me! I wish there were more than just 4 volumes though.

Doubleshadow wrote: I wish there were more than just 4 volumes though.

There's not going to be a fifth? Flip it.

But yeah, I love the art and the slow pacing is a nice break from what I usually read.

Yeah, I read that on a review site. There is one volume for each of the four seasons. I'm need to locate the third volume; I don't know if the fourth volume is out yet.