Welcome to Neo-Venezia#
Imagine a world where Mars has been terraformed into a water-covered paradise renamed “Aqua.” In the year 2301, the city of Neo-Venezia stands as a breathtaking replica of the historic Italian city of Venice. This is the setting for the story of Akari Mizunashi, a young girl who travels to Aqua to pursue her dream of becoming an Undine—a professional female gondolier and tour guide.
Following Akari’s journey as an intern at the Aria Company, the series focuses on her hard work, the friendships she builds, and her gradual adaptation to the peaceful, laid-back lifestyle of the planet. If you are looking for a series that blends science fiction with a soothing slice-of-life atmosphere, this is a perfect choice. You can watch the anime on Prime Video to experience this tranquility for yourself.
Is the Anime Really Finished?#
For those wondering if the anime provides a complete experience, the answer is yes. The series has a comprehensive progression of sequels that lead viewers through Akari’s growth and the evolving world of Aqua. Starting from the initial adaptation and moving through multiple sequels and OVAs, the journey culminates in recent releases like Aria the Benedizione (2021).
Because the anime follows a structured sequence of sequels, viewers can get a satisfying conclusion through the animated entries. However, for those who want the absolute foundation of the story, the original manga Aqua and its sequel Aria provide the source material that started it all. If you want to own the complete story in print, you can buy the Aria manga, including the highly sought-after Masterpiece Editions.
Audience and Appeal#
This series is best suited for audiences who enjoy “healing” content—stories that prioritize atmosphere, character growth, and the beauty of everyday life over high-stakes conflict. The primary themes include:
- Personal Growth: Watching Akari sharpen her skills as an Undine.
- Environmental Wonder: The imaginative sci-fi premise of a terraformed Mars.
- Mindfulness: A celebration of a laid-back lifestyle and the small joys of life.
If this sounds like your kind of escape, you might also want to pick up some Aria merchandise to bring a piece of Neo-Venezia into your home.
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Recommended Watch and Read Orders#
Navigating the relationship between the various Aria entries can be confusing, but the progression is generally linear. You can refer to the relationship tree provided below the article for a visual map of these connections.
The Release & Recommended Order#
For most viewers, the release order is the best way to experience the story, as each entry serves as a sequel to the previous one:
- Aria the Animation
- Aria - The Natural
- *Aria the OVA
Arietta - Aria the Origination
- Aria the Avvenire
- Aria the Crepuscolo
- Aria the Benedizione
The Completionist Order#
If you want every single piece of content available, including the origins of the universe, follow this path:
- Start with the Aqua manga, followed by the Aria manga.
- Then, proceed through the anime sequence listed above (Animation $\rightarrow$ Natural $\rightarrow$ Arietta $\rightarrow$ Origination $\rightarrow$ Avvenire $\rightarrow$ Crepuscolo $\rightarrow$ Benedizione).
The Source Material Path#
For those who prefer reading and don’t mind supplementing the anime with the original texts, start with the Aqua and Aria manga first to establish the world, then jump into the anime adaptations to see those moments brought to life.
Aqua • manga • 2001-07-27
└─(sequel)→ Aria • manga • 2002-11-10
└─(adaptation)→ Aria the Animation • anime • 2005-10-05 to 2005-12-28
└─(sequel)→ Aria - The Natural • anime • 2006-04-02 to 2006-09-24
└─(sequel)→ Aria the OVA ~Arietta~ • anime • 2007-09-21
└─(sequel)→ Aria the Origination • anime • 2008-01-07 to 2008-03-31
└─(related)→ Aria the Avvenire • anime • 2015-09-26
└─(sequel)→ Aria the Crepuscolo • anime • 2021-03-05
└─(sequel)→ Aria the Benedizione • anime • 2021-12-03
