Title: AIR Prelude
Original Creator: Key/Visual Arts
Volume: 1/1
Catalog No.: PCBX-50636
Release Date: 11/17/04
Rating: 4/4

Wow, I mean "Gao!"

So this DVD is a preview for the show and it seems as though it's directed towards people who already have some knowledge of the story. It a limited edition, only 20,000 made according to marketing. It contains the non-text op/ed for the TV show, a preview of the first few episodes, cast interviews, and an interview with the character designer.

The op/ed uses the same songs as the game, which is a slight disappointment. I love the intro song (more on that when I write up the soundtrack), but if you're going to sell the story again, do something new with it. Kiminozo had new op/ed songs with the original game songs thrown in as a bonus. The images used in the opening is similar to the game intro with the silhouettes of the characters. The ending uses the same background as the game's start screen and even does the day, dusk, night scenes.

The cast interview is pretty tongue-and-cheek and is hilarious if you know the story. The voice actor for Yukito goes around trying to find the voice actor for Misuzu to ask for some highlights from the first episode. Along the way, he bumps into the seiyuu for the other main characters (Michiru = Yukari Tamura) is noticeably missing. The (seiyuu) for Michiru gives Yukito some rice coupons, but the best part is when Misuzu writes out the best part about the episode. "Horeru na yo!" Hilarious.

The interview with the character designer is insightful with some background into her history in animation career. The most interesting question I thought was where the host asked what she actually works since there's already a game out with characters all drawn. Her answer was that with animation, there's movement and more angles that need to be considered. And she drew pretty well as a junior high student. If I only had those skills...

The disc comes in a beautiful anamorphic format with linear PCM audio. Besides the video, it comes with a calendar printed on cards.