« August 2005 | Main

AIR Drama CD Vol. 1Title: AIR ドラマCD 第一巻 神尾観鈴・DREAM 前編 (Drama CD Vol. 1 Kamio Misuzu DREAM First Part)
Original Creator: Key/Visual Art's
Release Date: 8/24/05
Catalog No.: FCCP-0009
Rating: 4/4

This is my third time hearing the story of AIR (fourth if you count the movie) and I still enjoy it as much as I did when I first played the game.

This is the first CD out of 9 (!). It covers half of Misuzu's story during the DREAM arc. I don't know if the dialogues are taken from the anime soundtrack, but there seems to be a lot more content in the drama CDs than in the animation. I don't believe there is much new material as everything seems familiar, but that's probably because I have the visual novel and the anime both in my head.

First pressing comes with a CD case-sized sticker that matches the cover.

1. 往人の夢 (Yukito's Dream): After dreaming about his mother teaching him how to manipulate his puppet, he wakes up at the bus stop. He tries to entertain a few kids, but they don't seem interested. The words his mother told him about a girl in the sky resounds as he does his act. The game-sized version of the intro song starts playing.

2. 出逢い (Encounter): Misuzu finds Yukito sleeping on the embankment by the beach. Yukito has her find his puppet.

3. 友達 (Friend): Misuzu finds the puppet and declares that they're friends and invites him to her house for a meal. As it gets late, she convinces him to spend the night.

4. 晴子の願い (Haruko's Wish): Haruko comes him and finds that Misuzu has brought a guy into the house. At first she is against his stay, but later allows him to stay in the garage. Misuzu and Yukito have a chat before she goes to sleep. At night, Haruko finds Yukito rummaging through the fridge and the two start talking about Misuzu. She asks him to be her friend.

5. 終業式 (End of School): Yukito follows Misuzu to school. Along the way, Misuzu finds and chases after a crow. They arrive late at school and miss the end of term assembly. Misuzu admits she delayed on purpose. They then head off to the beach. As she explains her situation about how she feels like there's another self in the sky, Yukito remembers his mother's words and says that she may be the girl he's looking for.

6. 人形劇 (Puppet Show): While Misuzu is back at homeroom, Yukito does his puppet act in front of some kids. Misuzu comes and asks what he's doing and has him show her his show. She gets distracted by the crow again. Back at home, Misuzu has Yukito show Haruko his abilities.

7. 夏休み (Summer Break): Despite being summer break, Misuzu has to go to remedial class. Before she leaves, Yukito has her draw him a map of the city so that he can explore while she's in class. When they meet up again, Misuzu asks if Yukito is going to leave. After some deliberations, Yukito says that he still doesn't have enough money. That night, Haruko comes back with a new doll for Yukito. Yukito tries to give it to Misuzu, but Haruko doesn't allow it and has him pay her back for the gift. She keeps his old puppet as ransom.

8. 少女 (Girl): The next day, a young girl comes up Yukito admiring his (new) puppet. Misuzu arrives and finds out that her name is Saika Shino and knows the girl. They bring her back to her house. Yukito gives her his new gift. Back at the Kamio house, Yukito explains how he is no longer in possession of Haruko's monkey doll.

9. 夏はいつか終わる (Summer Will Someday End): The next morning, Misuzu sees that Haruko returned Yukito's puppet to him. As the two of them walk to school, they have a talk about how the end of summer will bring a new season. When Misuzu tells him that she doesn't like to be alone, he has a flashback to what his mother told him about the girl in the sky.

10. 空の少女 (The Girl in the Sky): After dinner, Misuzu asks Yukito to play cards. As she's dealing, she suddenly breaks out in tears. Later, as they're walking outside and talking, Misuzu tells him that they're friends. She still says no, but that there's a possibility. When Haruko comes home, Yukito tries to ask her about Misuzu's condition. She explains about how she's always been this way. The next day as Yukito is working, a middle-aged man comes and sees his show. He gives him a cake. Misuzu then comes and notices the pastry and says that they'll have it for dessert during dinner. As they're walking, Misuzu tells him about her dream. Yukito then thinks back to his mother's words.

AIR Vol. 4 LETitle: AIR Vol. 4 LE
Original Creator: Key/Visual Art's
Volume: 4/6
Catalog No.: PCBX-50671
Release Date: 7/6/05
Rating: 3/4

The two episodes included here tell the ending of Misuzu's story in Dream and goes to the first half of the Summer arc. Misuzu's ending here doesn't strike me as emotionally as when I played the game. Probably because her condition is as the story progresses seemed rushed here whereas the game had me sit through more dialogs about her feelings and the dreams that she has more and more. Have the same gripes about Kana's story also. Much of my enjoyment from her arc came from the adventures they had on their journey to find her mother. For example, the scene at the village where Kana has an encounter with a chicken (I believe) is a lot more humors rather than the 2 second scene they had shown.

I actually like the poem on the bonus postcard. The commentary has three staff members again. I never have the time to listen to them in their entirety.

7. ゆめ〜dream〜
8. なつ〜summer〜

Lunar Scribbles