Air Gear has been quite an interesting watch. It was pretty entertaining, and kept me busy whenever a new episode was released. 25 episodes later though, I still have mixed feelings about the anime rendition of Oh Great!’s manga series.
Starting from the beginning, I thoroughly enjoyed this series. I guess you can say that it was some sort of a guilty pleasure. I knew that it portrayed some very obvious shounen-type traits, yet still enjoyed the story. Initially, I was very skeptical about the concept of “roller blading anime.” After seeing it being listed on Animesuki and Tokyo Toshokan’s torrent listings for a few weeks, I thought I’d give it a try.
It was definately worth it. The anime dragged me into the manga (which I luckily found from chapter 1 all the way to the most recent raw), which opened up a whole new venue for viewing this series.
Let me first state a few things:
1. The anime is quite ok by itself.
2. I love the music.
3. Despite some typical shounen-esque plot schemes, it was still enjoyable.
Then. .
4. The manga is MUCH better than the anime.
I’m not nitpicking on the anime. The anime is a great and entertaining series in its own right. The manga is much more in-depth and colorful in my personal opinion. In comparison, the manga has a lot more character development and provides the “correct” description of events.
The entire ending segment with Simca’s proposal for Kogarasumaru to take over Genesis was a bit rushed. The ending at the Devil’s 30/30 was very annoying to me, lol. If the screenwriters were to choose a point for an “open-end resolution” to the series, that was definatey not a place I’d personally choose.
Then again. . I’m not a screenwriter, lol.
The series was definately worth watching though. I’d definately recommend it to anyone who takes a liking to sports/action type anime. In terms of sports-specific anime, it still doesn’t have much against the likes of Hajime no Ippo, Slam Dunk, Tennis no Oujisama, etc. . but it’s still a worthy watch.
The last recommendation I’d have to anyone who took somewhat of a liking to this series: Do yourself a favor and try to find some mangascans or raws. The manga is a lot better. . and most of all, the story gets much, much better later on. The anime is barely halfway to the point the manga is.
Will they make another season? I really don’t know. . since the anime didn’t seem to acquire much acclaim. If a second season is made though, I’d definately watch it I suppose. 
32 Comments
The only thing I like about Air Gear is that it’s not Tenjou Tenge. That is, of course, not including using it as fap material. Love Oh Great’s drawing, hate his story writing skills. He should learn from Black Cat’s Yabuki Kentaro and get someone else to write for him.
I haven’t seen the anime but from what ELSE I’ve read I concluded that it’s shit, just like TT.
Anyway you should update the Current Watches page.
Airgear is decent and actually makes more sense story-wise than TJTG but in terms of fighting, Airgear is ridiculous. How can these kids gain powerful fighting skills just wearing rollerblades? Even some of the technical explanations for their abilities are scientifically correct but really really pushing the limit there.
I find it weird that I can suspend belief for other shounen mangas but just not Airgear. Maybe it’s the lack of any training that gets to me – and I’m not referring to Ikki but all the rest.
Air gear has ridiculous physics that makes me feel like I’ve been cheated of my 4 years as a science student. But you see, if you watch air gear with your dick, it can be pretty enetertaining at times. But the story is quite the shit, although better than TJTG – now wtf is THAT.
They made TJTG too… messy now.
If you want something simple from Oh Great, go read Majin : The Devil. Short manga ‘series’, since it consists of only 2 books.
IMO anime doesn’t quite cut it for Oh Great’s style; though I wish another production company would handle the animation better (softer colors on appropriate times; harsher tones during intense action scenes). Also they have to pay more attention to the effects of the actions. It’s too.. ‘soft’ and totally no impact in TJTG when bunshichi wallops his opponents.
In a way TJTG’s plot is still making sense even if you don’t fully grasp the convolutions of the storyline. The recent Edo arc would probably make more sense if we had studied Japanese history so maybe it makes more sense to the teenagers in Japan.
Yeah, the believability (is that even a word? lol) of the story is really low. . then again, that’s simply due to the fact that it cannot happen in real life, lol. Those skates don’t exist. . besides, you’ve got to have some pretty amazing suspension if you aren’t snapping your legs everytime you land after one of those jumps.
Maybe it’s just me, but I didn’t find the story to be that confusing. . then again, I have already seen the manga storyline so I guess things may make more sense to me. :0
Eitherway, it’s simply a fun series to watch (if it rubs you the right way). The series definately pales in comparison to the manga IMHO though.
it’s an anime… since when anime’s been realistic. i myself like air gear anime, but i prefer the anime to manga.
It’s just not as realistic because they are trying to explain the abilities with real-world science. The theory is sound…but not on the scale that they use it on.
Haha, I tend to find their explanations amusing in general.
It’s just for fun anyways, so I guess I never paid too much attention to it. . lol, though AG does tend to take itself a little too seriously in regards to ‘their’ physics.
lol I see it as an amazing anime air gear is like “freerunners on rollerblades”
Yeah I’d prefer it if they didn’t try to explain it that much with physics. Maybe just reference some concepts but they went in too deep and it came out all fakey.
I do agree the manga was better, but as you said the series was decent. The one thing that did show though is the soundtrack. Skakefunk (spelling?) did the music perfect for the show, it had a very close feel to Jet Set Radio Future and Jet Grind Radio; which is what the music should be. When I first saw the series I instantly saw it is JSRF or JGR in anime form expect with out the graffiti (shame, though that would have been awesome in my opinion). I do hope the anime gets a second season, the ending left much wanted. It did stuff WAY to fast at the end as you said, I just wished it didn’t do that. And cheesy at times, yea.
The Air Gear manga pwned the anime. In most cases the anime thoroughly ruins the plot of the manga, like say Hellsing.
in my personal opinion watch the anime first then the manga ppl tend to try and do both and it fucks up everything for them like lets say bleach and naruto now all you here about is ppl complaining in the forums either way whats this physics stuff who cares its anime its the physics in there world not ours dont confuse the both anyways i think i said enough on that note i like this anime alot and im starting to read the manga and i think there both good
AG Manga definitely wins anime…its damn boring for anime to be conservative with the stupid crows and added clothing…somehow i feel the drawing is not as good as reading the manga…
This is similar to tenjou tenge…the manga totally kills the anime in terms of everything…only plus point is that there is narration to explain the tech stuff rather than having to try to understand the words from manga…
well… i recently watched this anime series because my friend told me to the last episode kinda sucked =_= because it wasn’t really finished i wanna see the manga series but i dunno where to buy and im too poor right now coz im only a highschool student XD i posted here coz i wanna know something about the anime i don’t have the manga series so i just ask people who has them and i wanna know what episode this picture came from ^^ the url is http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h148/Devilice13/Unknown.jpg if it wasn’t on the anime series then too bad T_T and if someone in the philippines know this anime and has the manga series can i borrow ^^ (contact me
T_T sorry about double posting but my email is soulripper01@yahoo.com if you wanna contact me (please add this to my post earlier ^^ thanks)
i thaute it was ok but its always the same plot with these shows i think they could have done a better job but over all it was ok.
did the anime end at 25? i kinda like it and want to see more.
I definitely like the anime. I didn’t approach it for a mind-engaging experience. I wanted some cool action scenes and bad-ass characters, and I got just that. I can’t get into the manga (having already seen so much of it in anime form) so I am keeping my fingers crossed for a season 2.
1)The guy who said Oh Great! doesn`t have writing skills is a total idiot.Oh Great! is a guy with the really rare gift to take some lame-looking idea and turn it into something…Addictive.The guy knows how to put style in his stories.Roller-blading?!When I first heard that I was like “Could the guy get any lamer?”.But when I started reading the manga I found out I couldn`t stop.Oh Great! is a great artist and a great manga writer, yes ,his stories aren`t really realistic, can`t deny that, but who cares?
2)The anime adaptation of Air Gear sucks.I mean it really sucks.Toei Animation sucks too.The only good thing about the anime is the music which I really enjoyed.The animation is crappy,the best moments from the manga are cut-out, the music just can`t make up for that.
3)So just skip the anime, read the manga and enjoy
The anime adaptation of Tenjou Tenge is better than AG(the anime of course) btw..
I just started watching this new episode Air Gear and i found it really good. I haven’t read the manga yet but im sure it’s going to be good .
Hope there is more anime coming out soon…
A lot of people say the manga is better, HOWEVER, i am a person with little imagination. Yes. I suck. So to me the anime is a lot better cause the voice acting in the japanese version. (English dubbed version usually have bad voice acting with no passion)
I am hoping to see the continuation of this anime, mainly cause i’d like to see what the other “roads” are since they only introduced: Flame,Sky,Lightning,Roaring,and fang. Smell,Sonia,and Thorn were mentioned, however idk if its official since they didnt have regalias.
air gear is a good anime and all you losers who keep picking at such little things about the anime or dont like it are twats go to hell! but have a good day.
p.s shijou saikyo no denshi kenichi is a great anime
Okay, so who said that Oh!Great needs to learn writing skills from Yabuki Kentarou (Black Cat)? That is so wrong, Oh!Great does know how to write stories and turn it into full action shonen manga….
And I think Air Gear has a great character design. It maybe typical, but not cliche like somehow in some manga or anime authors want to make their character look cool with that boring typical outfit or personality…
It looks to me that many people are hating on airr gear. I just would like to know why.unrealistic in the fact that when these kids put on air treks they gain immense fighting abilities, isnt that the point. It’s about what many people wish. To be able to do great things so what he’s 14 and can do all these amazing things. it’s an ANIME not the true life story of agresive in liners. it’s not supposed to be correct in the matter of “physics” as the science student hinted at. Nor is it supposed to in any way factual.The bottom line is it’s about a kid who wanted something to do with his life. And as for the nudity isnt that what most little boys dream/ think about? Seeing a hot girl naked is like a dream for most young boys whom are entering puberty. honestly i think all you people have nothing nice to say about the anime are angry because Air Treks dont exist and are angry they cant get their own pair.It’s about a kid who stumble sinto a world unlike any other and he could quite possibly become a “god” in this world. a chosen kid to lead all the rest of the people. But to get to the top he has to get stronger and learn from his mistakes. Thus becoming a better person along his journey. Honestly they way i’ve seen people hate on this animeecery where on every site is irritating.there is no reason to hate the anime. Everyone in this world wanted to fly or thought they could fly at one point all the boys wanted to see certain women in thier lives naked or get that girl who they were attracted to. The fact people hate on this anime so hard is beyond me.
I just started watching the anime….some of the storyline didnt make sense.
and there was a lot of boobgrabbing and buttsmacking for one episode. it was kind of unnecessary -_-
ill keep watching it…but so far, i’d give it 3.5/5 (ive only watched one episode).
“…”
this anime is just for kids. absolutely.
This anime is freaking amazing, what the hell are you guys talking about physics for? its a damn show, when creating a show you think outside the box you retards call “physics” The anime is very entertaining, there is a pention going on at Ipentions.com or w/e and it has almost 1000 people who signed it. for all you who want more out of this anime i suggest you sign the pention cause if what im thinking is right the excitement of the second season is probably what your all missing
hmm the manga is way better… on that point i agree, but the ending was funny and very ikki-ish. The show needs a second season…. to tie everything together. oh and rollchan have u not been watching this anime its phenomenal…. bitch.
Sora Takeuchi pwns everyone when he betrayed Ikki.
‘Nuff said.
I thoroughly enjoyed this anime and it would most likely be on my top 10 list. Although I have not read the magna, I hear its better than the anime from at least a dozen of you. What I honestly don’t understand is why you guys are judging it on how unrealistic it is… It’s an anime for crying out loud! Anime doesn’t need to relate to the real world in any way or form. Just sit back, relax, and enjoy it and maybe you’ll enjoy it more. I’m planing on reading the magna soon because that half-assed ending in the anime wasn’t good enough for me. The only thing that i despise in the anime is the ending and how they had to rush themselves to try to squeeze as much as they could in the few episodes that they had. Also, for all you readers feeling discouraged to watch the anime, don’t. It was great and definately worth the time.