"AIR" is a game by "Key," the game company that produced "CLANNAD," known as one of the most tear-jerking anime, and was made into an anime that became a huge hit. Although the media mix of "Key" uses moe-style illustrations, the content is very moving, so it is a work that I would like the general public to watch. Here we introduce Kannabi no Mikoto, the heroine of "AIR's Summer Arc," who met a tragic end.
What is "AIR"?
A pioneering work of "tear-jerking games"
"AIR" is a pioneering work of emotionally charged bishoujo games, also known as "tear-jerking games." It was released by the bishoujo game brand "Key" just before "CLANNAD," a famous anime known for its sheer tear-jerking powers.
The "AIR" game has sold well over 300,000 copies, making it an unprecedented hit for a bishoujo game of this genre. The anime's DVD sales, combined, easily exceeded 100,000 copies.
Animated by Kyoto Animation in 2005
"AIR" was adapted into an anime by Kyoto Animation in 2005. At the time, it was still highly unusual for an anime based on a bishoujo game to easily sell 100,000 DVDs.
"AIR" was a huge hit and a hot topic, but since 2005 was just before the anime boom hit with "The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya," the image quality may seem a little low if you watch it now.
However, even taking that into account, it's a masterpiece that's more than enough to move you, so if you like tear-jerking anime, this is a must-watch. (It's also recommended because it's easy to watch, with only 12 episodes.)
What are the highlights of "AIR"?
A Love Story That Spanns 1,000 Years
The greatest appeal of "AIR" is that while the main setting is a rural seaside town, the middle part of the game allows players (viewers) to travel back in time and relive the world of 1,000 years ago.
The story goes back to the Heian period, and what's fascinating about it is the way the protagonist and heroine uncover the secrets of their past lives.
But the Core is Still Modern
The appeal of "AIR" lies in its journey back in time and the uncovering of the hero and heroine's secrets. However, the story's core is set in the present, where the characters of the present fulfill their true mission.
Going back in time is merely a way for the player (viewer) to relive the characters' roles in the present. The greatest point of this work is that it moves forward to the climax with this knowledge.
【AIR】Kannabi no Mikoto is the soul of Kamio Misuzu from 1,000 years ago
Misuzu's dream is about something Kanna experienced in a past life
After becoming close with the protagonist, Yukito Kunisaki, the main heroine of "AIR," Kamio Misuzu, began to have dreams of a sad girl alone in the sky. This sad girl's true identity is Kannabi no Mikoto, the last winged being who existed 1,000 years ago (during the Heian period).
Kamio Misuzu is the final vessel for Kannabi no Mikoto's soul, which has been reincarnated countless times. Kanna's soul has been plagued by sadness for 1,000 years due to a curse. She must reveal happy memories to him.
To be precise, Misuzu didn't have to be the "last child," but the power of Yana and Uraba (protagonist Kunizaki Otomo), who were Kanna's close aides and had inherited the "magic" for 1,000 years to lift the curse of "Kaminabi no Mikoto," weakened with each generation. As a result, Misuzu and Otomo were ultimately tasked with saving Kanna's soul as the last children.
【AIR】Character Profile of Kannabi-no-Mikoto
She has the appearance of a beautiful girl with traditional Japanese black (blue) hair.
Kanna's appearance is that of a beautiful girl with traditional black (blue) hair. Because it's set in the Heian period, she wears a flashy cherry blossom-colored kimono, giving her a delicate aura. (Although fan fiction refers to her as having blue hair, I doubt her actual hair is actually black.)
Kanna is feared because she is a "winged person."
Kanna is a winged human. As a powerful "winged person," she is both worshipped and feared. Even the soldiers guarding her hesitate to approach her, and many of them wish to be relieved of their duties as soon as possible.
Amidst all this, only Ryuya, the protagonist of the "SUMMER Arc" and an excellent soldier, took an interest in Kanna. The three of them, along with his close lady-in-waiting, Uraha, became friendly and began to enjoy interacting with Kanna.
Kanna has a strong and cheerful personality.
Kanna's personality is very strong and cheerful, in stark contrast to her beautiful and dignified appearance. She gets along well with the playful Yanagiya and Uraba, and they become good friends.
Ryuya and Uraha have come to enjoy teasing Kanna, and teasing her for her amusing reactions seems to be one of their few moments of relaxation in between their boring duties.
By the time Kanna was old enough to understand, she was isolated and moved from one shrine to another.
Because "Kaminabi-no-Mikoto" was a "winged being," she was feared and worshipped as an object of faith. It seems that by the time she was old enough to understand, she had been moved numerous times to places isolated from the outside world.
As a result, she grew up without knowing anything about the world and lived a lonely life with little contact with others.
Ryuya and Uraba felt sorry for Kanna and decided to take her on a journey before she was transferred to the next shrine.
【AIR】Kannabi no Mikoto's Summer Journey to Meet Her Mother
Kanna Sets Out on a Journey to Meet Her Mother
Kanna, Yanagi, and Uraba escape from the shrine and are attacked by a mysterious pursuer. However, Yanagi's skillful swordsmanship helps them escape the crisis, and they decide to head to the sacred mountain where Kanna's mother is said to be.
Along the way, Kanna, who stands out too much, borrows a farmer's kimono (leaving behind her money) to avoid being spotted by pursuers. Kanna, Yana, and Uraba then begin their multi-day, midsummer mountain crossing.
Kanna forbids Ryuya from killing
Ryuya is a master swordsman, skilled enough to easily kill even several people. However, Kanna was disappointed in Ryuya's attempt to kill his pursuers, and subsequently forbade him from killing at all.
Although Yanagi was concerned about his future if he fought without killing anyone, he couldn't disobey Kana's orders and agreed. However, Kana's judgment later proved to be naive, putting Yanagi in a difficult position.
The festival around the fire that appeared in Kanrin's dream
During their journey, Kanna, Ryuya, and Uraya also witnessed the festival that Kanrin saw in the present day, with many people enjoying themselves around a large fire.
Kanna, Yana, and Uraya weren't participating in the festival at the time, but Kanna's spirit, Misuzu, said it was a fun dream, so Kanna must have enjoyed the festival just by watching.
【AIR】Meeting Kannabi's Mother, Yaobikuni, But...
Kanna inherited a curse from her mother, Yaobikuni, shortly before her death.
Having vowed not to kill, Ryuya was injured in the fierce battle, but he managed to cross the sacred mountain's barrier and meet Kanna's mother, Yaobikuni.
However, Yaobikuni warned him not to touch her body. Yaobikuni had been cursed with the curse of those who died in battle, and she had been cursed to weaken anyone who had feelings for her.
Then, in the battle that began on Mount Sacred Mountain, Yaobikuni was shot by an arrow and lost her life in an instant.
Despite warnings not to touch her, Kanna, unable to bear the sight of her mother shot by an arrow, touches Yaobikuni and inherits the curse that had been placed on her.
Kaminabi no Mikoto inherited the mission of a Winged One from her mother, Yaobikuni.
Just before her death, Yaobikuni passed on the mission of a Winged One to Kanna, bestowing her Winged One powers upon her.
With the death of her mother, Yaobikuni, Kanna gained the power of a winged being. However, she also inherited the curse that Yaobikuni had placed on her. This curse has become a major obstacle to healing Kanna's soul for the next 1,000 years.
【AIR】The Tragic End of Kannabi-no-Mikoto
Kanna Tries to Save Yanagi and Uraba with Her Own Life
Kanna, Yanagi, and Uraba witnessed the death of Yaobikuni, but they were caught up in a battle. Yanagi was injured while keeping his vow not to kill, and he found himself in a desperate situation.
Hidden beneath the base of a large tree, the three huddled together to hide from the horde, chatting about the sea and festivals and imagining a happy future. But realizing that this was only a dream, Kanna unleashed her powers as a Winged Person and flew alone into the sky to rescue Ryuya and Uraya from the horde.
Kanna bears the curse of the Sacred Mountain monks and the arrows of the horde.
Kanna soars alone into the sky amid the moonlit forest swarming with the horde. However, the Sacred Mountain monks, who view the winged people as a curse, cast a curse on her as she races into the sky, binding her soul.
Along with the eerie voices of the monks, the curse binds Kanna, and she is further injured by arrow attacks from the numerous soldiers, leaving her unable to move.
And so, Kanna was finally caught in the curse of the monk of Mount Sacred Mountain, her mind and body damaged, and she was bound to the sky.
【AIR】Kanna Continues to Have Sad Dreams Alone Due to a Curse
The curse of the monks of Sacred Mountain causes Kanna to have endless sad dreams
The curse placed on Kanna by the monks of Sacred Mountain binds her soul as a winged human, causing her to have endless dreams of the death of someone important to her...that is, Ryuya.
Since the dreams of winged people must be happy memories, constantly forcing Kanna to have sad dreams weakened her power as a winged person, weakening her soul.
Furthermore, the curse inherited from her mother, Yaobikuni, also leaves Kanna's soul lonely.
The curse of the monks of Mount Sacred Mountain alone is painful enough to be worse than death, but Kanna's curse, inherited from her mother, Yaobikuni, adds to it, forcing her soul to despise and alienate all those who cherish her or her soul. This further deepens the loneliness that has been carved into her soul.
The reason why the present-day main heroine, Kamio Misuzu, bursts into tears whenever she becomes close to someone is because the curse of Yaobikuni has continued to bind her, as she still carries Kanna's soul, even after 1,000 years. This is what led to the breakup of her relationship with Otomo.
【AIR】Only Yanagi, Urayasu, and their descendants can save Kanna
Bound by a powerful curse, Kanna is powerless
The curse of the monks of Mount Sacred Mountain is powerful enough, but Kanna, who has inherited the curse of her mother, Yaobikuni, and is bound to the sky, is powerless to do anything on her own.
So, in order to save their beloved Kanna, Yanagiya and Uraha left their child behind and entrusted their future child with learning magic, so that they could one day save Kanna's soul when she was reincarnated on Earth.
And so, 1,000 years later, the protagonist, Kunizaki Ototo, a descendant of Yanagiya and Uraha, meets Kamio Misuzu, the cursed girl who inherited Kanna's soul.
【AIR】Famous Quotes from Kannabi-no-Mikoto
"As long as I rule the world, I will not tolerate any killing from now on."
When Ryuya was about to kill his pursuer, Kanna shouted, "Have some shame!" to him.
"Ryuya-dono... please don't die."
When Kanna's vow to never kill backfired on Ryuya, resulting in him being fatally wounded by the enemy, Kanna's words, expressing regret and apology, were not an "order" but a "wish."
"This is my last life... Live happily ever after."
Caught in the middle of a battle, Yanagi, Uraha, and Kanna realized they would be defeated by a large army if they continued on their way. However, Kanna, a winged human, decided to sacrifice herself to save the two, uttering these words.
【AIR】The voice actor for Kannabi no Mikoto is Chinami Nishimura
Kannabi no Mikoto's voice actor is Chinami Nishimura, who also voiced Cat Girl in the fourth installment of "GeGeGe no Kitaro" and Sakanoue Ojarumaru in "Ojarumaru."
【AIR】Kaminabi no Mikoto Summary
Kaminabi no Mikoto was cursed simultaneously by the monks of Mount Sacred Mountain and her mother, Yaobikuni, and was also hit by arrows from countless soldiers. Her body and mind were completely torn to shreds, and her wounds didn't heal for 1,000 years. In some ways, she may have suffered the cruelest fate of any heroine in a Key series.
Ultimately, after 1,000 years, the curse was purified by "Kunizaki Ototo," "Kamio Misuzu," and Misuzu's mother, Kamio Haruko. However, it was good that Kanna, who had been living a sad dream alone for so long, was able to overcome Misuzu, the last of her souls, and was reincarnated and found happiness.
