[AIR] Top 10 quotes from inspirational summer movies

2025.07.29

"AIR" is a masterpiece released in 2000 by the bishoujo game brand "Key," and was a huge hit, selling over 300,000 copies, an unprecedented feat for a bishoujo game. It was adapted into an anime in 2005, and all discs sold over 100,000 copies. Here we introduce 10 of the most inspiring quotes from the game, ranked by title.

Contents

What kind of work is "AIR"?

A moving anime masterpiece that sold like hotcakes

Strategy Group
Source: Air ©VisualArt's/Key/Tsubasajin Denshoukai

"AIR" is, in a nutshell, a masterpiece that sold like hotcakes. The game sold over 300,000 copies, an unprecedented feat for a bishoujo game, and the anime sold over 100,000 DVDs in the mid-2000s, before the boom.

Source: Air ©VisualArt's/Key/Tsubasajin Denshoukai

Its immense popularity from the early to mid-2000s attracted even those who don't usually watch anime, and it is also the work that sparked the anime boom that began with "The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya."

A concise introduction to the appeal of "AIR"!

An epic three-part story!

Source: Air ©VisualArt's/Key/Tsubasajin Denshokai

The story of "AIR" is divided into three parts. The first part is set in the present day, centering on the heroine Kanrin and the protagonist Otomo. The second part, "Summer Edition," depicts a secret between Kanrin and Otomo 1,000 years ago during the Heian period. The third part returns to the present day, with an unexpected character taking center stage, creating a grand and captivating story.

The story is almost entirely devoid of romance, focusing primarily on familial love.

Source: Air ©VisualArt's/Key/Tsubasajin Denshokai

What sets "AIR" apart from other bishoujo works is its almost complete absence of romance and its focus on familial love. The second half, in particular, takes an unexpected turn, betraying the opening and bringing tears to your eyes.

Scenario writer and musician Jun Maeda's music is amazing!

Source: Air ©VisualArt's/Key/Tsubasajin Denshokai

When you think of "Key," you think of not only its tear-jerking storylines, but also its amazing music. Personally, I'm a big fan of the artwork of Itaru Hinoue, who was in charge of illustrations until recently, but the storyline and music are often praised. Jun Maeda, who is responsible for both the storyline and the music, has a truly wonderful sensibility.

Source: Air ©VisualArt's/Key/Tsubasajin Denshokai

Key's works have many wonderful masterpieces that would make you a fan just for the music. "AIR" is no exception, featuring a selection of fantastic songs, from the opening theme "Tori no Uta" to the background music "Natsukage."

【AIR】Top 10 Famous Quotes

"Kunizaki is the best!!" by the many apostles in my imagination

Source: Air ©VisualArt's/Key/Tsubasajin Denshokai

This is a delusional thought born when Oto, whose puppet theater business was not doing well, fantasized that the school gates would be filled with students and that his business might flourish.

Source: Air ©VisualArt's/Key/Tsubasajin Denshokai

"Kunizaki is the best!!" is a famous line that Otoko isn't saying to himself; it's a line that comes from his imagination of a bunch of students having fun watching his puppet show.

【AIR】Famous Quotes Ranking #9

"Have you ever wished you could use magic?" by Yoshino Kirishima

Source: Air ©VisualArt's/Key/Tsubasajin Denshokai

This famous line, featured alongside the key visual of Kirishima Kano, one of the heroines of the game, is a signature line from the game.

Source: Air ©VisualArt's/Key/Tsubasajin Denshoukai

In the story, she utters this line immediately after meeting Ototo, so it's clear that magic is a very important keyword to Yoshino.

【AIR】Famous Quotes Ranking #8

"They're like a close-knit family," by Ryuya

Source: Air ©VisualArt's/Key/Tsubasajin Denshoukai

This is the first time Ryuya, the protagonist of the "Summer Arc," responds properly to Uraba's words while surrounded by enemy soldiers and in a desperate situation.

Source: Air ©VisualArt's/Key/Tsubasajin Denshoukai

Up until then, Yanagi had repeatedly responded to Uraha's comments with evasive remarks, but this is the famous line he uttered when, prepared to die, he finally responded to Uraha head-on for the first time.

【AIR】Famous Quotes Ranking #7

"This is my last life... Live happily ever after." - Kanna

Source: Air ©VisualArt's/Key/Winged People Tradition Society

These are the final words uttered by Kannabi-no-Mikoto, the heroine of the "SUMMER Arc," who has gained the power of a Winged People. She soars into the sky to save Ryuya and Uraya, sacrificing herself to save them.

Source: Air ©VisualArt's/Key/Tsubasajin Denshoukai

This moving line, accompanied by Kanna's melancholic expression, comes immediately after her dream about the sea and her words, "It was fun," and "Being with Ryuya-dono made me forget my wings," making it a truly tear-jerking line.

【AIR】Famous Quotes Ranking #6

"It's just... there's another me there. I feel like that." by Misuzu Kamio

Source: Air ©VisualArt's/Key/Tsubasajin Denshoukai

This famous line from "AIR," the main heroine of the anime series, Kamio Misuzu, appears alongside her key visual.

Source: Air ©VisualArt's/Key/Tsubasajin Denshoukai

This memorable line was first heard in the game, and naturally, it was also uttered by Misuzu in the anime.

【AIR】Famous Quotes Ranking #5

"Is there any meaning to wings that cannot fly?" by Tono Minagi

Source: Air ©VisualArt's/Key/Tsubasajin Denshokai

This is a famous quote from Minagi Tono, one of the heroines of the game, that appears alongside her key visual.

Source: Air ©VisualArt's/Key/Tsubasajin Denshokai

Among the most memorable lines from the three main heroines, this one, coupled with Minagi's character, is the most memorable. Otohito's subsequent response was also wonderful, making this a quote I would have liked to include in my top three.

【AIR】Famous Quotes Ranking #4

"I finally found out. The person who had always been by Misuzu's side was her mother." by Sora (Otomo, who became a crow)

Source: Air ©VisualArt's/Key/Tsubasajin Denshokai

After losing her memory, Misuzu is taken in by her biological father, Keisuke, from her stepmother, Haruko.

Source: Air ©VisualArt's/Key/Tsubasajin Denshokai

However, Misuzu desperately resists Keisuke, not wanting to be separated from Haruko. These are the thoughts of Sora (Ototo, who has turned into a crow) as he watches Misuzu run up to Haruko, cry like a child on her chest, and then fall soundly asleep.

【AIR】Famous Quotes Ranking #3

"People's dreams and wishes... Please return them all to this sky! Please!" by Haruko Kamio

Source: Air ©VisualArt's/Key/Tsubasajin Denshokai

Although Haruko lost Misuzu, she made a fresh start in life.

Source: Air ©VisualArt's/Key/Tsubasajin Denshokai

However, upon seeing Sora still standing on the seawall overlooking the ocean, Haruko utters this loving, poignant line to Sora, "Don't stay here forever."

【AIR】Famous Quotes Ranking #2

"This summer vacation, I decided to try my best just one more time. Summer vacation started the day I met Ototo-san. A lot of things happened, and it was hard and painful, but... I'm glad I tried my best!" by Misuzu Kamio

Source: Air ©VisualArt's/Key/Tsubasajin Denshokai

This is the famous line that Misuzu utters to Haruko as she completes her mission and heads toward the finish line with happy memories.

This famous line, uttered by Kanrin in the most tear-jerking scene of the series, is a deeply moving line not only in the game but also in the anime.

In the game, the word "Oto-san" appears for the first time in a long time. It's a touching line, revealing that the protagonist, Oto-san, had disappeared long before, but that he was still alive in Kanrin's mind.

【AIR】Famous Quotes #1

"One day, destruction will come, and it is an inevitable outcome. But in the end, I hope that the last child who will carry the memories of the stars will have happy memories." - The First Winged Person?

In the prologue, someone begins, "My child...listen carefully." The words are spoken to the end in the final scene, revealing that the person, presumably a Winged Person, is speaking to his or her own child or someone else.

While the planet is destined to perish one day due to the sad memories, a person believed to be a winged person dedicated this loving and cherished quote to someone: "The last child who will carry the planet's memories will at least have happy memories."

By the way, this "last child who carries the memories of the stars" may refer to "Kaminabi-no-Mikoto" as a pure winged person, but if we include humans who have inherited the souls of winged people, it could also refer to Misuzu.

Unfortunately, Kanna, a pure Tsubasajin, had her soul tainted by "sad memories." However, thanks to Kanna's efforts, Kanna inherited the Tsubasajin spirit and, thanks to Otoko's efforts, was able to become mother and daughter with Haruko, sacrificing her own life to purify Kanna's soul with "happy memories."

【AIR】Famous Quotes Ranking (Special Edition)

"For them, harsh days. And for us, a beginning. ...Goodbye." by Sora's Reincarnation

In the final scene, we learn that Sora's soul has somehow been reincarnated into the same timeline as Sora and Misuzu, and has been reborn as a little boy.

Misuzu's soul has also been reincarnated into the same timeline, reborn as a girl living in the same timeline as Sora and Misuzu.

Thanks to the efforts of Otomo and Misuzu, the reincarnations of Otomo and Misuzu were freed from all ties and became the "Souls of the Beginning."

Perhaps expressing his gratitude to Otomo and Misuzu for their hard work, the boy who is Otomo's reincarnation mutters this famous line to himself.

【AIR】Famous Quotes Ranking

"AIR" really is a tearjerker!

"AIR" is synonymous with summer, and when I compile all the famous quotes from "AIR" like this, I'm reminded once again of the many moving scenes.

"AIR" is a summer-themed masterpiece released by "Key" in 2000. In June 2018, "Key" released a new work, "Summer Pockets," which, like "AIR," is also a moving masterpiece set in the summer, as the title suggests (it's also been adapted into an anime).

"Summer Pockets" was released recently, and as you'd expect, it's a rich and moving work, different from "AIR." From now on, summer might be synonymous with "AIR" and "Summer Pockets."