[AIR] TOP 10 scenes from the pioneer of tear-jerking anime

2025.07.29

"AIR" is a game 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 made into an anime in 2005, and all discs sold over 100,000 copies. Here we introduce some famous scenes from the classic "AIR."

Contents

【AIR】Top 10 Famous Scenes

Oto and Potato's Encounter

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

Oto meets Potato, a mysterious dog-like creature who cries "Piko." Hoping to receive something in return for his kindness, Oto shows Potato a puppet show.

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

However, Potato is startled and runs away, grabbing the doll in his mouth.

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

Though Otomu was running around like crazy with the potatoes, he ended up meeting Yoshino and even found a part-time job that helped him make ends meet, so it was a great scene (and above all, the potatoes were so funny and cute).

【AIR】Famous Scenes #9

The scene where Ryuya, Kanna, and Uraba travel together on a midsummer road

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

Kannabi-no-Mikoto, a winged person, has only known life within the shrine since childhood and has never met his mother.

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

Feeling pity for Kanna's plight, Yanagiya and Uraha take her out of the shrine and travel together along a midsummer mountain path to where Kanna's mother is, which is a memorable scene.

【AIR】8th Most Famous Scene

Shiraho's Flashback and Yoshino's Mother

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

Otomo interacted with Shiraho's consciousness, who lived hundreds of years ago, and through her consciousness he was able to glimpse the past she experienced.

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

Shiraho sacrificed herself to protect her child. Perhaps her longing for her child overlapped with Yoshino's mother's, as Yoshino meets her in a mysterious world.

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

"If you're having a hard time, you can come with me," Yoshino's mother said. Yoshino, however, expressed her gratitude for being born and returned to her original world.

【AIR】Famous Scenes #7

The Scene Where Michiru Disappears

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

Unable to be born, Michiru relies on the power of a girl in the sky to play alongside her older sister, Minagi, as a friend. Thanks to Otomo's help, Michiru is able to see Minagi and her mother, whose family relationship has been restored. She is also able to have a proper conversation with her mother, and decides to return to the sky with a feeling of happiness.

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

Michiru: "I hope we can keep laughing forever, fill the world with smiles, and live our lives with warmth."

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

The scene where Minagi and Michiru stand back to back over the fence on the school roof, exchange a few words and a promise, and then Michiru disappears, was a classic.

【AIR】Famous Scenes #6

The Scene Where Minagi Visits Her Stepsister

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

After Michiru disappeared, Minagi received a letter from her father, who had remarried. She decided to take advantage of her summer vacation to visit him.

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

It seems that Minagi has a step-sister, and her name is...

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

I also liked the moment when, just before Minagi went to meet her father, Otoko responded to a question she had previously muttered: "Is there any meaning to wings that can't fly?"

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

Oto-nin: "Even wings that can't fly have meaning. They're precious memories of the days we flew."

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

It was a touching and memorable scene and line.

【AIR】Top 5 Best Scenes

The scene where Kanna ascends into the sky

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

Battered and wounded, Yanagi, Kanna, and Uraha found themselves surrounded by enemy soldiers on Mount Sacred Mountain. Kanna, who inherited the power of the Winged People from her mother, Yaobikuni, soared into the sky to distract the enemy, sacrificing herself and saving Yanagi and Uraha.

Source: Air ©VisualArt's/Key/Winged Legends Association

However, not only was Kanna hit by numerous arrows from enemy soldiers, but the monks of Mount Sacred Mountain also placed a curse on her soul, forcing her to continue living a sad dream alone in the sky until she could be reincarnated.

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

Right before Kanna soared into the sky, Yanagiya and Uraha were talking about their happy future together, making this scene even more moving.

【AIR】Famous Scenes #4

Ryuya's Death Scene

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

Continuing to think of Kanna, who had been cursed by Yaobikuni, began to eat away at Ryuya's body, eventually leading to his death.

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

Sat on Uraha's lap, who had become his wife, Ryuya was by her side until the moment of her death. They exchanged few words, and he tried to convince her, "It's okay to forget about me and Kanna and be happy," but Uraha replied no.

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

The final scene, set in a place resembling the afterlife, was a touching one, as Ryuya and Uraha set out on a journey to find Kanna.

【AIR】Top 3 Best Scenes

Misuzu and Haruko holding dinosaur dolls at a shrine

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

The summer festival that Mirin had been looking forward to was canceled due to heavy rain on the day of the festival, despite the sunny weather up until that point.

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

Haruko took Mirin to the shrine with a glimmer of hope, but the inevitable outcome left her in despair.

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

"What the hell is this kid trying to do?" Haruko shouted into the pouring rain, but a flashback of when she couldn't do anything for Kanrin about 10 years ago occurred, and she nearly gave up on everything.

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

Suddenly, the crow Sora begins crying. Haruko turns her head and sees, on top of the shrine's offering box, a dinosaur doll that Haruko had once intended to give to Mirin but ended up throwing away.

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

The dinosaur doll absorbs the thoughts and wishes of many people, and the scene where they reach out to the carefully kept doll is truly touching.

【AIR】Famous Scenes #2

Mirin calls out "Mommy!" to Haruko on the beach at dusk.

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

Mirin loses her memory, no longer recognizes Haruko, and even regresses to childhood. At that moment, her real father, Keisuke, arrives.

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

Keisuke is devastated by Mirin's wheelchair-bound and regressed childhood. He holds Haruko responsible and then, enraged, vows to take Mirin home himself.

Haruko resisted and begged Keisuke to let her stay as Mirin for just three days.

Haruko desperately tries to become a real mother within the three days, but she quickly realizes her own inadequacy and resolves to hand Mirin over to Keisuke three days later.

Finally, Haruko and Misuzu decide to part ways by watching the ocean on the beach in the evening. As they part, Misuzu shakes Keisuke off and runs to Haruko, crying, "Mommy!"
Source: Air ©VisualArt's/Key/Tsubasajin Denshokai

The scene where Misuzu hugs him tightly, crying and confirming their love for each other, saying, "That's right... I'm your mother," was a truly moving and memorable scene.

【AIR】Famous Scenes #1

Mirin's Goal

After becoming a real mother and daughter with Haruko and receiving the feelings of many people through the dinosaur doll, Mirin regained her memories and went for a walk along the summer road with Haruko.

After sipping her favorite "thick, rich peach flavor" from her usual vending machine, Mirin asks Haruko to wait for her a little while longer.

Haruko was standing a short distance away from Mirin, but Mirin rose from her wheelchair on her own and tried to walk over to where Haruko was.

Haruko worries, "Don't push yourself too hard," but Mirin tells her, "Mom, you're standing there. You can't come, no matter what." "Mom, you're the goal," she says, refusing to let Haruko get close.

Then, she says, "It's okay now, isn't it?", "I did my best," and "It's okay now...to reach the goal, isn't it?" From her behavior, Haruko realizes that Misuzu hasn't fully recovered.

Haruko tries to stop Kanrin, saying, "Don't reach the finish line!" But Kanrin says, "This summer was packed with a lifetime's worth of fun," and approaches Haruko.

Then, the scene in which Kanrin loses her life, expressing gratitude that her goal was accompanied by happiness, leaps into Haruko's arms, and is truly one of the most tear-jerking scenes in "AIR."

【AIR】Famous Scenes Summary

Even 18 Years Later, "AIR" is a Masterpiece That Still Makes Me Cry

Looking back at the best scenes from "AIR," the top three scenes with Mirin and Haruko in the second half are undoubtedly the best.

In the game, due to the length of the story, Haruko's unpleasantness is emphasized more in the beginning, and the contrast with her good nature in the latter half is tear-jerking. However, in the anime, she seems like a fairly good person from the beginning, which was good in its own way.

In any case, "AIR" is a pioneering work in the "tear-jerker" genre, so if you haven't seen it yet, you should definitely check it out (it's only 12 episodes).

Also, "Summer Pockets," released by the same brand "Key" in 2018, is a story set in the summer, as the title suggests, and its moving story became a huge hit, bringing tears to your eyes.

"Summer Pockets" is also set to be adapted into an anime. 18 years after "AIR," it's a new summer story with an evolved storyline and music that's not to be missed.