Aria (manga)/Characters

From left to right: Alice, Aika, Akari, Alicia, Akira, and Athena.

Aria Company

Akari Mizunashi

Voiced by Erino Hazuki (Japanese), Jeong-Sin Wu (Korean), Benedetta Ponticelli (Italian)

The main character. An immigrant from Japan, Manhome who comes to Aqua to become an undine. Normally shown as a very cheerful person. Has a strange tendency to draw supernatural phenomena to her.

Catch Phrase: "Ah, suteki!" and "Ha-hi!"
Cloudcuckoolander
Friend to All Living Things: Not only does she befriend nearly every human she meets, but several animals and even a snow bug as well. She even feels sorry for some chocolate candies that won't get eaten because they got dropped onto the ground!
Genki Girl
Love Freak: Probably everyone's trait, but it's especially apparent with Akari.
Rapunzel Hair: Her "sideburns" get so long by the epilogue that she's able to loop them back around into a ponytail! How she doesn't catch her oar in those loops is anyone's guess.
Romantic Two-Girl Friendship: Her relationship with Alicia certainly has elements of this, which culminates in the Arietta OVA. Their relationship by the end of the series is summed up in the series' Crowning Moment of Heartwarming (in a series filled with Moments of Heartwarming).
Rose-Haired Girl
She's All Grown Up: In the anime she's the only one out of her and her two friends that's shown after reaching adulthood
Ship Tease: With Akatsuki, but also with Alicia, so much that Alicia's unexpected marriage outraged quite a few yuri fans.
Tearful Smile: When Alicia "disappeared" after she told Akari she planned to retire.
Weirdness Magnet:
Wide-Eyed Idealist: Yes, even by Aria standards.
Yamato Nadeshiko: She's on her way.

Alicia Florence

Voiced by Sayaka Ohara (Japanese), Hyeon-Jin Lee (Korean), Elisabetta Spinelli (Italian)

One of the three Water Fairies and the top-ranked undine in Neo-Venezia, Alicia is Akari's tutor. During the story's run, she's the manager of ARIA Company. She's known by the title "Snow White", and is currently the most popular undine in the city.

Catch Phrase: "Ara ara" almost always followed by a giggle.
Last-Minute Hookup: Gets married in the last chapter/episode with little/no foreshadowing.
Onee-Sama: So very much – to all of the apprentices, not just Akari.
Romantic Two-Girl Friendship: With Akari
Ship Tease: With Akari, most prominently in the Arietta OVA.
Stealth Hi Bye: Does this a from time to time, though it usually happens in the later chapters rather than the earlier ones.
Yamato Nadeshiko: the traditional sort, which (when linked to the fact that gondoliers in old Venice retired when their apprentices were ready to be full-fledged gondoliers) is about as much warning as we get that she had planned to retire when Akari became a Prima.

Akino Ametsuchi

Voiced by Yoshiko Matsuo (Japanese), Lee Juyeon (Korean)

Better known as Grandma. Legendary Undine and the founder of ARIA Company. Originally she's from Himeya Company, but break off after meeting with President Aria. Currently lives in countryside.

Alliterative Name
I Was Quite a Looker: She aged very badly, to say the least.
Miniature Senior Citizens: Shrunk considerably between her working as an undine and now.

Ai

Voiced by Kaori Mizuhashi (Japanese), Hyeon-Seo An (Korean), Serena Clerici (Italian)

Originally an anime-only character. Ai is Akari's customer in the first episode of the anime (in place of an old man in the equivalent manga story), and serves as the character that Akari corresponds with (in place of her unknown readers in the manga). In the last chapter of the manga, gets Canon Immigrant treatment.

Black Eyes of Evil: When Ai threatens to scream that she's being kidnapped if Akari doesn't give her a ride, her brown eyes go all-black, reverting to normal as soon as Akari agrees. It happens again when she press-gangs Aika into the tour.
Canon Immigrant
Cheerful Child
Last-Episode New Character: In the manga.
She's All Grown Up: While she doesn't appear to physically grow during the 6 earth years that the series covers, that changes in the epilogue.

Anna

Voiced by Risa Hayamizu (Japanese)

Grandma's apprentice before Alicia. Left the company after Alicia became Prima. Currently has a family.

Hot Mom

President Aria Pokoteng

Voiced by Chinami Nishimura (Japanese), Lee Eunjeong (Korean), Federica Valenti (Italian)

ARIA Company's president. Can be considered as a B Side main character. A Martian cat that Akino met, and with whom she founded ARIA Company.

Really Seven Hundred Years Old: Stays with the company for 20 years and he doesn't look any different at all.

Himeya Company

Aika S. Granzchesta

Voiced by Chiwa Saitou (Japanese), Seon-Yeong Park (Korean), Giuliana Atepi (Italian)

Daughter of the owner of Himeya and its heir. Akari's first friend on Aqua. Has a crush on Alicia and later Al.

Catch Phrase: "Hazukashii serifu kinshi!" translatable as "Embarrassing remarks are not allowed!"
Expressive Hair: When Akari first noticed Aika was fixated on watching Alicia, and asked if Aika was a stalker, Aika's braids went rigid and straight.
Grumpy Bear
Important Haircut
Jerk with a Heart of Gold: Though a very light version.
Stalker with a Crush: In the beginning of the series, she exhibits this toward Alicia. One of the first things Akari said to her in Chapter 2 of Aqua was, "Aika-chan, are you a stalker?"
Zettai Ryouiki: Only once in the Anime, which was enough to leave a huge impression.

Akira E. Ferrari

Voiced by Junko Minagawa (Japanese), Jeong-Min Bae (Korean), Cinzia Massironi (Italian)

One of the three Water Fairies, Aika's tutor. She's known by the title of "Crimson Rose" for her conversation skill with customers. Tomboyish enough that she can be considered as The Ladette (especially with Akatsuki mistaking her as a boy when they're children).

Adult Child: Her rivalry with Alicia can be very petty.
Expy: Probably from Senkoh Katori from Amano's earlier work Roman Club, considering that Akira's look when she was a kid is exactly like Senkoh. She might be Senkoh's descendant. That, or she's expy of his sister, Matou, who also appears in Amanchu.
Hard Work Hardly Works: Averted hard. The only reason she's able to be one of the Water Fairies is because she works really hard. As she said, she has no notable talents like her friends Alicia or Athena have, so hard work is all she can do to make up for it - to the point where hard work becomes her notable talent.
The Ladette: Except the drinking part -- she can barely hold liquor, especially compared to Alicia, who can hold massive amounts.
Tall, Dark and Bishoujo: The Poster Girl

Ayumi K. Jasmine

Voiced by Ryoko Shiraishi (Japanese)

One of the trainees that Akari met when she works at Traghetto. Quite a cheerful person.

I Just Want to Be Normal: Well, more normal. She doesn't even want to be a Prima at all.

President Hime M. Granzchesta

Voiced by Kaori Mizuhashi (Japanese)

Himeya's president. A cat from Manhome. Quite aloof. President Aria has a crush on her.

Tsundere

Orange Planet

Alice Carroll

Voiced by Ryo Hirohashi (Japanese), Min-Jeong Yeo (Korean), Loretta Di Pisa (Italian)

A trainee for Orange Planet. Is considered to be a prodigy because of her gondola skills despite the fact she is still in middle school when she is recruited. A real Deadpan Snarker.

Alice Allusion
Catch Phrase: Uses "dekkai" (huge) in every other sentence, if not more.
Child Prodigy: Nearly flawless rowing skills even when still a pair. She also becomes an Undine before her seniors Akari and Aika.
Defrosting Ice Queen: Starts out as this, mellow out very quickly.
Innocent Prodigy: Although hidden under her antisocial personality and her status as a prodigy, she's still shown to have an adorably childlike naivety at times.
Little Miss Snarker
Self-Imposed Challenge: She likes to go home from school in various creative ways, such as kicking a rock along the path or only walking on shadows. These often cross into Just a Kid territory.
Ship Tease: With Woody (only in the manga).
Shout-Out: ~~Probably~~ Is to Lewis Carroll and Alice in Wonderland
Sugar and Ice Personality: Quite antisocial on the surface.
Wise Beyond Their Years: Although even with that, she's still 14 and it shows.
Zettai Ryouiki: In her school uniform.

Athena Glory

Voiced by Tomoko Kawakami (Japanese), Lee Juyeon (Korean), Laura Brambilla (Italian)

One of the three Water Fairies, Alice's tutor. She's known by the title of "Siren" for her beautiful singing voice. Very clumsy (but see below).

Cloudcuckoolander: Even more so than Akari.
Dark-Skinned Blond: Okay, actually Dark Skinned Purple, but still fits.
Dojikko
Easily Forgiven: She has the tendency to pull rather mean pranks (like faking amnesia), especially on poor Alice, but always manages to get away with it.
Genius Ditz / Obfuscating Stupidity: Is actually capable of not making mistakes, but usually doesn't bother when she's not on the job because it's "too tiring".
Meaningful Name

Atora Monteverdi

Voiced by Houko Kuwashima (Japanese)

One of the trainees that Akari met when she works at Traghetto. A bit of Yamato Nadeshiko herself.

Yamato Nadeshiko

Anzu Yumeno

Voiced by Kana Asumi (Japanese)

One of the trainees that Akari met when she works at Traghetto. Very shy.

Determinator: Has failed the Prima exam several times, but hasn't given up yet.

President Maa

Voiced by Akeno Watanabe (Japanese)

Orange Planet's president. Originally found as a stray by Alice, who picks her up to take care of. Has a habit of biting President Aria's belly.

Your Tomcat Is Pregnant: Was thought by Alice to be a male cat until the vet reveals this fact. Without the pregnancy, though.

Other characters

Akatsuki Izumo

Voiced by Hirofumi Nojima (Japanese), Gwang-Ju Jeon (Korean), Maurizio Merluzzo (Italian)

He works in one of the floating islands as a Salamander, controlling weather on the planet. Has a crush on Alicia (who claims to assume instead it's on Akari). Akari's first customer. His older brother, like Alicia, believes Akatsuki is actually interested in Akari.

Adult Child
Bishounen
Japanese Pronouns: At least in the first anime episode, he called himself "ore-sama" when talking to Akari; a translator's note for one of the early manga chapters indicated he again used a very "high-handed" phrasing for "I."
Ship Tease: With Akari. He does seem to have a fascination with her hair, specifically the "sideburns" -- on several occasions, his grasping them is how Akari learns he's there.
- In one of the manga's short "special" chapters, he meets Akari as she's checking horoscopes. At the end of the chapter, he comments that he's impressed because she isn't despairing over her rather downer horoscope -- and then he remembers that his said: "You might, by chance, meet the person of your heart in town. You'll discover and be impressed with an unexpected side of her, and fall deeper in love." Search your feelings, Akatsuki-san; you know it to be true....
  - He more or less acknowledges this even while denying it, telling Akari, "Don't touch me, you'll create children!"
Stalker with a Crush: Mild version, mind you.

Ayanokohji Udo the 51st

Voiced by Yuji Ueda (Japanese), Ha Seongyong (Korean), Paolo De Santis (Italian)

Better known as Woody, he works as Sylph, an airbike courier delivering goods in a city without streets. Has quite a bad sense of direction.

No Sense of Direction: His first appearance has him lose a map and need Akari's help to navigate the city.
Transplant: It's either this or he's descended from Ayanokohji Udo from Amano's earlier work Roman Club considering that they have same name, look, and even personality. His courier service is named "Roman Air," and he is "the 51st" to bear the name.

Albert Pitt

Voiced by Akeno Watanabe (Japanese), Hyeon-Seo An (Korean)

Working as a Gnome, people who works in gravity control system underground. Aika has a crush on him. Older than he looks.

Don't Explain the Joke: He always does when he makes an-
Incredibly Lame Pun: He often makes "old man" jokes with these. They're so old (and originally from Manhome) that he has to explain them every time.
Meaningful Name: Albert Pitt works at the bottom of a deep hole in the ground.
Soap Opera Rapid Aging Syndrome: The only logical explanation for him growing at least a foot taller at the end of the final episode but before the timeskip epilogue.
Stealh Hi Bye: Happens every now and then.
Older Than They Look: Looks like a cute little boy, even though he's 19.

Anno Namihei

Voiced by Motomu Kiyokawa (Japanese), So-Hyeong Kim (Korean)

Better known as Mr. Postman, as Akari calls him. Works for the Neo-Venizia post office and gives Akari first trip in gondola. His name is not revealed until near the end of the series.

Everyone Calls Him "Barkeep": An Omake lampshades this, with everyone calling him not by his name, even though he has a nametag.
Eyes Always Shut: The only time he opens them is when Akari narrowly avoids crashing, seen here.

Cait Sith

Mysterious Mega Neko that appears throughout the work, especially when the supernatural is involved, to Akari especially. Is the King of the Cats of Neo-Venezia, named after the king of the cats of Scottish folklore, and it is strongly suggested he is a guardian spirit of Aqua.

Big Damn Heroes: Saves Akari from the ghost Woman in Black.
Mega Neko