So you’ve had ADV’s copy sitting on your shelf for a couple years and have been wondering if an upgrade was necessary?

Tokyopop released volume 1 of the Aria manga this month. I’m still wondering why they’re releasing Aria this month and the last volume of Aqua next month though. Nevertheless, I picked it up today and decided to take comparison photos of the two versions.

Both covers are the same image and both horizontal. I don’t know if it’s wear and tear of time, but Tokyopop’s cover is much more vibrant in terms of color. It’s not as if I read Aria every month, but the colors were very different (at least with my copies). The one noticeable difference would be the “Aria” logo has changed. Personally, I like the original design with the Japanese written in between. The Tokyopop version just looks too “modern” and “sci-fi” for what I feel Aria is about. Sure, this is 2301 we are talking about here, but that slowed-down, old-fashioned, “enjoy the ride” feeling is what Aria has always been about.

The back covers are also very similar, except Tokyopop shrunk the artwork, which was unfortunate. I’ve always loved that image of Akari sitting on the sign starring off into the sky, so I was a little put off. The color on the Tokyopop version was more pinkish than ADV’s version. Again, I liked ADV’s look better. Tokyopop did add some sky graphics though, which were nice.

I did have a little chuckle with the OT age rating. “May include non-sexual nudity, mild fanservice, alcohol use.” Awesome. The chapter when Akari, Alicia, and Aika go to the hot spring is what came to mind when I read that, but that was in volume 2. Other than that, off the top of my head, I don’t really recall and non-sexual nudity, mild fanservice, or alcohol use. Not a big deal though. Aria is Aria, and that’s why we adore it.

Tokyopop (left), ADV (right)

Tokyopop

Tokyopop

ADV

Unlike the front cover, the art on the inside cover for the ADV version was much more vibrant compared to Tokyopop. There was also a title change for chapter 2–Drydocking (ADV) to Gondola Hauling (Tokyopop). Both sound a bit silly to me, but whatever. Tokyopop’s newer version did toss in a half page introduction to the world of Aqua and Aria, whereas ADV just dropped you off at the Spaceport without telling you that a chubby blue-eyed cat was going to meet you there. Tokyopop also included a short paragraph preview for volume 2, where as ADV just gave a “Coming July 2004″ with some art of Akari. One thing that ADV did include that Tokyopop did not was translation notes. I’ve always liked translation notes in manga, as they just give you a little more information. Nuggets of information are a good thing.

Tokyopop (top), ADV (bottom)

In terms of the actual translation, I cannot comment much on how either ADV or Tokyopop handled it because I’ve never read Aria in the original Japanese. I haven’t sat down and read Tokyopop’s version cover to cover yet, but I can say that both versions have their pluses and minuses and will boil down to what the reader prefers. At least from what I skimmed, Tokyopop’s version is a bit more “readable” and comes across more like how one would speak. ADV’s version is a bit more technical and a bit more stiff, but they toss in some dialog that seems more accurate (that those couple sentences with a grain of salt, as I don’t know what the originals said).

Tokyopop (top), ADV (bottom)

For example, in chapter 2 when Akai and Akari were cleaning the gondolas, Akari made a puddle and was starring at it.

Tokyopop:
It looks like that rainbow fell into the puddle.

ADV:
Doesn’t it look like that rainbow from earlier just feel right into this water?

A couple pages later Akai asks Akari if she’s done cleaning, to which Akari responds:

Tokyopop:
Heh heh… I’m not done because… It’d be a shame to finish too soon.

ADV:
Nope! Because… it’d be a shame to just rush through something like this.

Boils down to what you prefer really. In some cases I prefer ADV and in others I prefer Tokyopop.

Tokyopop (top), ADV (bottom)

To further the comparison of the text, Tokyopop keeps the honorifics intact, so we have the more familiar “Alicia-san” being uttered by Akari, as opposed to just “Alicia.” However, Toykopop does not translate the sound effects or signs, which is something that always bugged me. They do translate some stuff, but most of the sound effects is left untranslated. I like to to see sound effects and signs, but more importantly, I want to know Akari is buying baked potatoes instead of wondering what she is getting.

Tokyopop

ADV

So which is better? Is the upgrade necessary? Yes and no. For the most part everything is pretty much the same. Both versions have an equal amount of good points and bad points, so it’s hard to say which is better. I am sure someone who is more familiar with the original dialog could comment on which translation is better though. I will give the nod to Tokyopop though for a couple reasons.

First, consistency. I may just be anal, but I’d prefer looking at book spines that are all similar. Not only will Aqua and Aria be there, but volumes 4+ (hopefully) will be there too. However, more importantly…

Second, I tip my baseball cap to Tokyopop for picking up Aria when ADV just decided to give it up after only 3 volumes. Although it won’t be until much later this year, those of us who have been wanting to read a bound version of volume 4 and beyond in English have a chance now. What was even more outstanding on Tokyopop’s part was releasing AQUA also. ADV’s version just gets going and never mentions there were 2 volumes of the story beforehand. Even in volume 1, when Aika mentions the test undines take to get promoted from Pair to Single, but there is no mention of what happened. It’s hinted at in other places in the manga, but unless you read Aqua, you’d have no idea what’s going on. Tokyopop from the start pegs Aria as “The sequel to Aqua.”

“You passed. Congratulations… Starting today, you are a Single, Akari-chan.”

Aqua in its own right it a lot of fun. I have yet to read volume 2, but having volume 1 of Aqua chronicle Akari arriving on Aqua and seeing her take her test to become a Single was touching. Witnessing Alicia take Akari’s first glove off in Aria anime was one of my favorite moments in that entire series, so getting to read how it originally played out in Aqua was a treat. That is something that Tokyopop offers that ADV does not.

Even if you have the ADV volumes sitting on your shelf, I still recommend picking up Tokyopop’s iteration. More Aria is a good thing. It boils down to personal preference. If you are good to go with ADV’s volumes 1-3, just start with volume 4 whenever it comes out.

One thing that will never change will be the beauty of Amano Kozue’s art. The images of Neo-Venezia never fail to impress me. Call me sentimental or touchy-feely, but Aria just always brings a smile to my face, wherever it be Tokyopop or ADV.

Aria is Aria. That is what matters!