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Air Gear
Image from the Air Gear manga
エア・ギア (Ea Gia)
Genre	Action, Comedy, Sports, Romance, Ecchi
Manga
Author	Oh! great
Publisher	Kodansha
English publisher	Del Rey Tanoshimi
Other publishers: Pika Édition Norma Tong Li Comics Haksan Publishing Schibsted Förlagen Sverige AB Vibulkij Level Comic Panini Comics Manga Mania
Demographic	Shōnen
Magazine	Weekly Shōnen Magazine
Original run	16 May 2003 – ongoing
Volumes	21, containing 195 of 220 released chapters
TV anime
Director	Hajime Kamegaki
Studio	Toei Animation
Licensor	ADV Films, then Funimation Madman Entertainment
Network	TV Tokyo, TV Aichi
Other networks: Anime Network Indosiar ABS-CBN (May 7, 2007), Animax Cartoon Network (Sep 20, 2007)
Original run	April 4, 2006 – September 27, 2006[1]
Episodes	25 and a Special Trick
Related works
Air Gear Musicals, original material and adaptation of manga
Anime and Manga Portal

Air Gear (エア・ギア, Ea Gia^?) is a shōnen manga and anime by the mangaka Oh! great. Air Gear is about the life of Itsuki Minami “Ikki”, also known as “Baby face” and “Lil (and Little) Crow”, and his friends. The story follows their use of Air Trecks, an in-universe invention derived from inline skates. The early parts of the story carry out the introduction of characters that eventually join Ikki. As the story progresses, it focuses on their roles as Storm Riders and their quest to be on the top of the Trophaeum Tower. It won the 2006 Kodansha Manga Award in the shōnen category.^[2]

[edit] Story

Itsuki “Ikki” Minami, is a student and a delinquent. Also known as the “Unbeatable Babyface”. Ikki is the leader of the youth gang by the name of “East Side Gunz” (Hikatsuganzu). Upon his return home after being humiliated by a Storm Rider team called the Skull Saders, Ikki discovers a secret hidden from him by his benefactors, the Noyamano sisters. The sisters belong to a group of Storm Riders who go by the team name of Sleeping Forest. In the anime, learning the sisters’ secret angers him and he steals a pair of Air Trecks, abbreviated as “AT”. (In the manga, the sisters give a pair of ATs to him and invite him to skate with them.) Ikki eventually settles his grudge with the Skull Saders, but in the process he receives more than the simple satisfaction of revenge. Determined to experience the sensation of “flight” for as long as he can, Ikki is quickly engaged in the mysterious, irresistible world of Air Treks.

[edit] Setting

Air Trecks (AT for short), are a brand of special motorized inline skates. The biggest “thrill” of Air Trecks is the precisely calibrated air cushion system, which gives these self-propelled trick skates their energy, allowing the Riders to “fly”, enabling them to perform daring leaps and tricks. Air Trecks are fully customizable in every aspect, from the skate’s design, to the wheels, and even down to the screws. Most standard-issue parts are available at sporting goods stores, but the rare parts must be purchased at specialty shops.

Parts Wars are official battles between Storm Rider teams. Originally an online forum for trading Air Trecks parts which evolved into a place where Riders can issue challenges for parts posted on the board. A Rider can wager just about anything from parts to territory, to even team emblems; although wagering team emblems is considered highly unusual due to the risk involved of one’s team being disbanded. Nevertheless, Riders can compete in Parts Wars simply to improve their team’s ranking. Qualification for class advancement requires three consecutive wins against a team of equal class or one win against a team of superior class; and for each classes, there is a unique battle mode that must be conducted in the Parts Wars.

“Kings” are the most advanced users in the Air Gear universe’s Air Treck world, each possessing a unique ‘Regalia’ as their proof of their status. Regalia are special ATs specifically engineered to use the air to work in conjunction with the king’s ‘road’, the trick style the rider prefers. Though there are many ‘roads’ in the Air Gear world, originally only the eight riders with Regalia were considered kings, regardless of how powerful a rider was otherwise. Currently in the Air Gear manga storyline, there are sixteen recognized kings, eleven of which have been revealed as such to the reader. All Regalia possess what is known as an “Infinity Atmosphere”, a special set of parts which utilize air to create a powerful effect. Although many people have been recognized with having the power of a king, a person is not officially recognized without a Regalia, either won in a battle, chanced upon, or inherited from a previous king.

[edit] Main characters

See also: List of Air Gear characters

Itsuki “Ikki” Minami Voiced by: Kenta Kamakari (Japanese), Chris Patton (English)

The main protagonist of the story, he was given Air Trecks (in the anime, he took them himself) and soon delved into the world of Storm Riders. Eventually he creates a team, Kogarasumaru. Originally trained to become the Sky King by Sora, he soon finds himself betrayed by Sora himself and Nike (Sora’s twin brother) steals his Regalia. Shortly thereafter, Ikki becomes the Storm King and follows the “Hurricane Road.”

Kazuma “Kazu” Mikura Voiced by: Kenn (Japanese), Clint Bickham (English)

A long-time friend of Ikki, who’s always by his side. He is a speed-type rider who has recently inherited the title of Flame King following the path of the flame road along with Spitfires old AT’s. Due to his speed he got the nickname Stealth.

Onigiri Voiced by: Masami Kikuchi (Japanese), Greg Ayres (English)

Also a long-time friend of Ikki, he is a “perverted pig” as called by most. He has an unorthodox riding style, wearing his Air Trecks on his head and riding it upside-down. He has his own unique Road called the Smell Road, which uses an opponents senses against them.

Issa Mihotoke “Fats Buccha” Voiced by: Hitoshi Bifu (Japanese), Mark X. Laskowski (English)

Formerly of the Team Yaou (Night Kings), he was defeated by Ikki and his team was forced to disband. Eventually, he joins Ikki’s team as one of the main power riders, making use of his extremely large build and strength.

Akito/Agito/Lind Wanijima Voiced by: Kokoro Kikuchi (Japanese), Blake Shepard (English)

The Fang King with a split-personality. Akito is the “light” side while Agito is the “dark” side. They used to work for the police team of “WIND” until inspired by Ikki to leave and join Kogarasumaru after being rescued. Their split-personality changes depending on the side their eye patch is worn. Agito wears his patch on his left eye, Akito on his right. Later, a new personality named Lind emerged. Lind is somewhat like a “big brother” personality. He claims he is the original personality of the body.

[edit] Media info

Main article: List of Air Gear media and materials

See also: List of Air Gear chapters

Air Gear has been serialized in Weekly Shōnen Magazine since 2002. Currently, 20 tankōbon have been released in Japan by Shōnena Magazine Comics.

The Air Gear manga was licensed for release in the United States by Del Rey Manga and the first volume was released on July 25, 2006.^[3] Subsequent volumes will be released every three months.

ADV Films announced over the October 20, 2006 weekend at Oni-Con, that they had licensed the Air Gear anime for release in the USA.^[4] Though few of the actual artists and inside creators of Air Gear were actually there. The few that were there included Loa Mitsoyagi (Ikki), Ian Miller (Agito), Jason Remmings (Kazuma), and The ADV representing team. The first volume was released on February 6, 2007.^[5] ADV is releasing the uncensored Japanese home video version, rather than the broadcast version. On January 3, 2007, IGN released a special sneak peek of Episode 1 of the English Dub.^[6] In 2008, Air Gear became one of over 30 ADV titles transferred to Funimation.^[7] In Australia and New Zealand, the series is licensed by Madman Entertainment.^[8]

The series has also been made into a musical called Musical Air Gear,^[9] which made its debut on January 7, 2007 and ran until January 21, 2007. The musical is loosely adapted from the manga and all female roles are eliminated from the plot. The cast featured Kenta Kamakari, KENN, and Kenjiro Tsuda reprising their roles from the anime respectively as Ikki, Kazu, and Spitfire with Masaki Kaji (who had also starred with Kenta and KENN in the Prince of Tennis musicals), RUN＆GUN, etc. as their co-stars.^[10]

Due to the success and popularity of the musical’s first run, the musical has had a rerun in May 2007 titled, Musical Air Gear vs. Bacchus Super Range Remix (ミュージカル「エア・ギア」vs.バッカス Super Range Remix, Myūjikaru “Ea Gia” tai Bakkasu Sūpā Renji Rimikkusu^?) with the entire cast, except for Kenta Kamakari due to illness, reprising their roles.

Also, a greyed out ‘movie’ button on the TV Tokyo Japanese Air Gear website indicates that an Air Gear movie may be in the works. ^[11]

[edit] Reception

Both the anime and manga have gained a lot of popularity, both in the east and the west, now having quite a large fan base.^[12] BlogCritics said “It mixes this action and comedy quite well with a storyline that doesn’t fail to leave a reader wanting more.”^[13]. The anime has often been criticized for not remaining true to the manga, and skipping parts out, but praised for its soundtrack. The English Dub has received positive reviews since its release.^[14] AnimeOnDVD said “The concept of the show is one that is pure anime though and something that visually can be done very well”^[15]

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Official Japanese Manga Site
• Official Del Rey (USA) Manga Site
• Official Japanese Anime Site
• Official Japanese Musical Site
• Air Gear (anime) at Anime News Network’s Encyclopedia
• Air Gear (manga) at Anime News Network’s Encyclopedia