View source for Air (video game)

{{Short description|Japanese adult visual novel}}
{{good article}}
{{Infobox video game
| title = Air
| image = <noinclude>Air original game cover.jpg</noinclude>
| caption = Cover featuring heroines (from left to right) Kano Kirishima, Misuzu Kamio and Minagi Tohno
| developer = [[Key (company)|Key]]
| publisher = {{ubl|[[Visual Arts (company)|Visual Arts]] <small>(Windows, Android, iOS)</small>|[[Interchannel|NEC Interchannel]] <small>(DC, PS2)</small>|[[Prototype (company)|Prototype]] <small>(S3G, PSP, FOMA, PSV, Switch)</small>}}
| director = [[Jun Maeda]]
| writer = {{ubl|Jun Maeda|[[Yūichi Suzumoto]]|Takashi Ishikawa|Kai|Tōya Okano|Tomotaka Fujii}}
| artist = [[Itaru Hinoue]]
| composer = {{ubl|Jun Maeda|[[Shinji Orito]]|[[Magome Togoshi]]}}
| platforms = [[Microsoft Windows]], [[Dreamcast]], [[PlayStation 2]], [[SoftBank Mobile|SoftBank 3G]], [[PlayStation Portable]], [[Freedom of Mobile Multimedia Access]], [[Android (operating system)|Android]], [[iOS]], [[PlayStation Vita]], [[Nintendo Switch]]
| released = {{collapsible list|title={{nobold|September 8, 2000}}|
'''Windows'''{{vgrelease|JP|September 8, 2000|JP|July 27, 2001|JP|April 8, 2005|JP|May 28, 2010|WW|March 5, 2025}}
'''Dreamcast'''{{vgrelease|JP|September 20, 2001}}
'''PlayStation 2'''{{vgrelease|JP|August 8, 2002}}
'''SoftBank 3G'''{{vgrelease|JP|May 1, 2006}}
'''PlayStation Portable'''{{vgrelease|JP|November 22, 2007}}
'''FOMA'''{{vgrelease|JP|February 5, 2008}}
'''Android'''{{vgrelease|JP|October 24, 2012|JP|May 2, 2013}}
'''iOS'''{{vgrelease|JP|May 2, 2013}}
'''PlayStation Vita'''{{vgrelease|JP|September 8, 2016}}
'''Nintendo Switch'''{{vgrelease|JP|September 9, 2021|WW|July 14, 2025}}
}}
| genre = {{flatlist|
*[[Eroge]]{{efn|Only the original and 2005 Windows releases and the 2013 Android version has adult content.}}
*[[visual novel]]
}}
| modes = [[Single-player video game|Single-player]]
}}

'''''Air''''' is a Japanese [[visual novel]] developed by [[Key (company)|Key]], a brand of [[Visual Arts (company)|Visual Arts]]. It was released on September 8, 2000 for [[Microsoft Windows|Windows]] as an [[Eroge|adult game]]. Key later released versions of ''Air'' without the erotic content, and the game was [[Porting|ported]] to the [[Dreamcast]], [[PlayStation 2]], [[PlayStation Portable]], [[PlayStation Vita]] and [[Nintendo Switch]]. The story follows the life of Yukito Kunisaki, a traveling [[showman]] searching for the "girl in the sky". He arrives in a quiet, seaside town where he meets three girls, one of whom is the key to the end of his journey.

The [[gameplay]] in ''Air'' follows a [[Nonlinear gameplay#Branching storylines|branching plot line]] which offers pre-determined scenarios with courses of interaction, and focuses on the appeal of the three female main characters by the [[player character]]. The game is divided into three segments—Dream, Summer, and Air—which serve as different phases in the overall story. The title of the game reflects the prominent themes of the air, skies, and use of wings throughout gameplay. The game ranked as the best-selling PC game sold in Japan for the time of its release, and charted in the national top 50 several more times afterwards. ''Air'' has sold over 300,000 units across several platforms.

Following the game's release, ''Air'' made several transitions into other media. A [[manga]] by [[Yukimaru Katsura]] was serialized in [[Kadokawa Shoten]]'s ''[[Comptiq]]'', and later published into two volumes. [[Comic anthology|Comic anthologies]] and [[art book]]s were also published, as were [[audio drama]]s and several albums of music. [[Kyoto Animation]] produced a 13-episode [[anime]] television series and a two-episode anime mini-series in 2005, and [[Toei Animation]] produced an anime film in 2005. The anime adaptations are licensed by [[Funimation]] who released them in North America.

==Gameplay==
{{stack|[[File:Misuzu original Air game.jpg|200px|thumb|Text in ''Air'' is displayed in a dialog box, here depicting the player character talking with Misuzu.]]}}
''Air'' is a [[Romance (love)|romance]] [[visual novel]] in which the player assumes the role of three characters.<ref name="visual-book">{{Cite book|date=April 2001|title=Air art works|publisher=[[Paradigm (publisher)|Paradigm]]|page=224|isbn=978-4-89490-318-0}}</ref> Much of its [[gameplay]] is spent on reading the story's [[narrative]] and [[dialogue]]. ''Air'' follows a [[Nonlinear gameplay#Branching storylines|branching plot line]] with multiple endings, and depending on the decisions that the player makes during the game, the plot will progress in a specific direction.<ref name="visual-book" /> With the consumer ports, if an undesired choice was selected, there would be an option to rewind the story to correct the mistake. However, if the player reaches a bad end to a storyline, the player does not have this option and must reload the game at the last saved point.

There are five main plot lines that the player will have the chance to experience, three which are initially available and two more which can later become available.<ref name="visual-book" /> Throughout gameplay, the player is given multiple options to choose from, and text progression pauses at these points until a choice is made. To view all plot lines in their entirety, the player will have to replay the game multiple times and choose different choices to further the plot to an alternate direction.

When first playing the game, the player assumes the role of Yukito Kunisaki and the scenarios for the three heroines are available in what is called the Dream [[story arc]]. After the plot lines for these three heroines have been completed, an additional scenario called Summer is made available where the player assumes the role of Ryūya. Summer is a linear novel arc in which no choices are presented to the player.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://brightbell.main.jp/kipima/game/Air/Summer.html|title=Summer arc playthrough chart|access-date=May 16, 2008|language=ja|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080524075202/http://brightbell.main.jp/kipima/game/Air/Summer.html|archive-date=May 24, 2008|url-status=live}}</ref> Upon the completion of the Summer route, another scenario called Air is made available, which serves as the true ending to the story. In Air, the player assumes the role of a [[Jungle Crow|crow]] named Sora.<ref name="visual-book" /> In the [[Hentai|adult]] versions of the game, there are scenes with sexual [[Computer graphics|CGs]] depicting Yukito and a given heroine having sex.<ref name="Key-Air-official" /> Later, Key released versions of ''Air'' without the erotic content.<ref name="Key-Air-official" />

==Plot==
[[File:Air town.png|thumb|200px|right|''Air'' takes place in a town modeled on Kami, Japan.]]

===Setting and themes===
There are important locations featured in ''Air'' that are based on places in the city [[Kami, Hyōgo (Mikata)|Kami]] in [[Hyōgo Prefecture]], Japan.<ref name="hentai.co.uk" /> ''Air'' is set in the [[Kasumi, Hyogo|Kasumi]] district of Kami; during the course of the series' creation, Kasumi was an individual town that has since merged with two others to form the city of Kami. Many of the locales in ''Air'', such as the [[seawall]], the [[train station]], the [[Jinja (Shinto)|shrine]], and the school are based on real places.<ref name="hentai.co.uk" /><ref>{{cite web|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070302103022/http://htc.moon.st/ota/05041601.html|url=http://htc.moon.st/ota/05041601.html|archive-date=March 2, 2007|title=Air's setting based on real locations|publisher=htc.moon.st|access-date=June 8, 2009|language=ja}}</ref> As ''Air'' is set in the middle of summer, the season offers bright, sunny skies for the town during the day.<ref>'''Untranslated quote:''' その先には閉ざすものなく、空が広がっていた。遮へい物のひとつもない。陽光が揺らいだ。<br />'''Translated quote:''' "In front of me is an unchecked, wide open sky. No obscuring objects whatsoever. The sunlight oscillated down."<br />{{cite video game| title = Air| developer = [[Key (company)|Key]]| publisher = [[VisualArt's]]| date=September 8, 2000| language = ja}}</ref> In the manga adaptation, the town is described as a "quiet town with few people...with nothing but beaches and countryside."<ref>{{cite book|last=Katsura|first=Yukimaru|title=Air manga volume 1|publisher=[[Kadokawa Shoten]]|year= 2004|page=153}}</ref> Scenario assistant [[Yūichi Suzumoto]] has commented that his impression of ''Air'' is similar to that of a [[folk song]] due to the rural setting and heartwarming story progression.<ref name="Air-interview" />

As indicated by the title, air, skies and wings are important themes: Yukito is searching for the "girl in the sky",<ref name="hentai.co.uk" /> and Misuzu believes that her other self is flying in the sky above her. Other characters show a similar relationship to the sky, such as Minagi who is a member of the [[astronomy]] club,<ref>'''Untranslated quote:''' …部活動というものがあるのです…天文部です<br />'''Translated quote:''' "...There's still club activities...the astronomy club."<br />{{cite video game| title = Air| developer = [[Key (company)|Key]]| publisher = [[VisualArt's]]| date=September 8, 2000| language = ja}}</ref> and Michiru who has a fondness for [[Soap bubble|bubbles]] that float in the air. Kano wants wings to fly, and Kanna already has them. Misuzu names a crow she finds {{Nihongo|''Sora''|空|}}—Japanese for "sky". Another major theme is the [[maternal bond]], as the four heroines' stories, as well as Yukito's, revolve around their mothers, either biological or adoptive. Main scenario writer [[Jun Maeda]] commented that he prefers to include mothers in games if given the choice between only including a mother or a father, as is what happened with ''Air'', though he backs this up by noting that in [[bishōjo game]]s, women are the main focus anyway.<ref name="Air-interview" /> Complicated relationships involving family members and friends play a key part throughout the story.<ref name="Air-interview" /> One of the sub-themes in the story is [[magic (paranormal)|magic]].<ref>'''Untranslated quote:''' 魔法が使えたらって、思ったことないかなぁ？<br />'''Translated quote:''' "If you could use sorcery, what do you think would happen?"<br />{{cite video game| title = Air| developer = [[Key (company)|Key]]| publisher = [[VisualArt's]]| date=September 8, 2000| language = ja}}</ref> Uraha, Yukito's mother,<ref>'''Untranslated quote:''' 俺が母親から伝えられた、手を触れずに人形を操る力。<br />'''Translated quote:''' "I had inherited the ability to control puppets without touching them from my mother."<br />{{cite video game| title = Air| developer = [[Key (company)|Key]]| publisher = [[VisualArt's]]| date=September 8, 2000| language = ja}}</ref> and Yukito himself<ref>'''Untranslated quote:''' 手を触れることなく、人形を動かす力。俺にとっては当たり前の力。この少女にわかる言葉で、それを説明するなら…「…一種の魔法だ」<br />'''Translated quote:''' A power that can move a puppet without touching it. To me, it's a power that's nothing out of the ordinary. But if I had to explain it to this girl using terminology she knew... "...it's a kind of magic."<br />{{cite video game| title = Air| developer = [[Key (company)|Key]]| publisher = [[VisualArt's]]| date=September 8, 2000| language = ja}}</ref> have the ability to use magic, though Yukito is the least skilled among them. Kano was told by her sister that when she grows up and takes off her yellow ribbon, she will gain the power to do magic. However, the problems of parents leaving their offspring and poverty are displayed realistically.

===Characters===
{| style="font-size:90%; float:right
|-
|
{| class="wikitable floatright"
|+ Cast
|-
! Role
! Japanese<ref name="jent">{{cite web|author=Amith, Dennis|url=http://j-entonline.com/blu-ray-dvd-reviews/dvd-reviews-film-tv/anime-reviews/air-the-complete-series-a-j-ent-anime-dvd-review/|title=AIR – The Complete Series (a J!-ENT Anime DVD Review)|publisher=J!-ENT|date=May 16, 2009|access-date=April 12, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160402174311/http://j-entonline.com/blu-ray-dvd-reviews/dvd-reviews-film-tv/anime-reviews/air-the-complete-series-a-j-ent-anime-dvd-review/|archive-date=April 2, 2016|url-status=live}}</ref>
! English<ref name="jent"/>
|-
|Yukito Kunisaki<ref group="n">{{Nihongo||国崎 往人|Kunisaki Yukito}}</ref>
|[[Hikaru Midorikawa]] (game, film)<br />[[Daisuke Ono]] (anime series)
|[[Vic Mignogna]]
|-
|Misuzu Kamio<ref group="n">{{Nihongo||神尾 観鈴|Kamio Misuzu}}</ref>
|[[Tomoko Kawakami]]
|[[Monica Rial]]
|-
|Kano Kirishima<ref group="n">{{Nihongo||霧島 佳乃|Kirishima Kano}}</ref>
|Asami Okamoto
|[[Stephanie Wittels]]
|-
|Minagi Tohno<ref group="n">{{Nihongo||遠野 美凪|Tōno Minagi}}</ref>
|[[Ryoka Yuzuki]]
|[[Kira Vincent-Davis]]
|-
|Haruko Kamio<ref group="n">{{Nihongo||神尾 晴子|Kamio Haruko}}</ref>
|[[Aya Hisakawa]]
|[[Luci Christian]]
|-
|Hijiri Kirishima<ref group="n">{{Nihongo||霧島 聖|Kirishima Hijiri}}</ref>
|[[Yumi Tōma]]
|[[Christine Auten]]
|-
|Michiru<ref group="n">{{Nihongo||みちる}}</ref>
|[[Yukari Tamura]]
|[[Serena Varghese]]
|-
|Kanna<ref group="n">{{Nihongo||神奈}}</ref>
|[[Chinami Nishimura]]
|Cynthia Martinez
|-
|Ryūya<ref group="n">{{Nihongo||柳也}}</ref>
|[[Nobutoshi Canna]]
|[[Jay Hickman (actor)|Jay Hickman]]
|-
|Uraha<ref group="n">{{Nihongo||裏葉}}</ref>
|[[Kikuko Inoue]]
|[[Allison Sumrall]]
|-
|Potato<ref group="n">{{Nihongo||ポテト|Poteto}}</ref>
|[[Hiromi Konno]]
|[[Tiffany Grant]]
|}
|}
The player assumes the role of Yukito Kunisaki, the protagonist of ''Air''. He lives a poor life going from town to town with little money, trying to make a living off his show with a puppet. As a young adult, Yukito sometimes acts childishly if provoked. Yukito tends to be helpful to those around him while trying to earn any money at the same time, and does his best to look after Misuzu in the Dream arc. Misuzu Kamio, the main heroine of ''Air'', makes Yukito quite mistrustful at first by being too friendly, but eventually earns his affection. She is a cheerful but introverted, slightly clumsy and simplistic high school girl, and often utters the pseudo-dinosauric phrase ''gao'' when she feels troubled, a habit she retained from childhood. Misuzu has a great love of [[dinosaur]]s, finding the story of their glory and extinction "romantic". As a child, her fascination with dinosaurs stemmed from thinking chicks would grow into them; her adoptive mother Haruko Kamio thinks it is ridiculous.

The second of the three heroines Yukito meets after Misuzu is Kano Kirishima, a girl attending the same school as Misuzu. She is usually energetic, playful, and tells jokes by saying nonsensical things. Kano is friends with a strange stray dog named Potato that follows her around and is able to communicate in his strange manner of speech.<ref>'''Untranslated quote:''' 見事にコミュニケーションがなされている。<br />'''Translated quote:''' "She surprisingly seems to be able to communicate with it."<br />{{cite video game| title = Air| developer = [[Key (company)|Key]]| publisher = [[VisualArt's]]| date=September 8, 2000| language = ja}}</ref> Kano still believes in things she was told by her older sister Hijiri as a child as a way of coping with her past. The third and final heroine Yukito meets is a girl in Misuzu's class at school named Minagi Tohno, a top student in the school who is introverted as well. Until she met Yukito, her only friend was Michiru, with whom she often blows bubbles at the abandoned train station in town.

===Story===
''Air''{{'s}} story begins on Monday, July 17, 2000, when traveling [[Street performance|street performer]] Yukito Kunisaki arrives at a small seaside town. As a young adult, he has been traveling around Japan in continuation of his late mother's search for the "girl in the sky" who, according to a family legend, has been cursed to spend eternity all alone.<ref>'''Untranslated quote:''' …この空の向こうには、翼を持った少女がいる。…それは、ずっと昔から。…そして、今、この時も。それは俺が幼い頃、母に聞かされた言葉だった。詳しいことを教えるより先に、母は死んでしまった。それ以来、俺は一人で旅を続けてきた。空にいる少女の話。<br />'''Translated quote:''' "...at the far end of the sky, there is a girl who has wings...from the distant past...even now, she is still there. That is what I heard from my mother when I was small. Before I could ask more clearly, my mother died. After that, I continued journeying alone. The myth of the girl in the sky."<br />{{cite video game| title = Air| developer = [[Key (company)|Key]]| publisher = [[VisualArt's]]| date=September 8, 2000| language = ja}}</ref> Yukito's sole way of earning money is by performing a puppet show by moving a doll that has been passed down in his family with magic, but he fails to gain anyone's attention by doing so in this town. The next day, he meets Misuzu Kamio—a sincere yet clumsy high school girl who is eager to become friends with him. He accepts her offer to eat lunch at her home, and Misuzu's aunt and foster mother Haruko Kamio is later persuaded to let him stay for the time being. A few days later, Yukito meets two other girls who go to Misuzu's school—Kano Kirishima and Minagi Tohno—who, like Misuzu, have strange personalities connected with mysterious pasts. As Yukito grows closer to Misuzu, he realizes from the dreams she has been telling him about that she is in fact the girl in the sky. Yukito recalls his mother telling him that after the dreams, the girl in the sky would start to first physically weaken, followed by feeling pain from an unknown source, then forgetting about those closest to her, and finally be doomed to die alone. Yukito realizes that his mother had once had her own encounter with the girl in the sky, but she had been unable to save her from her fate. Ultimately, Yukito decides to stay with Misuzu, regretting that he did not play with her more when they first met. Yukito uses all of the accumulated wishes that his ancestors have imputed into the doll to grant his own wish to stay by Misuzu's side, and as a result, Yukito disappears.

In the summer 1,000 years prior during the [[Heian period]], Kanna is one of the last winged beings who has been held prisoner at a [[Shinto shrine]] for much of her life. Kanna is set to be executed following a political change in the [[Imperial Court in Kyoto|Imperial Court]], but she escapes with the help of Ryūya, a member of her [[samurai]] guard, and her loyal [[Affinity (medieval)|retainer]] Uraha. They decide to go in search of Kanna's mother Yaobikuni, who according to rumor is imprisoned somewhere south of Kanna's shrine. Although they eventually find Yaobikuni and free her, she is killed by a group of archers soon after. In an attempt to save Ryūya and Uraha, Kanna sacrifices herself, leaving herself cursed by Buddhist monks to relive painful memories in the sky for eternity. This eventually weakens but does not go away entirely, allowing Kanna to continuously reincarnate as a human girl, with Misuzu being one such reincarnation.

Yukito's final wish to stay with Misuzu is granted in the form of his memories inhabiting a young crow Misuzu finds on July 16, 2000 and names Sora. The events of the previous timeline with Yukito play out again, but after Yukito disappears after the doll grants his wish, Yukito's memories within Sora surface, allowing him to give Misuzu the necessary encouragement to be strong until the end. Haruko tries to show Misuzu more affection than she has over the past ten years they have been living together, but by this point, Misuzu's condition continues to worsen, eventually mentally reverting to how she was when she and Haruko first met. Haruko continues to care for Misuzu, and Misuzu shows that she truly cares for Haruko by choosing to stay with her instead of leaving with her father. Haruko and Misuzu spend the next three days together as mother and daughter, culminating in Misuzu's death. As a result of Misuzu dying happily with her family, it is implied that she takes her happy memories back to Kanna, effectively breaking the curse. [[Metaphysics|Metaphysically]], Yukito's and Misuzu's present incarnations are shown to be a young boy and girl playing on the beach on July 17, 2000 as they are watched by Misuzu with Yukito asleep next to her.

==Development==
After the release of Key's debut game ''[[Kanon (video game)|Kanon]]'' (1999), video game [[Creative director|director]] and Key co-founder [[Naoki Hisaya]] resigned from Key.<ref name="gendai">{{cite web|url=https://gendai.ismedia.jp/articles/-/84585?page=3|title=「Key」のゲームクリエイターが語る「他のひとには正常でも、自分にはバグって見える世界」|publisher=[[Kodansha]]|date=July 1, 2021|accessdate=March 8, 2022|language=ja}}</ref> Hisaya had led the planning of ''Kanon'' and was its main scenario writer in conjunction with fellow Key co-founder [[Jun Maeda]].<ref name="gendai"/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://apps.apple.com/us/app/kanon/id598864837|title=Kanon|date=17 January 2015 |publisher=Apple|accessdate=March 8, 2022|language=ja}}</ref> Hisaya's resignation resulted in Maeda leading the planning for Key's next work, with Maeda wanting to produce something different from not only ''Kanon'', but also ''[[Moon (1997 visual novel)|Moon]]'' (1997) and ''[[One: Kagayaku Kisetsu e]]'' (1998) that Maeda and other founding members of Key worked on previously as part of the brand Tactics under video game publisher [[Nexton]].<ref name="Air-interview">{{cite web|url=http://akirunoneko.at.infoseek.co.jp/archive/text/AIR_interview.htm |title=Key Scenario Staff Long Interview |publisher=Colorful Pure Girl |date=March 2001 |access-date=May 16, 2008 |language=ja |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080605054025/http://akirunoneko.at.infoseek.co.jp/archive/text/AIR_interview.htm |archive-date=June 5, 2008|url-status=dead }}</ref> Maeda put pressure on himself to make something structurally different from ''Kanon'', but he also took it upon himself following Hisaya's resignation to continue to produce "[[Nakige|crying games]]" for Key's fan base.<ref name="Air-interview"/><ref name="gendai"/> As with ''Kanon'', Maeda wanted to write a moving story that would leave a strong impression on the player, but ''Air'' was not intentionally written to be soothing to the player despite this being a common impression by fans in October 2000.<ref name="Air-interview"/> The concept for ''Air'' was one of several types of stories Maeda had wanted to write, and he chose to go with what would later become ''Air'' after careful consideration, along with taking into account the responses from people who had played ''Kanon''.<ref name="Air-interview"/>

According to writer and critic Shūichirō Sarashina, a common aspect of [[Bishōjo game|''bishōjo'' games]] at the time was to treat the individual heroine routes equally, producing a coherent narrative as a result of a sum of its parts, and he notes that ''Kanon'' also followed this pattern.<ref name="Air-interview"/> Maeda focused on straying from this pattern because he wanted players to experience the entire story as a whole, but he still wanted its content to be enjoyable as a ''bishōjo'' game so that as many people as possible would be satisfied by it. In doing so, Maeda kept the basic structure of having multiple heroine routes, but he realized that he could not give each character the same level of focus.<ref name="Air-interview"/> When developing the plot, the basic structure of having multiple points of view and an overarching storyline had already been solidified, which according to Maeda was not something he was aware of having been done in visual novels at the time. Fellow scenario writer [[Yūichi Suzumoto]] was apprehensive about this structure when he first heard about the plot from Maeda, but ''Air'' [[executive producer]] and [[Visual Arts (company)|Visual Arts]] president Takahiro Baba had already given his approval for the project by then.<ref name="Air-interview"/> In addition to Maeda and Suzumoto, Takashi Ishikawa is also listed as one of the main scenario writers.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.prot.co.jp/switch/air/spec.html|title=Spec {{!}} AIR {{!}} Nintendo Switch|publisher=[[Prototype (company)|Prototype]]|accessdate=March 9, 2022|language=ja}}</ref> Scenario assistance was provided by Kai, Tōya Okano and Tomotaka Fujii.<ref name="game-credits">{{cite video game|title=Air Standard Edition|developer=[[Key (company)|Key]]|publisher=[[Visual Arts (company)|Visual Arts]]|date=April 8, 2005|platform=[[Microsoft Windows]]|scene=Staff credits|language=Japanese}}</ref>

In terms of gameplay, ''Air'' was designed to emphasize its story compared to its [[adventure game]] elements, with the development team opting to include very few choices to diverge the plot, which Maeda later regretted. According to Suzumoto, some players complained that ''Air'' did not feel like a game as a result, and that some found it boring because of a lack of these choices.<ref name="Air-interview"/> Three heroine routes were developed to show a range of different possibilities the [[player character]] Yukito Kunisaki could take in [[Parallel universes in fiction|parallel universes]]. In doing so, Maeda wanted to show that small variations can diverge Yukito's ultimate fate. In the planning stage, Maeda did not specifically include [[Eroge|adult]] content due at least in part to his self-described inability to write detailed sex scenes. Maeda believed that people would have bought the game even without adult content, but he noted that this would have been impossible in the past. Suzumoto pointed out how most of the sex scenes in ''Kanon'' could be avoided, and although this is similar to how ''Air'' is structured, Suzumoto was one of the writers who made it so that at least two sex scenes in ''Air'' would be unavoidable.<ref name="Air-interview"/>

[[Itaru Hinoue]] is the chief artist and character designer for ''Air'', continuing from her position with ''Kanon''. Further computer graphics were split between three artists—Miracle Mikipon, [[Na-Ga]], and Shinory—and background art was provided by Din and Torino.<ref name="game-credits"/> The game's soundtrack was composed by Maeda, [[Shinji Orito]] and [[Magome Togoshi]],<ref name="game-credits"/> who had started working with Key since before ''Kanon''{{'s}} release.

===Release history===
''Air'' was released as an adult game on September 8, 2000, as a limited edition, playable on a [[Microsoft Windows|Windows]] [[Personal computers|PC]] as a 2-disc [[CD-ROM]] set.<ref name="Air-limited">{{cite web|url=http://www.product.co.jp/products/item/154/|title=Air 初回限定版|trans-title=Air limited edition|publisher=[[VisualArt's]]|access-date=December 19, 2014|language=ja|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181215222353/http://www.product.co.jp/products/item/154/|archive-date=December 15, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> The limited edition came bundled with the [[remix album]] ''[[Air soundtracks#Ornithopter|Ornithopter]]'' remixing background music tracks featured in the visual novel.<ref name="Air-limited" /> The regular edition was released on July 27, 2001.<ref name="Key-Air-official">{{cite web|url=http://key.visualarts.gr.jp/product/air/|title=''Air'' visual novel official website|publisher=[[Key (company)|Key]]|access-date=November 30, 2007|language=ja|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090628121958/http://key.visualarts.gr.jp/product/air/|archive-date=June 28, 2009|url-status=live}}</ref> Key released on all ages version on July 27, 2001, for Windows.<ref name="Key-Air-official" /> An updated adult version called the ''Air Standard Edition'' was released on April 8, 2005, with added support for [[Windows 2000]]/[[Windows XP|XP]] as a [[DVD-ROM]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.product.co.jp/products/item/157/|title=Air Standard Edition|publisher=[[VisualArt's]]|access-date=December 19, 2014|language=ja|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141219104155/http://www.product.co.jp/products/item/157/|archive-date=December 19, 2014|url-status=live}}</ref> An updated all ages version of ''Air'' compatible for [[Windows Vista]] PCs was released by Key on July 31, 2009, in a box set containing five other Key visual novels called Key 10th Memorial Box.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://key.visualarts.gr.jp/10thfes/memorialbox.htm|title=Key 10th Memorial Box official website|publisher=[[Key (company)|Key]]|access-date=April 6, 2009|language=ja| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20090403015835/http://key.visualarts.gr.jp/10thfes/memorialbox.htm| archive-date= 3 April 2009 | url-status= live}}</ref> Another updated all ages version compatible for [[Windows 7]] PCs called ''Air Memorial Edition'' was released on May 28, 2010.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://key.visualarts.gr.jp/info/2010/04/post_73.html |title=Keyの過去五作品がメモリアルエディションで発売です! |trans-title=Key's Previous Five Titles Get Memorial Editions! |publisher=[[Key (company)|Key]] |date=April 7, 2010 |access-date=April 8, 2010 |language=ja |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100410213035/http://key.visualarts.gr.jp/info/2010/04/post_73.html |archive-date=10 April 2010 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

The first consumer console [[Porting|port]] of the game was released for the [[Dreamcast]] (DC) on September 20, 2001, by [[Interchannel|NEC Interchannel]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.amazon.co.jp/dp/B00006LJG4/|title=Air|publisher=[[Amazon.com|Amazon.co.jp]]|access-date=February 10, 2012|language=ja|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191018004402/https://www.amazon.co.jp/dp/B00006LJG4|archive-date=October 18, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://sega.jp/dc/010804/home.shtml |title=Air |publisher=[[Sega]] |access-date=May 31, 2013 |language=ja |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150724122321/http://sega.jp/dc/010804/home.shtml |archive-date=July 24, 2015 }}</ref> A [[PlayStation 2]] (PS2) version was released on August 8, 2002, also by NEC Interchannel.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.amazon.co.jp/dp/B000069E08/|title=Air|publisher=[[Amazon.com|Amazon.co.jp]]|access-date=February 10, 2012|language=ja|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190918235808/https://www.amazon.co.jp/dp/B000069E08/|archive-date=September 18, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> The PS2 version was re-released as a "[[The Best (PlayStation range)|Best]]" version on September 1, 2005.<ref name="Air-PS2">{{cite web|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070125010459/http://www.interchannel.co.jp/gamesoft/g99905083063.html|url=http://www.interchannel.co.jp/gamesoft/g99905083063.html|title=Air ベスト版|trans-title=Air Best edition|publisher=[[Interchannel]]|archive-date=January 25, 2007|access-date=February 10, 2012|language=ja}}</ref> The PS2 version was bundled in a "Key 3-Part Work Premium Box" package together with the PS2 versions of ''Kanon'' and ''[[Clannad (visual novel)|Clannad]]'' released on July 30, 2009.<ref>{{cite web|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110716022102/http://www.gunghoworks.jp/game/3title/index.html|url=http://www.gunghoworks.jp/game/3title/index.html|title=key3部作プレミアムBOX|trans-title=Key 3-part Work Premium BOX|publisher=GungHo Works|archive-date=July 16, 2011|access-date=February 10, 2012|language=ja}}</ref> To compensate for the lack of erotic content in the consumer ports, extra scenes were added. A version playable on [[SoftBank Mobile|SoftBank 3G]] [[mobile phone]]s was released by [[Prototype (company)|Prototype]] through [[VisualArt's|VisualArt's Motto]] on May 1, 2006.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.prot.co.jp/voda/air/index.html|title=Air|publisher=[[Prototype (company)|Prototype]]|access-date=February 10, 2012|language=ja|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120415065018/http://prot.co.jp/voda/air/index.html|archive-date=April 15, 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20061013142153/http://motto.product.co.jp/|url=http://motto.product.co.jp/|title=ビジュアルアーツ★Motto|publisher=[[Visual Arts (company)|Visual Arts]]|archivedate=October 13, 2006|access-date=February 12, 2022|language=ja}}</ref> Prototype later released a [[Video Graphics Array|VGA]] edition produced by [[NTT DoCoMo]] playable on [[Freedom of Mobile Multimedia Access|FOMA]] phones on February 5, 2008.<ref>{{cite web|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080206213442/http://motto.product.co.jp/|url=http://motto.product.co.jp/index.php?mode=res_view&no=217|title=Official VisualArt's Motto blog entry for the Air VGA mobile phone release|publisher=[[VisualArt's]]|archive-date=February 6, 2008|date=February 5, 2008|access-date=September 6, 2008|language=ja}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://key.visualarts.gr.jp/info/2008/02/fomavgaair.html|title=Official Key blog entry for the VGA ''Air'' mobile phone release|publisher=[[Key (company)|Key]]|date=February 5, 2008|access-date=February 6, 2008|language=ja|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120403005712/http://key.visualarts.gr.jp/info/2008/02/fomavgaair.html|archive-date=April 3, 2012|url-status=live}}</ref> The version for the FOMA phones was split into two separate files: the Dream story arc comprised the first file, and the remaining Summer and Air arcs comprised the second file.<ref>{{cite web|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081005051120/http://motto.product.co.jp/appli.html|url=http://motto.product.co.jp/appli.html|title=List of cell phone games playable through VisualArt's Motto|publisher=[[VisualArt's|VisualArt's Motto]]|archive-date=October 5, 2008|access-date=February 10, 2012|language= ja}}</ref>

A version of the Dream story arc playable on [[Android (operating system)|Android]] devices was released on July 27, 2012.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.dengeki.com/elem/000/000/513/513261/|title=名作『AIR』DREAM編が完全フルボイスでAndroidアプリとして配信|trans-title=The Dream Arc from the Masterpiece Air is Distributed as an Android App with Completely Full Voice|publisher=[[ASCII Media Works]]|date=July 27, 2012|access-date=July 28, 2012|language=ja|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120801223821/http://news.dengeki.com/elem/000/000/513/513261/|archive-date=August 1, 2012|url-status=live}}</ref> A version containing the Summer and Air arcs for Android devices was released on August 15, 2012.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.dengeki.com/elem/000/000/522/522605/|title=『AIR』の『SUMMER・AIR編』と『メイデンハロー』が本日からGooglePlayで配信開始|trans-title=Air's Summer and Air Chapters and Maiden Halo are Being Distributed on GooglePlay Starting Today|publisher=[[ASCII Media Works]]|date=August 15, 2012|access-date=September 13, 2012|language=ja|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120918234608/http://news.dengeki.com/elem/000/000/522/522605/|archive-date=September 18, 2012|url-status=live}}</ref> A full version ''Air'' on Android devices was released on October 24, 2012, in two editions: one without voice acting, and one with voice acting, including Yukito.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.mynavi.jp/news/2012/10/25/093/|title=ビジュアルアーツ、Android版『AIR』の一括ダウンロード版を配信開始|trans-title=An All Together Download Edition of Air on Android Starts Distribution from VisualArt's|publisher=Mynavi|date=October 25, 2012|access-date=October 25, 2012|language=ja|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305020124/http://news.mynavi.jp/news/2012/10/25/093/|archive-date=March 5, 2016|url-status=live}}</ref> Two versions were released on May 2, 2013: an adult version for Android devices and an all ages version playable on [[iOS]] devices.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://key.visualarts.gr.jp/info/2013/05/air_iosair_18android.html|title=『AIR 全年齢版』がiOSで『AIR 18禁版』がAndroidで登場!|trans-title=Air All Ages Edition is on iOS and Air 18+ Edition is on Android!|publisher=[[Key (company)|Key]]|date=May 2, 2013|access-date=May 3, 2013|language=ja|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130605185254/http://key.visualarts.gr.jp/info/2013/05/air_iosair_18android.html|archive-date=June 5, 2013|url-status=live}}</ref> A [[PlayStation Portable]] (PSP) version of the game was released in Japan on November 22, 2007, by Prototype.<ref name="protopsp">{{cite web|url=http://www.prot.co.jp/psp/air/index.html|title=Air|publisher=[[Prototype (company)|Prototype]]|access-date=August 30, 2007|language=ja| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20070825162200/http://www.prot.co.jp/psp/air/index.html| archive-date= August 25, 2007 | url-status= live}}</ref> A downloadable version of the PSP release via the [[PlayStation Store]] was released by Prototype on September 2, 2010.<ref name="protopsp" /> A [[PlayStation Vita]] (PSV) version was released by Prototype on September 8, 2016.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.prot.co.jp/psv/air/index.html|title=Air|publisher=[[Prototype (company)|Prototype]]|access-date=May 3, 2016|language=ja|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160503110146/http://www.prot.co.jp/psv/air/index.html|archive-date=May 3, 2016|url-status=live}}</ref> A [[Nintendo Switch]] version was released in Japan on September 9, 2021.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.gematsu.com/2021/06/romance-visual-novel-air-coming-to-switch-this-summer-in-japan|title=Romance visual novel AIR coming to Switch this summer in Japan|website=Gematsu|date=9 June 2021|access-date=June 9, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=June 25, 2021|title=Fatal Twelve And AIR Visual Novels Now Have Nintendo Switch Release Dates|url=https://nintendohill.com/2021/06/fatal-twelve-and-air-visual-novels-now-have-nintendo-switch-release-dates/|access-date=July 1, 2021|website=NintendoHill}}</ref> Both the PSV and Switch versions contained a visual novel version of Yūichi Suzumoto's short story {{Nihongo|"First Sky Chapter"|初空の章|Hatsuzora no Shō|{{lit}} New Year's Morning Sky Chapter}} as a prequel to the Summer story arc about how Kanna and Uraha met.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.prot.co.jp/psv/air/introduction.html|title=Introduction|publisher=[[Prototype (company)|Prototype]]|accessdate=February 24, 2022|language=ja}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.prot.co.jp/switch/air/introduction.html|title=Introduction|publisher=[[Prototype (company)|Prototype]]|accessdate=February 24, 2022|language=ja}}</ref> In the original release, there was no voice acting for the characters, though this was later changed for the DC version, which except for Yukito included full voice acting, and the PS2, PSP, PSV and Switch versions, which had full voice acting.<ref name="Air-PS2" /><ref name="protopsp" />

A Windows version of ''Air'' with Japanese, English, and Simplified Chinese was released via [[Steam (service)|Steam]] on March 5, 2025. It included full voice acting and the "First Sky Chapter" short story.<ref>{{cite web |last=Hodgkins |first=Crystalyn |title=Visual Arts/Key's AIR Visual Novel Gets Steam Release in English on March 5 |url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2025-02-14/visual-arts-key-air-visual-novel-gets-steam-release-in-english-on-march-5/.221219 |website=[[Anime News Network]] |access-date=May 3, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250425092902/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2025-02-14/visual-arts-key-air-visual-novel-gets-steam-release-in-english-on-march-5/.221219 |archive-date=April 25, 2025 |date=February 14, 2025 |url-status=live}}</ref> It was released on Nintendo Switch on July 14, 2025.<ref>{{Cite web |title=AIR for Nintendo Switch - Nintendo Official Site |url=https://www.nintendo.com/us/store/products/air-switch/ |access-date=2025-08-12 |website=www.nintendo.com |language=en-US}}</ref>

==Adaptations==
{{Infobox animanga/Header
| name            = Air
| genre           = [[Drama]], [[fantasy]], [[Romance novel|romance]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/review/air/dvd-1|title=Air DVD 1|website=Anime News Network|access-date=September 5, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080221201051/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/review/air/dvd-1|archive-date=February 21, 2008|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Note: Use and cite reliable sources to identify genre/s, not personal interpretation. Please don't include more than three genres (per [[MOS:A&M]]). -->
}}
{{Infobox animanga/Print
| type        = manga
| author      = [[Key (company)|Key]]
| illustrator = [[Yukimaru Katsura]]
| publisher   = [[Kadokawa Shoten]]
| magazine    = [[Comptiq]]
| first       = August 10, 2004
| last        = February 10, 2006
| volumes     = 2
| volume_list = 
}}
{{Infobox animanga/Video
| type            = tv series
| title           = {{ubl|Air|Air in Summer}}
| director        = [[Tatsuya Ishihara]]
| writer          = [[Fumihiko Shimo]]
| music           = {{flatlist|
*[[Jun Maeda]]
*[[Shinji Orito]]
*[[Magome Togoshi]]
}}
| studio          = [[Kyoto Animation]]
| licensee        = {{ubl|[[Crunchyroll]]{{efn|In North America through [[Crunchyroll, LLC]] (formerly known as Funimation), and in Australia through [[Crunchyroll Store Australia|Crunchyroll Pty. Ltd.]] (formerly known as Madman Anime). Until 2008, it was licensed by [[ADV Films]], now known as [[Sentai Filmworks]] and [[Section23 Films]].}}|{{English anime licensee| UK  = [[MVM Entertainment]]}}}}
| network         = [[BS-TBS|BS-i]]
| network_en      = {{English anime networks
  | NA  = [[Anime Network]]
}}
| first           = January 6, 2005
| last            = September 4, 2005
| episodes        = 15
| episode_list    = List of Air episodes
}}
{{Infobox animanga/Other
| title           = Film
| content         = * [[Air (2005 film)|''Air'']]
}}
{{Infobox animanga/Footer}}

===Print{{anchor|Manga}}===
A short story, titled {{Nihongo|"Hatsuzora no Shō"|初空の章|New Year's Morning Sky Chapter}} and written by [[Yūichi Suzumoto]], was published in the ''Kanowo'' appendix to [[Kadokawa Corporation]]'s ''[[Comptiq]]'' magazine on December 1, 2000.<ref>{{cite web|archiveurl=https://archive.today/20220224233405/https://www.suruga-ya.jp/product/detail/ZNOTA3007|url=https://www.suruga-ya.jp/product/detail/ZNOTA3007|title=コンプティーク 付録付)かのうぉ|publisher=Suruga-ya|archivedate=February 24, 2022|accessdate=February 24, 2022|language=ja}}</ref> Jive published two volumes of an [[anthology]] titled ''Air Anthology Novel'' between September 1 and December 1, 2004.<ref>{{cite book|title=AIRアンソロジー・ノベル|id={{ASIN|4861760011|country=jp}} |language=ja}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|title=AIRアンソロジー・ノベル〈2〉|id={{ASIN|4861760453|country=jp}} |language=ja}}</ref>

An ''Air'' [[manga]] was serialized in the Japanese [[computer game]] magazine ''[[Comptiq]]'' between August 10, 2004, and February 10, 2006.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.comptiq.com/release/comptiq/2004_09.html |title=''Comptiq'' September 2004 issue |publisher=[[Kadokawa Shoten]] |access-date=June 25, 2006 |language=ja |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060630101532/http://www.comptiq.com/release/comptiq/2004_09.html |archive-date=June 30, 2006 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The individual chapters were later collected into two separate [[Tankōbon|volumes]] published by [[Kadokawa Shoten]]. The story was adapted from the visual novel version that preceded it, and was illustrated by [[Japanese people|Japanese]] [[Mangaka|artist]] [[Yukimaru Katsura]]. Between the two volumes, there are 15 main chapters (nine in volume one and six in volume two), and two [[Omake|bonus]] chapters included at the end of each volume.<ref name="airmanga1">{{cite book|last=Katsura|first=Yukimaru|title=Air manga volume 1|publisher=[[Kadokawa Shoten]]|language=ja}}</ref><ref name="airmanga2">{{cite book|last=Katsura|first=Yukimaru|title=Air manga volume 2|publisher=[[Kadokawa Shoten]]|language=ja}}</ref> The manga version goes through the Dream and Air arcs in detail while the Summer arc is only touched upon briefly throughout the manga. The main focus is on Misuzu's story with Kano and Minagi serving as minor characters in comparison. However, Minagi's story is explained in the bonus installment at the end of volume two.<ref name="airmanga2" />

There are also five sets of manga anthologies produced by different companies and drawn by a multitude of different artists. The first volume of the earliest anthology series, released by [[Ichijinsha]] under the title ''Air Comic Anthology'', was released on January 25, 2001, under their ''DNA Media Comics'' label. Volumes for this series continued to be released until December 25, 2001, with the seventh volume. The second anthology, ''Air Anthology Comic'', was released in a single volume by Softgarage on December 20, 2002. On April 17, 2004, Ohzora released an anthology composed of works based on both ''[[Kanon (visual novel)|Kanon]]'' and ''Air'' titled ''Haru Urara: Kanon & Air''. Ohzora also released three other anthologies under the title ''Air'', the last of which came out on March 24, 2005.<ref name="Air3" /> The last manga anthology was released as a single volume on April 2, 2005, by [[Jive (publisher)|Jive]] titled ''Comic Anthology Air: Kimi no Iru Basho''. Each of the anthology series are written and drawn by an average of 20 people per volume.<ref name="Air3">{{cite web|url=http://www.ohzora.co.jp/release/detail/?format=comics&isbn=4-7767-1580-5|title=Official listing for the third volume of the manga anthology ''Air''|publisher=Ohzora|access-date=February 26, 2008|language=ja|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120217194447/http://www.ohzora.co.jp/release/detail/?format=comics&isbn=4-7767-1580-5|archive-date=February 17, 2012|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Drama CDs===
There were nine [[Radio drama in Japan|drama CDs]] released based on ''Air'' released by [[Lantis (company)|Lantis]].<ref name="lantis-drama-CDs">{{cite web|url= http://lantis.jp/release/data.php?id=227|title=Official listing for the nine ''Air'' drama CDs|publisher=[[Lantis (company)|Lantis]]|access-date=February 18, 2008|language=ja| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20080325145709/http://lantis.jp/release/data.php?id=227| archive-date= 25 March 2008 | url-status= live}}</ref> The first three focused solely on each of the main heroines separately per CD where the cover of the album would depict which of the girls to be presented. These three albums were released on August 24, 2005.<ref name="lantis-drama-CDs" /> The next set of three was done the same way and released on October 21, 2005.<ref name="lantis-drama-CDs" /> The last three were released in one month increments after the second batch of three drama CDs went on sale. The seventh CD focused on the events of the Summer arc in the story while the last two were based on the Air arc.<ref name="lantis-drama-CDs" /> At least the last CD released on January 25, 2006, contained original stories in addition to the story from the visual novel.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cdjapan.co.jp/detailview.html?KEY=FCCP-17|title=The ninth ''Air'' drama CD|publisher=CD Japan|access-date=January 11, 2007|language=ja|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121009074820/http://www.cdjapan.co.jp/detailview.html?KEY=FCCP-17|archive-date=October 9, 2012|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Anime series===
{{see also|List of Air episodes}}
{{stack|[[File:Air TV DVD Vol 01.png|left|thumb|175px|The cover of the first DVD compilation volume for the ''Air'' anime series]]}}
On November 17, 2004, a teaser [[DVD]] named "Air prelude" was produced containing interviews with the anime's cast, clean opening and ending theme video sequences, and promotional footage of the anime itself; it was a limited edition DVD, with only 20,000 copies produced. The [[anime]] television series is produced by [[Kyoto Animation]], directed by [[Tatsuya Ishihara]], written by [[Fumihiko Shimo]], and features character design by Tomoe Aratani who based the designs on [[Itaru Hinoue]]'s original concept. Thirteen episodes were produced by Kyoto Animation: 12 regular episodes, and a final [[Abridgement|recap]] episode which summarizes Misuzu's [[story arc]]. The anime also follows the game by splitting the series into three parts; Dream (episodes one through seven), Summer (episodes eight and nine), and Air (episodes 10 through 12), with the recap episode (episode 13) following. The episodes aired between January 6 and March 31, 2005, on the [[BS-TBS|BS-i]] Japanese [[television network]].<ref name="tbs-story">{{cite web|url=http://www.tbs.co.jp/anime/air/story/story.html|title=Official website listing of all TV episodes|publisher=[[BS-i]]| access-date=April 27, 2007|language=ja| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20070414154129/http://www.tbs.co.jp/anime/air/story/story.html| archive-date= 14 April 2007 | url-status= live}}</ref> The theme songs from the ''Air'' visual novel are used for the anime's opening theme, ending theme and soundtrack. After the conclusion of the anime series, a mini-series which added to the Summer arc of the story called ''Air in Summer'' aired on August 28 and September 4, 2005, a week later on BS-i. ''Air in Summer'' consisted of two episodes and was produced by the same staff as the anime series.<ref name="tbs-story"/>

A DVD released on March 31, 2005, called "Air Memories" contained promotional commercials for the series, staff commentaries, and clean ending sequences from the 12th and 13th episodes, lasting 92 minutes.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.tbs.co.jp/anime/air/info/dvd.html|title=DVD section at the anime's official website|publisher=[[Tokyo Broadcasting System]]|access-date=March 26, 2008|language=ja| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20080401134821/http://www.tbs.co.jp/anime/air/info/dvd.html| archive-date= 1 April 2008 | url-status= live}}</ref> The episodes were released to [[DVD region code#2|Region 2]] DVD between April 6 and September 7, 2005, by [[Pony Canyon]] in limited and regular editions containing two episodes per volume. The DVD for ''Air in Summer'' was later released on October 5, 2005, in Japan. Additionally, ''Air'' became one of the first anime series to be released in [[Blu-ray Disc]] format on December 22, 2006.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.tbs.co.jp/anime/air/info/blue.html|title=Blue-ray box set release information at the anime's official website|publisher=[[Tokyo Broadcasting System]]|access-date=March 26, 2008|language=ja| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20080401134819/http://www.tbs.co.jp/anime/air/info/blue.html| archive-date= 1 April 2008 | url-status= live}}</ref><ref name="bluray">{{cite web|url=http://av.watch.impress.co.jp/docs/20060720/pony.htm|title=''Air'' sells on Blu-Ray format|publisher=Watch Impress|language=ja|access-date=March 26, 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120415175606/http://av.watch.impress.co.jp/docs/20060720/pony.htm|archive-date=April 15, 2012|url-status=live}}</ref> A new version of the Blu-ray Disc box set was released on November 28, 2008, in Japan.

On April 27, 2007, [[ADV Films]] co-founder and executive [[Matt Greenfield]] announced the acquisition of both the anime series and the film during a panel at the [[anime convention]] [[Anime Matsuri]];<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/press-release/2007-04-27/adv-announces-acquistion-of-air-tv-series-air-movie|title=ADV Announces Acquisition of ''Air'' TV Series, ''Air'' Movie|publisher=[[Anime News Network]]|date=April 27, 2007|access-date=April 27, 2007| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20070430013136/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/press-release/2007-04-27/adv-announces-acquistion-of-air-tv-series-air-movie| archive-date= 30 April 2007 | url-status= live}}</ref> it paid $145,000 for the TV series.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2012-01-30/adv-court-documents-reveal-amounts-paid-for-29-anime-titles|title=ADV Court Documents Reveal Amounts Paid for 29 Anime Titles|publisher=[[Anime News Network]]|date=January 30, 2012|access-date=February 6, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120423194657/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2012-01-30/adv-court-documents-reveal-amounts-paid-for-29-anime-titles|archive-date=April 23, 2012|url-status=live}}</ref> The 12 main episodes and two ''Air in Summer'' episodes were licensed for North American distribution by ADV Films.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.advfilms.com/titles/airtv/index.html|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20070614013120/http://www.advfilms.com/titles/airtv/index.html|archive-date=June 14, 2007|title=ADV Films' official ''Air'' anime website|publisher=[[ADV Films]]|access-date=March 26, 2008}}</ref> The episodes were released on four DVD compilations between August 14 and November 27, 2007. The second DVD volume was sold in two editions, with the difference between the two being a series box all four DVDs could fit inside. In July 2008, the license for the anime series and film was transferred to Funimation, which is now branded as  [[Crunchyroll LLC|Crunchyroll]] as of 2022, who continued to produce them in North America in English.<ref name="Fun-license">{{cite web|url= http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2008-07-04/funimation-picks-up-over-30-former-ad-vision-titles|title=Funimation Picks Up Over 30 Former AD Vision Titles|publisher=[[Anime News Network]]|date=July 4, 2008|access-date=July 7, 2008| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20080707034228/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2008-07-04/funimation-picks-up-over-30-former-ad-vision-titles| archive-date= 7 July 2008 | url-status= live}}</ref> Funimation released a three-disc series box set of the ''Air'' anime on April 21, 2009,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001R10BB4/|title=''Air'': The Complete Series|website=Amazon|date=21 April 2009 |access-date=June 7, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190918235906/https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001R10BB4/|archive-date=September 18, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> which did not include the recap episode. [[MVM Entertainment]] announced a UK DVD release of ''Air'' with ''Air in Summer'' to be released on April 4, 2022.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Kyoto Animation's Air Released by MVM in April 2022|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2021-11-29/kyoto-animation-air-released-by-mvm-in-april-2022/.180097|date=November 29, 2021|access-date=January 18, 2022|website=Anime News Network}}</ref>

===Film===
{{main|Air (2005 film)}}
An ''Air'' [[anime|animated film]] directed by [[Osamu Dezaki]] premiered in Japanese theaters on February 5, 2005.<ref name="news-film">{{cite web|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101027092320/http://www.air2004.com/news.htm|url=http://www.air2004.com/news.htm|title=''Air'' film official website news section|publisher=[[Toei Animation]]|date=February 5, 2005|archive-date=October 27, 2010|access-date=February 2, 2012|language=ja}}</ref> The film, animated by [[Toei Animation]],<ref name="Film-official">{{cite web|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101028133813/http://www.air2004.com/|url=http://www.air2004.com/|title=''Air'' film official website|publisher=[[Toei Animation]]|archive-date=October 28, 2010|access-date=February 2, 2012|language=ja}}</ref> is a reinterpretation of the original ''Air'' storyline which centers on the [[story arc]] of the female lead Misuzu Kamio. Yukito Kunisaki arrives in the town of Kami for a chance to earn money at the summer festival and meets Misuzu on his first day in town. They soon become friends and a story one thousand years old begins to unfold. The film was later sold on [[DVD]] and released in three editions: the Collector's Edition, the Special Edition, and the Regular Edition on August 5, 2005.<ref name="DVDs">{{cite web|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101027092320/http://www.air2004.com/news.htm#DVD|url=http://www.air2004.com/news.htm#DVD|title=''Air'' film official website on the DVD features|publisher=[[Frontier Works]]|archive-date=October 27, 2010|access-date=February 2, 2012|language=ja}}</ref> The ''Air'' film was originally released on DVD by [[ADV Films]] in North America on December 11, 2007.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2007-09-24/adv-bandai-visual-set-release-dates|title=ADV, Bandai Visual Set Release Dates|date=September 24, 2007|publisher=[[Anime News Network]]|access-date=March 21, 2009| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20090213185305/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2007-09-24/adv-bandai-visual-set-release-dates| archive-date= 13 February 2009 | url-status= live}}</ref> [[Funimation]] continued the release of the film as of July 2008 when the license was transferred from ADV to Funimation;<ref name="Fun-license" /> Funimation re-released the film on April 21, 2009.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001R10BAU/|title=''Air: The Motion Picture''|website=Amazon|access-date=March 21, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190918235809/https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001R10BAU/|archive-date=September 18, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Music==
{{main|Music of Air}}
The visual novel has three main theme songs: the opening theme {{Nihongo|"[[Tori no Uta]]"|鳥の詩|Bird's Poem}}, the ending theme "Farewell song", and {{Nihongo|"Aozora"|青空|Blue Skies}} as an insert song. Each song is sung by [[Lia (Japanese singer)|Lia]] of [[I've Sound]] and the lyrics were written by [[Jun Maeda]].<ref name="respect">{{cite web|url=http://respect-maeda.com/sounds.html|title= Key Sounds Label albums with contributions by Jun Maeda|publisher=Respect Maeda|access-date=April 25, 2008|language=ja| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080216012404/http://respect-maeda.com/sounds.html| archive-date = February 16, 2008}}</ref> Five of the characters have [[leitmotif]]s, or [[background music]] theme songs—the three heroines, Kanna, and Michiru.<ref name="Air-OST-booklet">{{cite web|url=http://www15.plala.or.jp/scp/key/air_soundtrack.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080604005236/http://www15.plala.or.jp/scp/key/air_soundtrack.html|archive-date=June 4, 2008|title=''Air Original Soundtrack'' booklet transcribed online|access-date=May 29, 2008|language=ja}}</ref> Misuzu's theme is {{Nihongo|"Natsukage"|夏影|Summer Lights}}; Kano's theme is {{Nihongo|"Mizutamari"|水たまり|Puddle}}; Minagi's theme is {{Nihongo|"Niji"|虹|Rainbows}}; Kanna's theme is {{Nihongo|"Tsukiwarawa"|月童|Moon Child}}; lastly, Michiru's theme is {{Nihongo|"Tentōmushi"|てんとう虫|Ladybug}}.<ref name="Air-OST-booklet" /> Of the six music tracks not used in the visual novel, but of which were included on the game's original soundtrack, the first two were failed attempts at creating a theme for Minagi.<ref name="Air-OST-booklet" />

The first album, ''[[Music of Air#Ornithopter|Ornithopter]]'', came bundled with the original release of ''Air'' in September 2000.<ref name="respect" /> The next album was released in August 2001 as a [[maxi single]] titled "[[Music of Air#Natsukage / Nostalgia|Natsukage / Nostalgia]]" containing a vocal version of "Natsukage", and a [[A-side and B-side|B-side]] track; both songs were sung by Lia and the rest of the single was produced by Jun Maeda.<ref name="respect" /> The [[Music of Air#Air Original Soundtrack|game's original soundtrack]] was released in September 2002 containing two discs with 31 different tracks along with remix and instrumental versions of the opening and ending themes.<ref name="key-disc">{{cite web|url=http://key.soundslabel.com/discography.htm |title=Key Sounds Label's discography |publisher=[[Key Sounds Label]] |access-date=April 25, 2008 |language=ja |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080418030319/http://key.soundslabel.com/discography.htm |archive-date=April 18, 2008 |url-status=dead }}</ref> A piano [[Arrangement|arrange]] album was released in December 2003 called ''[[Music of Air#Re-feel|Re-feel]]'' which contained five tracks from ''Air'' and five from ''[[Kanon (visual novel)|Kanon]]''.<ref name="key-disc" /> An [[Extended play|EP]] containing original versions of the three theme songs and remixed versions of the opening and ending themes was released in May 2006 called ''[[Music of Air#Air Analog Collector's Edition|Air Analog Collector's Edition: Tori no Uta / Farewell song]]''.<ref name="key-disc" /> Each of the albums released for the visual novel version were released on Key's [[record label]] [[Key Sounds Label]].<ref name="key-disc" /> The [[Music of Air#Air Film Soundtrack|film's original soundtrack]] was released in March 2005 by [[Frontier Works]].<ref name="amazon">{{cite web|url=https://www.amazon.co.jp/dp/B0007N378C/|title=''Air Film Soundtrack''|publisher=[[Amazon.com|Amazon.co.jp]]|access-date=April 25, 2008|language=ja|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190918235809/https://www.amazon.co.jp/dp/B0007N378C/|archive-date=September 18, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> A bonus [[symphony]] CD titled ''[[Music of Air#Shinwa e no Izanai|Shinwa e no Izanai]]'' was released with the special edition ''Air'' film DVD on August 5, 2005.<ref>{{cite web|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101027092320/http://www.air2004.com/news.htm#sp|url=http://www.air2004.com/news.htm#sp|title=''Air'' film special edition DVD listing at the film's official website| publisher=[[Frontier Works]]|archive-date=October 27, 2010|access-date=February 2, 2012|language=ja}}</ref> Overall, ''Air''{{'s}} music has been well received, and the original soundtrack for the visual novel has met with high sales.<ref name="hentai.co.uk">{{cite web|url= http://www.hentai.co.uk/articles/air_information_and_synopsis.html|title=Air information and synopsis|publisher=Hentai.co.uk| access-date=January 12, 2007| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20070107005742/http://www.hentai.co.uk/articles/air_information_and_synopsis.html| archive-date= 7 January 2007 | url-status= live}}</ref> The opening theme was involved in [[copyright]] infringement in 2005.<ref name="plagiarism-follow-up">{{cite web|url= http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2005-09-21/air-plagiarisation-follow-up| title=Air Plagiarisation Follow-Up|date=September 21, 2005|publisher=[[Anime News Network]]|access-date=May 5, 2008| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20080607115027/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2005-09-21/air-plagiarisation-follow-up| archive-date= 7 June 2008 | url-status= live}}</ref>

==Reception and sales==
According to a national ranking of how well [[bishōjo game]]s sold nationally in Japan, the original ''Air'' PC release premiered at number one in the rankings.<ref name="rank1-42-42">{{cite web|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20051227185754/http://www.peakspub.co.jp/ranking/rank66.html|url=http://www.peakspub.co.jp/ranking/rank66.html |title=PC News national ranking for bishōjo games; Air ranks 1, 42, and 42|publisher=Peakspub|archive-date=December 27, 2005 |access-date=March 13, 2007|language=ja}}</ref> The game ranked twice at 42 in November and December 2000,<ref name="rank1-42-42" /> at 20 in January 2001, and twice more at 42 through February 2001.<ref name="rank20">{{cite web|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051227171208/http://www.peakspub.co.jp/ranking/rank67.html|url= http://www.peakspub.co.jp/ranking/rank67.html|title=PC News national ranking for bishōjo games; Air ranks 20|publisher=Peakspub|archive-date=December 27, 2005 |access-date=March 13, 2007|language=ja}}</ref><ref name="rank42-42">{{cite web|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051227174428/http://www.peakspub.co.jp/ranking/rank69.html|url= http://www.peakspub.co.jp/ranking/rank69.html|title=PC News national ranking for bishōjo games; Air ranks 42 and 42|publisher=Peakspub|archive-date=December 27, 2005 |access-date=March 13, 2007|language=ja}}</ref> The original release appeared on the charts twice more: the first in late September to early October 2001 at 26,<ref name="rank26">{{cite web|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051227182829/http://www.peakspub.co.jp/ranking/rank85.html|url= http://www.peakspub.co.jp/ranking/rank85.html|title=PC News ranking for bishōjo games; Air ranks 26|publisher=Peakspub|archive-date=December 27, 2005 |access-date=March 13, 2007|language=ja}}</ref> and again in the last two weeks of May 2002, ranking in at 43.<ref name="rank43">{{cite web|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20051227185607/http://www.peakspub.co.jp/ranking/rank100.html|url=http://www.peakspub.co.jp/ranking/rank100.html |title=PC News nation ranking for bishōjo games; Air ranks 43|publisher=Peakspub|archive-date=December 27, 2005 |access-date=June 14, 2007|language=ja}}</ref> The regular edition of the ''Air'' PC release premiered at number 13, ranked in at number 41 in the following ranking, and 42 in the ranking after that.<ref name="rank7-30-13-41" /><ref name="rank42">{{cite web|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051227180156/http://www.peakspub.co.jp/ranking/rank84.html|url= http://www.peakspub.co.jp/ranking/rank84.html|title=PC News ranking for bishōjo games; Air ranks 42|publisher=Peakspub|archive-date=December 27, 2005 |access-date=March 13, 2007|language=ja}}</ref> The PC all ages version premiered at number seven in the rankings and had a final ranking at 30 in the next ranking.<ref name="rank7-30-13-41">{{cite web|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051227185930/http://www.peakspub.co.jp/ranking/rank82.html|url= http://www.peakspub.co.jp/ranking/rank82.html|title=PC News ranking for bishōjo games; Air ranks 7 and 30|publisher=Peakspub|archive-date=December 27, 2005 |access-date=March 13, 2007|language=ja}}</ref> The ''Air Standard Edition'' premiered at number one in the rankings.<ref name="rank1">{{cite web|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20051227181858/http://www.peakspub.co.jp/ranking/rank169.html|url=http://www.peakspub.co.jp/ranking/rank169.html |title=PC News ranking for bishōjo games; Air ranks 1|publisher=Peakspub|archive-date=December 27, 2005 |access-date=March 13, 2007|language=ja}}</ref> The ''Air Standard Edition'' ranked in twice more, at 34 and at 28 in the next two rankings.<ref name="rank34-28">{{cite web|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051218034042/http://www.peakspub.co.jp/ranking/rank171.html|url= http://www.peakspub.co.jp/ranking/rank171.html|title=PC News ranking for bishōjo games; Air ranks 34 and 28|publisher=Peakspub|archive-date=December 18, 2005 |access-date=March 13, 2007|language=ja}}</ref> ''Air'' was the highest selling game of 2000 selling 102,080 units, which was about 25,000 more units than the second highest game, ''Inagawa de Ikō!''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://astore.amazon.co.jp/wikimania-22/listmania/R2KDYRRCZNA20X/249-7991717-8843508|title=Amazon store with ranking list for highest selling bishōjo games of 2000|publisher=[[Amazon.com]]|access-date=May 17, 2008|language=ja|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111001144904/http://astore.amazon.co.jp/wikimania-22/listmania/R2KDYRRCZNA20X/249-7991717-8843508|archive-date=October 1, 2011|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}}</ref> The Dreamcast version sold 42,445 units in its first week, and was the fourth highest selling console game in Japan that week.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.xmission.com/pub/lists/ngamers/archive/ngamers.200110|title=''Air'' DC game first week sales|publisher=Xmission| date=September 28, 2001|access-date=May 16, 2008| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20080603031346/http://www.xmission.com/pub/lists/ngamers/archive/ngamers.200110| archive-date= 3 June 2008 | url-status= live}}</ref> The video game magazine ''[[Famitsu]]'' scored this version a 30 out of 40,<ref>{{cite journal|title=Dreamcast: Air|journal=[[Weekly Famitsu]]|issue=915, pt. 2|page=54|date=June 30, 2006|language=ja}}</ref> and it ultimately sold 50,406 units to rank as the 53rd highest selling Japanese Dreamcast game ever, as of 2007.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://moorangol.altervista.org/others/dreamcast.html |title=Ranking of highest selling Japanese Dreamcast games |publisher=Altervista |access-date=January 11, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061211200339/http://moorangol.altervista.org/others/dreamcast.html |archive-date=11 December 2006 |url-status=dead }}</ref> NTT Publishing reported that over 300,000 units of ''Air'' have been sold.<ref>{{cite web|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070821161159/http://eg.nttpub.co.jp/pickup/20060221spe01_01.html|url=http://eg.nttpub.co.jp/pickup/20060221spe01_01.html|title=Clannad|publisher=NTT Publishing|archive-date=August 21, 2007|access-date=February 16, 2012|language=ja}}</ref>

''Air'' was described as a game that stands out, much like Key's first title ''[[Kanon (visual novel)|Kanon]]'', due to an intricate plot that keeps the player interested, and has a good replay value as well.<ref name="hentai.co.uk" /> In an interview of [[Jun Maeda]] and [[Yūichi Suzumoto]], they were both surprised to find out that the Japanese public (in March 2001) felt ''Air'' to be a soothing game, but Maeda and Suzumoto made it clear that this impression is completely at odds with their impression of the game, and they remark that there was not one person who worked on ''Air'' who thought that.<ref name="Air-interview" /> Characters from ''Air'' have appeared in [[dōjin]] works not directly based on the ''Air'' series. Games such as ''[[Eternal Fighter Zero|Eternal Fighter Zero -Blue Sky Edition-]]'' by [[Twilight Frontier]] where most of the playable characters either came from ''Air'' or from the earlier [[Key (company)|Key]] games ''Kanon'' or ''[[One: Kagayaku Kisetsu e|One]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://pirikara.net/games/show/efzbse|title=''Eternal Fighter Zero -Blue Sky Edition-''|publisher=Pirikara|access-date=January 12, 2006|language=ja|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120220120324/http://pirikara.net/games/show/efzbse|archive-date=February 20, 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref> In the October 2007 issue of ''[[Dengeki G's Magazine]]'', poll results for the 50 best bishōjo games were released. Out of 249 titles, ''Air'' ranked eighth with 43 votes.<ref>{{cite web|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071011213916/http://gs.dengekinet.com/ranking/index.html|url=http://gs.dengeki.com/ranking/index.html|title=Dengeki G's Magazine top 50 bishōjo games|publisher=[[ASCII Media Works]]|archive-date=October 11, 2007|access-date=January 3, 2011|language= ja}}</ref>

==Notes==
{{notelist}}
{{reflist|group=n|30em}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{Wikiquote|Air (visual novel)}}
*[http://key.visualarts.gr.jp/product/air/ Key's official ''Air'' website] {{in lang|ja}}
*[http://www.tbs.co.jp/anime/air/ ''Air'' anime official website] {{in lang|ja}}
*{{Vndb|36||Air}}
*{{IMDb title|qid=Q130332012|id=tt0940874}}
*{{anime News Network|anime|2480|Air}}

{{Key (company)|state=expanded}}
{{Kyoto Animation}}
{{Tatsuya Ishihara}}

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