Based on an action/ecchi manga, Air Gear follows the normal path almost all shounen do. By being a typical series, its replay value is low, as it is reminiscent of a zillion other series.

STORY SECTION: 2/5 [Simple and incomplete]

Air Treck is a new sport, an extreme variation of roller blades with motors that allow high speeds and aerial acrobats. The protagonist plans to become No.1 in this sport (Owww, how original!). The story is pretty much about training and taking part in races. Ecchi and comedy scenes color the otherwise cliché scenario.

The story is as typical as it gets. It has a cast of kids and teenagers, the protagonist wants to become the best in some game/sport/technique, and there is not bloodshed and sex involved, no matter the danger of the difficulties. And yes, the anime is typically watered down in comparison to the manga.

I would have given it a 3, but the story is left incomplete (the manga takes the story further) and thus, it became a 2.

ANIMATION SECTION: 3/5 [Great circus tricks, terrible circus tent]

Character figures and ecchi scenes were too mediocre to write anything about. Not bad but nothing special as well. Backgrounds were quite realistic, probably because they were based on real locations. Not too shabby!

The animation during the races was flashy but quite lame, if you try to reason with what is going on. The camera angles were ok and the acrobatics were fine. But the special effects were simply fake in comparison with the realistic backgrounds. Made the series seem like a low budget b movie.

SOUND SECTION: 3/5 [The music excites me! … Or is it all those pantsu shots?]

Voice acting was as mediocre as the appearance of the characters. Music themes and sound effects were above average. Full of strength and easily evoked excitement over the sport.

CHARACTER SECTION: 3/5 [Cool rollers on typical characters]

Think of the most cliché cast there can be in shounen and you get the general picture. Just dress them in humorous sexuality and you are there. A boy is the protagonist that tries to become the champion, an almost slut-girl is his mentor, a girlish boy is his rival and … some others just to be secondary allies and rivals. Really, nothing out of the ordinary, as far as personality or character development goes. You will mostly care about the girls’ boobs and panties rather their … inner selves. You will just notice the air treks and the acrobats and the cheesy visual effects and completely forget the characters.

PERSONAL JUDGMENT: 1/5 [Mommy, mommy, I want air trecks too! Buy them; buy them!]

-I dislike sports anime, whether it’s about football, golf, go or roller blades. -No matter the sport, the whole deal of watching 14 year olds playing a harmless game is simply boring. Who cares what training they do in order to become better in a game? Why should I believe that kids that try to become champions in some game are worth praising? -It’s about a fictional sport; you don’t even learn anything useful out of it. -Who cares about friendship, teamwork and willpower? I get plenty of those in every action series there is. -Who cares about the characters? They are stereotypes, found in a zillion other anime. -Who cares about fan service? I prefer hardcore hentai action. - To my eyes, this series doesn’t try to excite kids into thinking about becoming athletes but just to buy roller blades. Meaning, it’s nothing more than a cheap, brainwashing, marketing trick, dressed with acrobats and lukewarm sexuality.

Ok, it had plenty of comedy and fan service. Good for it. But I have seen much better elsewhere. Beyond that, it is another run-of-the-mill series that has nothing really original to offer.

OVERALL: 2/5 [You again? What do you want and you keep appearing every week?]

The accused is found … GUILTY! … For pretending to be an aristocrat when in reality he is a commoner.

SUGGESTION LIST Alien 9. (medium) The only other anime with roller blades I know of. Though, the genre is much different. Dementia instead of sport and ecchi. Eureka Seven. (rather good) Not with roller blades, but with mecha on flying surfing boards. The only anime with so much attention to movement without vehicles I can think of. The genre is adventure instead of sport but characters and story are far more interesting. Hikaru no Go and Slam Dunk. (good) As exceptions to the rule, these sports/hobby series are nice to watch.