The awesomeness of the final televised episode of Bakemonogatari has been well documented already but there was one angle that I don’t think I’ve seen anyone pick up on. Namely, the night sky seemed to be on the minds of animators this season because it was featured in at least 3 different anime. There was maybe more but these are the three that I remembered.
Another thing that might be surprising to some is how these scenes were similar. One way was the idea that the night time sky in a rural area is an awe-inspiring sight. Second, upon seeing the night sky for the first time, the viewer is left speechless. And third, it’s possible to look at the night sky for a long period of time without getting bored. I say that it might be surprising because up until summer of last year, I was in the group of people who had never seen the night sky from a rural area and I didn’t believe that it looked as nice as it did in shows like Air. Therefore, I wouldn’t think that all three of these shows would follow so closely the same viewpoint since it really couldn’t be that amazing. Now, I know better, and seeing these scenes makes me want to go somewhere that I could see the true night sky.
I wonder why the awesomeness of a true night sky is suddenly showing up so frequently in anime? I don’t mind but I wonder if there’s some underlying reason. Maybe it’s a subtle environmental idea about getting rid of light pollution or just to appreciate nature. Or a desire to get back to simpler times when it was possible for everyone to see this sky. Or maybe it’s a desire to get people to appreciate the simple joys in life. Or something totally different, I don’t know. All I do know is that I have a bunch of screenshots (and one wallpaper) from these anime that I’m going to post now. 🙂
Aoi Hana
Sora no Manimani
Bakemonogatari
1280×1024 wallpaper and my current desktop below – stitched together from this episode of Bakemonogatari. When the bluray edition comes out in a few months, I’ll try to create a large one for other screen sizes.
The Null Set 
Interesting point, I love it when anime shows the sky.
I have one more anime sky scene to add to your awsome list.
Canaan: http://that.animeblogger.net/2009/08/25/canaan-08-the-treachery-of-maria/ (scroll down)
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Drats, it felt like I was forgetting another show.
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Also, it was brief, but there was that surreal moment with Kyon on the walkway in Sighs of Suzumiya Haruhi V:
http://randomc.animeblogger.net/2009/09/10/suzumiya-haruhi-2009-24-the-sighs-of-suzumiya-haruhi-v/
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Yes, Canaan featured one of the best scenes under the night sky 🙂
“For each light that burns on the ground, a star from the sky is taken away.”
Ugai Nome (Sara’s Father), Macross Zero
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2009 is the International Year of Astronomy
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awesome photos, i love scenes in animes with a nightsky
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