Synduality: Noir

“A Mecha Anime in Shambles”

The mecha genre came into being with the debut of Gundam back in our granddad's day and age. But over the years, the genre has come a long way, boasting titles like ‘Neon Genesis Evangelion,’ ‘Code Geass,’ ‘Gurren Lagann,' and ‘Darling in the Franxx’ under its belt. Even when we have a million Gundam titles to feast our eyes on, mecha fans love to see a new show trying their luck in this rather ‘hard to execute’ genre.

Synduality: Noir, another title attempting to establish itself as a new and modern mecha powerhouse like the others, debuted in July 2023. Before its release, the trailer generated a lot of buzz for the series, and it is no surprise that the title quickly made its way onto everyone's watchlists. With Part 2 dropping every other week, it would be an excellent time to fill you in on what Synduality: Noir is about and whether you should give it a go. With that being said, let's dive right in!

The wrong atmosphere but the right age

I swear, these anime titles have made the future look so bleak that even our 3 a.m. panic attacks appear more manageable. Set in 2242. Humanity has been reduced to an endangered species that must seek refuge and shelter in these dispersed, bubble-like cities because acid rains and creatures called Enders—who look much better than those guys from Terraformars—have turned the world into this post-apocalyptic setting.

As anyone would have predicted, AO crystals are what keep life in this day and age going, but they are not easily accessible. So, to solve that problem, Drifters, people tasked with procuring these crystals, do come across something out of the ordinary from time to time.

However, Kanata could not have predicted that the expedition with Tokio would bring him face-to-face with Noir, a Magus lying there with roses resting next to her. This is a post-apocalyptic world, by the way. Noir awakens and, like any other character in that situation, has no memories.

As perplexed as anyone can become, the two also ignore the possibility of an Ender attack occurring at any time, which is precisely what happens. But, as expected, Noir is 2B from Nier Automata, having undergone extensive combat training. Following that fateful encounter, they embark on a journey to the bottom of this post-apocalyptic world, learning various things along the way.

Lost and unable to move

Now, on paper, a story like that is bound to make everyone remember the likes of ‘Evangelion,’ ‘Attack on Titan’ and ‘God Eater’ in an instant. Given how those shows have dominated the mecha/post-apocalyptic/humanity fighting for survival genre for years, it's a given that Synduality: Noir would be the highlight of 2023, right?

Well, that didn't happen since the show fell flat and, throughout its runtime, seemed like a title that was just confused about who it is and who it should become. The post-apocalyptic setting with Enders constantly clashing with these Drifters backed up with the Magus characters would've been great.

I'm sure that was the story everyone was looking forward to since, with all these different post-apocalyptic settings, humanity fighting back for survival is what sets the mood for the series to begin with.

The anime operates and progresses in such a "discohesive" manner that it loses the viewer after a few episodes at most. In one episode, for instance, we were engaged in combat. New information about this universe is being revealed. In the following episode, we are having a pool party in a post-apocalyptic world where humanity is an endangered species with no care.

Also, it's my opinion, but many of you would agree that comedy and lighthearted elements shouldn't exist in a show like this. It kills the mood and drives your mind away from the serious, intense atmosphere that's the bread and butter of this series. That’s never a good idea.

However, in pursuit of becoming something new, something different, something that stands out, Synduality: Noir introduces comedy elements for some reason. Of course, they don't blend in with the show, as if that wasn't obvious. Props to them for thinking outside the box and introducing a whole new twist to the genre, but in a show that's supposed to be all about humanity's struggle for freedom and survival, that wasn't a good idea, was it? Imagine Eren from Attack on Titan behaving irrationally; that would give the impression that he has gone completely insane, wouldn't it?

Undercooked characters

Don't get me wrong, Synduality: Noir has some great characters. Just look at Noir; her character design will make for some fantastic figurines, and I won't be surprised to learn that a whole waifu religion is based solely on her image. But if you look at the main character and others, they just feel incomplete for some reason. For instance, Kanata obsesses over the idea of receiving praise and admiration from others, even though it is not as important as he makes it out to be.

I think that draws tremendous inspiration from Shinji Ikari from Neon Genesis Evangelion—hopelessness and despair. Still, they chose the wrong aspect of things now, didn't they?

Same with the CGI

The anime is beautiful. I cannot believe this, given how recent mecha releases have entirely devalued the genre that was once at the pinnacle of the industry. But 8-bit reintroduced the magic that made 'Blue Lock' and 'Slife' so popular.  

One gripe is that the computer-generated imagery (CGI) starts off looking good. Still, it starts to lose its luster and sharpness later on, which makes you realize how true you were when you said that getting a decent CGI adaptation is now next to impossible.

However, despite their best efforts to fill in the gaps and holes left by the somewhat "lost" storyline, the characters, the action, and the environment feel spot on, and by the time the show is over, it hasn't succeeded. Honestly, it’s a shame that the animation doesn't manage to draw your attention away from the fact that the anime is nothing but that lost robot from Naoki Urasawa's Pluto, one that might shoot your head up if you badmouth the anime. The opening theme is excellent, and that's something that you'll avoid skipping every other episode or so. That’s another plus!

The recent 'Witch from Mercury' installment in the Gundam series brought the mecha genre back to its halcyon days. Many people had high hopes for Synduality: Noir, but even with the second season premiering this year, things do not look good for the title, if I am being honest.

It would have been way better if the show had stuck to one theme and followed it through to the very end. That's the problem with many of these shows. They bring in so much, try to incorporate a lot more, and in the process, end up vomiting all they have chewed in an episode or two.

For the rating, I'd give it a 7. The animation is excellent, and Noir is better, making you watch the show to the end, thanks to those two alone. But that doesn't change the fact that the story still hasn't found what it wants this show to be, and going into the second season with an optimistic mindset, I hope that things change for the better soon enough.

This second season might decide whether this title ends up being the newest mecha title on everyone's watchlist or another anime series that should go to the recycling zone ASAP. Fingers crossed! Let's see how things turn out!

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