Winter 2024 Anime: SYNDUALITY: Noir Part 2

Synopsis

The year is 2242.

Humanity has lived deep underground ever since the catastrophe known as the “Tears of the New Moon” occured. But after the collapse of the underground city-state “Amasia”, they began to carry out hopes of living on the surface again. People have since formed villages called “Nests” in various places above the ground. Those known as “Drifters” fight using their “Coffin” combat mechs against the creatures known as “Enders” that seek to exterminate humanity, and mine the “AO crystals” that provide power to the Nests. In one such Nest called “Rock Town” where Drifters gather, Kanata, a young man who dreams of becoming a Drifter one day, discovers a beautiful “Magus” android in stasis during one of his expeditions. His meeting with the Magus named “Noir” sets to motion the wheels of fate.

Comments

Caesar E.S. (The Indonesian Anime Times)

SYNDUALITY Noir is back after ending its first part on a high note last year. I quite enjoyed what SYNDUALITY turned out to be: a fun romp through a rebuilt sci-fi society post-apocalypse, and getting to see the world along with the show’s cast of characters turned out to be enjoyable enough even before you consider the mecha action scenes.

I mentioned in my review of the show’s first part that it felt like something I’ve seen before, in the best way possible. The cast is a good mix of common anime-ish personalities with enough spice thrown into the mix to make them memorable, and I quite enjoyed seeing Kanata and Noir’s growth as partners, with both breaking out of their shells to become more confident in what they want to do. The character of Ciel, voiced by Nagisa Aoyama, (who turned out to be an android idol-slash-military spy) was also a nice surprise, and the episode where she fought alongside Kanata while singing the insert song Genwaku Desire was a high moment that felt very Macross-like. It’s a great song. So is You & (A) I. 

Perhaps those combinations of familiar, yet different elements are what makes SYNDUALITY so compelling. They’ve managed to create an interesting world and setting that’s worth exploring, and characters you would enjoy spending time in that world with. I particularly enjoyed small touches like there being a waterpark colony thus enabling a “beach” episode, or Kanata meeting with a legendary Drifter named Alba in episode 9, who is the protagonist of the upcoming SYNDUALITY video game SYNDUALITY: Noir is part media mix with. The world feels lived in and brimming with secrets to discover.

Speaking of secrets, Part 2 looks like it will finally tackle a plot point that’s been alluded to in the show but never fully explored until now: finding the legendary city of Histoire. Mystere, who claims she’s the original personality and that Noir is just her alternate personality “safe mode”, is a welcome addition to the cast and a fun foil to Kanata with her bossiness and how it contrasts with Noir’s more reserved, shy demeanor. It’ll be interesting to see her interact with the rest of the cast in the coming episodes.

I’ve come this far without talking about the show’s mecha action scenes, which are great visually and neat with its use of Magus skills where the android partners are projected flying across the battlefield. I especially enjoyed the first part’s two-parter finale. So it’s quite surprising that there’s barely any of it in Part 2’s first few episodes, and yet I’m still having fun with the show. It just goes to show that any good mecha anime needs a strong base, and once you have that you’re all set. The robots are “just” there as a multiplier to make the show exponentially more fun. I know that when the time comes for Kanata and Macht to duke it out (as alluded to in the OP) it’ll be interesting to watch. I’m having a great time with SYNDUALITY: Noir, and I can’t wait till we see what awaits our cast in Histoire.

SYNDUALITY Noir Season 1 Part 2 is currently streaming on Disney+

Facts and Figures

Screenshots and Trailer

The Indonesian Anime Times