A Recent Mecha Show
This feels like the most underrated mecha series that came out recently. Mostly because it's only Hulu instead of Crunchyroll. For instance, I know that Bravern is another underrated show and I really like it. But I saw more people talking about Bravern in general than Synduality Noir. I know a small amount of people talked about it online through tweets and skeets (Bluesky tweets), but Bravern had a much larger audience for obvious reasons that I enjoy too. Synduality Noir isn't that, but it throws back to how mecha shows were like in the mid 2000's. I don't think that would be on people's radar as much even if it was on Crunchyroll because I doubt Megaton Musashi is getting that much attention
The show is two cours long and it was a joy to watch every Monday after I came home from work. It was split in two cours with one season of break in between which was pretty effective. The end of part 1 was pretty definitive in setting up the world and its stakes. The second one is a response to the first one that challenges its cast in some really fascinating and hard ways. I mean, they are a cast that has to make some really hard decisions on how to move forward. All while interrogating the world itself too. Without telling you anything about it, I really do recommend Synduality Noir. It's the best sort of 7/10 show because if you know anything about Mecha, you will recognize the tropes in it while it's still so refreshing too.
The Story of Synduality Noir
The beginning of Synduality Noir is as basic as it comes. In a post apocalyptic world where humans live alongside robot beings called Maguses for their own purposes, the world is under threat called Enders that want to eliminate humanity. Drifter Tokio, one who pilots a mech to collect things for profit and fights the enders, travels to an unknown location with his mechanic Kanata. Kanata, the failed person who failed the drifter exam and relies on Tokio, his best friend, to live out his dream of being a drifter even if it's from a distance. That all changes when he finds a mysterious Magua lying down. One that is different from others because she isn't good at anything.
Yet the magic the two really do connect and complete each other. The world is shocked that Kanata became more than just a mechanic. The drifters he lives with in Rock Town are elated that he finally became a drifter and maybe his dream of going to Histoire can become real. Though he does spend a lot of time with other drifters who have their own motivations on why they do it. Or they have had some kind of crush on him since they were younger. There is also a mysterious group of people who eliminate other people going after Histoire. So many interesting moving parts as Kanata lives out his life figuring out what a Drifter is.
You Know This Show and That's Ok
I didn't lie, if you have even a toe in the world of Mecha, then you know this show. It all starts because of one young man finding/meeting a mysterious girl that sets his life in motion. That's Chobits, Code Geass, Eureka Seven, RahXephon, and I can keep going. Same with it being in a post apocalyptic sci fi world where pilots are hunting scraps of the world that used to be for money. Also, they have to fight against giant insects for survival. Once you remember that these pilots are called Drifters, their partners are called Maguses, and the bugs are called Enders. The central location all the drifters live in is called Rock Town. The show is self aware about its silliness.
I can even mention how there is so much Macross DNA in the show where Kanata and Ciel are fighting together and Ciel sings during the middle of it. I could even mention that the Mecha are pretty grounded and move on the ground on wheels like Ryosuke Takahashi Mecha. I'm sure that's not even all that it's influenced by. What matters even with all of those things, it all clicks together so well. Even as clean and basic as it seems, because it is, not everything has to be super amazing, unique, or special for it to be great. What is wrong with an entertaining show that knows what it is playing at the highest level possible? That's what Synduality Noir is.
A Great Cast of Characters Makes It Work
Like a lot of the show, the world is just simple. Post apocalyptic wild west that humans are fighting to thrive in. There is a large gambling hall which is a casino where everything, including fighting with drifter mecha called coffins fight. The show even gives them pretty obvious nice and simple names like Enders and Drifters like Rocktown for instance. So it is really the cast of the show which makes the pretty clear and simple story and plot work. Kanata and Noir themselves are pretty simple canvases for other people to bounce off of each other. Kanata is the pretty basic protagonist of a person starting from the lowest place and Noir is literally a blank canvas that absorbs more as time goes on.
The mysterious Black Masked character and his Magus Schnee provide such an intriguing mystery to the show based on the way he just carries himself. The drifters and their Maguses are also great duos that complete the other. Ellie is Kanata's childhood friend and her Magus Ange knows where all her standard weaknesses are. Tokio is a very energetic and all over the place person and his older male Magus Mouton attempts to keep him grounded. Those are only examples because there are so many combos like that which fill the world in such interesting ways.
Also, the standard of Magus and Human combos is what has made Kanata and Noir so interesting. The two don't click as much because they're still figuring themselves out. Humans and Maguses need each other. All of that helps Ciel feel special too. She is the lone, attractive, and unique idol Magus. A supposed free spirit idol who is also working for someone mysterious. Infact, Ciel is the best character in the entire show because of how many hidden layers she has. Not only is she a popular idol with a wonderful singing voice, she's reporting Kanata's movements to someone mysterious.
The show is so good at making you feel for each of the main characters because Synduality Noir actually has at least a little bit of and to be themselves. Each of them has a big moment or small arc compiled among big arcs that makes Synduality Noir feel so fleshed out. Especially when the show sets up so many of these ideas with humans and Maguses living with each other. There is a force out there that hates what the world became and it's all of these characters fighting together in the end for what they believe in.
Compiling It Together
This show looks really good. The world and environments are incredible with tons of unique character designs throughout the world. It's very old school jrpg designs because each person has a pretty distinct clothing design and all sorts of hair colors. This even true for side characters who only get a frame or two of animation. Or possibly even just in the background of something. It's a very well lived world. The mecha themselves are CG and there is a sadness in the passing of 2d animation. But the designs and how they move around are pretty cool. The fights are pretty simple but very well choreographed with some really good stand out fights. It's some very beautiful stuff.
As a whole, as I keep mentioning it, Synduality Noir is a good series. It is not a fantastic series or one that will go down in history as the best show there is. But it's good stuff. It's some of the best sort of anime junk food that you can ask for. Top quality junk food one can say. This show will hit you in ways that you will not expect. This show is so honest and full of heart that it can pull off such huge, emotional moments that really hit hard. Pretty solid stuff for a prequel to a video game none of us will play, right? So once again, it is the best 7/10 show that you can watch. Very much like Megaton Musashi which I also recommend for similar reasons even if its a bit better.
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