Synduality: Noir (anime series)
Review by Dennis D. McDonald
There’s a lot of familiar territory here:
Post-apocalyptic cities under domes, protecting against a toxic atmosphere
Organized foraging missions to recover useful remnants of lost civilization
Mecha and robot-type equipment, heavily armed and constantly in need of repairs
A lost but cute automaton (that’s “Noir”) pairs with a young, inexperienced forager who has great mechanical skills
Unlimited access to technology and weapons
Uninspiring character design
By-the-numbers action sequences integrating 2D animation with CGI
A mysterious economy that doesn't seem fully explained
I find it hard to believe any mature women were involved in the production, given the generic gender roles and behaviors.
Young people are at the forefront, while older characters are either crazy or ruling from behind the scenes.
The fan service feels half-hearted and uninspired.
And yet...
It’s mildly entertaining, though unexceptional—a retro and average experience. Perhaps the producers aimed to create something that might have been made 15 or 20 years ago to appeal to adolescent males. There really aren't any surprises (I'm five episodes in). Were it not for the occasional lapses into raw or mature dialogue, it would be pretty bland. It reminds me of a “comfort food” type of anime. Maybe something clever or original will happen down the line, but so far, there’s nothing new or exciting here.
Review copyright (c) 2024 by Dennis D. McDonald