Synduality, the Japanese mixed-media project from Bandai Namco Group, has made waves in 2023. Its anime series, Synduality: Noir, kicked off its premiere on TV Tokyo and its affiliates in July, offering viewers an exciting journey.
Simultaneously, manga enthusiasts are diving into Synduality: Ellie, a series illustrated by Hiroji Mishima and written by Dai Hatano, debuting in Monthly Comic Alive on July 27, 2023.
The light novel adaptation, Synduality: Ellie, by Hatano, with illustrations by Yō Midorikawa, was released on September 25, 2023, adding another piece of media to the franchise.
Gaming enthusiasts can anticipate the release of Synduality: Echo of Ada, a third-person shooter, and action RPG developed by Game Studio and published by Bandai Namco Entertainment, set to hit Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S in 2023.
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Synduality: Noir Continues in January
The official website for Synduality: Noir, the anime adaptation of Bandai Namco Entertainment’s Synduality project, has announced that its second cours will debut in January 2024. This exciting news follows the anime’s initial premiere on July 10.
Along with the announcement, a brief preview video was also released. Disney+ holds exclusive worldwide streaming rights for the anime as it airs in Japan. The anime storyline takes place two decades after the game’s setting, taking place in the year 2242, while the game is set in 2222.
The Staff
The staff for the anime includes:
- Director: Yūsuke Yamamoto
- Original Story Concept: Hajime Kamoshida
- Series Script Supervisor: Takashi Aoshima
- Animation Character Design & Chief Animation Director: Kenichirō Katsura
- Production Design: Kō Inaba
- Legendary Design: Kazutaka Miyatake
- Art Director: Kenta Masuda
- Music: Masato Nakayama
- Animaton Production: 8-Bit
STEREO DIVE FOUNDATION performs the opening theme song “Raytracer.” ARCANA PROJECT performs the ending theme song “Eureka.”
The Cast
The cast includes Takeo Ōtsuka as Kanata, Aoi Koga as Noir, Nagisa Aoyama as Ciel, Yūsuke Kobayashi as Tokio, Fuminori Komatsu as Mouton, Konomi Inagaki as Ellie, Ayaka Ohashi as Ange, Taito Ban as Kurokamen and, M.A.O as Schnee.
Additionally, Daisuke Sakaguchi voices Michael, Daiki Hamano voices Bob, Miku Itō voices Maria, Ryoka Yuzuki voices Claudia, and Marika Kōno voices Flamme.
The Plot of the Game (Echo of Ada)
In the year 2222, humanity grapples with the aftermath of Tears of the New Moon, a catastrophic rain that nearly extinguished our species. This downpour gave birth to grotesque beings hungry for human flesh, forcing us to flee for our lives. In a desperate bid for survival, we constructed Amasia, an underground refuge in this dystopian world.
It’s here that human’s precarious coexistence with an Artificial Intelligence called Magus begins, as they embark on a journey to unravel the truths that bind them.
How was the First Quarter of Noir?
Synduality: Noir first quarter was described as a “hidden gem this season,” flying under the radar despite being created by the studio 8bit/Eight Bot, known for their hit series like “Tensura/That Time I got Reincarnated as a Slime.” This show is a unique blend of Mecha and Sci-Fi, peppered with humor and action, although it has its share of shortcomings.
While there are some generic moments and a slight lack of world-building, the humor and action sequences help to balance things out. However, don’t expect mind-blowing revelations or shocking twists, as Synduality Noir seems to stick to a more predictable path.
The fans liked the impressive character quality and depth, a well-executed mix of humor and action, good music, especially the OST, and generally smooth animation, especially in action scenes. And realistic and well-timed action sequences.
However, the fans didn’t like the surprisingly limited character development of the main character and claimed one of the main protagonists deserves more screen time. The action can be somewhat uninspiring, and it falls short of delivering a well-developed “Sci-Fi” experience.
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