Where do we start? I'll skip the basic summary and get on to the point- Noein is a delight to watch. It breaks all the basic tropes that comes with science fiction. We first have a widely diverse cast of characters- very basically, divided into kids, and into adults. That said, these characters actually act their age. The kids will act immature and impulsive at times, but it are those qualities that lead to a lot of character development, more than anything else. The most amazing thing is that each character- and I mean every one of them- is fully fleshed out and given their own story to tell, despite the entire series being 24 episodes. Which, is something very very hard to do when you have this large of a cast, and this intense of a plot. This brings me to talking about Noein's finest achievement- its balancing and pacing. Noein manages to integrate the stories of the characters into its plot; you can't have one without the other. While the plot is slowly being revealed, time is used to flesh out these characters and make them real, accessible, and relatable. At the same time, the consistency is kept, without any real dips in narration. You care for these characters, and at the same time, you're not too into them to forget about the plot, nor are you too into the plot to remain stubborn about the characters. None of them are too stereotypical- each one has their own faults and weaknesses, and Noein explores these weaknesses through the idea of choice- what if this had happened differently? How would this person grow? How do people actually change over time, and what motivates them to do so? Noein realizes and does a wonderful job of understanding these concepts.
As much as this is weird to say, another fantastic thing about Noein is its villain, who is probably one of the most bizarre but wonderful ones out there- it is completely original, fresh and human, nevertheless. You are almost compelled to care about the villain of Noein, in a way.
The story is actually quite simple- not simplified, as to say, as it is just a very well-laid out plot. Especially considering the very confusing things that could have gotten in the way, Noein makes sure to sell its plot and make it easy to understand, but not boring at the same time. Concepts like time travel and parallel universes are actually accurate, but are not complicated to the point where they bog down the audience's interest. Don't assume that just because a story is simple, however, makes it uncreative- Noein's plot is one of the most creative ones out there, twisting and turning and still maintaining a smooth, consistent narrative. Nothing feels rushed at all, which is rare to find in anime.
I won't do this show a disservice by forgetting about the animation and sound however; Noein is equally amazing with these. The fight scenes are lovely to watch, and the stark contrast between the future and the present is amazing. Details are poured everywhere, whether it be the villain's creations, or the towns themselves. This show really knows how to use color properly, adding streaks of bright, vivid blues and greens and reds when needed, and then really shadowing the place with dull browns and soft hues of blue. The show is literally an eyecandy. The soundtrack for Noein is one of the greatest I've heard- there is so much variety, ranging from fast paced electronic styled music, to slow, piano-based tunes.
Truly, Noein really pushes the boundaries of anime, and I hope that in the future, more shows like this will be created. It will take your breath away, make you laugh, make you cry, and make you smile. If you're a lover of sci fi or well paced character development narratives, Noein is a must watch.
