Synduality: Noir is a futuristic sci-fi anime where the mechs are small and chunky and also require an R2-D2 shaped like anime waifu’s or a butler or even a black guy, in order to function properly. Drifters use these mechs to scavenge a post-apocalyptic setting for treasure and resources to bring back to their human colonies called Nests whilst fighting off weird alien bug things called Enders.
There's not much about Synduality: Noir’s premise that you can point to as original. In fact, now that the season is complete I can say that it's honestly a bit derivative. However, that doesn't change the fact that Studio 8bit did a fantastic job of making the look alive and colourful for a post-apocalyptic setting. The animation is solid and CGI mechs and alien bug creatures look surprisingly good thanks to the combat choreography along with dynamic camera angles and 8bit’s fantastic sound design. I love how each mech has been decked out to reflect the personal tastes of the Drifter, it’s very fun. The drifters and their androids called Magus are also fun. The author of Bunny Girl Senpai manages to squeeze a lot of personality and charm out of a semi-large cast of characters who all have their own things going on and with not a lot of screen time thanks to his efficient screenplay.
Unfortunately, efficient screenplay writing doesn't mean constantly being good. Synduality:Noir has constant problems with pacing and tone. This is usually the fault of protagonist Kanata who can flip from likeable and funny to dense, indecisive and annoying at the drop of a hat. He can be made more bearable with Noir whose kuudere personality compliments him, but whenever he's by himself or with any other character I find him eye-rolling at times.
The story is a bit all over the place. Sometimes it's focused and interesting, other times there's an inappropriate pool episode, in the apocalypse setting. The show also has its own Team Rocket who blasts off after every appearance and were introduced as scary android traffickers… There were some episodes where I genuinely asked out loud “What's the point of this story?”
The show also tends to lean on that sci-fi writing trope “What if androids had feelings like people too?” and I don’t need to explain to you how vapid and overplayed that trope is.
I have mixed feelings about Synduality: Noir. I did enjoy most of it. When it's good it's good but I’m not sure I'm invested enough to recommend it. Despite the highs of the show, it has a lot of baggage holding it back.
6/10 It's Okay.
