Production studio: Bee Train 

Year of Production: 2001

US Distribution Rights: ADVision Films

Premise: Noir is an anime wrapped in a thread a mystery right from the very beginning, and filled with twists at every turn. Basically Noir tells the story of two assassins who are both searching for answers of their past. Yuumura Kirika suffers from amnesia and seeks the help of Mireille Bouquet, an assassin whose past she holds the key to. Mireille is haunted by flashbacks of her childhood, and Kirika may just be able to help her unlock the secrets of her past if only she can remember her own past. Together they form the deadly and highly professional assassin team known as NOIR, but Noir's true meaning stretches much further back in time. The responsibility that falls upon the shoulders of those who choose that name is a heavy one that they must bear. Admist all the killing, Kirika struggles to regain her humanity and conjure up her past, while memories of Mireille's traumatic childhood constantly resurface to haunt her.  

There is more to Noir than what first meets the eye. It does not just revolve around killing people, but also delves into the minds of the two main characters and their unseen enemy. The pain and emotions conveyed by the characters are so fresh and raw that you can almost feel it yourself. Their constant search for humanity and light is strongly evident as each passing day rips at their soul, for they are the Maidens with Black Hands.

Characters: Noir has, without a doubt, some of the best character design shown in anime history. Only four female characters live more than one or two episodes in the entire series, as each episode itself sees a slaughtering of many, many humans. This is where the strange part comes in: while the hundred of killings that Mireille and Kirika made cannot be justified in any way whatsoever, the viewer stills feels compelled to feel for the characters and understand the reasons that these two females had for murdering so many people. There is almost a sense of instant forgiveness as more lifeless bodies slump to the ground. I personally feel that's what draws so many people to this series, that despite the fact that so many people are dying, it still does not cause any disgust for the main characters, but rather produces an opposite reaction, where the viewer actually feels sympathy for Mireille, Kirika and Chloe.

My thoughts: There are absolutely no words to describe how hauntingly beautiful and meaningful this series is. Never have I seen an anime possess so much class and style, yet be so profound. Throughout the series, I was constantly awestruck by the amount detail and attention the artist had given the scenery, and so accurately portrayed various locations from around the word. The characters shone on the screen, each given such realistic emotions and expressions.  The action scenes are astounding, the movements are swift and yet defined, while maintaining the wonderful style Noir has. There were many extremely touching scenes also, not to mention that the ending was so meaningful and beautifully crafted, that I almost cried.      

I was personally extremely impressed with Noir, it was much more psychological than I initially thought, plus the characters are so well-defined its hard to remember that they're not real (or are they? ^_~) Not only that, there is a strangely haunting but beautiful feel to it, and it creates an atmosphere that changes with the mood of the characters and is strongly supported by the astounding music track. I have no doubt that Noir will explode into the western world very soon, and I can only hope that it receives the recognition it deserves.

Number of episodes: 26 (1 season)
My rating: 9.5 out of 10

Visual: The art showcased in Noir is incredible. Clear and crisp, with colors and movements that melt endlessly onto the screen, the viewer is absorbed into the storyline almost instantly. I love the way each character is made to look: Mireille as a sexy French assassin, Kirika as a deceptively cute Japanese schoolgirl, Chloe as a creepy, misdirected child, and Altena...Altena as a woman who bears the wrong ideas, thus placing unreasonable burdens on the above three mentioned girls.

The backgrounds are also wonderful, they truly provide the perfect mood and backdrop to each scene. The action scenes are fast, yet somewhat graceful. (And there is a reason for the lack of blood, so no quips about that!)

Audio: MITSUISHI KOTONO!!! Ahem...who would be more perfect to play the role of Mireille than Misato? She is truly one of the greatest seiyuus in the history of anime, and the personality she gave to Mireille is one that cannot be challenged whatsoever. The dub actress, no matter how good she is, will never be able to capture Mireille's emotions and feelings like Mitsuishi-sama did. And while we're on this subject, Kuwashima Houko also provided Kirika with the beautiful innocence of youth, that became more and more stained with each passing moment. WAI!

And the music...WOW. The Noir soundtracks could definitely challenge Yoko Kanno anytime. Never have I heard such a unique style of music, it's like in a genre in itself. A mix between techno, Latin chanting and opera, there is a definite European edge to most songs. Songs like Salva Nos (Save us) and Canta Per Me reflect the scene and characters' feelings so perfectly that it scares me sometimes. Yuki Kajiura is without a doubt my favorite composer of music.