Noir

[Tenshi no Ai]

Anyone else watched/watching this series?

Borrowed the thinpack set from my friend and getting ready to start disk 6/7. It's... a different series. One of those ones that I wouldn't go out of my way to watch, but since she owns them and let me borrow them as she borrows my Escaflowne/Fruits Basket... It's a nice one for those that want a nice serious, more mature series. And, it's probably the only violent series that only ever shows ONE scene with blood! Makes it almost unrealistic though, but meh, tones the violence down for those that don't really enjoy it :/

It's a series where more questioned get asked than answered as you progress through the series, and now it'll be coming to the climax from where I am, so it would be ncie to get everythign answered^^

Comments on those that are familar with this title? Oh, and BTW since my portable DVD player is VERY dumb and won't play the JPN w/subs option for some stupid reason, the dub of this is actually REALLY good. I'm not really a dub person, but I say it was done really well!

[Warrior 4 Jesus]

It's a fantastic series! My favourite anime series after Last Exile. Noir is quite dark and sad but there are elements of hope also. It's not the fastest paced series but it is a thriller, not an action series as such. A very beautiful series in my opinion. The only flaws being far too many flashbacks and the very cool music being repeated once too often.

[JezusBoy]

Is this the one with a ton of fanservice? I remember watching an episode and a half of one with two female cops or something and the smaller of the two is a naieve android or somethin. Is this the one?

[Warrior 4 Jesus]

There is no fanservice in this anime, which is unusual given the girls with guns premise. One of the most violently clean anime you will ever see.
A gem amongst the thorns, a mango amongst the pumpkins... (lol)

[Sephiroth]

noir is a very good anime, and its good at keeping you wondering or in suspense, wanting to know how it all ties together etc.

[Puritan]

Noir is excellent. I bought the thin box set over the summer, and really enjoyed watching it. There is some fanservice in the second to last episode, but other than that the series is very surprisingly clean for this type of anime. I was concerned about the strange religion espoused by some of the characters, but I thought that this was dealt with quite well in the last episode. On the whole an excellent anime if you like action/adventure type anime.

[Mangafanatic]

There is no fanservice in this anime, which is unusual given the girls with guns premise. One of the most violently clean anime you will ever see.
A gem amongst the thorns, a mango amongst the pumpkins... (lol)

I would add a minor addendum to that by saying that the pond scene with Mirika and Chloe might qualify as mild Yuri fan service. Nothing that you couldn't just as easily lop out of the series, but still worth a mention.


I just finished this series and I thought it was absolutely fabulous. I love the last few lines in the last episode. So interesting and so appropriate in the way it was wrapped up.

Overall, I thought it was a really beautiful show about revenge and forgiveness, and, sans the pond scene, I would highly recommend it.

[JezusBoy]

Wow, I saw it at my Library, I guess I'll check it out. Thanks for telling me.

[Warrior 4 Jesus]

I actually never saw the lesbian undertones some people see, to me it was just platonic love or something like that.

[Mangafanatic]

I actually never saw the lesbian undertones some people see, to me it was just platonic love or something like that.

I don't see any real Yuri either. My words were, more or less, a warning that the situation could be interpretted that way.

[Warrior 4 Jesus]

Very true. Only parts that aren't the cleaniest is an instance of implied rape (not for fanservice at all, and offscreen) and also the kiss on the lips by the woman. But I late found out that was the Kiss of Death, some Mafia tradition or something, not lesbianism. But other than that (and all the clean violence) its a pretty clean anime series.

[Mangafanatic]

But I late found out that was the Kiss of Death, some Mafia tradition or something, not lesbianism.

But there was that non-mafia style kiss of unknown reason in the next to last episode. I'd say that one was different, but still not romantic.

[Tenshi no Ai]

But I late found out that was the Kiss of Death, some Mafia tradition or something, not lesbianism.

Yeah I read on the CAA reviews that there was an "unwanted kiss" and I thought it was more a symbolic act or something... and then I totally forgot that she was part of the mafia till you mentioned it, so kiss of death sounds more appropriate.

Alright... I'm in the middle of the 6th disk now and I was actually really surprised to find out [SPOILER] That Kiraka was the one who murdered Mireille's family... I don't know why I never guessed the obvious, guess I just never thought too much of the one flashback that was over shown WAY too much in the series :/ And yet, I was not surprised. [/SPOILER]

...5 eps to go!

[Radical Dreamer]

Ack, this series looks really cool! I've wanted to watch it for a while, but due to my current cashflow (or lack-thereof, haha), I haven't been able to. But! I just got a subscription to NetFlix, so...Maybe soon!

[Tringard]

I actually never saw the lesbian undertones some people see, to me it was just platonic love or something like that.

I was a little worried going in - even with the review here - but was quite happy to find the reviews were right.
So far one of my favorite series.

[PleaseDrinkMilk]

I tried watching this again for the first time since, like, 2002 or 2003...it wasn't bad, but watching other series made me wonder why I was putting up with Noir's slow pace. Other nitpicks: I found the music a little repetitive, and I also did not enjoy a lot of the action scenes...they lacked both excitement and believability.

BUT, that's just my two cents. I've always been a little hard on Noir...maybe it's the whole French thing.

[Warrior 4 Jesus]

The slow pace is there to give you time to breathe and also realise there is more to it than just girls with guns. It's a heartfelt drama/thriller and I enjoy the slow pace but compared to others it is slow. But I think that's part of the charm of it - gives you time to get to know the characters better and also doesn't have action only.

[TrigunX89]

Be warned that there is another girl to girl kiss on the last DVD.

[spoiler]As part of the ceremony of becoming the true Noir, we see Kirika and Chloe enter into a pond nude. Chloe then goes up to Kirika and kisses her. The nudity isn't detailed, and at least Kirika doesn't seem to enjoy the kiss, but I still found it to be a bit disturbing.[/spoiler]

[freerock1]

Watching the series right now, getting very close to the end.

There is a lot of gunbattle violence, although most of it is non-graphic. Also, there are a couple things that have been mentioned that some viewers may have a problem with (the kiss, a couple borderline fanservice moments, questionable religious beliefs). Otherwise, it's fairly clean as far as sexual content, nudity, etc.

[Tenshi no Ai]

Be warned that there is another girl to girl kiss on the last DVD.

[spoiler]As part of the ceremony of becoming the true Noir, we see Kirika and Chloe enter into a pond nude. Chloe then goes up to Kirika and kisses her. The nudity isn't detailed, and at least Kirika doesn't seem to enjoy the kiss, but I still found it to be a bit disturbing.[/spoiler]

Yeah that was somewhat surprising, and not that I support it or anything but one way you can look at it as:

[spoiler] Well, the 2 are becoming 1... 1 Noir so it was almost a symbolic way of showing them joining up... even though they never did :/ [/spoiler]

But wow after finishing it up last night, the last disk was amazing! It was a bit of a hard series to get into, since the first ep caught interest but a lot of eps for for first little bit was "alright, here's a new guy we have to assasinate!". But the last disk had a different feel to it, and brought the show to a great climax. And FINALLY the 2 of the 3 Noir songs I downloaded played a couple times on the last disk (Secret Game and Lullaby, 2 english songs).

I especially liked on of the last things said in the last ep. Something around the lines of

guy: "But the world is still covered in darkness!"
Mireille: "Some of us are still searching for the light"

Added a nice touch there.

[CDLviking]

Very true. Only parts that aren't the cleaniest is an instance of implied rape (not for fanservice at all, and offscreen) and also the kiss on the lips by the woman. But I late found out that was the Kiss of Death, some Mafia tradition or something, not lesbianism. But other than that (and all the clean violence) its a pretty clean anime series.

I don't know why, but many people have the impression that the Kiss of Death is the "unwanted kiss" that gets people so concerned. To remove all doubt, it is a different kiss later in the show between two women. Read the spoilers by others if you want to know more. I just can't understand why everyone thinks it's the Kiss of Death that was mentioned.

[Tenshi no Ai]

Question about the music:
Alright, it may have been frequent but now they're stuck in my head >_<
Ok, so if Canta Per Me is the cello theme that was throughout the series, what is the other song that played even time there was a shooting? I'm trying to find it...

[Mangafanatic]

Question about the music:
Alright, it may have been frequent but now they're stuck in my head >_<
Ok, so if Canta Per Me is the cello theme that was throughout the series, what is the other song that played even time there was a shooting? I'm trying to find it...

I think you might be confusing two of the songs. Canta Per Me is definitely the song that is most frequently played during assassination scenes. It features what I believe is a violin and a melody line that sounds very much like a Gregorian chant. The purely cello piece if called "Sorrow."

PM me about it and we might be able to work up a way to figure it out for sure. *strongly suggests you PM her XD*

[Tenshi no Ai]

Oh, when I said "finding it" didn't mean I was asking for it, knowing it's against the rules and all to ask for downloads etc, just saying I myself am trying to search for the title and stuff.^^ (If that's what you meant by PMing...)

Hmmm but there was definately TWO themes that played throughout the show. For those that have the DVD on hand, it's the theme that plays if you pick the "languages" option.

It features what I believe is a violin and a melody line that sounds very much like a Gregorian chant. The purely cello piece if called "Sorrow."

Hmmm... sounds like a pretty big violin though! Although it does have violins in it (electric ones too^^), but the main background instrument is a cello, I'm sure.

[Puritan]

She could also be talking about Salva Nos, the song played in most fight/battle scenes (Guitar and rhythm track with singing in Latin in the background and some piano). Hard to tell, there are lots of different battle songs.

[Tenshi no Ai]

Yeah Salva Nos is it, thanks^^ I wasn't sure if it was ever a Japanese or Latin song because I kept hearing was sounded like "tobiru" in the lyrics, which in my mind I kept thinking "tobira" in Japanese :/

Good songs though, even if they WERE overplayed. The ONLY tune I didn't like was a couple times played was what sounded like a chorus of seagulls for a few seconds >_< If anyone knows what I'm talking about.

[TrigunX89]

Yeah that was somewhat surprising, and not that I support it or anything but one way you can look at it as:

[spoiler] Well, the 2 are becoming 1... 1 Noir so it was almost a symbolic way of showing them joining up... even though they never did :/ [/spoiler]

But wow after finishing it up last night, the last disk was amazing! It was a bit of a hard series to get into, since the first ep caught interest but a lot of eps for for first little bit was "alright, here's a new guy we have to assasinate!". But the last disk had a different feel to it, and brought the show to a great climax. And FINALLY the 2 of the 3 Noir songs I downloaded played a couple times on the last disk (Secret Game and Lullaby, 2 english songs).

I especially liked on of the last things said in the last ep. Something around the lines of

guy: "But the world is still covered in darkness!"
Mireille: "Some of us are still searching for the light"

Added a nice touch there.

Yeah, I guess that's a good way of looking at it. I agree that the last disc was amazing. The last two discs were great, for that matter. Perhaps one of my favorite episodes was the one where Kirika and Mireille split up. "Why don't you shoot me Mireille?" My friend and I kinda joke about some of that part, but it was a very emotional episode - one I think was very well done. Reminds me, I should rewatch the series. I started to, but stopped on the second disc.

[Tenshi no Ai]

Reminds me, I should rewatch the series. I started to, but stopped on the second disc.

Yeah I'd rewatch it too (if I had the time) but just how things started off and didn't get very interesting till later, I doubt I will. :/
*...still has Salva Nos and Canta Per Me stuck in my head >_<*

Oooo and after looking at the Salva Nos lyrics, what nice lyrics to go with a nice song^^ Check 'em out:
http://www.animelyrics.com/anime/noir/salvanos.htm
Guess I finally found out what "Dona Nobis Pachem" means *used to be in choir*.

[Puritan]

Well, if I remember correctly from my choir days, those words are actually from the Catholic mass in Latin. An interesting choice of text, eh?

[Tenshi no Ai]

Oh my... well after being informed about easter eggs on the DVDs each disk has their own set of eggs. List of them: http://www.animeondvd.com/omake/N.php
*ish currently watching Mireille and Kiraka being played out as sock puppets* XD ...apparently Chloe likes playing SNES (who knew?)