Shangri-la’s deterioration increases and the violation to the laws of causality render chaos to Haruka and the world. The future can now affect the past. As Haruka travels between times and dimensions, alternate realities, she is trapped in a time loop, one where both the past and the future can be altered drastically. It makes La’Cryma that much more determined and desperate to obtain the Dragon Torque, in other words, get Haruka.

This penultimate volume gives viewers a closer look at the Dragon Warriors as they question and resolve to capture Haruka. The council of La’Cryma is revealed and they are an unnerving lot. Karasu is forced to fight Kosagi. Their emotional battle will lead to a surprising decision by one of the Dragon Warriors and some startling speculations about the true purpose of the Dragon Torque. 

This volume has many discoveries and startling revelations. Ms. Uchida reveals more about the Magic Circle Project within this dimension, which is experimenting with REIZU particles that could have catastrophic results for this reality. It seems the events in the present will bring about the cataclysm that shapes the nightmarish future of La’cryma unless the Magic Circle Project is stopped.  However, there are those within this world as well as La’cryma that want to bring about Shangri-la in the here and now. It leads to Haruka being abducted with Yuu in tow. Both are now trapped in the future La’Cryma just when it suffers a direct assault from Shangri-la!

Just as there are those on the side of Shangri-la banding to bring about the merging of all realities, so too are the odds and ends of heroes banding together to stop it. Atori, Tobi, Karasu and other Dragon Warriors are aided by Uchida, the detective and Haruka and her friends to try to stop the horrors of the future from ever occurring. But when Haruka and Yuu are abducted and Yuu comes faced to face with Noein, he learns a shocking, terrifying truth that might bring all realities crashing down. Which is illusion and which is reality; can Haruka and the others discover the truth in time?

This story hit enthralling some time back and just kept going. Astonishing animation, brilliant and absorbing storytelling that’s edgy and cerebrally challenging, esoteric and edgy, dark and at rare times surprisingly nostalgic. Noein is all this and much, much more. It asks fascinating questions about quantum physics, temporal causalities, and challenges the viewer and the characters with some hard moral choices. The gripping score and fascinating animation only increase the anime’s immense appeal. The incredible designs of the Shangri-la destroyers are riveting and the scenes of the various dimensions in this volume are detailed and creative. Noein is science fiction at its very best and most captivating.

EXTRAS:
Bonus features in this fourth disc are not what is listed on the back cover of the DVD. The packaging lists the extras that were on volume 3. Volume 4 bonus features are in actuality art gallery, clean opening animation and trailers of other Manga Entertainment titles.

IN SUMMARY:
Noein is one of the best science fiction series of the year if not the decade. It’s a must see for science fiction fans. Its layers, subtlety and intelligence have rarely seen their match in other anime.

Only registered users can write comments.
Please login or register.

Powered by AkoComment Tweaked Special Edition v.1.4.6
AkoComment © Copyright 2004 by Arthur Konze - www.mamboportal.com
All right reserved

Did you enjoy this article? Please bookmark it onto: