"Noein: Mô hitori no kimi he" (2005)TV series 2005-2006

Director:

Kazuki Akane

Seasons:

1

Release Date:

11 October 2005 (Japan)

Genre:

Animation

Cast

Haruka Kudô	...	Haruka Kaminogi (24 episodes, 2005-2006)
Fujiko Takimoto	...	Yuu Gotou (24 episodes, 2005-2006)
Kazuya Nakai	...	Karasu / ... (24 episodes, 2005-2006)
Richard Cansino	...	Kuina (24 episodes, 2005-2006)
Saeko Chiba	...	Ai Hasabe / ... (24 episodes, 2005-2006)
Lara Cody	...	Lily / ... (24 episodes, 2005-2006)
Dorothy Elias-Fahn	...	Ai Hasabe / ... (24 episodes, 2005-2006)
Richard Epcar	...	Kyouji Kooriyama / ... (24 episodes, 2005-2006)
Melissa Fahn	...	Haruka Kaminogi (24 episodes, 2005-2006)
Crispin Freeman	...	Karasu / ... (24 episodes, 2005-2006)
Eddie Frierson	...	Atori (24 episodes, 2005-2006)
Keiji Fujiwara	...	Kyouji Kooriyama (24 episodes, 2005-2006)
Takako Honda	...	Kosagi (24 episodes, 2005-2006)
Kohei Kiyasu	...	Fukurou (24 episodes, 2005-2006)
R. Martin Klein	...	Fukurou (24 episodes, 2005-2006)
Rikiya Koyama	...	Kuina (24 episodes, 2005-2006)
Steve Kramer	...	Isuka / ... (24 episodes, 2005-2006)
Yuri Lowenthal	...	Makoto Shinohara / ... (24 episodes, 2005-2006)
Mona Marshall	...	Asuka Kaminogi (24 episodes, 2005-2006)
Kenta Miyake	...	Isuka / ... (24 episodes, 2005-2006)
Hikaru Miyata	...	Time Drifter (24 episodes, 2005-2006)
Kouki Miyata	...	Isami Fujiwara (24 episodes, 2005-2006)
Mai Nakahara	...	Yukie Nijo (24 episodes, 2005-2006)
Kaori Nazuka	...	Lily / ... (24 episodes, 2005-2006)
Akemi Okamura	...	Asuka Kaminogi (24 episodes, 2005-2006)
Sayaka Oohara	...	Ryouko Uchida (24 episodes, 2005-2006)
Bryce Papenbrook	...	Isami Fujiwara (24 episodes, 2005-2006)
Cindy Robinson	...	Kosagi / ... (24 episodes, 2005-2006)
Shunsuke Sakuya	...	Makoto Shinohara (24 episodes, 2005-2006)
Ryoko Shiraishi	...	Tobi (24 episodes, 2005-2006)
Ellyn Stern	...	Miyuki Gotou (24 episodes, 2005-2006)
Kenichi Suzumura	...	Atori (24 episodes, 2005-2006)
Atsuko Tanaka	...	Miyuki Gotou (24 episodes, 2005-2006)

Series Directed by
Kazuki Akane		(unknown episodes)

Series Writing credits
Michael P. Greco		(21 episodes, 2005-2006)

Series Sound Department
Thanos Kazakos	....	adr editor / sound re-recording mixer / ... (24 episodes, 2005-2006)
Josh Amaral	....	adr editor / adr recordist (5 episodes, 2005)

Series Animation Department
Ryoochimo Sawa	....	key animator (2 episodes, 2005)

Series Other crew
Richard Epcar	....	voice director (24 episodes, 2005-2006)

Production Companies

• Satelight

Distributors

• Chiba TV (2005) (Japan) (TV)

Other Companies

• Atelier Ron  background art
• Media Concepts  sound re-recording (dubbed version)

Also Known As:

Noein: To Your Other Self (USA) (literal English title)

Runtime:

25 min (24 Episodes)

Country:

Japan

Language:

English | Japanese

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

UK:12 | Singapore:NC-16

Company:

Satelight

Trivia:

The names of the seven dragon knights are all Japanese names of birds. Karasu is Crow, Fukurou is Owl, Kuina is Rail or Rallidae, Kosagi is Egret, Atori is Finch, Tobi is Kite, and Isuka is Crossbill.

Uncertain Future

Whenever were young one of the things we think about most is the future. We always ask multiple questions like where will we go, what will we be when were grown up, what do we want to be, will we have friends or significant others in the future. The hard truth in life though is sometimes the future doesn't always turn out the way you plan it, but it can at least come real close and lead to something great.

This anime series is one of those surprises I've been looking for and I'll say it didn't disappoint me, this I personally feel is one of the best yet most criminally overlooked series. The plot is somewhat similar to DC Comics "Crisis on Infinite Earth's" miniseries and "Terminator" film series. An evil dimension called Shangrila wants to destroy the other multiple dimensions called Lacryma (our modern day reality). The key to salvation is the Dragon Touque which is a source of energy that can control dimensions, this energy is in the form of a young preteen named Haruka. And alternate version of Lacryma which is years into the future is in danger and wants to capture the girl and use her, but a soldier from the future named Karasu whom is the older version of Hakara's best friend Yu goes against the order and decides to protect her from the self centered corrupt interests of the future government he serves and Shangrala forces.

This series despite being sci-fi, is by it's nature really a character drama. It's true you get all of the goodies like on any sci-fi from those super powered fights which are well done, though I'll admit that's the only inconsistency of the show, how their able to do it is never explained, either results of human evolution or just the fact their in an alternate dimension which mean rules broken or bent I'll just go with that. The interesting concept of multiple dimensions implied with quantum physics principles talked about. And of course the style of the show is beautiful the blend of 2D animation and CGI for the backgrounds really make things seem realistic and the music score works as well.These things are all really just setting and believe or not are the least interesting parts of the show.

What really drives the show are of course the group of pre-teen characters it's focused on and what they go though throughout the adventure, from their own lives to their current situation. All of them are interesting characters that all feel actually realistically like real kids, which makes the pathos and emphasize for them feel recognizable. From everything some of them do and feel you can't help but see may'be a little of yourself as well as may'be your own friends in all of them. All have their need, wants, interests, even oddities and fears about them. The cliffhanger format of the show adds all the more to the drama, because we constantly anticipate more of what is going to happen not just in plot but in the characters lives just when the episode cuts off, this gives the show a realistic feel and makes the show all the more unpredictable as well as dramatic. I'll never forget the episodes where Haraka and Yu see a worst case scenario for all of her friends and themselves which I'll admit was gut wrenching, even though that might have be a future from another dimension it didn't mean it couldn't happen.

It's pretty much your coming of age tale, where we see all the important lesions of growing up like control over one's own destiny and outcomes, free will, what helps create identity, the importance of never forgetting your identity then to apply to who you are now in order to never betray one's ideals and identity. But most of all it's about self discovery of one's own feelings.

The whole show mainly centers around the relationship between Yu and Haruka. Both obviously are at that point in their lives were their beginning to see each other differently, Haruka is a girl that is sweet, funny, understanding, and aggressive makes it slightly obvious but Yu is of course shy but mainly doesn't know how to express them right and is just plain unsure about who he is. In a way this character reminds me of myself when I was his age. There is just constant suspense where were hoping Yu will find a way to get past his follies and get closer to Haruka. We see throughout the show's adventure both of them do get closer little by little, in a way both of them actually become and feel more adult like. I'll never forget one moment in one episode which I though was touching and romantic were Yu who is in Shangrila is beginning to disappear out of existence and of course Haruka is just holding him praying with the feelings of love she holds for him that he won't, and of course it works.

I don't want to reveal more than I already have so I'll stop here so you can figure the rest out. The future is a fascinating and frighting thing because there are multiple crossroads, whichever one you choose is truly up to you and correlates with who you are now and the ideal self you'll become in the future or even who you were then to who you are now.

Rating: 4 stars