Hey there. It’s time for yet another Rising Sun. And to be honest, this show makes Dragon Ball Z look tame.

The topic show today is Noir, an original anime series produced by Bee Train. It’s a spy series, and it’s the kind of show that’s out of the question for American animation.

The series opens with a French assassin-for-hire named Mirelle, who one day gets an email from a Japanese teenager named Kirika requesting a rendezvous. When they meet up, they’re attacked by assailants in buisness suits, who Kirika effortlessly takes out. When Kirika, who suffers from amnesia, begs Mirelle to help her uncover the secrets of her past, she agrees to do so. And while they try to figure it out, they offer their services as assassins under the collective pseudonym Noir.

This series is a break from what I’m used to and it is written incredibly well.  The introductory episode shows what Mirelle and Kirika are capable of efficiently, and sets up the conflict for the series very well. It’s also choreographed well (given most of the fights are done with guns) and the characters move around and fight with a unique creativity that American animation is lacking in. As I said earlier, Dragon Ball Z, which is famous for over-the-top violence, is pretty tame in comparison to Noir. So thankfully, despite the high body count, not too much blood is spilled in the fights. It’s also interesting and captivating to see Kirika disturbed by the remorseless elimination of her targets, even if she first reveals this right after snapping an assailant’s neck. It really adds a layer of realism to her situation. If I were Kirika, I’d be just as disturbed by my skills as she is.

The show is also incredibly atmospheric, which is what I was expecting since Madoka Magica composer Yuki Kajiura did the soundtrack. And if I were to be really honest, the reason I’m writing this review was because I heard part of the soundtrack on Pandora, and thought it had a great sound and would be worth checking out. It comforts me to say that Kajiura’s score builds on the atmosphere of the show and builds on the tension of the fights, making each episode of Noir memorable.

If you enjoy spy shows but are looking for something more atmospheric, Noir on Hulu should suit your tastes.

BTW, American channel Starz has expressed interest in doing a live-action reboot of Noir, but has cancelled the project.