[quote]Genres: action, drama, mystery, psychological Themes: assassins, girls with guns, secret organizations Objectionable content: Significant Plot Summary: Mireille Bouquet is a professional assassin, and a very good one at that. But when she follows up an e-mail from a young Japanese girl named Yumura Kirika, inviting her to take “a pilgrimage to the past”, her life becomes even more dangerous than it already is. Now, with a haunting melody invoking the memory of an event long past, Mireille and Kirika decide to work together to find the truth about a thousand year old organization that has controlled both of their lives since before they were born. And the only clue in their search, the only thing Kirika remembers about herself, becomes their working codename: a name designating an ancient fate, of two maidens who reign over death–Noir. Number of episodes: 26 Vintage: 2001-04-06 to 2001-09-28[/quote] ANN Info Page
This is the first in the “girls-with-guns” Bee Train trilogy.
The depth of storytelling throughout the series is highly impressive as the plot just sucks you in, then culminates into the supremely outstanding last 6 or so episodes.
The music, composed by Yuki Kajiura, is also another highlight in the series that makes it all worth while.
All in all, definitely a series no one should be without in their collection.
When it wasn’t dull it was teaching me why I should not take Marielle seriously at all, and wonder why Chloe didn’t kill her 2 seconds after they meet.
I just finished this series recently. I struggled to get through the first two discs. I found myself falling asleep several times, not neccessarily from boredom, but becuase I wasn’t really grasping what was going on, so I would drift to sleep. I actually had to marathon this series a couple of weekends ago. As I started to watch the episodes back to back, I got into the series. It was interesting. I haven’t decided if I will finish the trilogy yet.
[quote=tweetyjgrl]
I just finished this series recently. I struggled to get through the first two discs. I found myself falling asleep several times, not necessarily from boredom, but because I wasn’t really grasping what was going on, so I would drift to sleep.[/quote]
God, I HATE it when that happens. I’ve been interesting in watching this anime for a few years now, but have never bothered because I figured I would react similarly to you.
OK I ordered this today! Looking forward to watching this once it comes in the mail! Hopefully I’ll be done with either Madlax or El Cazador before then though lol. I don’t want to watch all three at once .
One thing about the show though. I was watching the trailer on Anime Network’s youtube page and the color palette is REALLY muted. I know it’s an older show, but wow. Still I think I like the palette chosen, in a way it gives it a very “classical” and “cinematic” look too it, instead of being bright, colorful and shiny like El Cazador, or light, yet earthly/realistic like Madlax. This is very cold, dark, and gloomy looking, and even stylized. It’s a dark worls I guess . There seems to be a real emphasis on lighting too (which I LOVE). But I must say it does look great, at least for Bee Train. Very dated perhaps, but I like the old style personally. So…I’m guessing this wasn’t digitally painted then right? Traditional ink and paint?
Also I really can’t wait to hear the dub. With Greenfield on board as director, I’m always game! And from the clips I’ve heard this souds really good. Can’t wait to hear it though.
Shelley Calene-Black sounded really great in the small bit of the dub I heard lol. But I’ll actually judge her when I hear the dub/watch the show lol ;). I think she always does a good job though. Favorite roles for her so far have to be in Red Garden and Jinki: Extend(which has an underated dub IMO…then again the show is underated as well. What moe mecha won’t catch on? )
Also so is the show tradtional ink and paint right? And what did you think of the muted look of everything? It’s very odd at first, but after seeing the trailer a few times I found I really liked it.
Well the art is dated by today’s standards but I had no problem with it. It more than made up for it with wonderful setting, trappings and amazing atmosphere. Probably my favorite Bee Train animation production in terms of the setting and atmosphere.
.
)