Webtoons are becoming quite popular as more and more of them are getting adapted into an anime these days. Noblesse is another one but this one had quite a lot of hype surrounding it. The premise sounded interesting enough so I decided to check it out! Does Noblesse live up to the hype that the anime community was giving it?
Let’s Go!
First Episode Synopsis
A group called The Union accomplish their mission and state that their next target is Japan.
….aaaaaand they’re gone.
Welcome to Japan where we now head to school. We see a red-haired student named Shin-Woo Han who is glad that he’s out of the hospital and can actually go back to school. He’s walking there with his friend Woo Ik-han who was apparently saved by Shin-Woo from a car, which is why his arm is now in a cast. When they get to school, they see that there is a new security guard there simply named M-21. He was part of The Union’s experimental lab rats at one point. Apparently, all but him have died. He made a promise with his friend, M-24, that he would learn his real name and the names of their fallen friends.
There is no word yet on how M-21 got to the school but he was offered a place to stay by a noble by the name of Raizel so seems to be in charge of the school, and his servant. As M-21 is getting accustomed to his new life as a security guard, some thugs show up looking for Shin-Woo. Apparently, this girl was about to cross the street and derped stepping off the curb. Shin-Woo saved her and she complained to her musclehead boyfriend that she was being hit on. So, being some macho, adrenaline freak that this guy is, he decided the best way to handle this situation is to beat the hell out of Shin-Woo… which he does until M-21 steps in and lays waste to him.
….aaaaaaaaand The Union’s back.
They’ve arrived in Japan and they look to gather intel.
…aaaaaaaaand they’re gone again because the episode’s over. Plus, two new mysterious characters appear after the credits.
Worth Watching?
YES – So, the first episode left a LOT of questions on the table… still… even without a lot of information being given, the show seemed to suck you into its atmosphere. There is a lot here that makes you wonder about these characters and why this Union group is on the move. You kind of understand why but there are deeper motivations behind the reason that you’d like to know. If there ever was a first episode that spent 23 minutes telling you absolutely nothing all while making you realize that there is something there and that something could be really interesting, Noblesse had that first kind of episode.
Without the beginning and end, you’d think that this would just be another school anime with a mysterious security guard but it is much more than that. The fact that the first episode keeps everything hidden is quite the gamble but everything is presented in a way where it hooks you despite the lack of information.
That’s why I’m giving this a YES rating. Just like the first episode took a gamble, I’m taking a gamble and saying that this should could out to be something special. It also has a bit of an old school seinen art style to it that I haven’t seen used all too much so I can definitely appreciate that. According to the show’s opening montage, there looks to be some users who have powers as well so that’s something we can all look forward to in future episodes.
Looking forward to seeing more of this one!
