Noein: To Your Other Self, Volume 5

The end and the beginning
It's always darkest right before the dawn -- or so they say.

And that is certainly the case with the final four episodes of "Noein," a unique mix of quantum physics, sci-fi and preteen adventure. All the characters encounter the horrifying potential of their future -- and the truth about their shadowy enemy.

Karasu, Haruka and Yuu are left wandering through the dreamlike timespace of Shangri-la. As they rest, Karasu reveals the terrible face of Haruka's alter ego -- and is interrupted by the spectral Noein. Haruka reluctantly goes with him, if he agrees not to harm Yuu or Karasu.

And then Haruka's house is swept, Wizard-of-Oz-style, into Shangri-la -- with Atori and the kids inside. Haruka is forced to watch as Noein reveals the possible futures of Miho, Ai and Isami -- Ai loses her leg and her soccer dreams, Isami is disfigured in a gang fight, and Miho crumbles from constant bullying. The three kids face being lost in these potential futures, unless...

Satisfying conclusion to an underrated and brilliant series
Here is a truth about anime: The endings can be incredibly frustrating.

I say that as a long time anime fan. It is a rare anime series that ends as good or better than it began and even the great ones can leave some fans going, "What the heck??" or at the very least, split in opinion.

Noein isn't one of those anime. The conclusion is as satisfying as the journey.

I won't go into details since the previous review already adds many details.

Suffice it to say that this is a series that once it is started, it is hard to stop watching. The scriptwriters did a fine job at creating and sustaining the mystery of what is happening over several dimensions and what I found most amazing was that they were able to keep my attention from wandering when it delved into the more complex ideas of parallel universes and quantum physics in a remarkably comprehensible and palatable way, even for the non-techie like me.

But it is the characters who...

A Masterpiece!
Noein will go down as one of the classics in Anime. It's stunning and breathtaking to look at. You'll have to catch your breath a couple of times watching this series! I'm not going to give any of the story away. But IMO if you like Science fiction you'll want to see Noein.
The characters are powerful and charming and the dub cast is great!
Noein is Anime at its finest!

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