Synduality

''Synduality'' (stylized in all caps) is a Japanese mixed-media project created by the Bandai Namco Group. An anime television series produced by Eight Bit, titled ''Synduality: Noir'', aired from July 2023 to March 2024.

Plot

On the night of the new moon in 2099, the "blue rain" fell heavily over a wide area, mainly in the Mediterranean Sea, and the resulting flooding around the world resulted in the loss of more than 92% of the world's population within a few days. This series of catastrophes was later called the "Tears of the New Moon", and the blue rain, which continued to fall intermittently afterwards, was found to have the effect of instantly killing anyone who touched it, while also making other animals and plants gigantic and aggressive. The giant creatures that were created as a result came to be called "Enders".

The surviving humans were forced to take refuge in underground facilities, but eventually they developed a bipedal weapon called the "Cradle" as a countermeasure against the Enders, and discovered a new energy resource called the "AO Crystal". As a result, they succeeded in building a huge underground city called "Amasia" with a huge canopy that could completely block the rain and declared the founding of the country in 2135. Under the strictly controlled AO energy society, humanity had finally found a new place to live, but some chose to remain on the surface and live a free life in exchange for the danger. Also, android-related technology developed rapidly in Amasia after this, and in 2210, the first batch of cradles, "Cradle Coffins," was completed, equipped with a new type of android with human-like emotions, "Human Duality Thinking AI-Equipped Humanoid (commonly known as Magus)," and its cockpit, "Coffin."

However, in 2222, 123 years after the "Tears of the New Moon," a disaster occurred in which the roof of Amasia and the city infrastructure suddenly collapsed overnight. The upper levels of Amasia were virtually wiped out, and the survivors began living in small underground cities called "Nests" or on the surface. Furthermore, the collapse of Amasia resulted in the leakage of a large amount of materials and technology, which made it easier for ordinary people to obtain Cradles and Cradle Coffins, which had previously been strictly controlled, and ushered in an era in which anyone could become a "Drifter" who fought the Enders while collecting AO Crystals, in the hopes of making a fortune.

Characters

''Synduality: Noir''

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''Echo of Ada''

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Media

''Synduality: Noir''

An anime television series, produced by Eight Bit, was announced in September 2022. Titled ''Synduality: Noir'', the series was directed by Yusuke Yamamoto, with Takashi Aoshima writing the scripts based on a story draft by Hajime Kamoshida, Kenichirō Katsura designing the characters for animation, and Masato Nakayama composing the music.

The first half of the series aired from July 11 to September 26, 2023, on TV Tokyo, while the first ending theme song is , performed by Arcana Project.

On September 24, 2023, a second cour was announced during the "Synduality Project TGS Special Stage" event at Tokyo Game Show 2023, which aired from January 9 to March 26, 2024. The second opening theme song is , performed by Arcana Project, while the second ending theme song is "Drifters", performed by Stereo Dive Foundation.

The series is streaming worldwide on Disney+, in Latin America on Star+ and in the United States on Hulu.

Episodes

''Synduality: Kaleido''

A spin-off novel titled ''Synduality: Kaleido'' by Dai Hatano was serialized in Hobby Japan's ''Monthly Hobby Japan'' from July 25, 2023 to April 25, 2024.

''Synduality: Ellie''

Manga

A manga series, illustrated by Hiroji Mishima with a screenplay by Masaru Hatano, titled ''Synduality: Ellie'' was serialized in Media Factory's ''Monthly Comic Alive'' from July 27, 2023, to October 25, 2024.

Light novel

A light novel also titled ''Synduality: Ellie'', written by Hatano and illustrated by Yō Midorikawa, was published by Media Factory's MF Bunko J imprint on September 25, 2023.

''Hajimari no Ao Synduality: Roots''

A second light novel titled ''Hajimari no Ao Synduality: Roots'', written by Yūya Takashima and illustrated by neco, was published by Tokyo Sogensha's Sogen SF Bunko imprint on March 15, 2024.

''Synduality: Echo of Ada''

A third-person shooter and action RPG developed by Game Studio and published by Bandai Namco Entertainment, titled '' Synduality: Echo of Ada'', was released for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S on January 23, 2025.

Notes

References

External links

Project official website


Anime official website

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{{Eight Bit (studio)

2023 Japanese novels
2024 Japanese novels
Bandai brands
Bandai Namco franchises
Comics set in the 23rd century
Disney+ original anime
Eight Bit (studio)
Hulu original anime
Mecha anime and manga
Media Factory manga
MF Bunko J
Novels set in the 23rd century
Post-apocalyptic anime and manga
Science fiction anime and manga
Television series set in the 23rd century
TV Tokyo original programming