Synduality: Noir explores a post-apocalyptic world where Drifters and their AI companions, Magus, scavenge resources while battling mechanized threats.
The series blends mecha action with themes of human-AI bonds, resilience, and rebellion against oppressive systems.
This list highlights 15 underrated anime that mirror its mix of character-driven storytelling, dystopian struggles, and existential themes.
1. Guilty Crown (2011)
Streaming: Crunchyroll, Funimation
Plot: Shu Ouma gains the “Power of Kings” to extract weapons from souls, leading a rebellion against a corrupt regime.
Similarities: Explores morally gray protagonists and power dynamics, akin to Kanata and Noir’s partnership.
MAL: 7.56 | Episodes: 22 | Studio: Production I.G | Notable Staff: Directed by Tetsuro Araki (Attack on Titan).
2. Valvrave the Liberator (2013)
Streaming: Crunchyroll
Plot: Students pilot vampiric mechas to defend their space colony from galactic superpowers.
Similarities: Combines school-life drama with body horror and political intrigue, echoing Synduality’s tonal shifts.
MAL: 7.03 | Episodes: 24 | Studio: Sunrise | Legacy: Polarizing twists like Synduality’s narrative risks.
3. The Third: The Girl with the Blue Eye (2006)
Streaming: RetroCrush
Plot: Honoka, a lone warrior, navigates a post-apocalyptic desert with her AI tank, confronting rogue AI and human greed.
Similarities: Focuses on isolation, AI companionship, and rediscovering humanity in a broken world.
MAL: 7.26 | Episodes: 24 | Studio: Xebec | Style: Slow-burn existential journey.
4. Heroic Age (2007)
Streaming: Funimation
Plot: Age, a human with cosmic powers, leads humanity’s survival against alien tribes in a mythological space opera.
Similarities: Underdog heroes and cosmic stakes, mirroring Synduality’s blend of personal and epic narratives.
MAL: 7.44 | Episodes: 26 | Studio: Xebec | Inspiration: Greek mythology meets mecha.
5. Muv-Luv Alternative: Total Eclipse (2012)
Streaming: Crunchyroll
Plot: Pilots test experimental mechas against aliens in a war-torn alternate timeline.
Similarities: Military drama with focus on pilot partnerships and trauma.
MAL: 7.06 | Episodes: 24 | Studio: ixtl/Satelight | Source: Based on a visual novel.
6. Argevollen (2014)
Streaming: Crunchyroll
Plot: A pilot defects to join rebels using an experimental mecha in a war-torn nation.
Similarities: Grounded military tactics and political intrigue over flashy battles.
MAL: 6.34 | Episodes: 24 | Studio: Xebec | Tone: Realistic mecha warfare.
7. Cross Ange (2014)
Streaming: Crunchyroll
Plot: A princess pilots mechas to battle dragons after being exiled for lacking magic in a prejudiced society.
Similarities: Strong female lead and critique of systemic discrimination.
MAL: 7.03 | Episodes: 25 | Studio: Sunrise | Style: High-risk storytelling.
8. Heavenly Delusion (2023)
Streaming: Disney+, Hulu
Plot: Survivors journey through a ruined landscape filled with monsters, uncovering secrets about a guarded facility.
Similarities: Post-apocalyptic mystery and exploration of human-AI coexistence.
MAL: 8.17 | Episodes: 13 | Studio: Production I.G | Awards: Crunchyroll Anime Award nominee (2024).
9. Vivy: Fluorite Eye’s Song (2021)
Streaming: Netflix
Plot: An AI songstress tasked with preventing a future war navigates 100 years of ethical dilemmas.
Similarities: Explores AI autonomy and emotional growth, paralleling Noir’s journey.
MAL: 8.06 | Episodes: 13 | Studio: Wit Studio | Soundtrack: Composed by Satoru Kōsaki.
10. Pluto (2023)
Streaming: Netflix
Plot: A detective android investigates murders in a world where robots and humans coexist.
Similarities: Tackles AI rights and systemic bias, akin to Synduality’s critique of dehumanization.
MAL: 8.50 | Episodes: 8 | Studio: Studio M2 | Source: Naoki Urasawa’s reimagining of Astro Boy.
11. Flag (2006)
Streaming: Not streamable (DVD-only)
Plot: A photojournalist documents a UN team’s mission to retrieve a sacred flag using experimental mechas.
Similarities: Documentary-style storytelling and critique of war journalism.
MAL: 7.05 | Episodes: 13 | Studio: Xebec | Format: Found-footage approach.
12. RahXephon (2002)
Streaming: Crunchyroll
Plot: Ayato Kamina pilots a divine mecha to combat alien Dolems, unraveling ties to a hidden civilization.
Similarities: Merges existential themes with operatic mecha battles and identity crises.
MAL: 7.62 | Episodes: 26 | Studio: Bones | Awards: Tokyo Anime Award for Art Direction (2003).
13. Schwarzesmarken (2016)
Streaming: HiDive
Plot: East German pilots battle alien invaders while navigating Stasi conspiracies during the Cold War.
Similarities: Combines political intrigue, wartime trauma, and mecha combat.
MAL: 6.66 | Episodes: 12 | Studio: LIDENFILMS | Setting: Alternate-history 1980s.
14. Darker than Black (2007)
Streaming: HiDive
Plot: Contractors with supernatural abilities navigate moral ambiguity in a dystopian Tokyo.
Similarities: Explores morally complex protagonists and secretive conflicts.
MAL: 8.06 | Episodes: 25 | Studio: Bones | Tone: Noir-inspired psychological drama.
15. Ergo Proxy (2006)
Streaming: Crunchyroll
Plot: In a dystopian city, an inspector and android confront existential threats from sentient AI.
Similarities: Philosophical depth and critique of AI autonomy in a broken society.
MAL: 7.86 | Episodes: 23 | Studio: Manglobe | Legacy: Cult classic for its narrative complexity.
Why These Anime Work for Synduality: Noir Fans
These series resonate through shared themes of human-AI symbiosis, dystopian survival, and defiance against oppressive systems.
Whether via Vivy’s emotional AI odyssey, Pluto’s ethical quandaries, or Heavenly Delusion’s mysterious wasteland, each offers a unique lens on resilience and connection.
Their underrated status often stems from niche appeal or bold storytelling choices, making them perfect for fans seeking Synduality’s blend of heart and mechanized spectacle.
Dive into these hidden gems to explore worlds where humanity and technology collide.
