The Art
I really liked the character designs. Despite some very good action sequences and some good picturesque artwork the animation itself was unremarkable, and at some points was actually sub-par. The bad stuff I am assuming was stuff they had to farm out to other art houses due to time constraints, and so I can forgive it. However the constant repeating of footage became quite annoying and they did do a little cheating with silhouettes and abstraction to save time and speed up production.
The Good Stuff
What elevates NOIR out of mediocrity is its story and music, I liked the story and became invested in the characters right away. And the music was awesome… yes of course I bought it and it is on my ipod, great stuff!
It was all in the Eyes
Here is what I saw and how I broke it down, you may not agree but here is my opinion. The character design was key to the storytelling and much of it had to do with the eyes, the eyes told you much about those who entered the story. Examples, I shall use the four main characters-
Kirika: My favorite character. She had the eyes of a child, they were wide and reflective, full of wonder at the world around her. Which was appropriate because of her memory loss, everything was new to her. Mireille a couple of times found herself talking to herself because Kirika had stopped to pet a stray cat or gawk at something inside a store window. It was one of Kirika’s most endearing qualities.
But they were also tinged by sadness, she was alone. Mireille was only with her because Kirika was a key to discovering what happened to her parents, and Kirika has no friends, or family. And ever time she attempts a friendship with someone it turns out tragically, in fact the only thing she could ever care for and not have it die was a plant.
When the switch is flipped and Kirika transforms into an assassin her eyes usually disappear, hidden by her hair, a nice artistic touch. It is as if she is mentally gone and it is her body instinctively taking over.
Near the end of the series her eyes take on a chilling change, they become hard and intense. A consequence of her programming taking over and the horror of watching all of those villagers which had welcomed her with open arms and treated her with such kindness and reverence being gunned down by soldiers. I truly feared for her at that point, it was like all of her humanity had been stripped away.
Chloe: The most tragic victim of the series, this poor girl never had a chance. Her eyes were narrow slits with small iris’s, which was a brilliant and artistic reflection of her heart and mind. Because she is a religious zealot, and sees the world through a narrow and unforgiving prism. Her only forays into the real world are on missions assigned to her by Altena, she shuns the world outside of the mansion because it is corrupted and diseased. And because of her consistent immersion in the cult of the Soldats she never has a prayer of breaking the programming.
The only time that Chloe’s eyes ever widened was when Altena praised her or showed affection or when she saw Kirika. She is obsessed with Kirika and sees her as her ultimate salvation, she believes that Kirika is her other half and they are destined to be together. And once the ritual is completed that they are bound together she will finally be complete and whole. And in the end when Kirika ultimately rejects her for another woman it breaks Chloe’s heart, she is shattered and broken by what she sees as a great betrayal. So sad and tragic…
Mireille: Mireille’s eyes are in between the other two’s. Unlike Chloe she has lived in the real world and endured its hardships, and seen it for what it really is. And unlike Kirika she has memories, though painful as they are… So her eyes are narrower than Kirika’s because she sees the world through jaded eyes, in fact it only through Kirika that she is finally able to see the beauty that is around her, and begin to appreciate it again. But her eyes are not as narrow as Chloe’s because though she is suspicious and distrustful of everyone she does not consider herself apart/removed from the world around her or above it.
It is because of Kirika that Mireille’s jaded outlook begins to soften, and the part of her heart that had hardened from past tragedy begins to heal and feel again. They both help the other to heal and discover their pasts.
Altena: She has the eyes of a Mother, caring and nurturing. But they are unfocused and not quite right, because she is delusional. She feels that the ends justify the means, and that by brainwashing these children and putting them through tortuous trials she is creating the ultimate weapons to cleanse the Earth of evil. And yet does not realize that what she is doing herself is evil.
Final Thoughts
In some ways it reminds me of Gunslinger Girl. Both are fascinating and terribly tragic and disturbing, to see children used as tools of destruction and death. Kirika was a wonderful paradox, so sweet and innocent one moment and then suddenly a cold killer because something clicked inside her head. Over all I found it a compelling and enjoyable ride, I am glad I watched it and I may one day purchase it to add it to my library so I can have it to view again. The haunting music during the action scenes was so cool, and the psuedo religous elements were a nice touch. The universe was well worked out and believable, and it was nice to see consequences for peoples actions and the tragedy that is left behind because of ones violent acts. Instead of the usual glorification.
Good character development and information was distributed at a satisfying pace. The action is believable and not graphic or over indulgent.
So in all? The story and music more than make up for any flaws in the animation. It was very enjoyable and I recommend it highly! 
