ADV Films has announced the details of its release of one of the most highly awaited anime series of the last decade. Noir: Shades of Darkness, the first of six DVD volumes of the acclaimed 26-episode series, will go on sale on February 18. Noir debuted in Japan in 2001, where it had great success and spawned a lot of tie-in merchandise including trading cards, a data book, postcards, and figures. Set primarily in Western Europe, Noir features two gorgeous and deadly protagonists, who must band together to survive, but who can never establish a bond of trust, in part because they are both trained assassins battling against a mammoth conspiracy.
The first volume of Noir from ADV Films contains five episodes, in both English and Japanese language versions, plus extras including production sketches, clean opening and closing animations, and Japanese promo spots. The regular edition of Noir: Shades of Darkness has a suggested retail price of $29.98. The third issue of Newtype Magazine, which ships in January will contain a free DVD with the first episode of Noir, which should get fans, who might not be aware of the series, excited.
The Special Edition of Noir, which has an srp of $44.98, includes an exclusive slipcover designed to hold all six volumes of the series as well as an exclusive t-shirt design available only with the Special Edition.
