As these series sometimes are considered "niche", Noitamina is often overlooked by big international distributors in search of new big hits, and have become the hunting grounds for smaller companies like Australia-based Siren Visual and Scotland-based Anime Limited. The latter has picked up the recent (2014) Noitamina series Terror in Resonance, and has given it the royal treatment.
A contemporary thriller told in 11 episodes, Terror in Resonance reunites legendary anime director Watanabe Shinichirō with character designer Nakazawa Kawuto, who he previously made Samurai Champloo with, and composer Kanno Yōko, who he previously made Cowboy Bebop with. With that pedigree, you can imagine why the series warrants some attention.
Well, if the packaging is any indication, "some attention" is what it got, and in plenty. Check out this gallery of shots: click on the edge of the pictures to scroll through them, or at the center of each to see a bigger version.
And here it is, a big shiny tough cardboard box, as over-sized as Anime Ltd.'s Gurren Lagann and Full Metal Panic special sets...
Did I mention it was shiny? This is a very, very pretty release.
In the box, there are an Amaray holder and a hardcover book.
The contents taken out.
Anime Ltd. has unfortunately had some shaky experiences (literally) with their over-sized digipaks in the past, so this is the new current system they use for these editions.
All contents opened.
Why does Anime Ltd. go to the trouble of making these sets over-sized, you may ask? The answer is simple: to be able to include a larger-sized book!
The Amaray has a reversible sleeve, so you can choose between minimalistic stylish sketch-work or the colorful art of the series' best-known poster.
On to the book, with is large, hardcover and has 114 pages.
In its pages we get a wealth of designs and posters on regular pages, and a selection of sketches which is printed on translucent pages. Very neat.
The end!
But is it an apocalyptic end?