Following the successful adaptations of Tower of God, and The God of High School, expectations for Webtoon anime are extremely high. Noblesse is the third Webtoon manhwa to receive the anime treatment from Crunchyroll, but it has not gotten the same accolades as the previous two series. The series is currently ranked at #1454 in popularity on MyAnimeList, far behind Tower of God’s #76 and The God of High School’s #327. The Webtoon series, in contrast, was extremely popular.
There are many reasons one can postulate about Noblesse’s disappointing debut, including a less than stellar animation quality compared to the previous two Webtoon adaptations. The chief reason, however, is that it's a continuation from a 2016 ONA episode called Noblesse: Awakening, so technically Episode 1 of the TV series is the second part of the story. If you haven't seen the ONA, the show will likely leave you scratching your head.
Both the ONA and the anime removed many plot points. As such, the initial pacing and plot feels jumpy and incoherent. The ONA compressed 90 chapters of the comic into one 31 minute episode. Episodes 1 and 2 of the TV series also rush through the material, covered the rough plot from chapters 92 to 107. Multiple major characters have been removed, while others are changed so much as to essentially be non-existent. This is frankly unacceptable by today’s standards.
With all these major changes to the story and characters, it is no wonder that fans of the Webtoon series are disappointed in the anime adaptation. Newcomers to the series will also be quite confused by the rushed storytelling, particularly in the first episode. However, there is still enough charm in the series that warrants sticking with it for a few more episodes.
Noblesse still features great characters with often hilarious interactions. The protagonist Cadis Etrama Di Raizel is a 1000-year-old vampire (called "nobles" in the series) who was recently awoken from an 820-year sleep, so he knows nothing about the modern world. His obliviousness, as well as his secret curiosity, admiration for human society and love for overdone ramen, makes him an incredibly likable character.
Raizel is surrounded by a cast of equally likable characters, including his loyal servant and high school principal Frankenstein. The modified human he saved in the ONA called M-21, as well as fellow nobles Regis K. Landegre and Seira J. Loyard, all of whom will receive major character growth throughout the series. These characters each have their own eccentric habits and play off of one another in very entertaining and often unexpected ways.
One of the major criticisms of the Noblesse comic, especially towards the end of its run, is its repetitive plot structure and battles. Every battle seems to play out very similarly across different arcs, and the outcome is almost always the same. By removing some of the battle elements and focusing on the unique characters, the anime has managed to retain the most engaging part of the story within its limited runtime.
Another important draw of Noblesse is its world-building. The first few episodes are clearly trying to set the stage for the more complicated story features about the nobles and the organization known as Union. Once the two camps and their motivations are better established, watching them battle will be all the more satisfying.
It is quite refreshing to watch a battle themed anime that's not about high school students but still takes place in a high school. The audience can get the best of both worlds, with a happy and relaxed slice of school life comedy in addition to rousing and intense battle sequences. While the anime pales in comparison to the original Webtoon series, it can still be an enjoyable watch.