Translation Corner #21

The Noise have always been a confusing part of Symphogear's plot, as it's never explained clearly what all of their abilities or are or what methods the military uses to combat them. But today's keyword helps fill in some of those gaps!






Phase Contrast Barrier (Part 1)  

One of the special characteristics of the Noise.

By shifting between different planes of existence, the Noise have the ability to dampen or negate energy that falls under the normal laws of physics. 

Regarding the events of episode 1, when the self-defense members of Special Disaster Response Unit Division 1 were engaged in hostilities with the Noise it could be seen that the Noise were able to destroy physical structures, and yet any shelling from the defense force's bombardment would pass right through them. The reason for this is twofold: 1) The Noise can adjust their existence ratio to a level very close to our world's, this allows them to interact with objects on a physical level (meaning they can destroy buildings and structures). 2) Alternatively, at their own discretion, the Noise can adjust their existence ratio to a point where they are barely attached to our world, making any attempts to interfere with them on a physical level impossible (meaning all attacks will pass right through them). 

To put this special ability into numerical terms, if we launched an attack on the Noise with a damage rate of 500, any Noise that had a 100% existence ratio with our world would receive the full 500 worth of damage. Any Noise that had a halved existence ratio of 50% with our world would only take 250 worth of damage. Finally, any Noise with an unlimited existence ratio approaching 0% would not be affected by the attack at all. 

According to records of past battles against the Noise there have been instances where they were successfully repelled by attacks that were made in the instant they increased their existence ratio with our world, and also cases where efficiency was disregarded and a constant barrage of attacks were made until they were successfully destroyed. However, it is difficult to say that either of these options can be considered an effective method to deal with the Noise, primarily because they remain an overwhelming threat due to the fact they can reduce the human body to carbon in a matter of seconds. 


This aspect of the Noise has always been something I wondered about, so I'm really glad to see it was explained. It makes a lot of sense when you watch the series and you notice that the only time the Noise actually destroy something is when they are attacking (all other times they remain defensive and thereby unassailable). It also makes sense that in order to come in contact with humans they would become vulnerable for a short period of time - like the episode where Genjuurou protects Chris by blocking the Noise with a wall of pavement (it was right at the moment they attacked). This keyword also seems to imply that the Noise exist on a different world or dimension other than our own - I wonder if it's possible to break into that space and attack them directly? Something to think about!