Baccano!

**SPOILER FREE REVIEW INCLUDING SPECIALS**

“Baccano”;
Language: Italian
Definition: A loud, sudden sound that is often dissonant or unintelligible

Baccano! (aka the “Pulp Fiction” of anime) is a show that can only be described as unconventional. It doesn’t tell one story; it tells 3 (4 including the specials). It doesn’t have a main character; it has tons of equal ones. It doesn’t go in order; it goes out of order. It doesn’t have a genre; it makes up its own. This is the kind of show that you just can’t explain to people. They have to watch it for themselves, and they SHOULD watch it for themselves, because it ... really is that unique.

The story of Baccano is unlike anything that you have ever seen before in an anime, I can tell you that much for sure. It completely and totally rewrites the rules of storytelling and creates an atmosphere of unmatched originality. Rather than telling a single story, this anime elects to tell three of them. The catches are this: 1: The stories are all told at the same time, and 2: None of the stories are told in chronological order. What does that mean for the viewer? Well, I’ll tell you: You MUST pay attention while you are watching or will get VERY lost VERY fast. Those prompts in the beginning of each scene that tell you what year the scene takes place in? Those are VERY important. The end of Baccano is the beginning, the beginning is the end, and middle is just… well… complicated. However, the craziest part of this show isn’t how unconventional it is, but rather the fact that it accomplishes its ridiculously ambitious goals in only 13 episodes (16 if you include the specials, which you should)! I couldn't believe the intricacy of the plot; it accomplished twice what normal animes accomplish in half the time. There is no point in attempting to give a synopsis of Baccano because of how impossible it would be cover the subject without spoilers, so I’ll just say this: the setting is 1930’s Chicago and shit is going down, so hold on to your hats. Can it be overly convoluted at times yes? Yes. Is it perfect? No. Does that stop the storyline from being AMAZING? Hell no.

The characters in Baccano are just as unique and intriguing as the plot is, and that is what propels the show into the upper echelon of anime. I’ll admit that I was very skeptical of this cast at first; I thought the show was biting off more then they could chew by going with such a massive number of characters and refusing to give any of them the lead role. However, I was quickly proved wrong. Very wrong. The characters cover the entire goddamn spectrum, and I am not exaggerating. They range from hilarious (Isaac and Miria), to badass (Luck), to likeable/human (Firo), to mysterious (Czeslaw), to psychotic (Ladd) to much, MUCH more. There are just too many noteworthy characters for me to try to go over them all. If I had to complain, which I do (considering this is a review), I will point out that there are minor balancing issues as certain characters are a tiny bit lacking in development because of the nature of the storytelling and the short anime length. However, considering the circumstances, these characters just blew me away. Essentially all of them are extremely well done, and I loved a TON of them.

There is one more thing about Baccano that I feel the need to discuss; it may be somewhat controversial, but it needs to be said; when you watch Baccano, WATCH THE ENGLISH DUB. I know that dubs usually suck, but this one most certainly does NOT. The casting could not have been more perfect and the voice actors give just as much emotion to their characters as the Japanese cast did, but the real reason you should watch it dubbed is for dem accents. Unlike the subbed version, the actors in the dub all have realistic Northern-US gangster accents (or whatever accent is appropriate for the particular character) that provide an element of immersion that you don’t get with the subbed version. It’s up to you, of course, but my recommendation has been made, obviously. As for the music: STELLAR. The OP is awesome, the OST is awesome, the ED is awesome, and everything is just awesome. More importantly though, the music fits in with the tone of the show. Dat jazz music is so smoooooooth. There is also nothing to complain about in the animation department; it won’t blow you away given its age, but its very fluent.

If you are looking for something different, you have found it in Baccano!. If you aren’t looking for something different… well… watch Baccano! anyway. This show is just too good and too unique for any anime fan to miss out on. It’s not perfect, but it is a masterpiece nonetheless, and that’s not something you can understand until you watch it for yourself.

This anime has always been on my radar for the past couple of years but never had a chance to watch it. Until after I saw a blog stating that it's one of the best dub anime out there. Then what the heck I gave it a shot. It was very good.

Baccano looks like an action anime that involves a lot of guns and mafia at first glance. Well, it does have one but mix with a supernatural element of immortality, then you find out that's the point of the show all along.

This anime will confuse you, but in a good way. It's confusing ... because it does not have a straight forward narration; the story goes back and forth from different events in each episode. The narration is like a puzzle, all jumbled until you watch the whole series then it will all make sense in the end. It was a clever way to tell the story. For me the structure of how the story told wasn't fun, the good thing is the characters made things interesting for you.

Baccano has wide variety of personalities. The show composes of unique individuals like psychopaths, silly thieves, a crybaby badass and genuine couples. These characters will grow on you, especially Isaac and Miria. Subjectively, Isaac and Miria is the most fun anime couple you will ever watch. Both characters are always in-sync with their silly antics and as comical characters they may be these duo are the driving force that made the plot move forward indirectly. You won't see a couple like these two in any other anime, only in Baccano!

The only real issue I have was it was too short. Like you will wish some characters will show something more to offer and see them in a new scenario or sub plot; back stories like why this character became an assassin in the first place things like that.

It may turn people off with how the narration was constructed but trust me watch the whole thing. It is a mature anime but handled lightheartedly. It has a cool atmosphere in it with great action scenes, catchy jazz music and a large cast of characters. Overall, Baccano! is a worth to watch.

The 1930s were a time when many societies hit economic depressive lows, Black Tuesday might have been the start of the Great Depression, but it reared its ugly head and took hold of the lives of many people in the 30s, leaving them desitute and struggling to make ends meet. Yet, there were those lurking in the shadows that made it big and continued to live in luxury, a luxury entangled in blood, deception, and sometimes just by the luck of the draw.
Yes, I'm speaking about the original gangster: three-piece suit, gun-toting, aspiring rebel youths with an ambition and a resolve towards their respective families ... and causes. And they weren't simply that. If you've ever seen "The Godfather"; "Road to Pertition" or "Once Upon a Time in America" you would know that to step into the arms of the "family" meant unyelding support but also uncertain, relentless death. So bloody, twisted, and sudden that it made death seem like it wasn't the worst thing that could happen.

Baccano! is perhaps the first anime series that I've seen that takes the period of the 1930s and dives into the hearts of several gangsters, all with very distinct personalities - something that makes this stand uniquely from its peers. A pair of effective con-artists, a man with a lust for blood, a young man welcomed for the first time into a mafia family, a man with a secret, elongated past, a woman who fights alongside her "supposed" father, and even a young boy who faces torments worse than death itself. Put it all together, and you only have a part of the story that Baccano showcases.
Baccano's execution may throw some off a bit to start - handing 17 characters already suggests this series is devilishly ambitious, but yet it presents a rather looping story revolving around these characters that seem to "crash" into each other, whether knowingly or just by situtational connections. The storyline jumps back and forth between the years of 1930-1932 primarily, though there are treks to both the past and present in brief context. There's definite story here: it's mainly driven by the characters, and it's also driven by thematics that drive this beyond a traditional gangster story.

Does it execute it well? On most points, a definite yes. The story starts along with enough of a blood bath of violence to capture attention on one hand, but also mixing humor, action, and intelligent swagger to appeal to those who like traditional gangster stories. However, there's a catch - there are elements of this series, which I won't spoil, that twist the tale as the progression comes forward-and revolve around the character identities that ties them all together-you can say it deals with alchemy, superstition, and a lust for power/domination. There's not just one story in Baccano, there are several, and they're all occurring in fragmented conjunction, some are precursors to certain events (the first episode, as confusing as it may be, is a good example of this), while others occur in sequence with other events. If this seems overbearingly confusing, then chances are that you may be the wrong audience for this series, as the fragmented method of storytelling is sequenced in each episode in pieces, some of which are expanded upon in further episodes and pick up "in medias res".

The definition of the characters helped the story along, but I found myself sometimes saying that the format also, somewhat, took away from the progression. Fragmented stories tend to fragment characters in a manner of snapshots, and thus backstories can find themselves, though told, awkward in presentation. With a series with so many characters, this can become a problem. Example, while Miria and Issac are two wonderfly comedic characters this side of a mentally skewed Bonnie and Clyde, there wasn't much to readily develop them. Then again, this series isn't so much about character development as it is about character definition. Those who take that into consideration may enjoy this series a lot more.

The ending of the series was all action driven, and leaves many threads bare which was something I didn't always like, but I liked the resolution in some of the relationships, some of which I could see well from the first of the series, while others...had only begun to surface in the latter half.

Baccano's animation is actually quite well done for a modern adaptation of a mafia based story. The setting backdrops accurately reflect Depression/Prohibition era America among other plot settings, yet one might find the character design a bit inconsistent in some points. I'm probably one of the few who really did enjoy the character design as it reflects the characters in a more realistic manner than most anime series.
I'd argue that the action sequences aren't nearly to the level of gun-toting seen in series like Gunslinger Girl or the characters as "pretty", but they feel realistically portrayed.

Baccano's soundtrack is one I would highly recommend to those who love Jazz music. Gun's and Roses "Paradise Lunch" is a nice "big band" opening that I loved watching with the opening of the series, fitting the style and sequence of the series to a tee. Noting the era this series takes place, it's relevant to the backdrop of the anime. The ending theme is a beautiful ballad: Kaori Oda's "Calling" fits the ending sequence quite well, and it's one of the best ending themes I've heard this past season. In-series music stands strongly rooted in the era, appropriate in both the comedic scenes as well as dramatic contexts.
The Japanese voice acting couples the effect of the overall cast by giving it much stronger hold than it would otherwise have. Coupled with the distinctive presence of each character, their voice actors (particularly I have to give credit to Luck's VA, cool but quite mature) shape them well, but as I'll note in the character section, some of these characters didn't really have roles to fill enough for their VAs to help them.

There were characters within this series I really enjoyed watching, and others that I felt fell off the ladder because they were never really given a due chance other than standing in the pale shadow of other characters. It was something within Baccano I feared coming into the series about with the sheer number, yet, if you watch this series for more character definition than development, it doesn't necessarily take away from the experience.
Take Miria and Issac for example, off the wall, terribly hilarious duo of petty thieves and con-artists, and probably two of the characters that really drove Baccano for me in its overall course. They pretty much seem like a duo that's lifted right from a old comedy sketch routine, but with a certain backwards logic that makes them seem smarter than they actually are. Either by dumb luck or just clever wit, the two seem to avoid danger and live life on their own terms. Some may view them as a bit over-the-top, but for me they really carried the series in terms of enjoyment. You learn to love them, even if they don't have much backstory because that's not what brings out their characters, their sheer definition does.
Now compare that duo to Ladd and Lua. Ladd is a very defined character, no doubt a sadist that almost makes you want to chuckle at him at first..makes me think of a younger horror Jack Nicholson role (most people probably won't agree with me on that though) with tongue in cheek statements that make him seem cool and at the same time show how seriously insane he is in his lust for blood. Then put Lua into the picture, a female who doesn't really have much of a mark on anything except being the one Ladd pledges "to kill first"...in an almost twisted display of affections. Lua's character doesn't amount to much, she's just...there.
Compare Lua to Ennis, a woman with a mysterious past and connections within her mafia upbringing that lends Firo to look into her identity after a chance encounter. Ennis, I would argue, is one of the female characters that really stands out more than the other females, not necessarily for her combative specialty, but her characterization. In the scheme of the series, we get snapshots of her character. I actually really liked Ennis and Firo's chemistry, and considering how they meet and the events they face together, that made them also a duo that I really enjoyed. Jacuzzi and Nice were pretty much in the same way: Jacuzzi is a seeming crybaby who becomes a leader of a gang, and he becomes more respectable when he puts his best face forward, that by the end, I really did like his character. Nice is a kick-butt female character whom you can tell has an affection for Jacuzzi, but sometimes shortchanged because you don't see "enough" of her to balance her character with Jacuzzi.

Among the other "good" mafia members is Maiza, probably the only character with the strongest sense of backstory and the thread that ties all of the characters presented in the series together. His role has much to do with the hidden plot, and in one particular arc of the series, you find that he's not only a partner to Firo, but also one with a dark past and secrets of his own.
Other strong characters included Luck, well defined particular to his roles in his set arcs, Silzard, who plays the central conflictive role in the series in thematic and in identity, and Czes, whom one might dismiss as a bitter kid, but the series provides a bird's eye view into his experiences to see his reasoning.
Eve's pursuit of her brother Dallas was an interesting arc with its backdrop characters (particularly with Luck), yet I found Eve and Dallas' roles to be stronger when in conjunction with the stronger characters (i.e. a nice scene with Eve, Miria, and Issac later on in the series provided a few laughs).

Baccano! is a series with definitive class and style that is unique to most anime series in the present of its year, and one that I think many will enjoy for those factors. I would say it's among the strongest I've seen in it's respective action/period genre, yet there were some holes and characterization parts of the series that I felt weren't as strong as they could have been. There's a potential of depth this series could have achieved both with its storyline and even with the chance of "playing around" more with the period elements. Yet, I enjoyed this on quite many levels, and would recommend it.

How do you pick the main character? Is he the center of the story? Or the most handsome? The strongest? How do you unfold the story, then, if the story began way before the appearance of the main character? Where do you start the story?
Baccano is the first non-chronological anime I've watched after Suzumiya Haruhi no Yuuutsu. The first scenes were too incoherent that I was almost going to stop watching Baccano in the first episode.
I'm glad I didn't.
Well, then, let's start the review.

Overall: 10
For few hours after I finished the anime, I just sat there. It was the best thing I have ever watched. ... The amazing twists, appropriate soundtracks, colorful characters, comedies in between and old yet distinct art...It was a whole new experience to me. In terms of story, there will never be as good an anime for a long time.

Story: 10
As I said earlier, the story was a perfection. The author used non-chronological method to increase the suspense and questions yet not dropping the interest rate. As the episodes went on, pieces all fit together and all the stories explained themselves. Like Inception, these kind of stories are the hardest to write and think of. I give my bow to the author of Baccano.

Art: 10
The art wasn't exactly a clean one, neither was it a graphical innovation. However, the art was detailed and well-expressed. In the scenes where a sense of terror had to be expressed, the characters' facial expressions wonderfully summed up the situation. Moreover, the swift movements of the battle scenes of the characters were beautifully shown, so much that it was as if seeing two actual people clash inside the monitor.

Sound: 10
The opening of Baccano, Roses&Guns, is one of the few instrumental openings. These kinds of openings are often frowned upon or dodged by the aniime industries because their adversary drops down with their "boring" openings. However, Baccano's composer did a wonderful job of expressing the witty and comedic everyday life of the mafias. It uses the sax to express the mood of the 18th and 19th century and fast tunes to express the twisting series of events.
Moreover, the soundtracks were all kicked in at the right time, and neither was it too frequent. The anime displayed the right songs at right times, and silenced at right times. For example, for a mysterious mood, the bass played a low-pitched plucks followed by high-pitched violins, adding up to the mysterious mood.

Character: 10
Going back to the first question, who is the main character of the story? Is he/she the center of the story? No! Baccano shows the quality of the main character by proving that even the central character of the story could not be the main character because he/she lacks "main-characterishness". However, really, the main character in the story is everyone! The author showed that everyone is his/her own main character in their own story. By holding more than one story in one series, this anime was able to establish every character as his/her own main character.
Speaking of establishing, the anime does an amazing job of establishing all characters. It never leaves out a character. It develops all characters, major or minor and not "fires" the extras just because they are extras. This kind of character development is one of the hardest and the most tricky kind, but Baccano was able to pull it off.

Enjoyment: 10
Although the series as a whole is a story of mafias, the anime is never too dark or too light. It contains the right amount of composure while kicking in some slapstick comedies and interesting development. By either using the "basic" comedy characters or displaying an interesting yet quite comical development, the anime never takes the viewers deep into the abyss.

Baccano is an interesting anime. Certainly it doesn't have the best animators in the world, nor does it have the best reviews in the world, but it does have an amazing hook and non-chronological twists that keeps the viewers' heart beating. For that, I shall give 10/10.

Stories associated with criminal groupings are always very popular with the public, as they usually arouse interest in all age groups, from teenagers to mature people. The creators that touched this theme, usually win, at least in marketing, because lure the viewer is not difficult.

So, as far as I know, inspired by the films of Quentin Tarantino and Guy Ritchie, the Japanese writer-programmer starts work on his own criminal composition – Baccano!

Initially, Baccano! - is a series of books in the format of light novel, authored by Ryohgo Narita, with illustrations by Katsumi Enami. Later, in 2007 in Japan studio Brains Base released an ... anime adaptation, on it we will stop in detail.

Of course, the unusual format and criminal atmosphere of America of the 20th century beckons the viewer, but more importantly, how the creators will work out very important details. Much more important is that inside this beautiful and inviting “shell”. After all, it is very important to create an atmosphere that is original and memorable for the viewer, while avoiding banalities and repetitions.

Well, Baccano! - a really strange phenomenon. 30th years, the United States, the Great Depression. America of the 30's is a separate universe, with its unique fashion, music, good and bad guys, morality and worldview. A train approaches New York, on board which strange people started bloody showdowns. Gangsters walk on streets of the city, a young girl is looking for her missing brother, who in conflict with the mafia. All this is extremely confusing and catches the viewer suddenly. Story begins to show from the middle, after, it gradually complementing with elements from the beginning and ending. The first few series of the series are difficult to watch, as the viewer does not understand much, but here help atmosphere and style, mentioned above. Thanks to them, Baccano! still looks interesting.

Baccano is a wonderful absurdity on the verge of reality, where immortality is not surprising. Here, a whiny and cowardly lad became the founder of a dangerous and influential gang, and a crazy killer who has need for endless murders has the purest romantic feelings. That a couple of rustic talkative thieves in fact, without knowing it, bring good and positive to the whole world. And this is all told in the first episodes. The viewer is simply a participant in the turmoil, like a journalist. This series boasts a variety of different characters, with individual stories, interlacing in one place. The characters are worthy of special attention, so about them in order:

Isaac and Miria - inseparable and comical a pair of thieves, always falling into the woes, the basis of all humor in series. They, without knowing it, carry only good and joy with their actions. With confidence I can say that this is one of the best, or even the best of the duets of characters in general. Even the not very interested viewer will remember this couple first. A pair of cheerful, eccentric amateur thieves, their actions and charisma will remain in the memory of anyone for a long time.
Jacuzzi Splot is a shy and polite gang leader. He is easily frightened, but he is capable of exceptional courage and leadership abilities when the situation demands it. The second most important character, in my opinion. The manner of his actions causes a lot of questions, at first it is not quite clear who he is, so he becomes even more interesting.
Firo Prochainezo is one of the young members of the Martilo family. The boss of the family Martilo takes him to the family. Firo is a handsome and proud guy with his own principles and views of the world. He plays a very important role in the series.
Ladd Russo is a sadist, a mafia killer. At first glance it seems that Ladd is a white-haired psychopath who knows nothing but how to kill, but it's not. Ladd is very fond of Lua and expresses it through a promise to kill her, slowly, after he slay everyone else.

About the characters can talk for a long time. Listed the most memorable, in my opinion characters, I want to say that the of these characters and is a small problem of the series. On the screen flashes a huge number of people, and the story is narrated as a puzzle, it is very easy to get confused, which can cause rejection to the series. Patience and memory are required from the viewer, since the whole picture of the story will only take shape in the final series.

The atmosphere of criminal America of the 30s, of course, is best conveyed by music and soundtracks to the series. The theme is chosen perfectly, so it's easy to choose sound compositions, they fit perfectly and reflect the entire character of the series. Noisy and rhythmic compositions perfectly express the hype around. And of course, can not do without jazz. At certain moments, on background is played by a magnificent and melodic jazz, perfectly conveying the atmosphere of the bar or restaurant. Give people mafia hats, restaurants, Thompson guns and add to it great music - the effect will be stunning.

No less important is animation in the series. Art made is executed at a high level and in especially important moments of the series you can see its beauty. Characters are made in an original style and each one stands out. The movements of the heroes are bright and dynamic. The surroundings are shown beautifully and reliably. The poor, criminal neighborhoods of America, bars and restaurants, mafia mansions and so on, all this causes a pleasant sensation in the viewer's soul.

So, what is the result? Baccano! - is a cocktail of genres: action, fantasy, mystery, adventure. And I will not say that it's bad, everything turned out pretty well. Bright and interesting characters, a dynamic and unpredictable plot, as well as a lot of good and smart humor.

Baccano! Definitely has its charm. This, at least, can surprise and worth your time and your viewing, you will not regret it.

*WARNING* Here review end, and below will be a lot of spoilers. This is a brief description of the plot, perhaps someone missed something, because to understand everything is difficult enough.

As I understand it, the story begins on the ship, in 1711 a group of alchemists using a spell summon a demon to get the elixir of eternal life. The demon gives them it, as well as a way to stop their existence (those who have received the gift can "devour" each other) and gives the caster of Maiza the formula of the elixir. Maiza and most alchemists decide that what happened must remain between them, only Szilard opposes. The next night, people on board begin to disappear, devoured by Szilard, realizing that, to stay together can not, the alchemists scatter around the world.

In New York in November 1930, Szilard recreates the elixir, but it is stolen by Dallas Genoard. The elixir is constantly moving around the city because of Dallas, the Gandor brothers, the two eccentric thieves Isaac and Miria, Firo and the Martilo family, but almost none of them understand what it is. Szilard makes Dallas incomplete immortal (he is still getting old, but can not be killed) to get the elixir. However, the Gandoras, Firo Prochenso, Martilo, and Isaac and Miria accidentally drink an elixir. Firo falls in love with the daughter of Szilard, the homunculus Ennis. After she betrays her father and tells Firo how to defeat Szilard. The Gandors roll Dallas into cement and throw it at the bottom of the river to punish him for killing family members.

At the end of 1931, the Gandors struggled with the Runoratas family to manage the same area. In an attempt to resolve the situation, Luck Gandor asks his foster brother Claire Stanfield, the legendary murderer, to come to New York. Claire agrees and settles on the transcontinental train as a conductor. The train is captured simultaneously by Russo and Lemure gangs, between which there are fights. Meanwhile, the Jacuzzi Splot, and his gang is trying to protect the passengers (by the way, I still do not understand how Jacuzzi and company have appeared in a train), while Clare portrays a monster that kills train passengers. The last remaining members of the Lemures are defeated by the Jacuzzi gang. The train arrives in early 1932.

Meanwhile, Eva Genoard is looking for her brother, Dallas, talking to Luck Gandor, who is still angry because of the murders committed by Dallas. However, later Luck secretly tells Eve where the brother is.

Note: This is one of my favorite shows. If you are expecting a full review full of condemnations, just don’t read it. I try my best to explain and justify my points, but I can’t say for sure whether you’ll be convinced or agree with me. After all, we’re all different.

The concept of risk and reward is something that does not rest well with many individuals. More often than not, attempts at originality are stricken down before even given consideration. Innovative ideas are simply looked over and attempts at making them real usually become a laughable matter.

Simply put, it’s not even worth ... the risk.

In a society that praises conformity and condemns incompliance, entertainment, as a result, follows this same beaten path. However, every now and then a light of hope shines at the end of the dark tunnel and reveals a masterpiece or innovation worthy of the highest praise. Baccano! does just that with the anime medium.

Story:

The story of Baccano! is essentially four sub-stories, three in prohibition/depression-era America and the other on the rough waves of the Atlantic on board the Advena Avis. In 1930 we learn about the ongoing gang disputes in New York between various families such as the Gandors, Martillos, and the Runoratas. At the same time, alchemist Szilard Quates attempts to perfect the secret formula for an immortality elixir. In 1931, we are aboard the transcontinental train, Flying Pussyfoot, as we experience the conflicts and bloodshed that ensue. In 1932, the gang disputes continue as we also begin to follow young Eve Genoard as well as the staff of Daily Days newspaper in their attempts to find the missing Dallas Genoard. Finally, in 1711, we are aboard the Advena Avis, following a group of alchemists in search of the answer for immortality.

Sounds confusing, doesn’t it?

Luckily, Narita’s storytelling is eons better than my summarizing, and it’s much better to actually watch the show than to read the brief tidbit of information above. However, what I can do now is provide my insights and opinions on it.

In my opinion, the form of storytelling is the first characteristic of innovation that I notice. The story, essentially, is an erratic conglomeration of different scenes from the four different sub-stories arranged in an assumedly random manner. However, it’s much more than that. The placement of the scenes complements the story well, as many scenes seem to cut off straight before the climax, and move onto another scene at a different time. There will seldom be an instance where you completely forget the events of a certain year (1930, ‘31, ‘32,). The one exception to the story is the decision to isolate the events of 1711 into only one episode. Personally, this did not bother me at all, but hey, we’re all entitled to our own opinions. Anyways, what I see that is important about this style of storytelling is that the story itself serves as a medium for character interaction. Essentially, the characters will make the story (I will elaborate in the characters section), and this claim is proven by the omniscient perspective the show boasts. Since the story does not specifically follow the thoughts of one character, you are exposed to the full picture, something that I appreciated greatly as the show progressed.

Addressing misconceptions and complaints about the story, the one thing that I hear all too often is that there is no pattern to the story. Some say the random throwing together of scenes is lackluster and the constant scene cutoffs only serve as a reason to continue watching the show. Although one can take it like that at face value, what is often missed is the thematic significance of the storytelling medium. The title itself gives it away; Baccano! means racket or rowdiness in Italian (google translate to the rescue). And boy does the story give off those vibes. Critics will often dismiss this fact and stick to the basics. If the storytelling does not follow form A or form B…or form Z it is thus not worthy of being a story at all. This unhealthy obsession with such conformity takes away the true meaning of the story’s purpose: to simply have fun with it, as you would enjoy the ride of a roller coaster. Like a roller coaster, Baccano’s story has its slower, faster, and crazier moments, but in the end, you always get back to where you started, but with a new perspective on things. Trust me, if you go in all rigid and analytical (like I did in the beginning), you won’t have much fun. What Brains Base’s adaptation along with Narita’s original work does is immerse you into the world, and all you have to do is sit back and enjoy.

Story: 10/10

Art:

The best word I can use to describe the art in Baccano! is “fitting.” The prohibition/depression era settings and characters provide the viewer with a certain “30’s” ambiance. The streets and buildings are rough and rigid and the characters are clad with suits and fedoras. This certain atmosphere Brains Base brings to life not only enhances the viewing performance, but also immerses the viewer into the scene. The smoke-laden rooms, the rough night at sea, and the dim city atmosphere are all examples of ways the art-style complements the show itself. Each character that plays an important role is designed with his or her personality in mind. With the exception of Nice, Jacuzzi, and Donnie(or Donny, whatever), character designs are rather believable and are not pains to have to look at every episode. (not saying that Nice and Jacuzzi have bad character designs, they just don’t really fit the era, but that can be explained by backstory)

Animation quality is crisp and clean. Fighting scenes are done particularly well and are always a blast to watch. Additionally, this show is a bloody one. Graphic violence is relatively common and Brains Base finds rather imaginative ways of portraying this. Basically, this show is not for the faint of heart. Unfortunately, that’s about all the art and animation in Baccano! can muster. Overall, they are both great; however, some qualities such as the immortal regeneration and other moments of lack of attention bring the artistic rating of Baccano! down. Nonetheless, it is still “fitting.”

Art: 9/10

Sound:

Other than Cowboy Bebop, who would’ve thought that jazz and anime could go so well together? However, the soundtrack is not stuck with jazz alone. Several other tracks may be a simple piano tune or just feel like an authentic western. It’s surprising to see a soundtrack that pays so much attention to detail these days. Most soundtracks often focus on one theme and build upon it. This usually results in a lack of variety; however, Baccano’s soundtrack is chock-full of all sorts of tunes fit for each and every scene that transpires throughout the story. The whole OST just screams “authentic,” whether it actually is or not, beats me, but I am still a big fan of it.

The opening, Gun’s & Roses by Paradise Lunch, is an extremely catchy jazz tune that, with my limited knowledge of jazz, is probably some sort of adaption of a 30’s swing jazz tune, since it focuses more on an ensemble of brass to play in unison rather than focus on the solo/improv style of the bop jazz of the 50’s(it’s also too upbeat to be blues too). This is great because they provide a well-done piece that is both catchy and relatively accurate.

The ending, Calling by Oda Kaori, is a soothing piece that is reminiscent of a love song or ballad or something along those lines. Arguably out of place, the song is still a great one that I find as a little breathe of fresh air after all of the pandemonium of the episode.

The only word I can use to describe the voice acting of Baccano! is immaculate, simply immaculate. The voice crew was arguably one of the best ever assembled. In all of the anime that I have watched so far, very few have done as well as the Baccano! cast. This is one of the shows where you can hear the VA play his or her character and sound like he or she is genuinely having a good time. From the elated “SUGOI!”’s of Miria Harvent to the sadistic jargon of Ladd Russo, each voice was a close to perfect rendition of each respective character’s personality.

As a whole, the sound set of Baccano! is close to that of a masterpiece. The one lacking factor that nags me is the lack of any standout tracks that are not simply jazz that involves all of the brass. My only complaint would be that and that simply to get a 10 out of music from me, I have to literally enjoy listening to every single piece in the OST as well as the opening and endings too (I think only guilty crown and ikoku meiro no croisee have done that so far considering my musical taste)

Sound: 9.5/10

Characters:

What can I say other than greatness? The characters in Baccano! are not only full of life and character, but also watching their interactions and experiences is interesting to boot. Unlike most other anime, I had almost no problem learning the names and characteristics of each and every character within a few episodes(and there’s like a lot of them, A LOT). Now this may not be the same for everyone, but in general, the execution of story progression coupled with the unique personalities and appearances of each character makes this cast one in a million. From the calm, cool, and collected demeanor of Luck Gandor to the poor fretful soul that is Jacuzzi Splot, each character, though not really developed, plays his or her role in the story to perfection. The sheer variety of the cast does not stop there. Whether displaying the characteristics of your typical serial murderer (ya I know that sounded weird) or of your organized gang leaders, Baccano! has just about everything to offer from it’s absolutely colorful cast.

Now you may be wondering, didn’t I say the storytelling was the “first” instance of innovation/masterful execution? That means there should be another instance too. Well here we are. The last aspect that differentiates this show’s characters from the others is in the form of our odd couple, Isaac Dian and Miria Harvent. Simply put, these characters are quite literally bundles of joy.

Overly ecstatic?
Yes.

Overly optimistic?
Yes.

Pretty darn annoying?
Yes.

But in the end, they are the glue that sticks the story all together. They are the finishing pieces of the jigsaw puzzle. Without them, the show simply would not be the same. The characteristics of Isaac and Miria are simple, and that is the beautiful thing. Narita finds no reason to delve into their past, no reason to develop their characters, and no reason to provide any sort of unnecessary twists and turns to their personalities. Their design is pure and untouched. Of course you can draw correlations between these two and other couples in entertainment history; however, few couples have done it with such elation. Their presence is an absolute joy to experience, and their contributions to story are undeniable.

Looking back at the characters, there’s not much to nag about in my own opinion. Some may find some characters to be lacking, hateful, or underdeveloped; however, the great thing about these arguments is that it’s something completely open for debate. There is definitely a chance that you may not like many of the characters, but with a cast this big, chances are you’ll find some to love, and this love might grow and spread to the others eventually too.

Characters: 10/10

Enjoyment:

Enjoyment is always the most arbitrary category in any review. Each individual has his or her own unique checklist of “what makes this show enjoyable.” Personally, everything on this checklist was complete.

More often than not, I find myself having some bad habits when I watch anime nowadays. I usually have a sort of “pre-rating” in my mind as I calculate all of the positives and negatives to come up with a suitable score. As a result, I often lose that sense of enjoyment I’m supposed to get from watching anime. Whether it’s that or if I am constantly looking at how many minutes are left until the episode is over, there are often reasons that hinder my enjoyment of a series.

Thankfully, Baccano! alleviated me of this nagging pain. I can genuinely say that this is probably only the 2nd or 3rd series that I have ever watched where I was simply so immersed with character interactions, story, and having a good time that I forgot about all of these small details that usually plague my mind as I watch. From the catchy opening to the “What’s next on Baccano!” at the end of every episode, I had a blast the whole time.

Enjoyment: 10/10

Overall:

Words can't even begin to describe the ride that I was absolutely privileged to experience. Baccano! delivers in every aspect, from a large, full of character cast to an enticing story, complimented by fitting art and a catchy soundtrack. Those 13 episodes couldn't have flown by faster.

Overall: 9.7/10

I kept putting off Bacanno because the art really shouted out to me and, as vain a conclusion as this is, I thought the art was an insight into how good the show was going to be, and therefore put it off for when I was having a bad day and just wanted a really good show to pick me up. Ufortunately Bacanno doesn't reach that excellence for me, but it certainly isn't a bad show.

OK, starters, 1930s America. As with my Gosick review, I find it intriguing when anime teams pick pre-war 20thC as a setting for their shows as, for me, it's quite ... a boring period and, if you're not a fan of war history, the 20thC probably won't interest you until the 1970s, but I digress. It's just an intriguing setting and does have all the staples of the era:- Brooklyn gangsters, shoot-outs, drive-by's, backstabbing, blackmail etc etc. What makes it more interesting, and what gives it it's supernatural tag, is about 3 episodes in, people who are presumed dead start coming back to life... They are immortal. At the end of the show, however, it overstays its welcome as, and I'm not exaggerating here, almost all the characters are immortal, and if not immortal they will only die by old age. Yeah, becomes stale.

I'll leave the pros to the end, so let me get this out the way - as with my most recent review, Serial Experiments Lain, the characters are a mixed bag, but unlike Serial Experiments Lain, it leans towards the bad side. The characters to me, apart from their being far too many for me to recount, is that thery're all cookie-cutter characters - the main people of the gangs act and sound so similar to the run-of-the-mill gangster, you have your shinji-esque character, your tsundere character... You name it, they're there. Except Isaac, Miriam and the psychotic dude the name of which escapes me.

The psychotic dude is just an ultimate bad-ass and dick, it's cliché, but you do love to hate him. His only love and want in life is to cool and, with one dodgy child-killing scene aside (not too bad however as said child is infected with this immortal blood thing), he's a joy to watch. If you like volience. I'm not a massive fan, but it's enjoyable in just how much he enjoys killing. It's an experience.
Isaac and Miriam are the comedy-relief characters, which is why they stand out because this does come off as a serious show. They are marketed as the protagonists, but the storyline splits into three for me, so they are only protagonists of their storyline. But yeah, they're enjoyable for the obvious reason - Isaac in particular for myself did a great job of making me smirk and laugh, and while Miriam didn't do as well (ESPECIALLY when she was a GODDAMN PARROT OF EVERYTHING ISAAC SAID!) she was certainly not bad.

OK, the massive pros - the art is absoluteley stunning, no more need be said other than just look it at. And the music, as with the era, is all jazz. And as a massive jazz fan (along with dance/trance and heavy metal/screamo) the music makes orgasm quite a lot, especially dat opening. Aaahhhh. It's great.

All in all it's not a bad show but it's certainly not worth priority on anyones list, and by that I mean if you have other shows you want to watch, you'll probably enjoy yourself more watching those than watching this and thinking you could be watching whatever else is on your list. However, if you're doing any work or even writing a review, sticking on the OST would not be a bad thing at all. Overall, Bacanno gets a fair 7/10.

How can I start my Baccano! review?
Perhaps the best way to start is by saying that there aren't many (good) animes out there which dare to tell its story in a different way from the usual, in which there isn't a proper protagonist. Baccano! does this and shines on that aspect.

* Animation:
Baccano! does well in terms of animation quality at most of the times, mainly during action and dramatic scenes. The color pattern used is well chosen because it enhances the idea of its story happening in the 1930s, you can easily realize the use of washed out colors and the predominance of brown in ... the pallete.

* Sound:
The OST is well chosen for the series, it helps to transmit the 1930s ambientation. The OP song is a unique instrumental jazz song and it's incredibly good and fits the series perfectly.

* Characters:
This is surely the department where Baccano! masters completely. This show has the best cast of likable characters I've ever seen to date. On the first episode I was thinking to myself "Whoa, there are lots of characters here, can they manage do develop them in a good pace through 13 episodes?". Yes, they could. The characters go from the extremely funny couple Isaac and Miria to the psychopath Ladd Russo. There are also lots of interesting couples in this show.

* Story:
This is where it gets "tricky", Baccano! doesn't follow a chronological line of events. In fact, it time lapses many times within the same episode between 1930, 1931 and 1932 events. At the beginning it's a little frustrating how you cannot understand many things if you're not paying a lot of attention, but as the anime progresses, things start to become clearer. If you like the 1930s stuff envolving mafia families, heists and conflicts, this anime is for you :)

* Overall:
I couldn't give Baccano! a different rate other than a 10. It has everything I could ask for: Great story, awesome ambientation, pretty good OST and the best cast of characters I have yet seen.

Baccano is one of those rare animes, that comes around every now and then then, hooks you until the last episode. Some people (not me) might be turned off for the first couple of episodes, but once it really gets going, you will not want to stop watching.

Story - The story of Baccano is an interesting one to say the least. It doesn't have a main central story like many other animes. For example, X character has to kill X character because this person murdered his family....As a side note, none of what I just said actually never happens. It is an example :P
I couldn't ... really tell the story, without actually giving away what happens.

Art - I really like this art style and it suits the time period (1930s) really well. It has vibrant colours, but still has that sense of the whole 1930s feel to it.

Sound - The soundtrack for Baccano really suits the time period as it mixes jazz with classical, then it can make transitional changes when an intense scene comes up.

Characters - Oh boy, so many characters. There are so many characters in this anime, that you are bound to like one or more, dislike one or more and so forth. So many to choose from. Some different from others. But a couple in particular really bring a comedic, light-hearted feel to this anime. Very likeable and how they get involved is comedic in its own right.

Enjoyment - As each episode moved on, it kept leaving me for more and more. Has multiple cliffhangers and those are the things that keeped you glued to the screen with your mouth gaped open.

Overall - I highly recommend this anime to anyone who loves anime and for people who don't as well. Will enjoy it.

Baccano! is one of those anime titles that seems a little confusing on the surface, mostly thanks to the overwhelming power of first impressions. That much is something I can definitely understand.

The final result, however, is an enjoyable set of interconnected stories where great characterization shines through the virtues of a solid script.

Story:

The plot combines adventure, comedy, mystery, fantasy, action and horror in a very attractive package. Based on a light novel series, the American 1930s and a particular train serve as the primary backdrop for a narrative that manages to be both self-aware of its own nature and surprisingly cohesive, despite the ... intimidating size of its cast and what first appears to be something of a chronological mess.

Many initially unrelated events have either important or, at least, incidental connections, with alternatively humorous and tragic consequences. The antics of Isaac and Miria are consistently funny, providing a welcome change of pace from the world surrounding them, which can be dramatic and even explicitly violent without making the contrast seem uneven.

Clearly, there was a lot of thought put into the original script but the animated adaptation's use of time is not simply a gimmick. I even believe that quite a few in-jokes and revelations are, believe it or not, enhanced by this creative decision.

It would be very easy for this series to fall apart but there is definitely a method to the madness. When the tale finally ends, the viewer will likely walk away quite satisfied. Baccano! has plenty of memorable scenes and subplots, most of which are resolved in a very satisfying fashion. Those that aren't remain open as doors to further adventures which I'd certainly like to see.

Animation:

Good animation is the norm with a few minor mistakes here and there. The character designs have a nice style and succeed in making most of the cast easily identifiable, one way or another, but it may take some time to tell certain characters apart whenever the quality briefly drops.

Sound:

A strong set of opening and ending songs, including the animated sequences themselves, does a lot to set the tone. The rest of the Baccano! soundtrack is also quite moody and even refreshing, essentially representing a good range of emotions across the board. Probably one of my favorites.

Character:

Much of the beauty of Baccano! lies in its characters, who aren't just very colorful but also join together to weave a competent narrative that gradually reveals itself to the viewer. From comedic thieves to charismatic madmen to members of the mafia and dark conspirators, you wouldn't be exaggerating too much by stating that this series has it all.

Aside from Isaac and Miria, who are just a lot of fun to watch, I must say that Claire Stanfield is easily my personal choice for a highlight, taking the entire series into consideration and not just any particular arc, although almost any other pick would be equally justified.

This is truly an ensemble cast and perhaps one of the few cases in which its sheer size never really makes the whole building stumble. Each character has a convincing personality and their respective development arcs never really drag out too long. Screen time isn't a problem. I would still say that a couple of individuals benefit from being fleshed out during the DVD OVAs, but even in those cases the main TV series has already managed to make them interesting.

Enjoyment:

While it took me a long time to sit down and watch this series, the experience was almost entirely rewarding and Baccano! has become one of my current favorites. I cannot honestly speak for its replay value just yet, but during my first viewing it was practically impossible to stop. The quality of its characters and storytelling was one reason, but there were a number of exciting cliffhangers, resolved sooner or later though not always immediately, which came at just the right moments.

It is certainly a real shame that the rest of the novels haven't received animated adaptations because more Baccano! would be a pleasant surprise, just like the original was.

Fast paced, funny and stylish, "Baccano" is a gem of an anime that simply oozes class from every pore. It's an anime that will satisfy critics and mainstream audiences alike, a hugely enjoyable series that sets off like a rocket and doesn't stop till the end.

But what is "Baccano" exactly? Kinda hard to describe. I guess the best I can come up with is that it's a whacky adventure that's both funny and violent - often at the same time - and contains elements of mystery and intrigue. First thing to note is its highly non-linear story telling method. The main bulk of the anime ... takes place in three different years that are told in parallel. Focus often skips from one time line to another to keep things interesting. Although initially I found this gimmicky way of telling the story to be quite fresh and entertaining, I do think it gets a little tiring after like the 56th change in a single episode. The extremely fragmented storyline means that it takes a while before you can get an idea of where it's going. However, despite the fragmented and non-linear nature of the story telling, it's actually surprisingly easy to keep track of what's going on. I suspect that a lot of this is down to the fact that when a new scene joins onto a scene that has already been shown previously, the overlap is just a bit longer than the ones you tend to get with other non-linear shows, and this extra bit of reminder is often just long enough to coax out from your memory what happened before. It's a fantastic feat to achieve this kind of clarity in this type of show.

"Baccano" is primary about entertainment, and entertain it does. It has a fantastic sense of humour that's somewhat over the top but not annoyingly so, and it delivers plenty of laugh-out-loud moments. It's also a rather violent show. Looking at the light hearted comedy, you would never have guessed how bloody it is in places. The stark contrast between the happy-go-lucky-style and the violence is slightly reminiscent of Tarantino's movies, and in fact nothing encapsulates this feel better than the dissonant scene where the sadistic Ladd Russo cheerfully beats a man to death with his bare fists, grinning all the while as the blood splatters onto his own face and clothes. Ladd Russo is a delightful character who breathes fresh life into the rather stale psychotic villain mould. His constant jovial mood is always accompanied by a sinister aura, and this contrast makes him a scary but strangely compelling character. In fact Ladd Russo made such an impression on me that since I watched "Baccano", I'm now readily able to identify the characters played by his voice actor - he's been in a surprising number of anime (Maes Hughes from the FMA franchise, the music critic Manabu Sakuma from "Nodame Cantabile" to name a couple), I just hadn't noticed it until now.

Ladd Russo is not the only great character, and in fact "Baccano" is blessed with an extremely large number of fabulously diverse and colourful personalities. My other favourites include Issac and Miria, who are a pair of wonderfully entertaining thieves who seem to be in the story for no purpose other than clown around continuously... but considering how good they are at doing it, I wouldn't really want it to be any other way. But although most of the characters in "Baccano" are pretty interesting, it is a bit guilty of having *too* many characters, as there are a few don't really make much of a splash and aren't very memorable in any way, and took up screen time that could have been given to more interesting characters like Firo.

I also found the way everything is wrapped up to be a little disappointing. Part of this is probably because it's so much fun watching "Baccano" unravel its plot with delightful eccentricity that the ending feels very plain and anti-climatic in comparison. There is no shocking last minute twists or anything particularly clever etc, everything is resolved rather conveniently and I was left feeling like I just watched a magician who's finally run out of tricks at the end of a performance. Still, it's a very small complaint to make when you consider how spectacular and enjoyable the rest of the show is.

Titles are important. As much as our culture stresses idioms like “don't judge a book by its cover,” the reality is that the title is usually the first thing we note about any piece of art or entertainment, and it is an element that can quickly turn people away or draw them in. A bit of research will tell us that “baccano” is an Italian word that could be loosely translated as “uproar” or “commotion,” and seldom will you find a title that so perfectly indicates what the content of the work is going to be like. This is a rare case of the cover ... matching the book perfectly: Baccano! is an action-filled romp in a hilariously Hollywood version of the early 1930s that is uproariously funny and pleasantly confusing.

Baccano! tells several stories at once. In 1930, an escalating war between a mafia family and a small gang of street toughs is beginning to leave a trail of bodies. In 1931, an attempt by multiple parties to simultaneously hijack a transcontinental train (the “Flying Pussyfoot”) results in utter chaos. In 1932, a young woman races to find her delinquent brother using the services of The Daily Days, a newspaper and underground information dealership who has been attempting to piece the whole mess together. Mixed up in all three of these stories are a group of characters, coined “immortals,” who appear to be incapable of dying.

These would be good stories in and of themselves, but Baccano! takes the execution a step further by telling them...well, all at once. With little warning, the series switches between time periods, telling the three stories chronologically, but in bits and pieces. This technique generates instant narrative tension and creates a mystery out a story that would be substantially less exciting if told in a more straightforward fashion. It's enjoyable to mentally puzzle out how the stories are going to fit together, and to see your logically reasoned guesses be destroyed by the complete unpredictability of the show. The result is that Baccano! is undoubtedly confusing, and some people would mark that as a negative right off the bat. However, I feel that there is a marked difference between things which are unintentionally confusing because they're poorly written, and things which are intentionally confusing to create an atmosphere of wonder and evoke curiosity in the viewer. Baccano! is the latter.

Baccano! is also a masterful example of narrative pacing. The “train” plot, which is the centerpiece of the show, moves at a breakneck speed, while the other plot threads are a little bit slower, and are generally focused on explanation rather than action. These serve as interludes which allow you to draw a breath in between the hectic exchanges of plot-advancing combat and dialogue aboard the Flying Pussyfoot.

Another noteworthy aspect of Baccano! is the absolutely massive cast of interesting characters. In many ways, Baccano! is driven completely by the interactions between this cast; every event in every time period seems to be an effect of something that one of the main characters did to another in the past. Baccano! uses a sort of shake-and-bake formula for its characters—take an interesting character concept, add enough of a backstory to explain their relevance to the plot, and then toss them into the fray. It'd be easy to take a cheap shot at the character development (or lack thereof) in the series; there are over twelve main characters, and thirteen episodes in the show, so the math is telling us that there really isn't enough time to give everyone a lot of depth. This fact does rear its ugly head a couple of times, mostly during moments of drama—the characters are just a bit too thin for these moments to come across as anything but corny and out of place.

However, at its core, Baccano! survives on action, comedy, and mystery, and the characters are more than likable enough to carry the show in those regards. It's just plain fun to watch them interact with each other, and most of them are unique enough in concept to excuse their lack of development. To name just a few of my favorites, there's a gang boss who bursts into tears at the drop of the hat, a young woman who giggles with girlish glee as she throws explosives at her enemies, and a pair of blissfully unaware thieves who steal family fortunes to prevent the next of kin from fighting over the inheritance. It's tough to dislike any of the above, and even the biggest hardasses should be able to find a couple members of the cast whose antics they enjoy watching.

Although the main appeal of the series is definitely the likable cast and the twisted storyline, Baccano! doesn't slouch in the technical departments, where a solid art and animation effort by Brains Base brings the whole ordeal to life. The character designs are downright fantastic, consisting of a stylistic mixture of 30s-era gangsters with more traditional anime looks. Everyone looks sufficiently unique to tell apart the huge cast. The animation maintains a smooth feel, even during scenes of rapid motion and insane action (which are plentiful).

Baccano! is also backed by a solid musical score that always perfectly matches the setting and atmosphere of the show. Most notable are the “big band” songs, which mimic a type of jazz music that was popular in America during the 1920s and 1930s. The chaotic sound of multiple horns and percussion pieces blasting at once perfectly highlights the frantic momentum of the show, particularly during the aforementioned scenes of crazed action. However, the soundtrack does have a lot of range, and it switches to softer piano or string-driven orchestral arrangements as needed; for example, an episode which takes place aboard a ship in 1711 drops the jazz music in favor of the orchestral sounds for a more period-appropriate feel.

When it comes to the voice acting, there's a great effort put forth in both languages, but I think that (surprisingly) the English dub wins by a slight margin in the end. Don't get me wrong, the Japanese cast includes many talented veteran voice actors who are more than capable of getting the job done, but I felt that they were limited by the setting more than anything else. Voice acting is about matching a voice to a character, and no matter how great an individual's performance may be, at the end of the day there's an inherent limit to how well a Japanese voice actor can convince me that they are a 30s-era mobster in New York; try as they might, the Japanese cast simply doesn't seem able to mimic the colloquialisms and speech of the time period. The English cast isn't perfect either, but they seem far more comfortable with the language used. Their interpretation of the cast is a little Hollywood—complete with heavy New York accents, use of terms like “dollface,” and all—but they are able to sound just a little more genuine and comfortable in their roles. In addition, some of the show's humor (particularly the comedic relief of the thieves Isaac and Miria) depends on made-up words, repeated phrases, and simultaneous delivery of lines. It's a lot easier to appreciate these elements in the dub.

Many times when I feel an anime is great, I find myself ending reviews with terms like “powerful,” “moving,” “thought provoking,” and a variety of others which I use to indicate that the series spoke to me on an intellectual level. Well, none of those words really describe Baccano!, but nonetheless, I feel that it is a great series. Every episode is pure kinetic energy, full of a perfect mix of humor, dark irony, action, and mystery. There was not a minute of it that failed to entertain me, and seldom can a series make such a claim.

Some anime needs a special rate otherwise we have no way to judge them correctly. One of those anime is Baccano.

The most impressive thing is that only in 13 eps, they managed to tell 3 stories that took place in different times and spaces. 13 eps guys .. and the stories are not small at all ..

Another thing is that those stories have always something in common besides the main plot line, i mean, the characters. There are characters that only participated in one story while some characters joined in the 3 stories.


Story: 9/10. As i said, Baccano has 3 different stories ... but .. there is more. This anime not only had time to explore 3 different things, but also to connect them in a proper way. Yeah connecting 3 stories is easy .. now connecting 3 stories like Baccano does, is another thing.

The pace is fast as the Pussyfoot (the name of the train were one of the stories take place), which is at the same time good and bad. In one hand, being fast doesn´t make the anime boring because is always one thing happening, but the pace is so high that it can have the opposite effect. There is just so many characters, so many information, so many things being throwed at you at the same time can be painfull. I mean you may get confuse with it and you will unless you have a perfect memory.

There is so many things to record that some may be forgoten. Anyways that is a minor a problem so don´t get worried. In the end the pace slows down a little bit so you are able to understand everything from the stories.

Art: 7/10. When it comes to cut fingers, well Baccano excels at it xD. The rest is "meh". The background is weak, there is no much detail on it. The character design is pretty simple. However, unlike some animes i've seen, they don´t look similiar to each other and that is a important thing when you have so many characters. If they looked similiar, we would get them mixed.

The animations are fluid enough, especially when they are cutting fingers off, because well when it comes to cut fingers off, Baccano excels on it. I'm not kidding, it just looks amazing when someone is cutting someone else's fingers.

The pallet used is not that great for me at least. It uses to much black and brown, so the background looks like the same thing even when we have different places. And i think, the stories are not that dark to be painted with only dark colours. The characters are not bright and they don´t have anything to emphasize them from the background.

The character are pretty much flat when it comes to coloration. They only have 2-3 colours on their design which make them look bad. But they are well drawn, with a nice facial detail.

Sound: 7/10. Well the tracks used are not that great. I found some of them boring. Moreover, they get repetitive because the anime doesn´t have a lot of tracks so they always use the same tracks. However, the opening .. what a opening ! I heard it until the end every time. The jazz being one of the main music styles in 1930, is just perfect to use with this anime. Makes up the mood for each episode. The ending is nothing special though.

Character: 8/10. Well, we have a huge cast for only 13 episodes. While in one hand, we need a huge cast for so many plot develop. On the other hand, having such a huge cast means that only a few of them will get develop. Fortunately, they only developed the most interesting characters.

Here on Baccano you can find everything. Since psychopaths to a guy that cries because of everything. But if there is one character that i would live to talk about, it would be the best couple ever. Acting like only one character, Miria and Isaac just made the comedy of this show without ruining the mood of it !

Because every time, when we have comedy, will definately ruin the mood of the show. Here, i actually enjoyed a lot the comedy, which is something rare because i don´t like comedy.

These two characters are just awesome ! They bring hapiness to this anime without making it look bad. Even though they are there only to make comedy, i found them the best characters on this show.

The other ones are great as well but not even close to Miria and Isaac.

Enjoyment: 8/10. Personally, this anime was really funny to watch. Every episode they build up a mistery around the characters and the plot which make the anime much more interesting to watch.

When i finished this anime, i felt tired. What a ride actually. When i stopped to think about how many things happened at the same time i got supressed. I realized how big the plot actually was for 13 eps, and that feeling worth the time spent on this anime.

Overall: 8/10. I think that this anime deserves a shot. It is funny, interesting and mind blowing when it comes to it's plot. I reccomend it !

When I jumped into Baccano!, I really wasn't sure what to expect. I didn't really do any research on the anime, and none of my friends really knew what the series was. The only thing I really knew was that the art looked interesting, and everywhere I looked in the forums, I could see people that said, "Watch this series!". So, I decided to give Baccano! a look.

In the first few minutes, I didn't think that the anime was going to be much. For a while, you saw a little girl and an older man talking to each other about some story that happened earlier. ... I was a bit worried that all Baccano! was going to be was these two characters talking back and forth about the series. Pretty soon, I realized that I was mistaken and there was more that was offered than just these two characters. Soon, names, places, and years because to pass and I started watching with a great intent.

Story wise, Baccano! spares no expense giving a gory, yet interesting story with enough drama, action, and comedy to keep most fans occupied. I was very impressed with how balanced the series really was. The way the story was presented was unique as well, but it does take a while to get use to. By the end, it's easy to get a hang of the presentation, and the story really makes sense. Most of the questions are answered by the end of the series.

Along with the story was the large library of characters, who were all as unique as the presentation. Normally, I would avoid an anime with a lot of characters. They're often hard to keep track of. With Baccano!, keeping track of the characters was rather easy (much easier than I thought it would be), and the characters were actually interesting to keep up with. With such a large selection, choosing a favorite character can either be simple or very difficult. From Isaac and Miria, a pair of idiotic robbers that stole to help everyone else, to Ladd Russo, a serial killer with a passion for murdering people in a bloody matter (especially if those people thought they were safe), to Firo, a gangster with a longing to help and save the people that mean the most to him, there's unlimited characters, drama, and suspense to keep a fan entertained for hours. It's easy to tell that the creators spared no expense making the characters exactly as they wanted them.

Another thing that helped the series is the wonderful art. Unlike most brightly colored, distorted anime, Baccano! holds its head high for having original, darker art that really works well for the series. Since the story takes place during the 1930's, the costumes, colors, and setting really help make the world. The selection of art created a very realistic setting for all of the characters and situations and helped build the 1930's world the creators were looking for. Almost every detail was spot on for the art. Plus, the art was very appealing to the eyes. There was nothing too flashy or out of place within the series.

One of the best things, I think, about Baccano! is the music. Never have I heard a soundtrack for an anime that I wanted so badly. Even the opening and closing themes are great, and the music really does help bring certain situations alive. What is a good fight scene without dramatic music? Baccano! not only brings that music, the music is also places perfectly in the scenes, and it fits the time of the anime. The swing type music brings the era alive and helps the 1930's feel of the show better than any entertainment about the 1930's I've seen.

To say that I enjoyed Baccano! would be an understatement. I adored Baccano! with every fiber of my body and I would recommend the series to anyone that's looking for something different, unique, and loves a little blood with their characters, story, and entertainment.

Every so often in most industries, there comes an item or idea that completely revolutionizes said industry. The IPhone, Star Wars, the first airplane or car are all living testimonies of how revolutionary ideas can impact our lives today. By challenging society, the norm, the standards of the present, these ideas go against everything we know. But many times, this risk doesn't pay off, and things fall off the charts. Baccano, I'm happy to say, is not a failure, but similar to the IPhone in revolutionary storytelling, idea-forming, character development and overall quality.

Baccano teaches the viewer that one does not necessarily have to view things ... in the order that happens. By forcing the viewer to piece together the events and happenings of the story, the viewer becomes part of the story, an investigator of sorts, making connections and using context clues and events to put the story together. Not to mention the plot twists, various scenes of action, and brief pauses that make one yearn for more, Baccano leaves the viewer always on his or her tip-toes, completely unsure and uncertain about what the future may bring.

The storytelling is excellent. I cannot stress this enough, the events, though seemingly random at first, slowly develop into this bigger picture sort of scenario; and every scene matters. I know many will probably give up on the first episodes because, trust me, it's really confusing and makes you want to give up easily. But I stuck through it, and I don't regret it. The story itself is interesting, because you have the least possible amount of information to understand what's going on. It's up to YOU to understand it. That's what made this anime so interesting, and really hard not to watch in one sitting, because you always want to know what happens next. Every detail, every little scruple and piece of information must be disseminated and unencrypted, for future use.

The art is stunning; the attention to detail exquisite. The scenes are smooth and flawless, the ominous colors foreshadowing future events, the eyes widening, etc etc. The faces and bodies are also drawn more accurately than most other anime I've watched - the proportions look right, the face detail is perfect, and, of course, the clothing reflects early 1900s America. Most of the characters wore suits, making the anime have an aura of sophistication and seriousness.

The sound is similarly impressive and enjoyable. I hummed the tune whenever it played in the background. It's jazzy and bouncy, once again reflecting the culture of Great Depression America. I loved the way the music crescendoed up and up during suspenseful parts, just like a movie, or during certain ominous parts the music became slow and intense. The music fit the mood and tone just right every single time.

Lastly, the characters. There were so many different kinds of personalities and characters with different traits that made the story seem more real. The characters' interactions were interesting, considering their differing backgrounds and dispositions. There was one particular couple of paradoxical nature that made me chortle incessantly throughout the whole anime. They made the mood lighter than it should have been, and added a touch of humor when it was desperately needed. There were no main characters, really; and the anime does a great job telling why there shouldn't be. The story does revolve around a train, the Flying Pussyfoot, that seems more of a joke than anything else. But the events that lead up to such a train ride make the Flying Pussyfoot seem more real and terrible than first understood.

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this anime. There were no fillers at all, and each of the 13 episodes were essential to understanding the plot. The characters were far beyond normal - then again, these were far more abnormal circumstances. The suspense was almost tangible, and it left you on the edge of your seat, gripping the cushion harder and harder. After all, everyone must die.

The year is 1931. The grand transcontinental train, the Flying Pussyfoot (If you feel the need to laugh, do so now) is leaving for New York City. Passengers include Mrs. Mary Beriam, wife of an Important Senator, her daughter, Mary, and some kid they know named Czeslaw. The problem is that almost everyone on the Train seems to want to kill someone. The Lemure cult, led by the currently incarcerated Huey Laforet, who seems to be Immortal, want to take the passengers, namely the Beriams, hostage, in order for their leader to be released. Meanwhile, Ladd Russo, an absolutely insane hitman, wants to kill everyone ... because, well, he can. There's also the Kooky duo of Thieves, Isaac Dian, and Miria Harvent, performing a train robbery ("Wait, isn't a train robbery the one where you take the train to your destination, rob it, and then get out on a train?" "That's the way they've been done for years!") and the Gang of Delinquents led by Jacuzzi Splot, who cries more than it's healthy to. Wait, scratch that, the year is 1930, and an EXTREMELY old man by the name of Szilard Quates is obsessed with recreating an Immortality Elixir. This he (or some random old guy who I don't think is ever actually named) does. At least, it would have been considered done if it weren't stolen by a punk called Dallas Genoard. Because of him, the Elixr moves around the city, eventually ending up with the Mafia, as many things in this anime do. But in this anime, they only end up with the Nice Mafia families, namely the Gandor family, and the Martillo family. Enter Firo Prochainezo, the youngest of the Martillos. He's an all around good guy, but when he finds out that Immortality is involved heavily in his life, some pretty weird things start happening. Um, actually, no, that's not really what happens. The year is 1932, and the young Miss Eve Genoard searches for her brother Dallas. Unfortunately, in order to do this, she has to become involved with the Mafia. As well as, to a lesser Extent, the Daily Days newspaper, which knows EVERYTHING. No, actually, wait. Those are all the storylines.

Story - 10/10

Brilliant, and filled with life. I don't really think anyone could not be interested in the multiple storylines the anime so beautifully weaves together. Just to warn you though, at times, this can get quite confusing.

Art - 9/10

Ito Satoshi is the art director for Baccano, and he did a really great job. All of the settings are actually very realistic, probably because they are all based on real places. Satoshi and other staff members scouted through Manhattan so they could accurately portray the area.

Sound - 10/10

The voices in the japanese are all by rather notable voice actors, and the English dub, usually terrible as far as I'm concerned, is actually very good. The Music, though, is so brilliant it almost glows. The Theme song, Gun's and Roses is so fitting, and yet so cheerful. It's was stuck in my head the first time I saw it, and yet that wasn't bad at all. The Final closing theme, while somewhat mediocre at first, grows on you, and soon becomes the most fitting thing to end the show.

Characters - 10/10

I shouldn't be defining this. I'll just say that you learn to love even the most Insane characters, from Isaac and Miria, the two lovable thieves, to Ladd Russo, insane hitman, his sweetheart, Lua Klein, to Graham Specter, a mechanic who NEVER shuts up, even to the Daily Days staff, namely Gustav St. Germain, and his assistant Carol (KYAARRROOOOLLL In the original japanese) who, while quite clever, are some what more enjoyable in the two abridged series ("OW! What did i do to deserve this?!" "Everything Carol, Everything!")

Enjoyment - 10/10

The thing about Baccano is that it is not a normal anime. It is so brilliant that is shines out among many others. Stop reading this Review already, and see it for yourself.

Baccano is a 13-episode anime series based off a series of light novels. It's set in 1930s America. For a Japanese production, it feels very, well, American. I just finished watching the English dub and I found it to be very entertaining.

Story: There's actually 3 storylines going on at once: a 1930 arc, a 1931 arc, and a 1932 arc. They're basically all about various gangs trying to gain control of an elixir that can grant immortality. The show frequently jumps back an forth between the three stories, and the series starts in medias res. Because of this, it's rather hard to follow on your ... first viewing, but by episode 4 or 5, you should figure out what's going on by then. The 1930 arc is the best in my opinion. 8/10.

Art: The overall quality of the art and animation is pretty good. I couldn't find any off-model shots in the series. The character designs aren't some of the best I've seen, but they're not terrible, either. The backgrounds look pretty good. In short, good enough for me. 8/10.

Sound: Most of the background music sounds like American music from the 1920s; it all sounds good. I like the opening theme song, too.

Once again, I only saw this in English, but my word, the Funimation version of Baccano has some of the best voice-acting I've ever heard in my life. Unlike most dubs, most of the characters don't speak in neutral Midwestern American accents. It's set in New York, so most characters have New Yorker accents. Some of the accents are exaggerated, but they all fit their characters, and there is not a single weak link in the entire cast. It's a delight just to hear the characters speak. If the music was better, this would easily get a ten. 9/10.

Characterization: Really good, actually. There's quite a few named characters, but by the end, you'll know who's who. Some of the characters are absolutely brutal, while others are tough but kind at the same time. My personal favorite characters are Firo (for being way cool and having the best performance I've heard from Todd Haberkorn yet) and Ladd Russo (for being a violent sociopath who sounds like Bender from Futurama). Most people seem to like Isaac and Miria the most; they are hilarious. This is really the best thing about Bacanno; everyone comes to like at least a few characters. 9/10.

Enjoyment: Don't expect anything deep from this show. It's really just about gangland conflicts and an elixir of immortality, with a silly Bonnie-and-Clyde couple thrown in for good measure. It's a throwback to the gangster films of old, and a time when everyone wore hats, smoked cigarettes, and did drive-by shootings with Tommy guns. But if you don't mind seeing a tribute to the age of Prohibition-era criminals, (albeit one with intense graphic violence and a drink that can make people invincible) go for it. You won't be disappointed. 8/10.

There is also a 3-episode OVA, which is just as good as the 13-episode series, and I know that the anime version of Baccano has just scratched the surface of the content from the light novels. I wouldn't mind seeing more animated adaptations of this series.

A compilation review from the HTWA!

"With the anime of Baccano! i really liked it because of the characters like issac for stealing really random items which i wont say incase if someone has'nt watched it yet also he is a good character for his randomness same as his partner miria. I'd probly say this anime is for people that have started allready with anime like for moderate watchers cuse its a lil short which is sad because it holds alot of interest by the storyline and another good anime that you could follow this up after watching could be durarara!! which has started a while ... ago and is only up to like the 9th ep" - Redhydoken7

"Why is this anime so popular and what about it do you think makes it a great anime? Or do you not even think it is a great anime? What about the characters do you like or not like? Do you think this anime should be for beginners or should they avoid it? Should it be for more experienced anime watchers instead? Is it one of those "essential" anime that everyone needs to see? Was it confusing for you? Is it one of those overrated anime? Or is it one of few the recent anime that have potential to become a classic?

I'm not all too sure why it is popular but I think it's because it's different and breaks a lot of the cliche of anime in all types of ways, in particular characters and the way it is told. I remember reading a review and someone saying that Baccano! was one of the animes which reformed all your prejudices about types of story telling. I pretty much liked all the characters, they all had their merits. I don't know why beginners shouldn't watch it, it'll give them a good idea of what potential anime can have (something that nearly got to me when I first started watching anime, as a lot of it was so cliched). I think in one way it's an essential anime to see since it's on so many people's top 5. I think personally it will become classic especially since the series Durarara!! has been a potential watch for so many after seeing Baccano! Admittedly, I have yet to meet someone who didn't like this anime. So if anyone is willing to prove me wrong I'd be interested to hear why..." - Toast-Junkie

"A large cast of characters packed full of personality
Each with their own backstory (albeit some weren't delved into deeply)
A piecing together of the story which leaves you with a brain orgasm upon the conclusion
Highly original in style and atmosphere
Fine blending of Comedy and Gore in to the story

All formulae for win

I think it's a great anime, but it's not "for beginners" and hence, it's not essential. To be enjoyed, this anime requires people to persist in watching it until the end." - dxthegreat

"I watched Baccano a few months ago and I really enjoyed it, the epic plot, the unique mixture of characters, the way the storyline mixes together from different perspectives...
Top anime, a must watch for all" - finis

"As others have mentioned, the story is amazing. The way it's assembled piece by piece is just spectacular. The characters are likeable on the whole as well. An excellent anime." - CriticalEye

"To be honest, Baccano was an anime I had left on my to-watch list for a very long time. Why? I watched th first episode and simply couldn't make any sense of what the was going on in there. But yes, it got me hooked immediately after i started, and i marathoned it in one night.

As many have said, Baccano isn't your typical anime. Its a masterpiece in how it manages to mesh together various aspects you wouldn't aspect to go together into a simple yet engaging storyline. Yet, the way its assembled piece by piece turns it into a mystery thriller of sorts, leaving you guessing till the very end. Of course, it manages to break many of the cliches in anime, with unique and fun characters than all pull you along in their own right. All this, achieved in the short span of 13 episodes. I gave it a 10, and i can count the number of animes i gave 9 on one hand. A funny little anime, yet a definite must-watch." - Pressit

"The good: Interesting story-telling, great range of characters, mind-boggling monolouges, great comedical and action

The bad: fail attempts to create suspense (esp in Eve Genoard scenes), plot holes (in the Firo scenes) that are buried within the 'time jumps'" - Vin-nii

"I think Baccano is so great because it's idea is original and humor is awesome. It's a bit disturbing at times and plainly impossible to understand until the end what makes it a surprise" - sintra

"For me Baccano! is great anime. Story are very interesting, and was told in unusual way, characters are unique, and music is just awesome ^^

And even if I though a lot during watching it how it can end, ending was still big suprise for me :)" - InezMaria

"I love the wide range of characters. The plot's meh, but the way the anime told it is was awesome XD The first episode was much more than a mayhem, and kinda discouraged me to continue it, but I was glad I did. All the blood and them immortals and Isaac and Miria, and not to mention the Rail Tracer too XD they're a bunch of badasses. It's definitely one unique--no, more than unique--animu." - Wetpantsu

"a quentin tarantino style storytelling,which made a good story even more suspenseful.great mixture of horror and comedy.many totally different characters,yet each with a developed backstory(some with more of a backstory,some with less,but it's always present).and all that in just 13 eps?i think that's enough said.it will stay on my top 5 for a long,long time..." - TTst

We hope you have found this review useful!

Instead of following the standard linear storytelling form, Baccano! decides to throw away "logical" plot progression. It reveals the end result from the first episode and rewinds itself to explain exactly what happened aboard the transcontinental train the Flying Pussyfoot. Yes, the Flying Pussyfoot.

From the very first episode, Bacanno! will leave you with the impression of "What the hell did I just watch?"

As it should. What makes this show seperate itself from everything else is the way it presents its story. As the episodes progress,you'll see the strange events that revolve on and off the Pussyfoot unfold before your very eyes. Most of ... the events occur between the years of 1930-1932. The show follows around fifteen characters' own storylines between those three years that intertwine brilliantly to reveal the whole picture and [mostly] explain what happened in the first episode.

Despite having such a large cast, all the characters are unique and eccentric in their own way. You've got the silly thief couple Isaac and Miria; the blood-stained, psychopathic Lad Russo; the 400-year-old-10-year-old; the boy with the dragon tattoo; THE MAFIA; my boy OG Fedora Tipper Firo Prochainezo; and much more. You've got all the colors of the rainbow. One of them will be sure to entertain you. If not, go see a doctor. Seriously, this is one colorful mess of weirdos. How could you NOT like them?

Oh yeah, there is no main character. As stated earlier, Baccano! jumps from perspective to perspective of each character/group of characters. Each has their own significant storyline that contributes to the overall picture. There may not be one true MC for Baccano!, but each character is the hero of his or her own story.

The only negative point is a fairly minor one that may take some Wikipedia action or rewinds. That is, how the show jumps from year to year, sometimes not even including what year they cut to. However, with some concentration, it gets easier to track what's going on.

Overall, Baccano! is pure madness and fun packed into a nice 13 episode package.

What I learned from watching Baccano!: Don't fuck with the mafia.

It will frequently be said that Baccano! (emphasis on the second 'a', I believe, if you care about that kind of thing) is a hardcore anime, containing rather heady themes, vulgar language, and some of the most deliciously graphic violence to grace our shores. In this light, the series on the whole should be considered as a reward to all those who are or aspire to be "hardcore ". Simply put, I have not enjoyed an anime as much as I've enjoyed Baccano! for some time.

"The more things change, the more they stay the same." Likewise, as much as Baccano! is a ferociously original show, ... it still succeeds in all the conventional ways: the story is simple yet engaging, the characters are larger than life yet completely relatable, and the technical aspects have all been polished to a mirror shine.

Not to say that there isn't anything wrong with Baccano! (and considering how much I have to say in favor for it, it would probably be much easier to start with my critiques anyway). Now, as should be obvious from anyone who has seen a clip or screen shot of the series, Baccano! is very well drawn with a wide range of character designs and some lovingly created locations. However, there is often a trade-off to be made in exchange for this degree of artwork, and that's where animation comes into play. The action scenes are highly fluid and beautifully choreographed, but the fact remains that the majority of the show requires characters to talk and interact in comparatively subtle ways. And whenever you find yourself watching an extended conversation scene, especially after multiple viewings, it becomes almost distractingly obvious just how little these characters move. Characters express themselves to an audience of cardboard cutouts, all listening with rapt, unblinking attention. Talking heads move smoothly past painted backdrops. Worst of all are those moments when a character enters a room or finishes a sentence, then freezes just a second too long, their mouths hanging open as testament to some animator cutting corners. To be fair, these problems seem to affect some episodes more than others, but when they're there and when you're looking for them, they can really take you out of the experience.

At least, they do the second and third time around. Speaking as someone whose watched the entire 13 episode arc three or four times now, I can say that those willing to persevere through the aforementioned stiffness will be rewarded with an immensely entertaining and rewatchable show. As if the 10s across the board didn't tip you off, this show has got it all, from a thoroughly engaging story fleshed out with tons of great characters (Bryan Massey's take on Ladd is absolutely fearless, and Issac and Miria are 24 carat comedy gold) to one of the best anime soundtracks around. Though before I get away from the characters, I will say this: only two black characters in the whole show, and you make them a kidnapped maid and a secretary who talks like a cross between Chris Tucker and Double D from Ed, Edd 'n Eddy?

"No matter."

PS: Before I go, there's one more thing I want to touch on. Personally, I believe that Baccano! will go down in anime history as having one of the best ever American dubs. What bothers me is that it seems as though there's a fairly decent portion of the population out there who will let such trivial things as New York accents (or rather," Noo Yok" accents) ruin the whole experience for them. Personally, I've never been that distracted by accents of any kind, save the ridiculously racial ones (and Baccano! might have its fair share of those too, now that I mention it), and what's more, I've never understood how something as harmless as a cartoonish Brooklyn drawl could be considered offensive, let alone a deal breaker. In short, I feel that I must say that if you are the kind of person who wants, nay, demands their cartoon 1930s mobsters talk like "real" people, then perhaps you simply lack the capacity for suspended disbelief that is necessary to enjoy any kind of cartoon, let alone one of the greatest in recent memory.