Baccano!

Story
The story begins with Saint Germain and Carol as our guides, two characters that give us an interesting perspective on the three unusual events that occurred in 1711, 1930, and 1931. All three incidents seem to be connected in some way and through the retelling of the exploits of the cast, Germain and Carol are able to reveal what transpired. To make the tale more gripping and insightful, the story is not told in a chronological order, but instead jumps around between the different timelines and characters, making each incident mysterious and intriguing until the very end. Doing this allows little downtime and keeps the ... audience on their toes in a manner that is sure not to disappoint.

Animation
Considering this was animated in 2007 by a smaller studio, it is done quite well and never really dips in quality. The contrast of colors used in the show, especially during the action scenes, helps maintain the exciting atmosphere while the character design ensures that every character is distinct in appearance; with every face and outfit befitting each character’s personality. Seeing how the story takes place in America instead of Japan, the staff did a fantastic job in researching American history and developing characters and backgrounds that fit into the time period seamlessly. One minor problem--although some might not think so--is the excess of blood. It seems a bit too unnatural and exaggerated at certain times, but it is a nice little addition to the gruesome ambiance the anime portrays.

Sound
The most memorable aspects of this anime would be the music and voice acting. Right from the start the soundtrack opens up with an appealing and relevant OP, "Gun's&Roses" by Paradise Lunch, that fits the early Depression Era setting well and really gets the show into the swing of things. The rest of the background music not only keeps up with the opening track’s high quality, but also sets the bar even higher by adding unique beats, superb solos, and talented vamping. The only downside to the soundtrack would be the generic Japanese ballad appointed as the ED. It isn’t terrible--in fact some might even find it appealing--but it doesn’t fit the style prevalent in the rest of the series. The voice acting is also exceptionally well done as each voice actor establishes their character with a distinguished and easily recognizable voice. This also includes the English dub version, a rare specimen of considerable quality.

Characters
Baccano! has a full cast of colorful characters: gangsters that could be found in any western-style mobster movie, cynical psychopaths taken right from the noir genre, a very entertaining comic relief duo, and some normal, more relatable folks as well. Almost everyone who watches this anime will find someone they can admire, relate to, and maybe even consider putting on their favorites list. Although the show is only thirteen episodes long and contains a large cast, it still does a fine job of developing each character and making them stand out as individuals.

Enjoyment
This anime really is something that can be easily enjoyed by everyone. The execution of the unconventional plot is admirable; it’s able to suck the audience in by constantly switching from one story to the next and at the same time show how each one is connected to one another. The deadpan comedic style is definitely another trait that keeps the show fresh and entertaining. It always finds the right moments to make you turn your head and laugh. Also, the mysteries behind not only the immortals but the dark and enigmatic Rail Tracer create noteworthy suspenseful and artistic moments. All in all this is hands down one of the best series released last decade; if a newcomer to the world of anime asks you for a recommendation, this should indisputably be one to mention.

Overall
Drama, action, mystery, comedy, and a little bit of romance--this anime has it all. The unorthodox way in which the story is told allows the viewer to observe each incident in more than one perspective; just like a puzzle, it can’t be fully understood and appreciated until it is completed. Although it may be a bit confusing for some at first, everything is well tied together by the end and gives an overall feeling of fulfillment. This along with the vibrant cast of characters, superb animation quality, and catchy soundtrack make Baccano! a must see for anyone.

Value
Immortality is a blessing and a curse. Almost everyone has thought about what it would be like to be immortal at one time or another. However, believing it to be a blessing or a curse is something everyone thinks differently on. The show presents it as a blessing for the most part; certain characters are able to escape death multiple times because of it. But it also shows a darker side, revealing that even if you are immortal you can still be made to suffer.

Baccano! also shows the audience that no matter how cynical or psychopathic one is, there will always be someone else out there ready and willing to accept them for who they are. However clichéd it might be, beneath first impressions there is still a lot more to everyone in this world--no matter who they are or how they portray themselves. Anyone can fall in love and devote their life to someone. The feeling of love and the desire to protect someone dear to oneself does not require a sound mind to be experienced and if this love is ever found, one should do everything in their power to take hold of it and never let go!


VIA (Value in Anime) – Restricted Division

Ckaos_Inkarnate- Writer
Schizoidmouse- Contributor
Phantomtigers- Contributor
CoolMorz- Contributor
Black_Lighting6- Contributor

These are the individual scores for the anime. (In the same order as the names appear above)

Story: 9, 8.5, 9, 9.5, 9
Animation: 8, 7.5, 9, 9, 10
Sound: 10, 9, 10, 10, 10
Characters: 9, 9.5, 10, 10, 10
Enjoyment: 10, 8, 9, 9.5, 10
Overall: 9, 8.5, 9, 10, 10

As a club, we- The V.I.A.- not only watch and review anime, we also discuss the value and life lessons they contain.

Vigilate et discite!

The first thing to note before watching Baccano! is that the story starts off by introducing you over 20 characters at once, and can be very confusing. However, don't let this deter you, as Baccano! offers a rather interesting take upon storytelling, giving the same story from many characters' point-of-view at once, which ties together by the end in a highly satisfying and well executed manner.

This sort of thing has been done quite often; a studio comes up with a great plot that makes sense, interesting and likable characters, a way to present the story in a way that pushes the bar; they start ... out well, but then end up like most do: they fail. Baccano! happens to be one of the instances where they actually succeed.

NOTE: Baccano! is somewhat gory, and does contain many scenes filled with blood and a few dismembered limbs here and there, as well as a few scenes of torture. It does nothing to reach gory levels in anime such as Elfen Lied, but if you have a weak stomach, perhaps it is better to keep your distance. Although I did not particularly like the more violent scenes, they don't last for very long, and it's easy to look past them to the great anime that they belong to.

Story: 10
The story consists of three stories being told at once (and the very brief interludes to the present day, early 2000s, and one episode in the 1700s), taking place in the years of 1930, '31, and '32, jumping between the three several time frames in a single episode. Each story involves many overlapping characters and involves all of them in some way or another. The story itself isn't necessarily the series' strong point; it's pretty standard as stories go - what makes it stand out is the way in which the story is presented, how each piece of information revealed is carefully planned out and you're given enough to be satisfied and not get lost, while not giving away so much that it ruins the plot. The story releases just the right amount of each plot line in each episode, finally culminating in the last two episodes, in which everything all finally comes together, and the grand unfolding occurs; it's well worth the wait.

The story does tend to make the jumps between it's three stories rather rapidly throughout an episode, and if you're not paying attention, it's easy to get lost. My main advice would be to plan to watch the series when you're not going to be distracted easily many times during an episode, since as long as you follow along, the story makes sense.

Art: 9
The art quality in Baccano! is nothing to shrug at. The character design is exceptionally well done. Nearly all of the main characters are well defined and very easy to identify immediately. I did have some trouble recognizing a few characters for a while (as you are introduced to a large cast rather suddenly), but after a while, it became pretty easy to tell them apart. One particularly great feature is the OP of Baccano!, which freeze-frames at every character and gives you their name. This aids greatly in learning the characters quickly.

The quality of the animation is rather high, and remains high throughout the entire series, avoiding the drop in quality that many other series unfortunately suffer from. Action scenes are fluid and easy to follow.

Sound: 9
The OP is the perfect fit to this anime. The jazz tone that it sets is perfect for the feel of the series as a whole, and music played in the background throughout the various episodes maintains this same atmosphere. The ED, however, is your standard j-pop number, and is rather disappointing.

In terms of voice acting, the voicing cast does exceedingly well at portraying their characters. Not only do they bring personality to their respective characters, they also are rather easily distinguishable, making it easier to identify the large number of main characters from the rest.

Character: 10
The characters of Baccano! are the series' strongest point, as they are well defined, unique (most of them), and the chemistry between them is simply amazing to behold. Even the most annoying character (believe me, you won't have any trouble figuring out who it is) is redeemed at the end, and I even started to like him a bit. The dynamic duo of Miria and Isaac is just brilliant, providing great entertainment just observing how they unwitting screw with everyone and somehow make things right in the end without ever knowing. The humor between the two is great, although some people will no doubt find these two to be annoying. By the end of this series, you are bound to find at least one character that you will like. Although many of the characters receive a healthy dose of development, the large number of them makes it so that many feel somewhat underdeveloped, but this is expected considering that the series only consists of 13 episodes.

Enjoyment: 10
As can be expected, when I first started watching this anime, I was very confused with the initial presentation. However, as the story continued to progress, it steadily escalated until the final few episodes, where everything reached a great climax which was pulled into a satisfying ending to a great series.
The only thing that I would say that was a drawback was that despite tying up nearly all the main important loose ends, there were still a few little things here and there that still had to be addressed (such as firmly establishing the identity of the people you meet at the very beginning and how they tie into the story). However, that's what the 3 episode Baccano! OVA is for (hopefully; they are currently being released and I will check them out very soon to confirm), and I'd like to believe that it will explain everything else, as well as give even more character development.

The fact that they pulled off a complex story following a large number of characters in several time frames within a small total of 13 episodes is nothing to scoff at. Despite the fact that many critics of the series could pretty easily point out a great number of minor flaws, the overall brilliance of the series outshines these small issues, and makes them more than easy to completely ignore.

Overall: 10
In short, this anime is one that presents a great story, and most importantly, presents it well. This is a series that almost anyone could pick up and find something to enjoy (except perhaps those with a great aversion to blood). Although the series at first is hard to understand and will leave most viewers in confusion, the ending does a successful job of tying everything up, and everyone should have their initial questions well answered by then. This is a series that I would readily recommend to just about anyone to at least try out and watch a few episodes.

Score: 48/50; A (96%)

Baccano! Review
or This Reviewer Embraces the Fact that there is no Main Character

Baccano! is a show which has taken parts of the anime community by storm, while simultaneously remaining relatively unknown to the larger whole. The series is frenetic and has more energy than perhaps any other anime. Each scene, while displayed with no heed for chronology, is nonetheless structured to introduce questions and answer them little by little, even if the answer is chronologically first. This is an interesting and ingenious structural choice, and also is in many ways responsible for the series' undeniable style. Baccano! does a good job of offering a ... little something for most everybody, without watering any of it down.

Baccano! is a show that defies description. Generally speaking, it's about a number of people and a spattering of events which are connected, sometimes loosely and sometimes directly. More specifically, it is itself a story about these things and about stories in general. It, in some ways, comes close to breaking the fourth wall with its acknowledgment of the place of human subjectivity in any story. The framing of the series with the exchanges between Carole and the Vice-Director put the entire show in this context, and the re-telling of specific events from multiple perspectives provide examples as basis for the overall framework.

Baccano!'s placement in the American prohibition era and embracing of this setting lends it a taste of the exotic. Even to American audiences, a unique take on the prohibition era such as this one seems foreign and wild, despite the familiarity of many of the places represented. Anyone who has ever seen a mafia movie feels at home, and yet at the same time it is made foreign to us. Unlike many other series which utilize a unique setting or particular aesthetic, Baccano!'s use of its setting, its powerful aesthetic, does not come off as heavy-handed. Baccano! oozes style without ever feeling the need to shove it in your face, allowing for someone to not connect with the aesthetic yet still enjoy the series overall.

The animation in Baccano! is definitely a strong point, even though it is a little rough around the edges. Stationary art in the series is certainly good, but nothing especially worth noting. In motion, though, the style of the series comes to realization with its somewhat flashy, rough animation style. Colors are bright and vibrant, matching the characters' flair and the feel of the setting. Despite some remarkably over the top designs, everything meshes very well within the series, and there is nothing which visually feels out of place, even the occasional CGI section.

Sound plays a unique role in Baccano! in reinforcing and bringing to life its setting. In this, through the use of primarily jazz and swing tracks with unique twists, the soundtrack is remarkably successful, lending a credibility to the endeavor without being vestigial or overbearing. The soundtrack is solid even without considering the above, and is definitely good enough to warrant listening to on its own. Within the series, it never really takes center stage—aside from the dramatic string piece that closes each episode—but instead achieves a healthy balance with the other aspects of the show, unlike many series with strong, aesthetically-driven soundtracks, such as Cowboy Bebop or Samurai Champloo. While not as strong on its own as those two, it does a better job of navigating its place within the overall work.

The voice-acting in Baccano! is unique in the anime world. It features few, if any, big name seiyuu, and, possibly as a result, is superbly cast. It is common for big name seiyuu to be included in a project for publicity and increased viewership, even where their voice does not fit the character, or where the show must be altered to accommodate the actor. In Baccano!, though, each voice actor fits their character extraordinarily well, and their performances overall are definitely solid, naturally bolstered by clever writing and a supporting soundtrack. As far as stand out performances, I must point out the seiyuu of Isaac and Miria, who managed to make what could have been very irritating characters enjoyable and fantastically entertaining. Ladd Russo's voice actor is also remarkably good, making a character who sounded simple and uninspired in description great in practice. As far as main characters are concerned, it is difficult to pinpoint a weak link, and the supporting cast is solid, if not as exemplary.

It is difficult to speak much on that plot of Baccano! without spoiling the mystery and the fun of it all, so I'll be brief and general. Baccano!'s plot is an evolving mystery which fills out completely the 13 episodes it inhabits. There is no idle time in Baccano!, and each scene fits very well into an overall picture. While this frenetic pace is paramount to the impressiveness of the series and to further its very postmodern style, at times it can be somewhat jarring. This, of course, is most likely intentional, considering the mindset of the rest of the series, but it does irk some, especially those less interested or familiar with postmodern literature. The plot itself is fairly straightforward if laid out chronologically, but the way it is presented makes it somewhat extraordinary. It does a better job of engaging the viewer in the plot, making them an active participant, than perhaps any other series I have seen.

If I had to point out a primary flaw of Baccano!, it would be the voluminous cast which limits the characterization of each. Each character is a larger than life, highly-stylized figure, but as a general rule there is little more to them than that. There is some nuance to each, but it is only in the relationships between the characters that they achieve depth, keeping this from becoming a crippling weakness. Even so, the aesthetically-charged character design is worth noting, differentiating each character powerfully from the others even in keeping with period attire—or at least a stylized, egalitarian version of it.

Baccano! takes everything you know about anime and shows you that there is another way, all the while engaging you with a flashy mystery full of action and suspense. Flush with style and ripe with content, Baccano! manages to give the audience a little bit of everything, without feeling rushed or particularly shallow, although its biggest weakness is the lack of complexity in its characters and plot. It offers unforgettable characters, powerful aesthetics, and a great soundtrack to frame a frenetic narrative which challenges notions of narratives themselves. The series challenges you as a viewer, interpreter, and active participant.

Final Score: 9/10

Baccano! was outstanding for what it offered it'll hook you with the story, you'll want to know what's happening in the next episode and you will want to be careful and pay attention to the story, so you can understand more and more when you put the pieces of the story together and the way the story is told it's confusing at first but you will understand and like it.

Story
The style of the storytelling in Baccano! is unique, there are more than 1 MC, around 15 in which the storytelling manages to cover them in sequences and then jumping to another character all of a ... sudden, you can imagine the confusion and yes it's confusing but that's why it hooks you, you want to understand and put the pieces together for the story that you're watching making sense, and by having multiple individual storylines you will see how the characters met and how important they are to the story. It's outstanding.

Art & Animation
I wanted to score the animation properly, because even if it's from 2007 and i'm the one who watched Baccano! just now, i got to say that it was very good but it could've been better, but the art style and animations were very good and enjoyable in almost every aspect.

Sound
The music in Baccano! was accurate, the jazz from the OP was damn good, not everytime you stumble with an OP that you want to listen and see over and over and in the middle of the OP it has scenes from the previous episodes after the introduction of the characters is done, the background music for the comedic and serious parts were just on point, the voice acting made the characters alive, it was amazing to listen to the characters they were unique and the ED song was good, it was a ballad. Overall it was outstanding.

Character
What can i say more than, they were amazing, it has a mix of everything, there were like 15 main characters and not to forget the support characters, as i stated they are unique, some of them are psychopaths, some of them good people, bad people, others were quiet, cowards who are brave inside, others were happy fools no matter what, i don't want to get into details because knowing them in every episodes is a part of the engaging story.

Enjoyment
This is one of those animes that you could watch over and over and you won't get tired of it, the story of the characters is enjoyable and that is one of the best parts of the anime, the transition between the intrigue, the comedy, the violence, the storytelling, the music, watching the OVAs is a great addition too, those are the eps. 14, 15 and 16. One thing that i thought was that i couldn't decide if i didn't want a 2nd season because how well it ended (defenitly wanted more OVAs) or if i wanted a 2nd season because of what one of the characters said (The Subdirector). This was outstanding.

It is truly sad how the most popular shines so bright that it blinds most people from seeing such great things, and it is even sadder how personal interests or preferences discourage people who are unaffected by that blindness to view them. Unfortunately, I am one of those blind and discouraged people, but my curiosity about high ratings has once again given me the chance to experience great art. I encourage everyone who are still unfamiliar with Baccano to check it out because this series is definitely a MUST WATCH.

Baccano is a story about a series of mysterious events connected to immortality which occur in ... the years 1711, 1931-1932 and 2001. It is told in an interestingly complex chronology and is very rich in content in a way that it has so many genres. This is a comedy, suspense, thriller, drama, romance, action, supernatural, mystery, horror, etc. One would not expect all these in a story because there would be a case of incompatibility and everything would be in disarray. Funny and shocking gore just don't go together, but here, they are all in excellent harmony.

The animation is high standard. The character and environment drawings are fit and well designed with beautiful and proper colors. Everything is well animated with good movement details, consistent frame quality, and light effects which bring about nice action scenes. Top-notch sounds, good ambience and exceptional voice acting. All voices are well chosen and are perfectly fitted for all characters. The OP is also good with fitting jazz music but the ED however is disappointing.

It has great casting. Filled with various characters that are unique and most interesting, this is one of the best points of the show. You have alchemists, mafias, psycho killers, delinquents, a newspaper and informant group, a comic thief duo, a homunculus, a train monster, etc. All of them are well made, with unique traits and sensible purposes.

Baccano gives outstanding enjoyment. You will laugh, you will be thrilled, you will be shocked, you will be curious and you will want more. Well actually, you will demand more because in the 13 episodes some things were not explained so hopefully, the OVAs would cover those holes in the story.

**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 is just like Christopher Nolan's movies
It IS good.. but way way way overrated, where people tend to overlook its flaw
AND, god forbid to talk bad about it.
The reason is simple, because most people will give high score to complicated story, so they will feel great about themselves.
"I don't really get it, but fuck that shit! the story is complicated so it must be awesome!" -most people-

The story is about a chain of events from each character in which will form the complete picture of the story.
The problem is there are too many characters.

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.

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.

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.

Porbably one of the most enjoyable works in the history of anime, Baccano! keeps true to its Italian origin. A commotion, a confusion and lots of noise.

The action follows a perfect pace, very easy to follow, the art is good and the animation is appropriate to the pace and environment of the whole series. The story setting is also very interesting, since stories during the 30s and the American recession are not common. However, some details ruin what could be a perfect piece.

The first thing is that whoever commanded that plot tried to confuse us, the viewers, by mixing temporal states randomly. In ... a scene we are at the 30s the following we are pilgrims sailing to the Land of Freedom and Fortune. This would be ok if they did not give us that information. Saying "now we're going to the 30s" before the scene was not a good trick. It is easy to get used to the pace this way and by the middle of the series I already had the notion of the relationship between characters.

The second motif of my disapproval are the characters. From the little girl that is doing the investigation (and no more information is given about her, which I found amazing. In a bad way, but still amazing) to the random criminals at the train, that simply do not add or take anything from the story or plot. Some of them seem to be there just to fill space, others were extremelly interesting but nothing but the strictly necessary while the most idiot characters were explored to an extreme that turned them boring.

As third and final detail is the humour. Easy, fast paced, silly. Everything a comic relief appreciator does not appreciate. Fairly good moments of humour were interrupted by random moe screaming or were continued to exhaustion.

Even though this anime flaws on three very important details, they do not ruin the enjoyment of the series due to its pace. The characterization of the scenery and overall environment is also good (fails sometimes due to some very "japanesque" actions and the whole language setting) and even such an incredible story as immortal mafia seems possible along the way. The great victory of Bacanno! is, without any doubt, the pace supported by the animation and music.

Overall, a great anime that is nearly impossible to dislike. I highly recommend it, just because it's such an easy, amusing and fun thing to watch.

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 anime I've heard mentioned several times but have never seen. The anime was adapted from a series of light novels written by Narita Ryohgo. The anime was handled by Brain's Base, a studio that I have never watched anything from. So, this is going to serve as my introduction to them. Maybe I'll even let them have a goodnight kiss if they make a good first impression, but they'd better not expect more than that. What kind of guy do they think I am? With that said, and some strange people taking it seriously, let's take a look at Baccano.

There ... are actually three rather distinct stories in Baccano. Tied together through both repeated characters and elements. There's a story about trouble aboard a train, a story about a young girl looking for her brother, and a story about a group of people gaining immortality. The stories are told non-linearly with just about every episode having elements of all of them. This does present one issue. The very first episode shows the ending of the second story chronologically. Just think about that for a moment. You know exactly who's going to survive. The end result is that a lot of moments that should be dramatic aren't. Now, to be fair, showing the three stories simultaneously does essentially eliminate any tension that the earlier stories could have had. Now, you may be wondering why the ending of the second story spoils so much. The basic answer is that the final chronological story, Eve's search for her brother, doesn't involve most of the characters from the other two stories. The characters who were on the train don't even make an appearance. In short, they could have kept all three going simultaneously and still gained some good drama from the second story, if they hadn't started by showing the aftermath. Another issue is that the anime jumps between incredibly goofy moments to serious moments frequently, sometimes in the span of seconds. Again, let's be fair. There are some anime that balance drama and comedy quite successfully, but that's not the way to do it. In order to maintain a good balance you need time to transition between the serious and the comedic. Moments where the comedy/drama winds down to make room for the other. If you switch between them quickly it doesn't work. It's just disjointing. Another thing that bothers me is that there's a scene in the very first episode with two reporters talking about strange events and trying to make sense of... well, the rest of the series. The problem is that after the first episode these characters are never seen nor referenced again. Which renders the whole scene entirely pointless. Maybe they show up in the specials, but that doesn't give them any relevance to the main series. They could've been cut out completely and nothing would have been lost. To Baccano's credit though, the humour does work pretty well and the stories are unique and it's interesting to see how they unfold.

Baccano has an unwieldy cast and they try to give a lot of them their own story arcs. The basic result is that the arcs are really short, rushed and most of them are pretty pointless. Some of the characters are interesting but most are pretty one-dimensional. Which works for the goofier characters like Isaac and Miria, but not so much for the more serious characters like Firo and Chane. For every interesting character there are three or four with very little personality. Most of them only serve one or two basic purposes in the story and are never developed beyond a few traits.

The art is actually one of Baccano's stronger points. The characters have unique looks, there are some strong action sequences and there are some good details. Now, there are some problems. Some of the action sequences are kind of confusing. They get rushed through too quickly and it can be difficult to tell jut what happened with some of them. There are also some really bizarre facial expressions, particularly from Jacuzzi. To be fair, they're probably meant to be more humorous than anything else, but they don't really work most of the time.

The voice acting is another generally well done aspect. Every actor gives a performance that's completely suited to their character. Koyasu Takehito gives a very calm and collected performance as the calm and collected Luck. Sakaguchi Daisuke gives a generally whiny performance as the generally whiny Jacuzzi. Aoki Sayaka and Onosaka Masaya both give loud and exaggerated performances as Miria and Isaac and so on. I will acknowledge that it can get more than a little tiring, though. Yeah, it's perfectly suited to the characters but that just means that the lack of character complexity carries over to the voice acting. There may be a lot of great actors in this, but they don't get to demonstrate their range. Except for, possibly, Kanda Akemi who plays one of the more emotionally complex characters. The music is pretty simple. There's a high energy track for the high energy scenes. A more toned down track for the more dramatic scenes and so on.

The yuri factor is a 1/10. Honestly, there's not a lot of interaction among the female characters. Yeah, Miria gets to be on friendly terms with both Ennis and Nice but there's nothing beyond that and those scenes are pretty short.

So, that's Baccano. It's... okay. There are some funny scenes, the art is well done and there's some good action, but the story is lacking and the characters are largely dull and under-developed. If you just want some hyper-active fun you'll probably like it. If you want some kind of depth, you'd be better served with something else. Final rating: 6/10. No goodnight kiss for Brain's Base, but they can have a handshake.

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.

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.

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.

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.