Story: The jumbled storytelling of Baccano! makes the series a joy to watch yet incredibly difficult to express. Baccano! is told through a series of non-sequential flashbacks taking place primarily between 1930 and 1932 in the fictionalized Prohibition-era America represented in films like The Untouchables or Miller’s Crossing (though the constant smattering of dark irony and grisly humor makes it more of a cinematic counterpart to the stylized gangster movies of Tarantino and Guy Ritchie). Most of the story revolves around an incident that takes place in 1931 aboard a transcontinental train bound for New York named the Flying Pussyfoot. Three separate groups simultaneously attempt to hijack the train for various purposes and thus, the unstoppable engine of death, destruction, and black laughs commences. Interwoven into this already complicated scenario are separate storylines involving a mafia turf war, immortal alchemists, and a young girl searching for her ne’er-do-well brother.
Characters:
For a thirteen-episode anime, the cast of characters is comparatively immense; between the twelve main characters and countless supporting characters, this anime gives you a lot to keep track of. However, from the brilliant comedic duo Isaac and Miria, to the zany and completely psychopathic Ladd Russo, there isn’t a single character that isn’t somehow likeable. Additionally, the large cast serves to add to the constant sense of tension because, without a “main” protagonist, there exist no guarantees that any of the characters will make it safely through the entire series. The downside regarding the characters and (generally the series as a whole) is, given the limited time-span, you aren’t given nearly enough time to really get to know such a broad ensemble cast (a problem that the subsequent specials did little to fix).
Sound:
Fast-paced jazz tracks make up the majority of the Baccano soundtrack and generally fit the show flawlessly. While adding even more vitality and polished style to a show already bursting with energy, the use of jazz and swing pieces reinforce the shows authenticity and place it more firmly in the time period. The dubbed voice acting is generally solid, with characters possessing different accents corresponding to their various origins and the voice actors pulling off said accents to different degrees. However, each character does sound completely unique, with each voice actor bringing in something new to the table.
Animation:
The animation is of high quality throughout, with consistent fluidity, well-shaped characters, and distinctive style. The opening animation is absolutely brilliant (so much so that I never skipped it even once while watching the show). The way violence is handled also deserves to be underscored; every fight scene is animated with a fluidity and artistic flair that is at once enthralling, horrifying, and oftentimes even a bit humorous.
Overall:
Baccano! is pure, unadulterated chaos; anarchy dispensed with a furtive underlying structure that eventually manages to jam all of its various fragments together to form a thrilling, morbidly humorous whole that is ultimately incredibly satisfying. The complex plot and enormous cast, combined with relatively strong dubbing, clean animation, and impeccable musical score makes this a must-see series for fans of the American gangster genre or anyone simply looking to have a bloody good time.
