The main story if I were to describe in my own words, is very different from what's written officially on most sites; the sites only seem to explain the plotline from the point of view of the very first episode, but it really is only a part of the whole huge drama.Like Mikado, every other character seems to have his own past and a specific point in lifetime due to which they all get connected in only one subcity.The starting might be set even some twenty years prior to the current timeline where all the stuff to Celty happens, and then Izaya emerges on the spot to make it all just more complex, even though there are many things Izaya isn't involved in, the biggest example being how Kida and Mikado start their own gangs and how Anri ends up with how she ends up with (no spoilers), and all the things that Doctor guy with Celty and his father does in the beginning.Its interesting how all this cool stuff happens in the same one place, Ikebukoro, and then Izaya being the guy who adds the fuel to the fire, the guy due to whom the whole setting gets so much interconnected.
Izaya Orihara - one of the most interesting characters I've encountered in anime.Prolly a psychopath, a very interesting psychopath though, is a guy who's just very much interested in human beings.He doesn't care about anything or anyone but just loves humans in general, mainly he's just interested in human nature and the way humans react to specific circumstances around them.This very nature of him is revealed in the very first episodes but slowly and surely he just becomes the main strength of progressing the storyline, the "puppet master" who just treats all human beings as pawns in order to fulfill his own desires - the desire to relish the diversity and fascination of human nature.Yeah, he's that kind of psycho who's interested neither in money nor sex nor being the best or achieving anything great in his life; all he's interested in are humans.Interesting isn't it? And what seems to make his character even more worthwhile is his occasional use of philosophical concepts, all his "God" and afterlife theory and everything supernatural that occurs around him.Quite surprisingly, he's a guy who holds belief in all supernatural and inexplainable phenomenon around him yet doesn't hold a belief in god, he actually sometimes wonders if he himself is the God.His over all complexity explained in the simplest tone, a rather "couldn't care less" personality yet flourishing with such thought provoking concepts, yeah he's one of the most intriguing guys in anime.And his level of information about almost everything makes him even more badass.
All the other characters in this anime are also quite fascinating, which actually might be the reason behind the wide success of this anime, along with some other reasons too obviously.Celty being the point of everything just after Izaya is just too nice for a monster, a likable character, and then there's Shizuo.The episode I am at till now, Shizuo doesn't seem to hold much importance in the major happenings of the story, which is kind of a pity, considering how much of an epic character he actually is.Mikado and Kida and Kadota gang are some other cool characters, though Mikado with all his past and what he did still kind of seems bland.And then however there are still those characters who couldn't annoy you more with their stupidity and over-prevailing emotional imbalances, like Seiji Yagiri for example.His love was very stupid in my opinion, and his stalker Mika Harima was even more stupid, like I mean seriously the guy literally banged her head in the wall and nearly killed her and she was still ready to have a plastic surgery and change her appearance JUST for HIM? That's not a very human-like behaviour I tell you, both of them are prolly mentally ill and need a treatment.Anri was, well I'm still confused whether I even like her.The type of character she holds is the one I have always hated in anime girls, and even though she's got some solid past to be what she really is, she's still just not interesting, no not even with all her power.Some characters in this anime are very good and some other just a plain pain in the ass.
The story progress in Durarara is very different, it uses nearly all the methods of story telling I yet know of, except for the symbolism.It takes start somewhere off in the "middle", slowly and slowly opening up all the links and revealing them, both with the happenings in the present and the character's pasts.What makes it all the more interesting is that Izaya's usually behind everything that happens.The flashbacks help lend development not only to the characters but also to the story, they're "important" for the story, which is why most of flashbacks are not boring or useless.The anime does a very good job at keeping its viewers interested in main characters and not diverting attention.Except Shizuo and that russian sushi guy, there's nothing in the story I've found being pointless (Note:As I mentioned above, Shizuo is very interesting, but just seems pointless.By the way, I'm still at episode 18 so i don't know if he is of any use later in the story.No, fighting the Saika army didn't make him of any concrete importance to the story progress.)
The urban vibe in the story and all the gangs and criminal stuff makes it even more interesting, and the best thing is, the story remains true to its basic core and doesn't deal much with all the "right and wrong phenomenon".Everything that happens for a character, happens good or bad only from his/her own perspective.This non-philosophical approach is quite good if you're looking for something to watch just to lighten your mood.Even with all its complexities and interlinks, Durarara still manages to maintain a light mood in its progress.I won't say it fails to develop interest, because at the end of every episode I was compelled to watch the next one in order to know what happens next, and yet still it wasn't the type with which I can get absolutely hooked or just not be able to get up from my seat while watching it, which from my point of view, is a positive.Such light and yet interesting and complex stories can be good for your health as well as to maintain your mood.The pacing is also quite moderate, enough for one to feel easy while watching it and not end up confused with all the drama that happens.
The sound isn't something I can write much on, because quite frankly I didn't even notice it much during watching the anime.All I can say is, its not dull and keeps up with the mood.
The animation is good and moderate, its a very colourful anime which is the main thing.But even in all its colour, it holds some good supernatural and dark themes.The anime can be funny and dark at the same time, much like a little child who has a great deal of emotional mood springs.The anime is not annoying.
All in all, my experience with this anime was quite good.I enjoyed it, I got to see some thoroughly interesting characters and a good drama, and that makes it all worth it.The anime can prove a very good time pass
