Like Baccano, Durarara centers around underworld dealings, but this time taking place in modern day Japan rather than 1930s America. More specifically in the Ikebukuro district of Tokyo; where high school student Mikado Ryugamine has just arrived, looking forward to meeting his childhood friend, Masaomi Kida, and starting a new life of excitement. And what excitement Ikebukuro has to offer... rival color gangs who fight turf wars in the streets; people with impossible strength; mythical beings; a colorless gang known only as the "Dollars". Something big is about to happen in Ikebukuro, and unbenounced to Mikado, he is right in the middle of it.
Omori Takahiro directs Durarara in a style akin to a Guy Ritche film; grimy, frenetic, and gleefully twisted. The show just radiates with off-key energy and keeps the viewer interested in the winding plot. The backgrounds do a great job in depicting the busy, crowed and chaotic streets and alleys of Ikebukuro. Character designs are stylish, yet at times also messy, which adds to the grittiness of the show. Likewise, the animation is mostly fluid with moments of jerkiness which Takahiro uses accentuate the edgy atmosphere. One very noticeable interesting stylistic touch is that only the characters in the spotlight get detailed designs, with the passing crowds being featureless. The end result is a unique look which embodies the show's frenetic energy.
Durarara's story is twisting and piecemeal; gradually revealing the secrets of Ikebukuro and its residents through connecting story arcs. A lot of time is spent developing the story's whacked-out version of Tokyo, showing many things which are explored and explained later. The world of Durarara is vast and filled which distinctive characters and wild happenings, all of which fit together very well. The story arcs build on each other, creating an intricate web of events and sub-plots which keeps the viewership eager to see what happens next. Each arc is entertaining and creative on there own right.
However, this is not to say the writing in Durarara is spotless. In fact, there is a huge number of plot contrivances. While most of the shows sub-plots are interesting, there is a good number which are not. Some are a bit to farfetched to take seriously, or at least not completely. There are also several plot treads which are simply left hanging, or barely even explored, which might leave some unsatisfied. Despite these flaws, Durarara works through charismatic characters, shifting narrative, and off-key charm.
Durarara is a prime example of a show having too many characters. The cast for this show is huge and diverse; highlights include: a crooked information dealer, a bodyguard with superhuman strength, a crazy doctor, and a headless transporter. And that is just the tip of the iceberg. Each character is interesting or likeable in their own way, down to the bit players, and the wide array of personality offers a lot to like. The flip-side of this is that there are so many characters that it is impossible to develop them all. Majority of the cast comes off as highly likeable with the complexity of dixie cups; handy plot devises with little actual depth to offer.
Most of the development goes to Mikado and his two schoolyard friends, Masaomi and Anri. On the surface all three look like normal high school student, however, have well kept secrets which they are hidden from each other (and the viewer in the beginning of the series). Most of the latter part of Durarara is focused on the friendship of these three and the repercussions their secret lives have on it, which makes for a strong final arc. However, there is a certain dissatisfaction in seeing the vast majority of characters get minimal character development. Especially since there are some characters which are more interesting then the trio of high school students (not to say they are uninteresting), yet do not get as much screen time. Regardless, the character development that is there is really quite good, and the likeability of the cast more or less paves over the lack of development.
In the end, for whatever flaws it may have, Durarara is definitely worth its time. Though it might not live up to its older cousin Baccano (which it will inevitably be compared to), the show is wildly entertaining. It provides a gigantic, likeable cast, and a well realized world which is as creative as it is crazy. It is exciting, funny, and undeniably intriguing.
