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sesame_seed Saturday night 8:30pm-2:30am. No one mentioned the important thing about this series, which is that it is not a tightly-plotted thriller about rival Mafia groups vying for the Secret of Eternal Youth, but instead a madcap comedy about vrs insane people trying to kill each other.
This series is hysterical. And I don't even enjoy senseless violence! It wouldn't probably have been even funnier if I did. Baccano! seems to have made it onto quite a few "best anime" lists, but I haven't seen much discussion of it on livejournal. I think I can see why, though: the show throws a ton of competing factions and plot points at the viewer, and half the fun is seeing how they shake out. (And then wondering what happened to the ones that disappeared, XD.) I would hate to spoil the surprise for someone else.
There are three major plotlines:
1930: Two bottles of Immortality Elixer are misplaced in New York. Who'll end up with them?
1931: Various crazy murderers are on board a transcontinental express from New York to Chicago. Who'll kill whom?
1932: Aftermath and reunion in NYC.
Characters:
Miria and Issac: The two "main" characters are a two-man comedy act, XD.
Firo: A pure-hearted, fearless, not-too-bright guy with mad fighting skills -- because this is exactly the kind of guy you want in your mafia group.
The Gandors: Small-time mafia family out expand by secretly befriending/adopting half the main cast.
Ladd Russo: A crazy murderer, but gets all the best lines. XD Guarenteed to point out when someone's Grand Dramatic Speech makes no sense, and also, to attempt to kill the most difficult person to kill in any room he walks into.
Maiza: The smiley-faced compassionate type ala Shouka in Saiunkoku (also the kind of guy you want in your mafia group amirite?). Unlike Shouka, really bad at making important decisions.
Czeslaw: Creepy kid quotient: filled!
Lua, Ennis, Chane, and Rachel: There are way too many silent/robotic women in this series. Ennis and Chane kick ass but are slaves to the men who created them. Rachel is competant, but quiet. Lua is creepy and she and Ladd totally deserve each other.
Nice: The only active and outspoken female character! *cheers*
Eve and Dallas Geonard: Pious, adoring younger sister plus no-good deliquent big brother. Major plot point involving Dallas is resolved in an incredibly weird way.
Nicholas and Eneary: I thought the anime was going somewhere with Nicholas.
Rail Tracer: I CALLED IT I SO CALLED IT.
Huey: Since when are American prisoners kept in Newfoundland? Also: LOL ridiculously portentious visual metaphors.
Jacuzzi: Cowardice exaggerated to the point where future plot developments make no sense. XD
Questions not answered by the series:
(Spoilers, highlight to read)
1. What was the package Jacuzzi and Co. boarded the train to obtain?
2. What was Elmer's wish when he spoke to the demon underwater?
3. Who is the blond-haired man with Luck-style bangs in the ending credits? (Chrissie and I think he might be the demon.)
4. Why Firo?!
Series is totally recommended, especially to people who love or can appreciate senseless violence/absurdity/great comic timing.
EDIT: Watch out for spoilers in comments.
sesame_seed Saturday night 8:30pm-2:30am. No one mentioned the important thing about this series, which is that it is not a tightly-plotted thriller about rival Mafia groups vying for the Secret of Eternal Youth, but instead a madcap comedy about vrs insane people trying to kill each other. This series is hysterical. And I don't even enjoy senseless violence! It wouldn't probably have been even funnier if I did. Baccano! seems to have made it onto quite a few "best anime" lists, but I haven't seen much discussion of it on livejournal. I think I can see why, though: the show throws a ton of competing factions and plot points at the viewer, and half the fun is seeing how they shake out. (And then wondering what happened to the ones that disappeared, XD.) I would hate to spoil the surprise for someone else.
There are three major plotlines:
1930: Two bottles of Immortality Elixer are misplaced in New York. Who'll end up with them?
1931: Various crazy murderers are on board a transcontinental express from New York to Chicago. Who'll kill whom?
1932: Aftermath and reunion in NYC.
Characters:
Miria and Issac: The two "main" characters are a two-man comedy act, XD.
Firo: A pure-hearted, fearless, not-too-bright guy with mad fighting skills -- because this is exactly the kind of guy you want in your mafia group.
The Gandors: Small-time mafia family out expand by secretly befriending/adopting half the main cast.
Ladd Russo: A crazy murderer, but gets all the best lines. XD Guarenteed to point out when someone's Grand Dramatic Speech makes no sense, and also, to attempt to kill the most difficult person to kill in any room he walks into.
Maiza: The smiley-faced compassionate type ala Shouka in Saiunkoku (also the kind of guy you want in your mafia group amirite?). Unlike Shouka, really bad at making important decisions.
Czeslaw: Creepy kid quotient: filled!
Lua, Ennis, Chane, and Rachel: There are way too many silent/robotic women in this series. Ennis and Chane kick ass but are slaves to the men who created them. Rachel is competant, but quiet. Lua is creepy and she and Ladd totally deserve each other.
Nice: The only active and outspoken female character! *cheers*
Eve and Dallas Geonard: Pious, adoring younger sister plus no-good deliquent big brother. Major plot point involving Dallas is resolved in an incredibly weird way.
Nicholas and Eneary: I thought the anime was going somewhere with Nicholas.
Rail Tracer: I CALLED IT I SO CALLED IT.
Huey: Since when are American prisoners kept in Newfoundland? Also: LOL ridiculously portentious visual metaphors.
Jacuzzi: Cowardice exaggerated to the point where future plot developments make no sense. XD
Questions not answered by the series:
(Spoilers, highlight to read)
1. What was the package Jacuzzi and Co. boarded the train to obtain?
2. What was Elmer's wish when he spoke to the demon underwater?
3. Who is the blond-haired man with Luck-style bangs in the ending credits? (Chrissie and I think he might be the demon.)
4. Why Firo?!
Series is totally recommended, especially to people who love or can appreciate senseless violence/absurdity/great comic timing.
EDIT: Watch out for spoilers in comments.