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BACCANO!
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Animation - 8.8 |
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Sound - 9.0 |
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Story - 9.1 |
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Character - 8.8 |
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Value - 8.9 |
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Enjoyment - 8.9 |
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Average - 8.9 |
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| Average |
9.3 |
| Animation |
9 |
| Sound |
9 |
| Story |
10 |
| Character |
10 |
| Value |
9 |
| Enjoyment |
9 |
| Baccano! is an anime which is hard to describe in few words and enjoyable beyond compare. With a large gambit of characters and a time-line which makes little sense at first, it could be easy to become confused. Yet each character and moment is explained in the end. Although the ending may have some wishing for more (sequel perhaps?)... even going as far as to explain "why". Do not miss Baccano!
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0 of 1 people found this review helpful.
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No
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| Average |
10.0 |
| Animation |
10 |
| Sound |
10 |
| Story |
10 |
| Character |
10 |
| Value |
10 |
| Enjoyment |
10 |
| Creating an intriguing story with a huge cast is difficult in itself. But to do it with such style, charisma, humor, and horror like Baccano! does is absolutely stunning. Without a doubt, the best anime I have ever seen. And I've seen a lot.
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0 of 1 people found this review helpful.
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| Average |
2.5 |
| Animation |
4 |
| Sound |
4 |
| Story |
4 |
| Character |
1 |
| Value |
1 |
| Enjoyment |
1 |
| I've never felt more ghoulish watching a series than I have with Baccano. Rarely more angry, either. It has to be said.
That said, I really wanted to like this series. I really did. I gave it all the time and energy I could give. But when it reaches a point that is utterly toxic and can turn a good day into a bad one within 25 minutes, that's a blaring signal that this isn't worth it.
Baccano is essentially a mixture of a dozen or more plots into the one story. Mafia gangsters, politicians, immortal alchemists cross paths in a story that is spread over 220 years. The plots and characters have no relation - they just happen to cross paths, always in a volatile way that results in numerous bloodbaths that never end well.
I'm sure Baccano has the right ingredients for some people. But as crime pieces go, it never clicked for me. And there are two glaring reasons. Firstly, the characters. To be able to like a series like Baccano, where there are no 'good guys' to root for, you have to find a 'villain' or 'rebel' to identify with, find cool or even like. Problem is - I couldn't. Ladd Russo came off as a sociopathic creep instead of black humour. Jacuzzi Splot drove me insane with his continual, high-pitched manic whining instead of make me laugh. Isaac and Miria drove me bonkers with their squeaky, drug-like spoofs instead of coming off like a Bonnie and Clyde duo. The Gandor brothers came off as mere thugs instead of admirable blood brothers. Firo came off as a stupid, naive kid instead of a cool guy. Ennis seemed like a cold bitch instead of a person deserving sympathy. Dallas Genoard appeared to be an arrogant prick instead of a big brother. Chane Laforet seemed more to be a soulless statue than a silent warrior woman. And Nice Holystone - the one character I thought I might end up liking, turned out to be a pure psycho instead of a clever, calculating woman.
The story almost made up for the cast at times, but there was a major problem that could never be overcome. The story never flowed - the jumping between the different plots, backtracks in time and recapping events already seen - it all led to a very stunted, broken feel. It ended up being more frustrating than banging one's head against a brick wall. The animation was gritty, low quality, jagged and lacking in detail. In particular the faces were just ghastly - they might as well have been cardboard cutouts for all the good it did. The opening theme was a good, slick jazz number but after that, there wasn't much to speak of. And the idea of an ending theme asking for sympathy towards a cast that were all cold-hearted killers was absurd and insulting.
In a nutshell, there is no middle ground with Baccano. You will either love its excessive, bloody, cold and zany antics or be driven up the schizenhausen creek with frustration by it. For me it was the latter. It is a real letdown to know the ingredients are probably right but that the complete product just wasn't right for oneself. No offense to anyone that likes it, each to their own. But Baccano is so utterly ghoulish and devoid of anything to follow that it is a rather empty, mortifying experience.
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2 of 7 people found this review helpful.
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Summoner |
(2008-12-14 14:04:35) 2008-09-07 08:53:27 |
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| Average |
8.0 |
| Animation |
7 |
| Sound |
7 |
| Story |
9 |
| Character |
8 |
| Value |
9 |
| Enjoyment |
8 |
| Baccano! is an anime filled with so much soul and sheer originality, that it is pretty much impossible to dislike it. Just 13 episodes, yet I felt as if I've gained more information, more fun, more excitement from Baccano! than from all the anime I have watched in the past few months combined. It is a rare gem in the anime market, and certainly not a show to be missed by anyone who calls himself anime fan.
The idea of having more than twenty "main" characters in the show as long as 13 episodes sounds, well, not only stupid, but insane as well. I sure nobody could ever pulled it off, save for the Baccano! team. Twenty characters, 13 episodes (well there are three "special" OVAs as well), yet not only every single one of them has distinct characteristic traits, they are damn cool to boot. Jesus, even the characters who got no more than 5 minutes of screen time in the whole show can easily kick the ass of some main characters from other anime in term of character depth. And that's not even mentioning the magnificent, non linear storyline Baccano! presents. Some things at the first episodes seem not to make sense until you watch the later ones, the timeline is completely bent in what sometimes appears as a completely absurd way. Show jumps through four different years, through more than twenty characters who exist in these years. And it's the viewer's job to tie all of that together. Won't get away without using your head a bit... a lot maybe, when watching this show. Though as long as you don't get headaches from contemplating about things more complex than "Oh, look, he has a big sword, huhu", immense enjoyment is guaranteed.
What else is there to say? Baccano! is a must watch, it's as simple as that. There is no anime even relatively similar to it and I doubt there will ever be. Baccano! is a wonderful proof to anyone of how eccentric and original can anime get, even in this day and age. Just wish there were more shows I could call as original as Baccano, unfortunately, those are few to the level, as to be counted on one hand's fingers.
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2 of 3 people found this review helpful.
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| Average |
9.5 |
| Animation |
10 |
| Sound |
10 |
| Story |
9 |
| Character |
9 |
| Value |
10 |
| Enjoyment |
9 |
| One of the best comedy/drama/action/mystery/awesomeness to come out of 2007, there has been almost nothing that compares to the fluidly animated and told of stories since perhaps Cowboy Bebop. Baccano! (Italian for "chaos" or "ruckus") is truly a genius of storytelling and viewer captivation, especially for western audiences. Highly entertaining in high octane, you surely would not want to miss this convoluted convulsion of Mafia conflicts, train hijacking, and thieving of your money should you choose to shell them out to add this to your collection.
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0 of 1 people found this review helpful.
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| Average |
9.8 |
| Animation |
9 |
| Sound |
10 |
| Story |
10 |
| Character |
10 |
| Value |
10 |
| Enjoyment |
10 |
| The anime consists of severeal plots(some of them take place on different time planes or locations), all of wich are connected to some extent.
The show had everything a really good anime needs...and so much more. Just to list a few things featured: immortal alchemist, a train being robbed by three bands simultaneously, maffia guys, a mentally challenged and hilariously clumsy couple with more luck than the rest of the world combined and some assasins.
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0 of 1 people found this review helpful.
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| Average |
9.8 |
| Animation |
9 |
| Sound |
10 |
| Story |
10 |
| Character |
0 |
| Value |
10 |
| Enjoyment |
10 |
| Anime about Prohibition-era American gangsters are rare; it`s so rare, in fact, that I can`t name a single one save for Baccano!. The story itself is set in the 1930s, and chronicles the events that take place amongst a myriad of personalities between 1930 and 1932. Don`t be mistaken, though. Just because the story itself is about the mafia in its heyday doesn`t make it your average mob story a la Scorsese and Coppola. Taking up an entirely different - even occult - premise, Baccano! is a refreshing anime that is a recommended watch for the year 2007.
Story
Baccano!`s strength lies in the way its story is told. Though the number of actual events within the story are few - four, in fact - its non-linear progression is what makes it interesting. Before elaborating on that point, however, a notation has to be made regarding the show`s first episode. The first scene involves a pair of characters who are nothing more than largely unrelated, one-time commentators to the rest of the story. The long-winded and ultimately puzzling dialogue in the first several minutes of the first episode will lose a few viewers. It`s the show`s lowest point, and thankfully, it`s only the first number of minutes in the entire series. There`s some justification for this opening scene, though, as it does foreshadow the way the story of Baccano! will be told thenceforth.
The main bulk of the story takes place in singular events, each in the years of 1930, 1931 and 1932. Scenes shift back and forth between these settings a little at a time. It`s more confusing than it is a clever way to tell a story at first, as the viewer is mostly left in the dark as to what and why everything is happening. Things do come together in puzzle-piece fashion about halfway through the series, however, and when it clears up, the plot becomes exciting, and you`re always wondering where things will end up, and how/why they did. It`s done similarly to the way well-known films such as Once Upon a Time in America and Magnolia are, but it`s not as impeccable and, as previously stated, is confusing. It may be worth another viewing just to recall scenes the viewer may have missed or forgotten, as absolutely everything counts. Not a single scene is wasted in mapping out the entire story and - to help viewers remember - the animators even did the courtesy of showing quick flashbacks of scenes related to the current episode during the OP sequence, which is worth watching through each episode for two reasons - one already mentioned just now. The plot itself is unique for anime and is enjoyable to watch through in its own right. The way in which all the events come together as the anime progresses toward the end makes for an interesting storytelling style. It`s a multi-layered story with a solid finish, and a forte of this anime.
Characters
The cast involved in the story of Baccano! is huge. It`s easy to forget the names of many of its characters, and it certainly doesn`t help that these characters are often referred to while they aren`t present, and you`re left wondering who that person was. Some of these names are mentioned before they are even introduced, which can be irksome at best. This is the second reason why watching the OP every time is a good idea. The OP sequence introduces the names and faces of most of the anime`s characters in a way eerily akin to the intro of the film Snatch, complete with a catchy jazz piece. It helps the viewer in getting acquainted with important cast members.
The characters themselves are as colorful as they are numerous. There`s Isaac and Miria, a quixotic and cosplaying version of Bonnie and Clyde, Eve, a Cosette-like figure who constantly searches for her delinquent brother Dallas, Ladd the blood-crazed hitman, Jacuzzi the milquetoast and the insidious Szilard. Each has a different personality and they all work to affect the tone of the anime, ranging from silly moments of comedy to serious action/drama. Isaac and Miria provide practically all of Baccano`s comedic moments, and can be considered the main characters of a show that doesn`t have any. A disappointment lies in the fact that, despite the characters` varied personalities, most of them are stagnant and don`t grow at all. A number of the show`s significant characters also don`t get enough backstory, lack a developed personality, or both. It`s not a huge bother for a show that is mostly plot/action-driven, but it does leave a holes in a few of the character`s motives and actions. One particular character of note is Lua, Ladd`s partner, who just seems to follow Ladd and is marked for death by Ladd for mostly unknown reasons. The fact that she willingly accepts this fate is even more perplexing, as Lua`s character has absolutely no background or personality. It`s mostly solid everywhere else, though. Even Jacuzzi`s irritating, crybaby attitude receives a decent - even if a little sketchy - explanation.
Animation
As the studio responsible for works such as Kamichu! and Kishin Taisen Gigantic Formula, Brains Base did a very good job with Baccano!`s animation. Sporting clean, slick visuals, every single action scene is fluid, and quality is consistent. There is a bit of glaring CG animation done with the train`s corridors, however, which is arguably where most of the story takes place. This may not bother some, but it was an eyesore for me. As a gruesome anime, Brains Base did a good job of animating blood and gore, which is practically everywhere at certain points of the series.
Sound
Baccano! also sports a few groovy tunes. Though not entirely memorable, they do fit the setting well, and is almost entirely orchestrated. The OP is especially catchy, so it`ll take a while before repeatedly watching the OP sequence for flashbacks and characters makes it tiresome. The music never draws away from the mood of the show, which is a plus, though it really should be a given for any anime.
Value/Enjoyment
With action-packed premise and decent pacing, Baccano! won`t lose its viewers in a hurry. Though the beginning is a little tough to get through, the show, like the train where most of it takes place, chugs along and picks up speed all the way to the end. It`s definitely worth watching again, even if to clear up anything the viewer may have missed, but won`t lose its replay value afterward either. Baccano! is a fun story with a refreshing premise in a medium riddled with giant robots, maids, harems and high school.
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1 of 2 people found this review helpful.
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nauXolo |
(2007-12-21 10:09:18) 2007-12-21 10:03:19 |
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| Average |
8.7 |
| Animation |
8 |
| Sound |
8 |
| Story |
9 |
| Character |
9 |
| Value |
8 |
| Enjoyment |
10 |
| Baccano! is a wonderfully crafted anime with an innovative and intriguing story to tell. From a purely entertainment perspective, Baccano! has it all: action, animation, diverse characters, backstory, intrigue, and mystery. The only potential downside is that the first episode is kind of confusing and may be uneventful and boring. Do not let this get to you and keep watching - Baccano! will not disappoint those who like fast paced and thought out animes.
There are 3 continuous time lines in Baccano (plus one flashback) that allows the audience to see what happened before the train incident, during, and after. Events take place around the 1930/1931/1932, where mafia activity is rampant. From speakeasys (illegal alcohol "bars" during time of prohibition) to mafia feuds, it seems to capture the essence of the crime side of the time period. However, later on a fantasy element is added to it, as we find out there are Immortals running amok... At first, I was very skeptical about the presence of immortal beings, but the fact that there are some conditions tied with it, and also how integrated their presence is with the story made it quickly acceptable. I will avoid writing too much analysis in this review in order to prevent spoilage... just be sure to pay attention what year the events are happening in (it'll be obvious when you see it).
I would like to praise Baccano! for its great character cast. It is difficult to give personality to 5+ main players and 10+ important supporting characters in a 13-episode series. However, through the dialogue and rich interaction with other characters, I was able to distinguish and immediately recognize each character, their goals/ambition, and their role in the story. The diverse range of personalities truly helped to contribute identification of the MANY characters.
Some of my favorite characters include Issac/Miria combo, Vino, and Ladd. These characters were unique and I had not seen such twisted and interesting personalities like these before. (I would describe, but just see for yourself!) Their presence spiced up Baccano. I also liked Ennis, Firo, and Jaccuzzi, whose personalities are more common, but were very easy to identify with. The villain is your typical "I want it all" type, but represents a very intimidating force that makes you worry every time he appears on screen.
Nevertheless, Baccano! is not perfect. The ending is a bit 'too happy' considering all the killings and torture that happens. It almost is as if nothing ever happened in the first place. Although Baccano! is, in general, a pretty 'light-hearted' anime (it never gets too philosophical and deep aside from the interesting monologue about solipsism that Vino gives), it is also full of sadistic and crazy characters who 1) kill for fun 2) have a twisted sense of justice 3) have some emotional problems 4) have no idea what to do with their life, etc etc. So, for all the carnage and destruction to be shrugged off at the end felt kind of out of place. Also, if you 'analyze' Baccano's story line thoroughly, you'll find that due to the short nature of the series, they did not do a in-depth job in all of the character's storyline. In other words, as a whole Baccano! creates a good atmosphere, but in detail it is lacking. It warrants a rewatch in the first few episodes only to clarify a few things that one would have otherwise missed if they did not know what happened in the end.
All in all, I would recommend Baccano for those who have more 'experience' in anime watching. Not good for those who have little patience and poor memory. But absolutely delightful and enjoyable for those who like to engage in anime viewing pleasure. Despite the shortcomings in story depth, Baccano is a must watch!
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3 of 3 people found this review helpful.
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| Average |
9.3 |
| Animation |
10 |
| Sound |
10 |
| Story |
9 |
| Character |
9 |
| Value |
9 |
| Enjoyment |
9 |
| Baccano! is unique in almost every aspect. It has smooth animation, great music, rare setting, out of sequence shots and a diverse range of engaging characters. Though there're only 13 episodes, the anime manages to draw us into the world of 20 or so characters in a less than superficial level that gives us a sense of the personalities and motivations of the characters involved.
The most striking of "Baccano!" is its out of sequence shots. Unlike "The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya", present and past are mixed within (rather than whole episode) the episode. The solid present is 1930, the transcontinental train ride, which carries viewers from episode 1 - 13. But in between that are the past and the future. Although it feels kind of short when the train ride ends in episode 13, at the same time, there's a sense of epic closure as we've been given a huge amount of information of the past, and some of the future.
"Baccano!" is a story about different parties and how they interconnect through the immortal elixir. Its story in itself could be complicated as there're many parties involved with different motivations, and that complexity is further exploited through the out of sequence shots of past, present and future. It isn't an easy anime as viewer must watch for every detail closely in order to piece together the sequence of events - which in itself is probably the greatest fun of watching this anime.
As for the story elements, there's plenty of humour, romance, courage, warped justice, violence, desire etc going on. Definitely won't get bored with this anime!
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2 of 4 people found this review helpful.
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| Average |
9.7 |
| Animation |
9 |
| Sound |
10 |
| Story |
9 |
| Character |
10 |
| Value |
10 |
| Enjoyment |
10 |
| Baccano! is my personal favorite from 2007. A truly unique anime, that has everything anyone could every want from an anime, and then some. I highly recomend it to anyone and everyone.
I seriously debated about giving this thing all 10s.
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4 of 5 people found this review helpful.
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| Average |
9.3 |
| Animation |
9 |
| Sound |
9 |
| Story |
9 |
| Character |
9 |
| Value |
10 |
| Enjoyment |
10 |
| I really had to be very harsh to myself not to give a perfect 10 to baccano!. When honestly rated the story is so complex and intelligent but somehow the many puzzles were a bit confusing after time. Baccano leaves no time for spacing out because its very fast paced. Once you got out of the story you are finished.
I love the style of the animation. Very authentic with a great feeling around it. The movement of the characters are very fluid and according to the situation they really get a lot out of it. The funny robber couple is hilarious and even when not talking the animation does make it fun.
The sound is exceptional. The op was very catchy and reminded me a lot of the music in cowboy bebop. The ed has more of a sad feeling around it and that describes best what this anime is all about. It mixes many genres together and whats most important it succeeds in doing so. I love the funny scenes, i love the fighting scenes, i love the creepy atmosphere, i love the sadist characters, i love the way of story-telling and i love BACCANO!.
Overall baccano is one of the many best anime of the year :-). I fell in love with it instantly and i can just recommend this.
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1 of 2 people found this review helpful.
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Laxus |
2007-11-18 12:03:20 |
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| Average |
10.0 |
| Animation |
10 |
| Sound |
10 |
| Story |
10 |
| Character |
10 |
| Value |
10 |
| Enjoyment |
10 |
| I rarely give perfect 10s to an anime, but Baccano! is an exception. Truly one of the best underdog animes of the year. The background music and OP fit the anime perfectly and the animation is top notch and very stylized. Even with the large pack of characters that the creators crammed in, you can remember each one’s name by the second episode because each of them have their own unique personality and luck that is memorable. The real star of the show is the story though. The show is presented in a somewhat random chronological order, but not random enough to make to completely incomprehensible. As you watch more and more, the story begins to make complete sense. The feeling is great as you pull everything together over the episodes. Comedy, drama, action, and a bit of romance. This anime has it all.
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2 of 4 people found this review helpful.
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| Average |
10.0 |
| Animation |
10 |
| Sound |
10 |
| Story |
10 |
| Character |
10 |
| Value |
10 |
| Enjoyment |
10 |
| WOW ... that's one breathtaking anime ... i watched till ep 10 and is waiting for the last 3 episodes ( ends at ep 13 .. hopefully there will be a 2nd season )
First i gotta say its very fast paced .. so many things happen in one episode .. in so many places ... in diff times ... it might be confusing at first but later on you get used to it and then you love it ^_^
It borrows the formual of many diff characters each with their own story that interwines with other characters stories in ways you can't imagine ( like the movie CRASH ) but it is taken to a whole new dimension by jumping between three diff years to collect the story pieces .. feels a lot like real detective work ... which makes it even more fantastic :)
Finally i gotta say that all the characters are interesting .. the art style is very good .. the BG fits the time era very well ... wait for my full review when i finish the series :)
Note : HOW COME NO ONE REVIEWED THIS FANTASTIC SERIES !!!!?
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0 of 3 people found this review helpful.
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