LogFAQs > #902002779

4. Baccano! (2007)
Turnsniper (1/5)
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For the longest time, I felt that Baccano! Was my favorite anime of all time. This is mainly because I dont really ever take the time to compare my favorite shows when they dont really have much in common with one another. Baccano! Is a great show, and possibly the show that vaulted me into becoming so engrossed with the medium (I know Ive said this about a number of shows, but I think Baccano! Had the biggest influence due to sheer quality, rather than any form of emotional attachment). It takes place in the prohibition era of the United States. You have three different timelines to follow, all compounded onto each other, switching between segments when needed. The main plots are Firos storyline, which follows a young man on his journey to acceptance within a mafia family, the Flying Pussyfoot, which chronicles the events of a train massacre resulting from three different criminal groups hijacking it at the same time, and the story of Eve Genoard, and her search for her missing brother. Its a combination of crime drama and fantasy that works far better than it probably should.

Baccano feels unique to this day simply because of its presentation. The story structure is chaotic to match each individual storys own chaotic nature. Its a show that requires you to pay pretty close attention to the intricacies of the plot in order to understand it. It wasnt a problem for me, since I loved the story and direction, and I can pretty much breeze through the show on any given viewing. Theres just so much to like about the show, but it mostly rests with its characters. I think the entire cast is worth getting some love, but my favorites are Isaac and Miria, Luck, Ladd, Jacuzzi, and, of course, the greatest villain of them all, Claire Stanfield. Honestly, the Flying Pussyfoot does stand out as the pretty clear high point compared to the other parts, but its all so great.

And really, the anime is one of those instances where the adaptation is leagues better than the source. Thats not to say that the light novels are bad, since theyre not, but without the pacing existent within the show, the books do get a little dry. The stories feel so short in comparison, as theyre not being told at the same time. This renders the brilliant pacing lended to the anime through the constant cutting between action nonexistent. The stories work so much better when put together as a singular entity, and its crazy how it works that way. Perhaps Im the only one who thinks that, though. Its a shame well likely never see any more of the story get the animation treatment. The anime does leave a ton of plotlines unfinished, and theres plenty of room for more quality storylines to be built on top of it, but the novels just wont be able to capture that same magic for me. As is, Baccano is a masterpiece, and deserves to be on everyones watchlist.
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