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Studio : Brains-Base
Licenced by : FUNimation
Length : 13 Episodes
Year : 2007
Genre : Adventure - Historical - Shounen
Synopsis :
Baccano! is an action-packed murder mystery of the 1930s in America which involves a pair of insane -yet highly succesful- serial robbers, civil war in the mafia, blood-thirsty cults dressed in white, immortals from the 1700s, and above all, alchemists. Whether taking place in the gold mines of California or the mafia-infested New York, aboard the haunted Flying Pussyfoot in 1932 or a lonely ship at sea in 1711, this fast-paced series links countless characters and a myriad of plots simultaneously under the single name of Baccano, an Italian word meaning "ruckus". Presented in no particular order, nevertheless chronologically, Baccano! leaves the viewers to put this story together themselves.
Additional Notes:
1) Episodes 14-16 are bonus DVD episodes from DVDs 5, 7 and 8.
2) This series ranked #19 in Anime-Source's Best of 2007 poll.
Added : 2007-07-08
Synopsis by : bobbyneko
Last update : 2008-10-11
Last update details : Song modified
Score : 9.64
Number of reviews : 11
Link(s) :
Official #1 : Official Baccano! Website (Japanese)
Official #2 : Wowow's Baccano! Website (Japanese)
Song(s) :
Opening #1 : Paradise Lunch - Gun's & Roses
Ending #1 : Kaori Oda - Calling
Hits : 43112
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Posted by : Stonewolf
Posted on : 2009-10-27 
I'm not even sure where to start with this review. Much like the first episode declares itself, there is no clear starting point in this series. Rather, you have to sit back and prepare for the ride of your life, as well as some incredibly brutal violence and mind bending plot twists. I feel obligated to say that I had no idea what I was getting into when I started watching Baccano!, and it made it all the more enjoyable.
The story takes place in America in the 1930's and introduces a wide cast of characters, each one of which is incredibly diverse and unique (including one of the most memorable tandems I have ever seen in Isaac and Miria). Rather than giving a set chronological order of events, the viewer is shown scenes seemingly at random that all lead up to the climax aboard the train "The Flying Pussyfoot." As the plot unfolds it becomes clear that there is a reason the story is told the way it is and everything comes together extroardinarily well.
The production values are through the roof on this one, and the music fits the setting as well as the characters perfectly. I'll never forget this series and will recommend it to pretty much everyone I know. However, this is not for the lighthearted or for those who want a simple viewing. Be prepared to have your brain twisted and to be desensitized immensely (let's just say that getting shot in the face seems like a merciful death to me now). I rarely give out 10's on any category, but Baccano! deserves every one of them in my opinion, I understand that it is not for everyone, but I loved it.
Animation - 10, Extremely well done action sequences and great scenery.
Sound - 9, OP was a great fit for the series and really sets the tone off the bat.
Characters - 10, I will never forget Isaac, Miria, Claire, and Ladd...EVER.
Story - 10, Immortal Alchemists with demonic powers is awesome.
Overall - 10, Had me tensed and glued to the screen the entire way.
Posted by : Paraclyte28
Posted on : 2009-03-17
Oh my, oh my, oh my.
I'd like to start this off with my two favorite characters. I like how the anime has know real lead character but I will never forget Miria and Isaac. I can't really describe these two. They're so unique and amazing. They're always optimistic and most of the time, can't see the big picture. Very simple-minded yet incredibly interesting. The final clip of them in Episode 13 was very funny. Oh it's amazing how funny stupid characters can be. Another character, Claire Stanfield was a badass. His ethics were weird but damn he's powerful as hell.
Story is astounding. I can't really explain how wonderful it is but the different chronological order helped in building up the plot.
I didn't expect the action scenes to be that intense. It surprised me and I liked it. Brutal but not as much blood and gore as Elfen Lied. Blowing a kid's head off with a shotgun is savage.
This maybe a short review but I really couldn't think clearly because of all the wonderful things this anime showed me. If you guys want to see an anime which has good action scenes and badass characters. Then this anime is for you!
Posted by : ErwinRommel 
Posted on : 2009-03-10
This show is one hell of a ride. Except for some weird out of place shout-outs to Japanese culture, this anime has it all: Great cast of characters, excellent story, and an opening song that you just want to listen to over and over again. Highly Recommended
It's quite amusing that Baccano! somehow managed to meld supernatural beings, idiotic robbers, and sociopaths of all colors into a plot that is absurd yet brilliantly executed. The story is about the link between the events on the trans-continental, the ship Advena Avis, and a missing hoodlum in depression era New York. There are three different settings to this story that mainly spans three years with a short interlude in 1711. Baccano! hardly makes an effort in keeping track of time as the three settings are scattered across all the episodes and never shown for more then a few minutes at a time. This disjointed chronology is acceptable only because the anime does such a good job in ensuring the presentation and execution of the plot is top notch. There are moments of confusion when characters like Firo Prochainezo would talk amicably with his main squeeze Ennis, and then suddenly appear in a completely unrelated scene where he doesn't know her. Yet the suspense is kept well and this confusion is kept to a minimal.
Characters like Miria and Isaac are rare. They are warmhearted people but the anime ensures their kindness never gets in the way of their stupidity (Although I could never understand Isaac's thorough knowledge of obscure Japanese history. Nevermind that, Baccano! is set in the thirties, just google Mr. Yunioshi and see what Hollywood thought how Asians look thirty years later. I guess it's not in the realm of impossibility.). We don't see any monumental character development in Baccano! but the cast have well written dialogues and the chemistry between the characters work. It takes a special talent in writing to turn "I'll kill you" into a romantic phrase...especially when the guy is covered in blood.
Overall, Baccano! is an excellent anime. 10/10
Posted by : Veld
Posted on : 2009-02-12  
Put briefly, this is one of my favorite anime. A lot of action, a lot of plot, a good amount of humor and a bunch of really interesting characters make this one of the best I have seen.
The good:
Animation:
This anime shows very good animation and the characters are the better for it. The action is just so fluid with the animation in this one.
Characters:
The characters in this anime really stand out as memorable and enjoyable.
Isaac and Miria, the insane couple, are two of my favorite characters in any anime thus far and I've seen at least 30. They are absolutely hilarious. The rest of the characters are very well made, believable and life like in many ways.
Plot:
The plot to this one runs deep. With one central event, five separate and seemingly unrelated sides form and take on totally different goals that perfectly get in the others way making the conflict more intense and interesting.
Style:
This anime somehow kept an extremely serious story while adding some side-splitting humor. Watching just for laughs, this would be a good one, as would watching just for plot. I find the style to Baccano! unique and one that I won't soon forget.
The bad:
The only thing that I found as a flaw to this one was the multiple time lines. I think it was a bit confusing to move back and forth between three separate periods of time.
This anime has a lot of pretty graphic violence. Baccano! has nothing on Elven Lied, but it's definitely not for kids or those that don't like violence.
There is a lot of gunfighting, and there is a scene when a man severely beats a man to death bare-fist boxing.
This is one of the few anime that I have watched in one day. I just couldn't put this one down until it was done. I would give it a 9.5 if I could, but I'll have to settle with a 9/10.
Posted by : Terentius
Posted on : 2008-10-11
I was recommended to watch this by other A-S members here on the forum. Generally, their word is gospel and naturally I decided to give this a go and see for myself.
Animation
I found the animation to be of a good standard. What was visually appealing was the fluidity of movement of both the 'static' and 'action' scenes. For example, I've seen some shows where the very act of animating the pouring of a tumbler of whiskey was executed poorly. Why go to all that hassle and effort to animate some kick-ass action scenes when the animators become sloppy with decidedly mediocre efforts? In Baccano that thankfully was not the case. Effort and care went into ensuring every scene was animated to a high standard and for that, I am grateful. My one problem was that the dark, moody scenes on the train were a little TOO dark and consequently I found it difficult to see what really was going on. I liked the character designs. For such a huge cast there was a major risk of certain individuals looking alike or similar. It never happened at all. Overall the animation was splendid except for that one complaint above.
Story
Watching this for the very first time, was like watching the likes of The Usual Suspects, Pulp Fiction or Lucky Number Sleven. It is as confusing as hell, until the truth of the plot finally was revealed. I was left entertained and guessing right to the very end. Simultaneously I was bemused, confused and shocked at seeing characters on screen one minute dead in 1930, then alive in 1932. It is indeed a very unusual but brilliant concept to tell a story non-chronologically. If executed with a cast of say, maybe 6-7 main characters (like in the Usual Suspects) then the experience can be both shocking and exciting. In Baccano's case, with such a massive (and some might say bloated) cast there was always a risk that such creative story-telling might be misintrepreted as incohesive and disjointed. Credit must go to the writers and screenplay for making it work. As a result Baccano was a rivetting, exciting game of cat and mouse, where I was left pondering just who, where and why was everyone on that train. Absolutely brilliant!
Characters
Wow... and I mean WOW!!! I have seen interesting casts; I have seen huge casts. Baccano combines both. It technically should not have worked. After all, the show was ONLY 13 episodes long. To be frank this wasn't the big surprise. The surprise for me was not being able to identify clearly the 'main' characters. Everyone had a monumental role to play in the entire story and were all interlinked with each other's fate. Supposedly unrelated characters were all tied together through a particular chance meeting or a mutual aquaintence. 'Fascinating' would be an understatement to the way that the entire cast kept the excitement of the show alive. For example, when I first saw Ladd Russo, I had thought that this man was the evil and montrous pyschopath. Trust me, there are and always shall be others better/crazier than you. In Ladd's case, he had the misfortune of being on the same train as them!
Music/Sound
The acting was brilliant. At times I felt a chill up my spine listening to some of the dialogues between the cast members. The music was another huge plus. The catchy OP was reflective of the era of 1930's America and showcased the cast in their glory superbly. The ED was much darker and mellow. The score itself was better than average and even though I've heard some excellent Jazz based soundtracks elsewhere, the score still left me with some memorable moments.
Summary
Genius. This show was a work of genius. I have come across shows in the past that have tried squeezing in so much in such a small volume of episodes, that I was left with nothing more than disappointment. Here, what the entire production crew did was like me stuffing 5 kgs of sugar into a 2 kg bag. It's impossible and would have left one HELL of a mess. That is why Baccano was such a brilliant work. I was left wondering what would have been if instead of 13, they made 26 episodes? Would I have enjoyed the fast, break-neck pace of the story at twice the length? Would have delving too much into each character's past detract from the entertainment?
Who cares!?! At 13 episodes long, this is one of anime's most original works of recent times. Everything from an interesting and highly enjoyable cast, to action packed scenes were all condensed into this tidy package. This really has to be seen. It was violent and will not appeal to those of a more 'delicate' nature. For unusual and highly original story-telling, this is one of those rare titles deserving of a perfect 5 stars.
Posted by : Master_M2K
Posted on : 2008-08-27
Story - 9/10
Characters - 9/10
Animation - 9/10
Sound - 9/10
Enjoyment - 10/10
Baccano! Is a Shounen, Supernatural, Action, Adventure, Comedy series with a very attention-grabbing and peculiar story style that's entertaining to watch. There's plenty excitement and laughs to be had however prepare to be lost, at some point, in the numerous, connected storylines. ^_^
The characters of are also another important element seeing how this series has a surprisingly large cast of characters, so remembering them may become a problem. However there will be some that stand out to individual viewers, be it for the character traits, personalities or eccentric behaviour (Isaac & Miria). These will be the ones you’ll enjoy.
The animation is superb in the way that everything and everyone moves fluidly, from their little gestures to the action sequences. There’s also a fair bit of blood and gore, which is used appropriately and the environments including buildings look authentic. The only real downer is with the lack of detail in the character designs. The music of this series goes for the Jazz theme, which suits perfectly with time period it relates to.
Overall Baccano! strangely felt like Quentin Tarantino’s classic "Pulp Fiction" not only for its non-linear storyline but also for its ironic mix of violence and humour. The story is one of the best aspects of the series as it tells a bunch of random events that later on piece together to make a whole story. Not only that but it was incredibly enjoyable to watch the characters go through their own stories, with plenty of mafia action and hilarious comedy. Some may be turned of by the gore and the confusing aspects of the story but all in all this is a series worth checking out.
^_^
Posted by : kevinchaosvs
Posted on : 2008-06-06
“A story is not about facts. Nor is it a compilation of facts; It is the result of thought. For one thing, why did you believe that this story should begin in November 1930? And not a century before? Or even after? And why this particular person as the protagonist?" Vice President of Daily Days to his assistant, Carol
Concept: 100%
Note: To avoid confusions and for easier writing, I’ll refer to the vice-president and Carol as “the pair," while the other cast as the “Mafia gang" in the review.
Baccano! sure is one hidden gem; its concept is one of the most unique so far. The use of pulp fiction, combining of mafias and 1930s settings, is itself already very unique. On the surface, this series seems to be very simplistic and action-based, and nothing more.
I really like the theme about how people are all protagonists to their own stories, yet at the same time part of the stories of others, and it goes on and on. A circle with neither beginning nor ending, so to speak.
What made Baccano! such a successful series is the innovative filming technique:
It consists of many scenes that seemed totally random and unrelated, making the viewers curious as to how they are going to link. The curiosity of the viewers is further tested with the series deliberately messing up the chronological order. Also, the fact that it doesn’t have a visible plot makes the series even more interesting as the viewer has no idea what is going to happen and can only anticipate the progress.
Another equally, if not more, important aspect that attribute to its success, is its intriguing story-telling technique:
The above quote I used in the beginning of the review is part of a dialog in the first several minutes of the first episode which many have considered as being long winded, boring and utterly pointless. That’s where they are wrong, for in actual fact, there are lots of hidden significance in that conversation. Also, that was actually what really initiated my interest towards the series.
The way the series flows, it is as though the pair is really the protagonists. And there were subtle hints of the vice-president breaking the 4th wall when he commented that they could well be the protagonists to the story that Carol wishes to write. As the series progresses, we are being drawn into the story they are sharing as we enter the world of the Mafia gang, making the Mafia gang a “story inside a story".
Sorry if it sounds complex and confusing – because it really is quite complex.
Also, due to the fact that the series is very short, Baccano! progresses at a very fast pace, with no dull moments. The atmosphere is both “grim" and “fun" at the same time (more on dark humor, actually) in how the way the psychotic assassins fight match with the rather happy and Jazzy music.
Characters/Dev: 60%
Despite having a very large cast and being a short series of length 13, the characters are not being neglected and each and every character has their unique and notable personalities. (Not to forget very odd names such as “Jacuzzi Splot"—honestly, what a weird name.) Although they aren’t that well developed in terms of personalities, that can’t be helped since the series is so short.
But my personal interest will be the presence of the pair, who, despite having only appeared twice throughout the series, played major roles; they act as the guide who begins and concludes the story. The seiyuu are considerably good. Not impressive, but nevertheless still good in portraying the emotions and personalities of the characters (particularly the psychotic assassins).
Animation/Graphics/Design: 80%
Good use of dark colors to emulate the moodiness of the era well. Animation is fluid. The actions are also well choreographed, some of which are those nostalgic trademarks scenes from old Western films, like the one which involves the characters in tuxedos and suits doing hat tricks while dodging the enemy’s punches. Throw in insane acrobatic stunts, knife and dagger fights, and plenty of machine guns, and Baccano! delivers visually engaging and rapid actions that’ll leave the audience asking for more. In addition, I also like the animation for the OP, which literally flows from one scene to another. The only bit of problem I have is that some of the violence depicted is quite exaggerated; I know they are trying to show that the opponents are strong, but I swear, our human body isn’t as weak or fragile as to end up mutilated to the degree of some of the victims’. Also, the character designs aren’t really appealing, and that may be one of the reasons why this series is quite underrated. Well, I won’t be critical on those mentioned aspects since it does not really affect my overall enjoyment.
Music: 90%
Jazzy music deployed to compliment the noir, ol’ 1930s pulp fiction settings, helped to make lots of the scenes very lively. In fact, the jazz music played a very pertinent role here, in creating that sort of vibe in the series. Without the music, all that remains in the series is but a rather solemn and dry atmosphere.
The OP is superb too, though the ED is quite average
Summary:
Quirky and unique; definitely worth the watch. Pity it was rather underrated.
The ending for the series was surprisingly happy and light hearted, what with all the bloodshed, killings, and deaths.
This one deserves a solid 10 for originality.
Personal overall Rating: 100%
Posted by : JackBauerInSpace
Posted on : 2008-04-21
I can't begin to describe my love for this show, Having watched hundreds of anime's anyone would get jaded, this my friends is your cure!
The story is incredibly fast paced with non stop action, laugh out loud humor, and really unexpected twists. Violent too, far more so than you will be expecting given the first episode. If it suffers from anything it suffers from a bad title and a first episode that fails to do the show justice. Trust me on this one, I've shown this to people and it redefined what they thought of anime.
The characters are the thing I would highlight most, how rare is it that both the heroes and the villains interest you? When I watch a show with more than 20 important characters and actually know all their names at the end of it, that is a feat, usually I can't even remember the often forgettable main character!
The plot itself is about two rival factions that are each trying to kill various people on a trail, in between these factions are a couple of immortal hippies, a crybaby bad ass, and a mass murderer known as the rail tracer. Each of the factions and the characters in between are extremely interesting, from the man who gets off on killing people who most believe they cannot die to the robber couple that unknowingly bring happiness to all around them. It's a great play of contrasts, with good and evil on full display but blurring the lines often and never acknowledging either side as the "main character". Just watch it, you will never find a better bang for your download.
Posted by : SleepyLafiel
Posted on : 2008-04-19
A unique and high spirited series that has the most unfortunate fate of being much too short and leaves far too much unresolved, Baccano! is still quality in a small package. The decision to focus on separate time periods but told concurrently gives the series a very unique method of storytelling, and might be overwhelming to some. The method also destroys much of the suspense, but not to the point where the show loses its luster.
Plot: 9/10. Immortals, trains, 18th century boats, eating, alcohol, and rival gangs; this is the epitome of eclectic. And somehow, it works and ties into a well told story strong on both characters and suspense, easily capturing the attention of the audience. Although many of the situations and threads are done for humor, there is enough "grown up" situations to offset the nonsensical, resulting in a very affecting series of events. Although many of the situations require a bit more closure, I can't help but feel that the anime is only a gateway for the novel readers, but that is still a weakness even if the 13 episodes tell a great story.
Characters: 8/10. A huge cast, as displayed in the intro. While not all of them are fleshed out totally, the series wastes little time when it does introduce and develop the characters. The first episode also reveals the ultimate fates of many of the people, which for some, might be something of a turnoff. It is still a very well done character cast, with little to no extraneous and irrelevant personas, shockingly so considering the 13 episode length.
Animation: 9/10. Bright and energetic, with more than enough flash to please the general anime watching population. It leaves very little to the imagination, including the copious amount of gore. Overall, a pleasing experience for the eyes, provided that you're adult enough to handle it.
Music/Sound: 8/10. A poppy soundtrack mixed with jazz samples, it captures the time period very well. Although some of the character voices are incredibly annoying (mainly the guy/girl duo), it falls pretty pat into the general anime archetypes of voices and is more than sufficient.
Overall: 9/10. A great series marred by its length, had Baccano been a full length series that included a few more of the 13 novels out, it would have been a masterpiece. But as it stands, it is a quality short series that's heavy on plot and character development in a unique setting, far from the standard harems and saucer eyed romances that plague anime nowadays.
Posted by : jayou521
Posted on : 2008-01-15
Baccano! is an anime that very few people have been talking about, which is a shame since it is so good. Film noir and pulp fiction . . . in an anime?! When I read this description, before it even aired, I knew it was a must see for me.
Having seen the movie Pulp Fiction, I knew, to some extent, what to expect in terms of how the story is told. If you aren't familiar with the film, then allow me to explain. This is the kind of anime that you can start watching without having any idea as to what it is about. The reason being you truly don't know what is going on until around the halfway point in the series.
All you need to know is that Baccano! is a violent, action packed, comical drama involving immortal alchemists and the mafia (I hear people saying . . . what?). There is no question that you will be confused for quite some time, but you should stick with it since everything does become clearer as the story progresses. As for the ending, I thought it was very well done and everything came together nicely.
The music they chose for Baccano! is superb. A collection of jazz tunes that immerses you in the time period of the anime. The opening song quickly became one of my all time favorites. You can see from the OP that there is a large number of characters. With every episode more and more is revealed about them through the use of multiple time jumps/flashbacks, and you can see in which way they are all connected. Each character has a unique personality and a story of their own. In the end, you will be wishing that you had more time to spend with them. They are truly unforgettable.
Baccano! was one of the best, most entertaining anime of 2007. The only thing left for me to say is that I really wish this was more talked about.
Posted by : Craze
Posted on : 2007-11-24
This series has to be one of the most original, funny, and intriguing animes I've ever seen. The characters alone make this series a worthwhile watch, but the three concurrent plot lines spanning incidents from 1930-1931, all linked with a supernatural incident on a ship full of alchemist in the late eighteenth century, are very very compelling. Many times you'll be left confused, but all is gradually revealed through skips across time that have to be the most original depiction of a storyline since the Melancholy of Suzumiya Haruhi.
On the down side, at the end of the anime, there are still several plot-lines left unresolved and questions unanswered, and since there were SO many characters you'll definitely be left wanting more from each and every one one of them. For just 13 episodes, however, they pack in more action and character development than you can even believe (and plenty of laughs to boot, I LOVE Isaac and Miria), so for me this anime is definitely a 10 out of 10.
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