I think it’s nearly impossible to not like a show that mixes '30s New York gangsters, train capers and secret societies, then throws in an immortality elixir and a demon for good measure. The story constantly shifts between its huge cast with the result that everyone ends up being the main character at one point or another. It also shifts between a span of three years, telling three stories at once almost. This confused me when I first watched it, but then I am easily confused, please don’t mind me.

I honestly think Baccano! is one of the best anime to come out in recent years. It’s somewhat obscure right now, but it’s rapidly gaining an enthusiastic following due to word of mouth. It’s how I stumbled on it after all. It’s hard to not recommend and/or bully other people into watching it once you’ve finished it. I am glad that my friend did tell me before hand that it was “The Awesome” before I started watching it though. I might have quit after the first episode, which was a bit confusing and just threw you into three different storylines and a bunch of characters you hadn’t been properly introduced to yet. My attention span is like unto a mayfly after all. But I stuck with it for a few more episodes and fell madly in love.

I don’t want to give away too much of the plot. Truthfully, the plot is actually a little hard to nail down. There’s more than one depending on what year and what character the story is focusing on at the moment. Almost every character is likable or intriguing in some way, so when the camera is following them you aren’t thinking “Drat! Get back to the people I actually care about! Grr!” All the storylines are interesting and when they finally come to their “close” you’re left wanting more. The show does end with a big “Can a story, when it’s about people’s lives, really be said to have an end?” finish, so I am hoping that there will be a sequel sometime in the future.

I also have to give out mad props to the dub. Something I rarely, rarely do. It was…good. Fun even. I love it when they give people accents, something they don’t try to do in Japanese (except for Black Lagoon. Yay, Black Lagoon!). It delighted me to hear people attempt Chicago, New York and Russian accents. Some better than others… It’s the thought that counts, right?

It is a tad on the violent side so I can’t really say it’s fun for the whole family, but it is fun! Watch it and spread the word! There really needs to be another season of this!