This Review will NOT Spoil your Anime Experience!

All too often I read about people complaining there aren’t any “great” anime anymore and that the good times were years ago – that all that’s left are rubbish stories that have been used multiple times and “moe-blob” anime of no real substance.

I’ll agree that that there isn’t as much good stuff season-by-season wise, but, there really are nuggets amongst the generic stuff that some people just can’t tolerate.

This is a perfect example of this – when anime like this is airing you shouldn’t have the right to complain because, well, it’s so damn good. Here is my review of one of the most consistantly good anime I’ve seen in months.

The Story

Things get started as we follow one of the shows main protagonists, Mikado Ryugamine, as he moves to Ikebukuro, Tokyo.

He goes there knowing his friend from the past, Masaomi Kida will be there and with him wanting a change in every day life, moving to Ikebukuro made sense to him.

He was right.

As the anime moves along and introduces you to the headless Irish fairy Celty Sturluson, underground doctor Shinra Kishitani, the information broker Izaya Orihara and “the strongest man in Ikebukuro”, Shizuo Heiwajima – who really are all as interesting as they sound – and I’m not gonna give too much away.

As Mikado starts school in Ikebukuro with Masaomi they eventually meet Anri Sonohara and the anime follows the relationship between the three of them which becomes one of the main plot developments as time goes by in the never-sleeping city.. all the while underneath its face lies a number of gangs who represent themselves by colours, the yellow scarves, the blue squares and the rumor in town a new “colourless” gang called “the Dollars”. Mix all of these ingredients together and surely, you’re going to get something original that won’t disappoint.

All of these characters are so fresh and unique it reminds you about when it’s done right, stories really can have that many interesting characters and every time they come on screen you know you’re going to enjoy what you see because of how well the story is written; and to keep that consistency for 24 episodes is a fantastic achievement. I haven’t seen it myself but from how most praise it, anyone who has seen Baccano! should recognize the quality Ryohgo Narita provides with his writing.

Production

Brain’s Base unsurprisingly produced Durarara!! having already done the production for Ryohgo Narita’s Baccano! anime adaptation, they also have a good track record with Gunparade Orchestra, Kure-nai and Spice and Wolf II.

Track record and the past don’t matter when it comes down to it. How did they do with Durarara?

Very, very well. It’s not the most spectacular you’ve ever seen but the animation is very consistent and never lazy. It very much suits the theme and feel of the story and at times, really shines. The city is very well animated and not lacking detail, background characters aren’t just given up on like an alarming majority of anime we see season-by-season and vehicles, are very nicely done as well – not using the sickening CGI that can also be found in so many anime nowadays. So as far as animation concerned, Brain’s Base has got full marks from me.

Audio-wise its first and second opening/ending tracks are incredibly cool but those aren’t the only points for audio here, the soundtrack is superb. The bluesy jazz and funk tracks that back the cool scenes are exceptionally suiting – just as much as the hauntingly unusual tracks that you won’t easily forget for the awkward moments that are found in number in Durarara.

Conclusion: It’s just so damn cool

I found myself helplessly grinning so many times watching this anime, just because of how unashamed it is with presenting it’s characters personas. From the gang fighting to the leaders to the philosophical words provided by Izaya Orihara and Celty riding her bike with the wonder and mystery of the people of Ikebukuro… the anime oozes with the cool that you never want to see go away because it’s responsible for the extra degree of enjoyment you know will make you remember it for a very long time, and yearn for it after it’s done [yeah, even hours after you finish it, you'll miss it].

So it’s exceptional is most areas so where does it fall short? The trouble with its flaw is that it’s hard to avoid – it’s a result of being so “cool”. Sometimes the conclusion of some parts of the anime are more predictable that you want it to be (this is especially evident in the second half of the anime) and because of its predictability it results in anti-climatic moments; and as unwanted as they are, I reckon it’s because of how distinguished the characters are, and how quickly you get to know them that this predictability ensues and when you see them do what you expect them to do, it pleases you because you want to see them do those things. It really is so cool it hurts itself. And you know what? That’s just fine. I’ll remember it because of it’s memorable characters, fresh story, the soundtrack so good I had to put it on my iPod and enjoyment I had from watching it. You should make those memories too.

Rating: 9/10

- Senseito

Finally, here’s the trailer for Durarara.

Related posts:

1. Sensei’s Winter Anime 09/10 Pilot Quickfire Thoughts
2. Black, White & Red; Review: Higurashi no Koro Naku ni & (Kai)
3. Clannad TV Review; Wonderful, Pure Key Anime

Filed under: 2009 - Fall, 2010 - Spring, Action, Anime, Drama, Reviews, Senseito's Blogging, Thriller