Originally a light novel series (which I'm now interested to read) written by Ryohgo Narita (of Baccano! fame, which I never get to read nor watch the anime, yet, but will do, maybe) and illustrations by Suzuhito Yasuda, Durarara!! (デュラララ!! Dyurarara!!) is about a Dullahan working as an underworld courier in Ikebukuro, an internet-based anonymous gang called Dollars, and the chaos that unfolds around the most dangerous people in Ikebukuro, Tokyo. (Wikipedia)
A number of unusual people gather in Ikebukuro, Tokyo--- a youth who yearns for an un-mundane life, a hoodlum, a stalker denpa-girl, a young man who deals in information ‘for fun’, a black-market doctor, a high-schooler obsessed with magic, as well as a ‘headless rider’ riding a bike painted black. These unusual people begin a series of abnormal stories that never fail to create headaches. But, although their personalities are all twisted— they still talk about love. (Onemanga.com) -I did edit a little bit though, and have to admit this descriptions is my fav on Durarara!!-
Ryuugamine Mikado is a boy who longs for the exciting life of the big city. At the invitation of his childhood friend Masaomi, he transfers to a school in Ikebukuro, Tokyo. Masaomi has warned him about people he doesn’t want to cross in the city: a champion fighter, an informant, and a mysterious gang called “Darazu.” (or simply, Dollars) Nervous from Masaomi’s stories, Mikado witnesses an urban legend on his first day in the city, the Headless Rider astride a black motorcycle. From then on, the existence of supernatural cases and a gang called the Yellow Turbans will rise to the surface, and Ikebukuro will pushed to the breaking point. (thatanimeblog.com)
Okay, end of
Oh! Did I mention that this anime is no doubt the BEST anime ever aired on 2010 (so far)?
They also got the manga for this along with the anime but as the said manga is too slow on update I'm going to focus this post on the anime instead. Not like they got huge difference whatsoever. (I even take the description from the manga there, haven't I? lol.)
Info's mostly from Wikipedia (all-time-fav-info-website) and tvtropes.org (damn-awesome-site-with-cool-stuffs-and-tropes-I'm-stealing) and my take on the series mashed-up together to my liking. Pics are from snapshot of my own (finally know how to do it /facepalm), tvtropes.org, and Google. XD
The Story.
It's hard to be specific on what the story is all about (like for example Naruto-ninja, Bleach-shinigami etc.) because it got from supernatural characters (the Dullahan a.k.a headless fairy a.k.a the headless rider and a somewhat cursed living sword who loves, uh, human) to a crazy strong guy who goes around throwing the vendor machine as replacement of hello (you read that right, definitely not a typo on my part) to normal high school students (yup, definitely normal looking) to an underground doctor (no license, definitely) to a crazy information broker who loves the humanity and manipulate them (...what) to a stalker with a crush (omg) to a twisted siblings (they totally love the wrong things) to a crazy traffic police who might be a former gang biker (no kidding here) to a Russian selling sushi (yes, he even speaks Russian sometimes in the anime, don't ask me, I don't know Russian to save my life) to a gang with otakus (yes, again, no typo) to a lot more.
Tell me, what can I say then? =_=;
If you ask me to sum it all, then, is that all these people, they live in Ikebukuro. In one city. It's not about one main character's journey or whatsoever, it's about everyone. Each character have a role and as twisted as their life may be, they all connected and may give impact to other people's life, directly or vice-versa.
It's all over the place, basically. And the anime consists of 24 episodes, with 2 arc stories.
And they got one hell of a number of characters, mind you.
The Characters
As much as I want to put them in a single post, I can't, due to the fact that they got too many characters, and it is impossible to talk on the story without knowing who's who, so I put them in a separate post. Just click the link above. Sorry on that =_=;
The Art/Setting
The animation is produced by Brain Base, which I later found out also responsible on making Natsume Yujinchou, one of my favorite anime ever. The animation is beautiful, if not detailed. The buildings and everything really depicts the city. Heck, apparently it is based on real buildings in Ikebukuro! It is like I'm really walking down the streets of the city, seriously. Watch the videos below and be surprised!
The Music
Despite the fact that I'm quite open in music and can listen to mostly anything, I'm quite picky when it comes to anime songs, mostly because it will determine whether I'm going to skip them or just listen to them for the goddamn 1-2 minutes. Sometimes, the song is good but the sequences is not attractive enough, even if I freaking love the show. See, I'm that picky. So, when I say I LOVE LOVE LOVE all the 4 songs use for the OP and ED, it basically tells that the songs and the title sequences are simply BEYOND AWESOME. Heck, I even downloaded ALL the single for the anime and the Pv for the respected songs. You can't say I'm bias this time around, ok~
Not to mention the OP and ED sequences are simply awesome to boot. The scenes are connected to the next one as they introduce the loads of characters are really cool!! Too bad video streaming sites blocked the videos from YouTube (I do found but the quality is not that good and the words are mirrored, making the whole Hiragana and kanji look weird on my eyes xD Still can check them out though) or else I already post them here.
The first OP, Uragiri no Yuuyake (裏切りの夕焼, lit. "Sunset of Betrayal") by Theatre Brook can best be described by one word; IT ROCKED. The crazy fast beat really gives excitement and suits the show damn well. I don't know the band and it's hard to search infos on them but I even love the couple song in the single (I spazz about it on the last post maybe?) so definitely going to watch out their works in the future~ "Asahi wo noboru~ YEAH!!!"
The first ED, Trust Me by Matsushita Yuya
The second OP, Complication (コンプリケイション) by Rookiez is Punk'd is kinda slower in beat compare to Uragiri no Yuuyake, but still damn addictive! It starts kind of slow and go rocking on chorus and makes you sing along (well, I did anyway). The band is also another unknown to me before and haven't quite listen to their other songs, but if it's like this one then I'm a fan, 'nuff said. "Whooooooaaa Oh Oh OH!!"
The last song, a.k.a the second ED, Butterfly by On/Off took the formula like Complication. It's kinda slow and go beating hard on chorus. Totally cool enough! The harmony of the duo compliments the song and gives a soothing feel~ People might recognize the group as the one singing the OP for the anime Vampire Knight before, and have to say while I'm not really fond of their song in that anime (I haven't even watch it duh) Butterfly really got me hooked. "Bokura wa jiyuu da~"
Just realize they don't have slow song as either OP or ED. But then I can't imagine having a ballad on a show full of badass characters anyway~ xD
EDIT: The Trailer
I found a video of the trailer of the anime in sub...thought I'll put it here~
Final Thoughts
This anime is not one that you can review after watching the first 3 episode or something (which might put it in the 'love it or hate it' kind of show to some). Watch at least 7-8 to get the idea of things, and I promise it'll be worth it. The many characters might gives you hell at first but their characters (in terms of physical attributes, that is) are really distinctive to one another so it should be no problem! All in all, this is a MUST watch, and I'll give it a full 10 for the fun and joyous ride. ^^
Let's hope they make a second season of this! At least there's news on DVD special episodes coming~ \o/
~The-accomplished-like-finally-Heiji
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