Baccano! after episode 10

The traditional way of telling a story involves a linear progression of events, with the plot working towards a goal or some kind of purpose. Some shows develop a large overarching tale that occupies the entire series, and for episodic shows each episode is a story of its own. There are also shows that do both at simultaneously. Baccano! utilizes a completely different approach of storytelling. Baccano! is about this whole bunch of events that already happened, revealed nonlinearly to the audience from different perspectives and different times. The exception being the events on the Flying Pussycat, to serve as grounding for other stories to link to. Ten episodes in there are plots to the numerous individual anecdotes, but none as whole. But that is not a necessity for Baccano!, because the collection of happenstances and tales around these immortal beings is still exceedingly entertaining. “Baccano”, Italian for noise, aptly captures the nature of the show. The connections between the anecdotes are amusingly coincidental, and Baccano!’s colorful and lively characters certainly add to the dark fun. So even amongst the blood and gore I grin. The fundamental reason for me to watch anime is to be entertained, one way or another. Baccano! has accomplished that superbly thus far. If Baccano! stays the way it is, like it has for the ten episodes I have seen so far, it will be one of the best animes of this year, in company with Seirei no Moribito and Denno Coil.