let's go exploring

This anime is based off a series of light novels by Narita Ryougo, the same guy responsible for writing Baccano -- a series that I enjoyed immensely, but still have yet to do a review of. Very rarely do I post opinions of a show this early, but I think it's a safe bet to say most people who liked either Baccano or Durarara will be fond of the other. In fact, I think they're set in the same universe. So while Prohibition era New York gets the immortal alchemists and the mafia, modern-day Tokyo winds up with an underground neighborhood including a headless Dullahan on a motorcycle with a scythe. Awesome! (And no, I'm not being sarcastic, by the way.)

After having been to Ikebukuro last summer, I feel hugely natsukashii when hearing characters talk about getting on the subway and heading to Sunshine 60, or listening to the two ­otaku who provide metatextual humor and go to places like Tora no Ana.

Really love the setting and slinky bass music (the trailer was what finally sucker-punched me into watching this series), am enjoying Kida and Celty as characters, and think that Izaya is a complete and utter troll. In the most internet-applicable way possible. I also like how the unimportant background characters are greyed out with black outlines; with a cast this large, it helps in knowing who to keep tabs on. The stylization in general is pretty impressive, with a great sense of fun and energy.

I also keep calling it "Duradura" instead of "Durarara," a habit I would like to amend ASAP.