When I first watched the first episode of this with my friends, I knew that I would be finishing it on my own later. Something about it, especially the first episode, just felt like... well, like Disneyland. So much fun, so much intrigue, and so much going on, all for you to enjoy. So, what makes it so enjoyable?
Note, this is only a review on Season 1. A review on Season 2 may or may not be incoming.
Plot Summary
Taken from MyAnimeList:
In Tokyo's downtown district of Ikebukuro, amidst many strange rumors and warnings of anonymous gangs and dangerous occupants, one urban legend stands out above the rest—the existence of a headless "Black Rider" who is said to be seen driving a jet-black motorcycle through the city streets.
Mikado Ryuugamine has always longed for the excitement of the city life, and an invitation from a childhood friend convinces him to move to Tokyo. Witnessing the Black Rider on his first day in the city, his wishes already seem to have been granted. But as supernatural events begin to occur, ordinary citizens like himself, along with Ikebukuro's most colorful inhabitants, are mixed up in the commotion breaking out in their city.
Story
Durarara!! can easily be split into two halves. The first half establishes a lot of information - the huge cast, the organizations within the city, and how every cog in this giant machine works together. Despite this huge amount of information, the first half of this story is done rather well. We get attached to the characters as well as the world they live in, and get involved with the story, which leaves off of on a satisfactory note.
The second half of the series is where it really shines, however. As stories that follow different characters converge, we learn things about our main characters that we would have never guessed. There are many plot twists, and some of them can actually be really, really sad. It's complicated, but it's comprehensive, and it works really well.
Characters
There are a lot of characters in Durarara!! Normally this might be a huge red flag, but Durarara!! manages not only to balance them, but to develop them and keep us attached to them throughout the course of the story. Despite being pretty unique in personality, this show manages to avoid patronizing them, instead making them act in realistic ways, making this wonderful and absurd world seem a lot more real.
Also, huge applause to Durarara!! for creating one of my favorite, if not my favorite, female characters in anime.
Animation
The animation in Durarara!! is solid. It carries a certain, fairly unique style that's recognizable without being preposterous, and carries its quality throughout the series. While nothing about the show's animation could be considered groundbreaking, it still supports the show well.
Music
Like I said before, this show has a huge cast, and it loves to flaunt it. This show's first opening and ending are not just beyond amazing, they're almost legendary, as they showcase the huge cast in a great way to incredible tunes. While the second opening and ending aren't quite as good, they still work well for the show.
As for the soundtrack... well, frankly, this too, is great. It adds to the unique character of the show, taking a jazz style and adding its own quirky edge.
Enjoyment
One thing I love about this show is its references to real-life anime. You'll find a movie theater advertising Baccano!, Darker than Black and/or Jigoku Shoujo, or characters surrounding a cut-out of Holo from Spice and Wolf, or countless other references. As a person who has seen a lot of these shows, these references are a huge treat to find and recognize.
Another thing I love about this show is the voice acting. In fact, Masaomi's voice was so interesting I had to go look up his voice actor - Mamoru Miyano has been my favorite voice actor since.
I should mention Celty, since I referenced her above. I feel like she truly is a strong female character, which is rare, since I usually don't care about female characters in general - "strong" or not. I love how much emotion they can depict with her, despite her not having a real face to show it. But one of my favorite things about her is her relationship with Shinra. It feels very realistic and grounded, something that's not seen a lot in anime.
Another character I absolutely love is Izaya. He's one of my favorite villains of all time - I mean, he's someone who's just so manipulative, so good at fighting, and just seems to know everything. He's a perfect compliment to yet another beloved character, Shizuo. Shizuo, while easily angered (and insanely strong when he is angry), has a good heart. These two are just so much fun to watch when they try to kill each other every time they meet.
Yet another thing I must mention is this show's use of social media (and chat rooms). Some shows have touched on the "virtual reality is reality" using VRMMORPG's, but this has the same thing, giving information and character interactions purely through online chat rooms, which adds yet other touch of reality to it.
But maybe the thing I should take note of last is that this show just has an amazing atmosphere to it. There's this sort of magic to it that's hard to explain. This unknown thread that ties all characters and stories together - I personally find it amazing and baffling.
Final Verdict
Overall Quality: 8.9
Overall Enjoyment: 9.6
Recommendation: Full Moon
Honestly, this show really is a lot like Disneyland. While still a part of reality, it seems separate, full of an unexplainable magic, something that's just so fun. There's a unique quality to it, something that can't really be replicated anywhere else. While there are some sad moments, you come away feeling as if you had the time of your life. I consider it one of my favorite anime, and for that, I can't give it anything other than my full recommendation.
