In 1929, Ladd Russo spared Graham Specter's life and earned his unwavering loyalty. Three years later, Graham is infuriated upon learning that Ladd was pushed off the train after the events aboard the Flying Pussyfoot. As a man of bizarre yet passionate philosophies, he plans to make an offering to Ladd by kidnapping Eve Genoard and subsequently capturing Jacuzzi Splot, who has been living in the Genoard mansion with his gang.
Meanwhile, Jacuzzi and his gang take in an unfamiliar woman, Elmer C. Albatross pays a visit to the prison to meet an old friend, and Czeslaw Meyer runs into the man he hoped he would never see again.
These seemingly separate storylines merge, tying up several loose ends and revealing the whole truth of the anomaly that occurred aboard the Advena Avis in 1711.
Baccano! Specials: A Calvacade of Tomfoolery and Entertainment
The Baccano universe expands with the Baccano! Specials. This three episode series serves as a mini sequel to the original 16-episodes. Set in prohibition-era America, Baccano! is a wild ride of clashing storylines where every character fights or negotiates for survival, riches, and power. Each character from this chaotic universe returns for the Baccano! Specials and brings more story developments, humor, over-the-top action, and surprises.
The Baccano! Specials continue from where the original series left off. Still set in the chaotic backdrop of prohibition-era America, it delves more into the aftermath of the events from the series. The specials primarily focus on the characters and their interactions reflecting the overall storyline from the series. While it offers something for every character, it does concentrate more on the character dynamics and wraps up loose ends in the storyline.
Storyline:
Let’s talk about the story first. The Baccano! Specials consist of three interwoven narratives, each concluding a part of the original Baccano! series. The Specials doesn’t stray too far from what made Baccano! a much-loved anime. Rather, it builds on it, and gives us more of the things we enjoyed – the story is still told in a non-linear fashion which, I must say, is done incredibly well. This style of storytelling enhances every reveal and plot twist, and despite the chaos, there’s a smooth flow to the cascading events which keep the viewers on edge. With a runtime of about 90 minutes, it’s no less than an entertaining movie.
Characters:
Moving onto the characters, Baccano! Specials reintroduces us to almost everyone from the original series and throws a few new faces into the mix – and each character is given their moment to shine. The Specials wonderfully tie up the loose ends left hanging in the original series. Let’s also give a nod to the character development throughout the specials. It’s subtle, but it adds another layer of depth to already complex characters. Once again, the eccentric ensemble of colorful characters steals the show with their quirkiest personalities.
Visuals and Sound:
Visually, The Baccano! Specials upholds the high quality animation found in Baccano! The art style perfectly encapsulates the 1930s setting, with detailed environments and well-designed costumes. The action scenes are fluent and dynamic. The sound design is also impressive. The soundtrack, echoing the jazz vibes of the era, sets up the mood brilliantly for every scene.
Verdict:
If you loved Baccano!, these specials are a must-watch. They bring back everything you love about the main series and add a cherry on top. It’s a fantastic, fun-filled sequel that answers lingering questions. Also, it offers closure to some of the characters and storylines. It’s an absolute riot from start to end! If you haven’t had the pleasure of delving into the Baccano! universe, I can assure you it’s well worth the investment, whether it’s a rental, buy, or stream! To sum it up, Baccano! Specials delivers an explosive revisit to a beloved universe!
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