Let's Watch: Durarara!!

[Mr. Hat'n'Clogs]

If it makes you feel better, it took me approximately 5 1/2 hours to get it to work for me because our internet wanted to be insanely lame.

[Falx]

I'm near finished with Baccano!, so I am freakin' pumped for this show now.

The horsey sounds made by Selty's bike were just creepy as all get out o_O

And I might be looked at funny... but I like this OP better than Baccano's, I was never a Jazz/ Big Band fan. And I would pay actual money to get a Horo cutout like that... although I'm positive my friends would mock me to death for going full otaku.

[Kung_Fu_Master]

Additional watcher acquired.

[MasterDias]

Episode 1 was mostly setup so I don't have I lot to comment on, but I like the feel so far.

Suzuhito Yasuda is a pretty good artist. I've seen quite a lot of his character designs recently by playing Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Survivor.

[goldenspines]

Most of what I had to comment on has been said already, but I'll add a few things I noted while watching.

Despite the fact they introduced 2/3rds of the many many characters, I didn't find the episode too confusing. Obviously, there were a lot of opened doors to mysteries; but if we didn't have that, we wouldn't have much of an anime. XD

In all honesty, when I first heard the music during the clip when Mikado was waiting at the station, I knew I was going to like this series. That was my favorite music yet, and this was only the first episode.

The animation and art style are spiffy and clean. Like SubtleDoctor mentioned, I really liked the gray crowds in contrast to the characters that were interacting or "vital" to this particular story. I really love the fact that even though the art style is the same as Baccano's, I can't really relate one character from Durarara!! back to one from Baccano!. This was one of my fears in watching this series, I'm glad to see they didn't disappoint.

So, I know it's anime and anything can happen, but am I the only one who thinks the Headless Rider looks like a woman? XD; Regardless, this character started out seeming like an antagonist to me (and may still be), but it seems like s/he/it has some other motives in mind. Either that, or they just love riding around town giving people a scare. XDD;

And,

Finally,

"Ryuugamine Mikado" basically translates as "Dragon's Peak Emperor", so he gets some funny looks whenever people hear his name.

This makes more sense now. Pen name. LOL



Also, Mamoru Miyano's voice in this series makes the fangirl inside of me quite content.

Looking forward to next week's episode~

[LadyRushia]

So, I know it's anime and anything can happen, but am I the only one who thinks the Headless Rider looks like a woman? XD; Regardless, this character started out seeming like an antagonist to me (and may still be), but it seems like s/he/it has some other motives in mind. Either that, or they just love riding around town giving people a scare. XDD

I also think it's a chick, but I don't really think s/he's a complete antagonist. In this episode, they didn't act like one (and the tire-->face thing made me giggle).

[blkmage]

I'd always assumed it was a woman, based on the body shape. I never really questioned it and it hadn't ever occurred to me that it's weird that the dullahan isn't a guy. And, well, I can't say I know any guys who'd wear a nekomimi helmet.

[Falx]

I'm fairly certain in every article I read regarding the series, trying to find out if it was worth watching, that they called the rider "her."

Actually, let me go check...

putting it in spoilers just in case, Wikipedia says that [spoiler]she[/spoiler] came to Japan for... various reasons.

[Mr. Hat'n'Clogs]

So does anyone else wonder if the girl the Headless Rider saved is going to remain a character? Like Donnie or one of Ladd's gang from Baccano!. Where they're not important enough for the opening, but still a important to the show.

[Falx]

Man with this kind of show, I'm sure she'll end up used in some way we can't guess... even if it's only for a minor role to move the plot forward somehow.

I just showed my buddies the first three episodes of Baccano, too... I thought I was going to strangle them with all the theories they were constantly making about everything. Mostly wrong too...

[Wyntre Rose]

Finally got around to watching the first episode...and I'm looking forward to following this! Art and music are great, characters look really fun, and I'm a total seiyuu fangirl, so Miyano Mamoru made me squee...and I was very excited to hear Masaya Matsukaze (probably best known for Kyouya in Ouran and Mikami Teru in Death Note) as the bad guy with glasses.

The next episode teaser also made me all giddy inside for next week's episode! Can't wait to see where this goes!

Edit: Thanks for the explanation of Mikado's name, blkmage. That makes SO much more sense, now!!

[ShiroiHikari]

Does the art style of this series remind anybody else of the art style of Eureka Seven?

[Wyntre Rose]

I hadn't thought of it before, but now that you mention it...yeah. I can see that.

[Mr. Hat'n'Clogs]

Mmm, maybe a little, but I don't think so. The only thing about Eureka Seven that stands out to me is the hair, which doesn't seem to be similair to Durarara!!.

[Fish and Chips]

I'm fairly certain in every article I read regarding the series, trying to find out if it was worth watching, that they called the rider "her."

Actually, let me go check...

putting it in spoilers just in case, Wikipedia says that [spoiler]she[/spoiler] came to Japan for... various reasons.

Yes, Celty is a girl.

It's not a spoiler that I can think of. In fact it's fairly obvious if you just study her form a bit, what with that full-body form-fitting suit she wears. I couldn't say anything more though.

Anyway, solid opening episode. Nothing happened, and yet an awful lot happened in that nothing, if you catch my drift. I also enjoyed them using gray crowds to indicate who's important and who isn't.

[Mr. Hat'n'Clogs]

But I wonder how a shadow that manages to occupy clothing is able to even have a gender.

[blkmage]

I'm pretty sure she's not just a shadow. That would be very uninteresting.

[Cognitive Gear]

Finally got a chance to watch the episode.

I liked it as a set up episode. I'm looking forward to seeing where this is going, and I really like the visual style.

I also enjoyed the Baccano! easter eggs, they were pretty fun.

[LadyRushia]

I also enjoyed the Baccano! easter eggs, they were pretty fun.

Ooooo! I didn't catch any of those. What were they?

[Cognitive Gear]

Ooooo! I didn't catch any of those. What were they?

There were two that I spotted, both were in the background:

An Isaac and Miria Poster, and in a night time scene as the characters are walking down the street, a screen is playing one of the train-top conflicts.

[TheSubtleDoctor]

Does the art style of this series remind anybody else of the art style of Eureka Seven?

I can see what you mean, but I think a better comparison is to the most recent PS2 Persona games.

[mechana2015]

(and the tire-->face thing made me giggle).

I'm glad I'm not the only one that thought it was kind of funny.

[That Dude]

I had no clue what this was about and it looked kinda lame until I read your post blk. Now it's got me quite interested.

[Fish and Chips]

I had no clue what this was about and it looked kinda lame until I read your post blk. Now it's got me quite interested.

I will now make disparaging remarks about your glasses prescription.

Anyway, something else that sort of caught my attention between this and Baccano!, I'm enjoying how Brains Base handles their mooks. They're all pretty nameless and light on descriptors, yet they always manage to make them memorable and distinctive, even if their only purpose in the series is to get brutally killed off the same episode they're introduced by a more important character. I like that.

See kidnappers.

[blkmage]

I guess it comes from doing a few shows (Kamichu, Kure-nai, Natsume Yuujinchou) where the main characters are running into new people (and non-human people) every episode.

[blkmage]

Sup guys, I'll just leave this here to remind you that tomorrow is coming.

[goldenspines]

Sup guys, I'll just leave this here to remind you that tomorrow is coming.

This is rather terrible, but I really really want that helmet. I'm not kidding. (and a motorcycle to go with it )

Also

Anyway, something else that sort of caught my attention between this and Baccano!, I'm enjoying how Brains Base handles their mooks. They're all pretty nameless and light on descriptors, yet they always manage to make them memorable and distinctive, even if their only purpose in the series is to get brutally killed off the same episode they're introduced by a more important character. I like that.

See kidnappers.

Adding to this, I think it makes you maybe like the character in a way and feel some emotion if they do get brutally killed. That's how it is for me, at least. I mean, sure the guys were bad, but we'll never forget the dude who got a tire to the face. And I have to say I was a bit sad to see the kidnappers go in the end.

[Fish and Chips]

Episode 2.



Really took a different tone than the first episode. I liked it. Kind of divisive, I'd imagine, but I think it worked, stirring up the "Formula" you assumed you'd be getting. I honestly didn't expect it to take this turn, so it was a pleasant surprise.

This episode is basically the first one, or during the first one, this time focusing more on the dullahan, the kidnapped girl, and our parka wearing information guy. Sort of a "Meanwhile, 30 minutes ago and 30 minutes later" kind of deal. A little colder, a little darker, pretty compelling.

Have I mentioned I love the music in this show?

[Radical Dreamer]

So my internet connection at school is utterly and horribly slow, but now that I'm home for a brief trip, I've FINALLY gotten around to watching episode 1! I think I'll really enjoy this--I haven't seen episode 2 yet, but as long as I'm home, I'll probably watch it before long! The plot seems like it could develop to be a very interesting one, so I'm excited to see where it goes!

[blkmage]

Yeah, the second episode was not what I expected at all. I was disappointed when I realized that it would be a retread of the first episode, but it turned out pretty great in the end. Most of the initial disappointment was because I'd been anticipating the rest of the crazy cast to show up, and well, Izaya and the dullahan filled that role quite well.

I've also read that the events in this episode were a lot of interpretation and interpolation of stuff that happens in the novels and is not actually covered, which makes it an interesting choice to include in the show.

And I like how the dullahan uses a smartphone to communicate, although I've never seen anyone type into their phone like that before.