Worth the Exclamation Point at the End

Based on the Japanese novel, “Durarara!” is an anime that blends reality, technology and fairy tale into an experience that is as much a comedy as it is a drama and mystery.

The first five episodes, which in addition to getting the series started, are enough to get you permanently hooked, are now available on DVD. Following the exploits of Mikado Ryūgamine, a high school student in the big city of Ikebukuro for the first time, after a life in rural Japan, “Durarara!” maintains a theme of adjustment, adaptation and acceptance throughout that is easy to feel a part of.

However, with super natural elements in it as well, such as human beings with immeasurable strength and a Dullahan [an Irish fairy, similar to the Grim Reaper] on the loose, the city is full of a wild cast of characters and occurrences. So easy to get lost in, the story is deep, polished and full of intrigue. Keeping you guessing by giving an inside look at every character and how they respond to various situations, the anime has a Quentin Tarantino-type of feel to it. Each character brings something different to the table and as a result, each of the episodes feels different from one enough, but similar enough to keep the mysterious theme of the show intact.

In spite of that, the relationship between Mikado and his best friend Masaomi Kida brings everything together and makes the show accessible to anyone who thinks the “Grim Reaper on a motorcycle, working as a courier” angle is a bit too far-fetched. A story of the human condition and how we survive in new and sometimes harsh situations, this anime is one of the best told in years.

Nevertheless, through the first five episodes, you won’t know where the story is going and by the end, you’ll be in the same situation. Hardly a bad thing however, you’ll be anxiously awaiting the next volume, wondering what happens to Mikado, his friends and Celty, the fairy looking for her head. Ultimately, slow and steady development is the way this show works and the first five episodes appear to be the tip of the iceberg, making you desperately want to know more.

If you’re into anime and haven’t checked out “Durarara!” yet, you’re missing out on a beautifully crafted, wild-looking tale that is sure to get even better as more episodes are released on DVD.

mm
About Patrick Hickey Jr. 14230 Articles
Patrick Hickey Jr. is a full-time Assistant Professor of Communication & Performing Arts and Director of the Journalism program at Kingsborough Community College and is the chairman of the City University of New York Journalism Council. He is the Founder and Editor-In-Chief of ReviewFix.com. He's also a former News Editor at NBC Local Integrated Media and National Video Games Writer at Examiner.com where his work was mentioned in National Ad campaigns by Disney, Nintendo and EA Sports. Hickey was also the Editor-In-Chief of two College Newspapers before he received his BA in Journalism from Brooklyn College. Hickey's work has been published in The New York Daily News, The New York Times, Complex, The Hockey Writers, Yahoo!, Broadway World, Examiner, NYSportScene Magazine, ProHockeyNews.com, GothamBaseball.com, The Syracuse Post-Standard, Scout.com and the official sites of the Brooklyn Aces and New York Islanders. His first book, The Minds Behind the Games: Interviews With Cult And Classic Video Game Developers was released in April 2018 and is chock full of interviews with legendary developers. His second book in the series, The Minds Behind Adventures Games, was released in December 2019. His third book, The Minds Behind Sports Games, was released in September 2020. His fourth book, The Minds Behind Shooter Games, was released in March 2021. The Minds Behind Sega Genesis Games and The Minds Behind PlayStation Games were released in 2022 and The Minds Behind PlayStation 2 was published in January 2023. Hickey is also a contracted comic book writer, currently penning his original series, "Condrey," as well as "The Job," "Brooklyn Bleeds" "Dem Gulls" and "KROOM" for Legacy Comix, where he serves as founder, owner and Editor-in-Chief. Hickey Jr. is also a voice actor, having starred in the 2018 indie hit and 2019 Switch, PS4 and Xbox One release, The Padre (also serving as English language Story Editor), from Shotgun With Glitters. The sequel, The Padre: One Shell Straight to Hell was released in February 2021- Hickey also served as a Story Editor and Lead Voiceover performer. He has also done narration and trailers for several other titles including The Kaiju Offensive, Relentless Rex and Roniu’s Tale. Hickey is also the lead voiceover performer on Mega Cat Studios’ upcoming title WrestleQuest, responsible for nearly 90 characters in the game, as well as Skybound's Renfield: Bring Your Own Blood, where he voices both Dracula and Renfield, as well as several other characters. He also stars in Ziggurat Interactive’s World Championship Boxing Manager 2, where he performs the VO of nearly every male character in the game. He also worked on the Atari VCS’s BPM Boy.

Be the first to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.


*