Raucous and fast-paced, Baccano! crackles with energy and fun as it tosses up two fistfuls of puzzle pieces and dares us figure out this delightfully confusing tale of gangsters, trains, and immortality.  True to the series' title, which is Italian for din or hubbub, Baccano! gleefully animates all the blood and romanticism of gangsters in early-1930's New York, but adds the twist of immortality.  Stories intersect and meld together, and just about everyone gets a chance to be the main character.  If you're left scratching your head and itching to make a list of who's who and what's what, then good!  You were paying attention and hopefully having a dilly of a time.

Baccano! opens with newspaper man Gustav St. Germain, vice-president of the Daily Days, and his assistant, Carol, discussing where best to begin their tale.  That, dear readers, is a very good question; this story has more threads than a fifteenth-century tapestry.  Which is the best thread to begin the story?  How about in 1931, a train hailing from the Windy City rolls into Manhattan, loaded with passengers who are a little more than worse for wear, but doing considerably better than the poor saps who have been tossed onto the tracks along the way.  A fair few folks are responsible for the carnage, and that might or might not tie in with the turf war that has been playing out between the Camorra and the Mafia in New York.  A couple of immortal capos, the eccentric, whimsical Bonnie and Clyde wannabes, the mysterious clutch of elderly suits aided by the young doll who does their bidding, and, of course, the innocent lass who is only searching for her beloved missing brother...  Throw in a bootlegged elixir that promises eternal life, a bomb expert, and a boyish, psychopathic killer, and you have yourself a story.

There are plenty of ways to tell a story, but chronological order is for wimps.  Who needs a straightforward timeline when it's a heck of a lot more fun to bounce back and forth between 1930, 1931, and 1932?  For a little assistance, the time changes are labeled, but for a little fun, sometimes they're not.  Be sure to wear your thinking cap and keep those eyes peeled for the costumes.  Thought all those nice clothes were just for show?  Heh.  That's right, genius--there are plenty of visual cues for the hawks, and a tiny bit of the story -- a very tiny bit -- starts to piece together.  At least, if you pay attention, some of the characters' associations and how they end up where they are on the fateful day that train rolls into town starts to make some sense.    

A certain vice-president of the Daily Days once said, "There may be but one event, but as many stories as there are people to tell them."  Brother, ain't that the truth!  But what, exactly, is that "one event" and just how many people will tell their story?  The one event could be that gravy train chugging into town, or that train might be the tip of the proverbial iceberg.  We're groping in the dark now, but one thing is for sure: There are already some stories floating around, and each one has its own main character.  If the Chicago mob boss' nephew, Ladd, with his boyish grin and love of the kill has you squirming in your seat, just stick around, and someone else will take the limelight for a time.  Maybe Isaac and Miria, a couple of eccentric robbers who behave more like a Vaudeville comedy act than criminals will be your cup of tea.  Like proper main characters, everyone is doing their own thing, but who's to say what happens when these cats and birds cross paths?

Every story deserves to bask in a golden glow, and this one's got it in spades.  Atmosphere is key, and whether it's a warmly lit office, a grubby back room, or a cold, grey rainy day, somebody got things right and the feel is just so.  Gangsters, after all, need an appropriate backdrop, and if their Tommy guns aren't in the right place, how are they to turn their rivals into candidates for Swiss cheese?  At twenty-four frames per second, all those holes are as smooth as butter.

From the ridiculously long episode titles to the hot-potato tossing of storylines, Baccano! brings a sense of violently wild joyousness that's impossible to resist.  Mixing ultraviolence with whimsey doesn't always make the right brew, but this balancing act is on the money.  It may leave your head spinning and give you the strangest desire to call everyone "dollface," but Baccano! is too much fun to ignore and absolutely worth the time.

A note: Baccano! is rated TV-MA for a reason.  I'm not whistlin' Dixie when I say it's violent, much in the manner of the lovely films by Mr. Tarantino.  Make sure the kids are all tucked in before watching.

Credit where credit is due: "What's the hubbub, bub?" is a quote by the inimitable Bugs Bunny.

Details: Runtime 100 minutes, contains episodes 1-4.  Extras include actor commentary, textless songs, and trailers.