That novel idea of telling a story in bits and pieces is a plan that is definitely working out for Baccano!  Novelties, gimmicks and what-have-you can be good things or bad things.  In the case of Baccano! the idea of telling the story out of order goes beyond gimmick to the realm of clever storytelling method.  Volume 3 begins to put the pieces together, making for some surprises that might not have been so cool if this had been a linear plot.

At this point, cobbling together a summary for Baccano! is like herding cats.  The bloodbath on the train is spiraling out of control and there are many more glimpses into the events leading up to that fateful transcontinental trip.  Likewise, some of the things that happen after the train pulls into the station in Manhattan are also coming into focus.  Threads of contact between the characters are further developed, making it easier to figure out who knows who and how they met.  Who can say where all this is leading, but this is definitely an anime where the journey is more important than the destination.  Or maybe this is because the destination is such a nebulous thing, who knows what it will look like when we see it?

In addition to the nifty peek-a-boo plotting, Baccano! has all sorts of good stuff going for it, including the characters.  The bits-and-pieces plot allows the spotlight to shine on different characters, and just as the facts of the story are doled out one dollop at a time, so is the characterization.  Motivations, insecurities, and unexpected amounts of moxy are slowly, delightfully revealed. 

There's something very freewheeling and fun about this series.  Even at its most horrible  -- a character dancing in blood the way a kid stomps in puddles, for example -- the abandon with which these scenes are presented borders on the ridiculous.  There are times when the violence makes me go, "Ugh!" and yet I'm still peeking through my fingers to see what happens next.  Maybe it's the whimsey.  For every Ladd Russo offing some poor sap, there's Isaac and Miria pulling another caper or attempting to help someone they've deemed a poor unfortunate soul.  Whatever it is, it's a confusing, fantastic, awesome mix.

Something else to enjoy is the consistent artwork.  The animation is nicely done, and all those explosions and all that blood are artfully, horrifyingly shown in loving detail.  This isn't a series for the delicate, but it's nicely done.  Fights are smooth and very easy on the eyes.  Sometimes backgrounds get lost among the action, but they're beautifully worked here.  The gritty back streets add some serious soul and atmosphere, and make the opulent interior of the neighborhood speakeasy all the more dazzling. 

It's right hard to find something to complain about with this series.  Maybe I'm simpleminded and was just too impressed with the mismatched plot, my fascination with gangsters, and the nice animation to get bogged down in details.  Regardless, Baccano! is vastly entertaining and one I'd recommend to buy.  It's worth watching more than once to get all the details straight...and for the soundtrack, which is excellent.

A note: Baccano! isn't for kids.  Too many body parts end up missing and there's too much blood for the little ones.  Tuck them in tight and kiss them goodnight before watching.

Details: Runtime 100 minutes, contains episodes 9-12.  Extras include a commentary, textless songs, and trailers.