In the early 1930s, the transcontinental train, Flying Pussyfoot, starts a legendary journey across the country that will leave behind a trail of blood. During this same period, the ambitious scientist Szilarf and his unwilling assistant Ennis investigate missing bottles of immortality elixir in New York. This can be traced back to 1711 where the alchemists creating this elixir learn the real price of being immortal. Among these mysterious events, a Mafia war heats up. Follow this intricate tale of alchemy, immortality, and survival as it weaves together many seemingly unrelated events.
Baccano and its experimental storytelling is made fun by its interesting cast of characters that carry the show. If you are looking for more unique anime series like Baccano, then look no further.
Anime Like Baccano
For Fans of Unrelated Stories Coming Together
Durarara
Tokyo’s downtown district of Ikebukuro is awash in strange rumors, everything from colorless color gangs to a headless rider roaming town populate the rumors. For Mikado Ryuugamine who just moved there from the countryside, he is but one witness to the district’s slew of strange events.
Written by the same author and made by the same studio, you will immediately note similarities between the quirky characters, the way of storytelling, and even the real/supernatural blend of plot. Initially everything in the story seems to be scattered events, but the more you watch, the more it all comes together in the best possible way.
Bakemonogatari
After surviving a vampire attack, high school student Koyomi Araragi finds he has several supernatural side effects that remained after being cured including the ability to rapidly heal. While trying to live a normal life after the event, he ends up catching a classmate, Hitagi Senjougahara, as she fell down some stairs. As he catches her, he discovers that she is near weightless after being inflicted with a curse. After enlisting the help of the easy-going wandering Shinto priest that helped him with his vampirism, Araragi finds himself embroiled in not just Senjogahara’s issue but several different supernatural events afflicting those in his town.
Immediately notable is the way that immortality plays a role in both plot lines. Yet, of course that immortality is shown in very different ways. However, you will also note that both Baccano and Bakemonogatari don’t tell their stories in traditional ways. They are broken up and then the audience has to put them all together.
Boogiepop Phantom
Everyone knows about Boogiepop. The legend goes that if you meet her one dark night, you will be taken. However, the rumors of Boogiepop which coincided with a string of grisly murders that happened five years ago have started to whirl up again. Something is out there. Are you safe?
If you enjoyed the sort of urban supernatural vibe going on in Baccano, then Boogiepop Phantom has much of the same. However, while Boogiepop is a bit more linear in its storytelling, but you will note that it has a similar way of unraveling like Baccano. It makes it traditional mystery plot intriguing.
For Fans of Mafia Tales
91 Days
Set during Prohibition, a man named Avilio returns to Lawless, a town famed for brewing illegal liquor, after the murder of his family by the mafia. A mysterious letter prompted him to return and infiltrate the Vanetti family to get his revenge. This anime tells the story of 91 days leading to the tragic end between Avilio and Nero Vanetti, the Don’s son.
91 Days and Baccano both take place (for the most part) in the same time period, and in that time period, touch onto mafia stories. However, 91 Days doesn’t have the same supernatural element to it. What they do have in common is a large cast of characters and particularly trigger happy action.
Bungou Stray Dogs
The orphanage that Atsushi Nakajima has been living at has been recently plagued by a tiger that only he can see. Blaming him for the incident, they kick him out. Now homeless, he wanders the streets until he meets the eccentric Osamu Dazai and saves him from drowning. As it turns out, Dazai is a supernatural detective and agrees to help him solve the mystery.
Both Baccano and Bungou Stray Dogs have mafia stories, but they are not always the main focus. However, you do get that intoxicating blend of historical real world with its supernatural elements to it. Furthermore, if you enjoyed Baccano’s quirky characters, you will find much of the same in Bungou Stray Dogs.
Gungrave
Brandon Heat and Harry MacDowel grew up on the streets together and both turned to crime in order to get by. However, when their activities are noticed by the eyes of the expansive Millennion mafia syndicate, the pair find themselves brought under their wings and rising through the ranks. Things go well until one fateful day that changes it all. Years later, Brandon Heat is brought back from the dead to fight Millennion and its new leader, Harry MacDowel.
While Baccano has other things going on, Gungrave maintains a strict focus on its mafia story for the first half. However, then it suddenly shifts to a more supernatural story in the second half. While these two elements are more seamlessly blended in Baccano, Gungrave still gives you that gritty gun action you crave.
For Fans of Eccentric Characters
Blood Blockade Battlefront
Vampires, fishmen, supersonic monkeys – They are all normal residents living alongside humans in Hellsalem’s Lot, formerly known as New York City. When a gate between Earth and the Beyond popped up there three years ago, old NYC became dominated by monsters, and now Libra, a secret organization, is tasked with keeping it in order. After hobbyist photographer Leonardo Watch obtains the All-Seeing Eyes of the Gods, he finds himself recruited into Libra.
Blood Blockade Battlefront is essentially built on the fact that its characters are quirky while Baccano uses its quirky characters to enhance the story. However, you will note a similar fractured storytelling as well, but BBB is more short story style instead of building to a cohesive tie together.
Cowboy Bebop
In the distant future, humanity has, for the most part, abandoned Earth and colonized several different planets in the solar system. In order to keep peace in the galaxy, the Inter Solar System police was established, but they often rely on the aid of bounty hunters, referred to as “cowboys,” to bring criminals on the run to justice. This is the story of Spike Spiegel and Jet Black, a pair of cowboys that end up with a rag-tag crew of other misfits as they travel the galaxy trying to keep food on the table and their own dark pasts at bay.
While Baccano is gritty and supernatural, Cowboy Bebop is gritty and space-oriented. However, both shows share a strange cast, a lovely jazz soundtrack, and a more American feel than other anime series. Furthermore, it is not all just hip tang and talking, you also get some fluid and fun action.
Mawaru Penguindrum
The Takakura family has always been dealt equal hands of joy and sorrow by fate. For the twin brothers Kanba and Shouma, they have had more than their share of sorrow with their parents dead and their sister critically ill. When their sister Himari is given temporary leave from the hospital, they take her to the aquarium where she collapses. However, Himari is inexplicably revived when a penguin hat from the souvenir shop is put on her head. Her revival comes at a cost, though. There is a new entity in her body that tasks the boys with finding the mysterious penguin drum.
Like Baccano, much of the time while watching Mawaru, you don’t really have any idea what is going on. However, they share the similarity that all the weirdness going on comes together at the end and kind of blows your mind.
Did we miss any more good recommendations for Baccano? Let us know in the comments section below.
