Just my quick thoughts on the first two episodes of two other winter ’10 series I started watching (besides Sora no Woto)…
I think I’m one of the few people who’s watching Durarara!! now but has never seen Ryohgo Narita’s previous work, Baccano!. The first episode was interesting enough, particularly the stylish setting and the intriguing mystery behind the headless rider. Nice animation, great opening and ending songs, and a cast of popular seiyuu (Daisuke Ono, Mamoru Miyano, Jun Fukuyama). However, my one complaint was that introducing so many characters in just the first episode was a bit overwhelming (all their names pop up in the opening so at least that will help me remember them XD)
The second episode however, was much more focused and explained the conflict involving the girl who was kidnapped in the first episode. The dialogue, narration, and just about everything else in this episode was very well written and beautifully conveyed a universal message about suicide and disillusionment. The silent and mysterious headless rider continues to be an alluring part of the series.
Having never read the original novels, I’m still not sure what direction Durarara!! is going. Will it continue to focus on episodic stories involving different characters, like in episode 2, or will it go back to focusing mostly on the main characters from episode 1 and reveal a more encompassing plot involving Dullahan? Looking forward to finding out.
The first episode of Dance in the Vampire Bund was one of the best parody gimmicks I’ve seen. An animated version of a ridiculous Japanese talk show seriously debating whether vampires could be real or not, was terribly entertaining. This was a great idea on Shaft’s part to create such a unique introductory episode for the series.
Episode two however, though not bad, was a bit on the predictable side. I could tell right away that Mina and Akira had made the common anime “past promise” that one of them had forgotten about, and their reactions upon meeting each other were typical of the “boy meets strange girl” situation. But the action scene towards the end and Akira’s sudden transformation into a werewolf was quite unpredictable and thrilling. Having brilliantly set up the existence of vampires in episode 1 and establishing the relationship between Mina and Akira in episode 2, the series is now ready to get its plot and character development going. The only other vampire anime I’m familiar with is the vastly different Vampire Knight, so I’m interested in seeing the creativity of the vampire attributes, bloodlines, etc., that DitVB has to offer. Despite her obviously fan-pandering traits, Mina looks like she might be an interesting character and I’m curious to find out more about how the vampire world is conveyed in this series.
From what I’ve heard, Shaft is not staying faithful to the Dance in the Vampire Bund manga. Having never read the manga, I can’t say whether this is good or not. But I always judge the anime in its own right. Hopefully DitVB will keep delivering.
Yeah, I liked DRRR’s second episode a lot more than the first – which was really a terrible way to introduce a cadre of characters IMO. But the second episode had an interesting story, and did a better job of providing some interesting hints about the side characters (e.g., Shizuo the short-tempered, strong man)
Finally. Someone who actually liked first episode of Dance in the Vampire Bund. Most of the people who watched the first episode was bored to death and was a complete waste of time. But no, it actually was entertaining in some way. Yes, I agree that this is somewhat the best gimmick SHAFT made (no not Bakemonogatari). Even though I hate SHAFT.
Yeah I felt the same way about the second episode. :( But that’s because I read the manga. Although, they did make some changes between the anime and the manga. The first episode was HILARIOUS. XD I’m glad someone other than me liked it, because I keep reading summaries that end with THAT WAS BORING. :x
@ Kairu and heartfulcry
Hmm, I didn’t know most people didn’t like episode 1 of DitVB. I’m a sucker for parody, so that could be why I liked. But I honestly didn’t anticipate such a thoroughly satirical introductory episode and that’s why it was so much fun.
Being a fan of Baccano!, I was excited to see a brief scene from it in the first episode on the screen in the background. The appearances of Horo and Yozakura Quartet, as well as a Shakugan no Shana reference were also amusing surprises. Durarara! has an almost identical opening format to Baccano!, and shares the semi-disjointed storytelling from various angles, the difference in this respect being that Durarara! doesn’t skip around years and centuries. I love both series. <3
Dance in the Vampire Bund had an entertaining first episode, but wasn't intriguing or original enough in concept to induce me to watch the second episode, unfortunately.
I haven’t seen Baccano, but I thought the art, animation, characters were wonderful in Durarara. Looking foward to the series;
Dance in the Vampire Bund was not bad, but after the second ep it simply didn’t interest me enough to continue watching the series.
My only real complaint about Durarara is that, after episode 2, it’s hard to know where the series is going or even what it’s about exactly. The first episode showed the typical “kid from the sticks comes to the big city” set-up, but then the second episode sort of froze time and went back to further explain episode one – which kind of tests the audience’s patience a little. ;) It is very stylish and I like the fact that it’s set in Ikebukuro (home of Otome Road and yaoi). We’ll see where it goes from here…