Synopsis
In the early 1930s, the transcontinental train Flying Pussyfoot sets out from Chicago on a journey fated to leave a trail of blood across the country. Around the same time, the ambitious scientist Szilard and his reluctant assistant Ennis are searching for missing bottles of the immortality elixir in New York. Meanwhile, conflict among the mafia factions is escalating into open war. And aboard the Advena Avis in 1711, alchemists are about to discover the true price of eternal life. Adapted from the award-winning light novels of the same name, this anime presents several events that first appear unrelated in both time and place, yet all connect to a much larger tale—one of alchemy, survival, and immortality. Tying these threads together are the good-hearted would-be thieves Isaac and Miria, whose actions bring various people into contact, each individual carrying hidden ambitions and schemes, and in doing so create lifelong bonds and far-reaching consequences for everyone involved.
Background
Baccano! is based on Ryohgo Narita's award-winning light novels of the same title and mainly adapts the first 4 novels. While more faithful to the first 3 novels, the 4th novel (1932) is followed more loosely and is mostly an anime-exclusive story. In addition, content from later novels is briefly included in the anime as well. Unlike the novels however, which follow a mostly linear narrative per book, the anime adopts a non-linear storytelling style; the tale of each novel is told simultaneously with one another, with the focus jumping back and forth in time between and within the different plotlines.
