Working!!

Working!!'s opening theme brings back memories of Azumanga Daioh! and the anime isn't far off in content.

If you are new to anime or japanese culture, here is a good introduction to something you see in anime all the time: family restaurants. Similar to Denny's or Shari's in the USA, the family restaurant or "famiresu" as its shortened is a community staple as common as the "combini" (short for convenience store, like 7-11 or AM/PM). Famiresu is your regular sit-down restaurant that serves the same sort of menu no matter which one you walk into.

I hope you don't mind famiresu, because this anime spends most of its time focusing on the staff that work at one called Wagnaria. During the first episode we meet a bubbly worker who is tasked to recruit a new part-timer and manages to bring a level-headed middle school student who is charmed and obviously doesn't mind picking up work on the fly. We meet the other staff members and soon get an idea of what bizarre events are in store for the new worker. I won't spoil what his other coworkers are like, but do want to mention that we aren't stuck with a dull and plain main character at the mercy of his opportunistic, abusive and fickle coworkers. We can see soon enough that we aren't dealing with the run of the mill young man.

We also get a few episodes where the pace is switched up and we get a peek at his family life and story lines that can only happen in this anime because of the unique set of characters. After a few episodes, you might be tempted to look forward to this upbeat, sometimes zany and always grounded anime that uncovers what goes on behind the scenes after a customer orders a B set lunch and milk tea.

Recommendations:

• Hatarakiman >>...there is working, but it's about a career-ambitious salary woman journalist who fights the urge to strangle her undeserving male coworker while deadlines and stress spread humor and dispair like only a salary job can
  
• Azumanga Daiou >>...a little more zany, but it's got daily life stuff
  
• Wagaya no Oinarisama >>...this anime has a level-headed young man keeping everything in life in check even after the introduction of gods, demon attacks, his appointment as a clan head and a fox demon that drives up the mischief quotient
• xxxHolic >>...don't be scared by the title, this anime is kept at ground level by an overreacting main character that manages to keep his kind spirit in harmony with otherworldly encounters and a demanding mystical employer that loves sake and homecooked meals
  

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Durarara!!

Durarara!! has resuscitated an otherwise comatose few months of anime. It provided mystery, intrigue, excitement, action, all grounded with substantial characters that drove each episode in their own ways.

In the beginning, there is a lot of flipping around to different storylines and the questions just start piling up. What is this chatroom about? Whoa, what's going on here? Who are all these people? Okay, what's this high schooler's story? Now we are following these other people? This guy is dangerous. This other guy's even more dangerous.

Later on my thoughts were all about connecting the dots, and it just seems to get better from there. Characters start to shine, layers of story fall together creating the big picture, you get interested in what's going to happen in the next episode. And the realization that you now know the large number of characters in the opening theme.

Does it get boring after that? Don't worry, there is a new opening theme later on, with plenty of new faces to shake every character's world a little.

If you've seen Baccano, just be pleased that you are being treated to second serving from the same group. If you've seen anime, listen closely for some fun references from the otaku characters. If you are a restless high schooler looking for the something that will change your life...you can live through Mikado.

Favorite characters so far are the smooth-talking best friend and the bursting-with-emotion black rider. But there are still quite a few mysteries, and a few new ones introduced in the mix. I can count on this anime to give things a little spin.

Watch 2 or 3 episodes, so it can set the roots for this anime that has fun waiting behind every turn, before you decide to run with Durarara!!!.

I really like the ending theme, so I might put that in the sidebar soon.

Recommendations:

• Baccano >>...an obvious must if you like intertangled stories of a dozen characters colliding and congealing with a splashy violent jazz era backdrop
• Black Lagoon >>...organized gangs bump shoulders in a city full of criminals with comedic violence in chaotic finishes
  

Video Sample:



Do you plan to watch Durarara!!?


See the description for Durarara!!! on AnimeDB.net >>