UlasanAnime.com – Japan may struggle with certain aspects, but their persistent efforts in creative endeavors are commendable and should be encouraged.
This sentiment perfectly encapsulates my thoughts on Baccano! The collaboration between Japanese creators and Western producers offers a direct avenue to address some of the issues highlighted in that notorious open letter. It’s important to remember that this collaborative effort between Americans and Japanese in producing exported animation has been ongoing for over a decade. One of the earliest examples I recall is ADV’s BGC2040, though there might be even earlier instances.
However, Baccano! doesn’t quite fit the mold of a direct collaboration. It aligns more closely with works like Cowboy Bebop, which present a fantastical reimagining of a Western-themed past or future, conceived entirely within the Japanese creative mind. With the notable exception of last year’s outstanding Black Lagoon, which was itself an adaptation and thus not a true exception, there hasn’t been a collaboration with such significant appeal to a Western audience as these original Japanese creations.
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Perhaps Japanese-American collaborations simply haven’t lived up to their full potential. Not only do they fail to expedite the process for the end consumer, but the Japanese teams still encounter issues, as evidenced by the occasional “Engrish.”
Yet, if my goal was to witness violence glorified and presented in a palette palatable to American tastes, I could simply watch a movie at a local theater. Baccano!, at least, offers something more. I highlight it here because it reaffirms my belief that there are individuals in Japan, perhaps the antithesis of a “weeaboo,” who genuinely strive to recreate settings like the Prohibition era in their narratives, resulting in something far from terrible.
While it might not withstand intense scrutiny, it certainly provides a welcome shade on a sunny day.
This marks the second installment in a series of blog entries reflecting on the memorable and remarkable aspects of 2007. I believe Makoto Shinkai was one of the year’s most significant highlights, and I will build towards a grand conclusion from here.
- Introduction
- Part 1 – Makoto Shinkai
- Part 2 – Baccano!
- Part 3 – Sola
- Part 4 – Hitohira
- Part 5 – Gurren Lagann
- Part 6 – Code Geass
- Part 7 – ef, Hidamari Sketch, Sayonara Zetsubo Sensei
- Part 8 – Manabi Straight
- Conclusion
