#does anyone remember this showww?!? i loved this shit

[toshio]

been rewatching “Durarara!!” lately, and it’s one of my favorite animes (biased from nostalgia but whatever). the show is a bit complicated to explain, but to sum it up:

it follows the story of a “headless horseman” or “Dullahan” (irish mythological creature) which is basically a “headless rider” who carries their head while riding on a black horse [said to be the embodiment of a Celtic god or something like that]. anyway, it sounds crazy, but bear with me for a bit. the anime makes its own rules of course, so the headless horseman is a badass chick named Celty Sturluson (she wears a cute yellow kitty helmet) and she’s easily the most lovable character in the series who could do no harm. the premise of the story is that she’s an immortal entity that traveled from Ireland to Japan (Ikebukuro) who came searching for her missing head that she lost centuries ago. will she find it? watch Durarara!! and find out (no but she’s got super OP powers like being able to create weapons like scythes and knives out of thin air with her mysterious powers).

the entire show takes place in the restless city of Ikebukuro, Japan and there exists an online + anonymous gang called “Dollars” and you really feel immersed into the setting, because they somehow are able to make you feel involved in their online chat rooms as they gossip about city drama. i’m always a huge fan of anime shows that take place in big cities because i’m naturally a city person, so i find it very chaotic, yet rhythmic and soothing compared to those quiet, boring suburban neighborhoods.

aside from Celty, the entire cast is pretty diverse, the opening theme tells you all of the main/minor characters names and you learn more about each character’s life every few episodes which build character development - tying the overall plot of the story together while giving enough context. there’s 2 openings and 2 ending songs (25 episodes total) and the first ending song was my absolute FAVORITE because it shows all of the characters holding each other in one really long image, it’s super wholesome and awesome because of how symbolic it is (it even became an internet meme template that people still love today).

i could honestly go on about this anime for hours, but two of the most fan-favorite characters at the time were Shizuo (blonde) and Izaya (smug twink with fur hood jacket) who absolutely despise each other (more context will be given after you watch just a few episodes). if Shizuo sees Izaya on the streets, he starts going FERAL and chases after his little skinny ass. their relationship in itself is comic relief genius, and 100% my type of humor. i love these two. any OG anime fans will remember this - they were a cultural reset for the yaoi fangirls in 2010, their ship name is “Shizaya”. good times.

in conclusion, this anime just...hits home for me. it’s nostalgic, it had a way different/unique animation style for 2010 at the time. i’m a hipster weeb nowadays who mostly rewatches old stuff. i seldom indulge myself into newer mainstream animes due to personal reasons. however, i highly recommend Durarara!! if you haven’t seen it. it’s a /must watch/ if you enjoy cityscapes, fictional gang violence, supernatural elements, and the like.