Durarara!!
Encyclopedia
, often romanized as DRRR!! in Japan, is a Japanese light novel
series written by Ryohgo Narita
, with illustrations by Suzuhito Yasuda
, that has also been adapted in to a Japanese anime series. As of February 2011, nine volumes have been published by ASCII Media Works
under their Dengeki Bunko
imprint
. A manga
adaptation by Akiyo Satorigi started serialization in the shōnen manga magazine Monthly GFantasy on April 18, 2009. An anime
adaptation began airing in Japan in January 2010. The series is about a dullahan
working as an underworld courier in Ikebukuro
, Japan
, an internet-based anonymous gang called The Dollars, and the chaos that unfolds around the most dangerous people in Ikebukuro. A game based on the series for the PlayStation Portable
was released on September 22, 2010.
The narrative follows all of the characters equally, showing how their lives intersect, creating a greater plotline from what each character knows about a common incident.
s are written by Ryohgo Narita
and illustrated by Suzuhito Yasuda. The first novel was released in April 2004 under ASCII Media Works under their Dengeki Bunko imprint, and as of February 10, 2011, nine novels have been released. A Chinese-language release in Taiwan and Hong Kong is published by the Taiwan branch of Kadokawa Media
under their Fantastic Novels imprint. Daewon C.I. licensed the Korean-language release of the series in South Korea and releases the novels under their Newtype Novels imprint.
's Monthly GFantasy in April 2009 and became a regular series starting with the magazine's July issue released June 2009. As of December 12, 2010, three tankōbon
have been released. The manga is licensed in North America by Yen Press
, and will release the first volume in January 2012.
and started airing on January 7, 2010 on MBS, TBS, and CBC. Crunchyroll is to simulcast
the anime at 480p
and 720p
within 24 hours of its Japanese premiere. Other users could see the same episode in standard definition for free one week later. The anime adapts the first three novels. The anime has been licensed by Beez Entertainment
for European release. At Anime Expo
2010, Aniplex of America confirmed that they have the license to Durarara!! and are planning to produce an English dub for a planned January 2011 release. The English dub was produced at Bang Zoom! Entertainment
.
Aniplex of America released Durarara!! in three digipak
, two-disc sets. Part one was released on January 25, 2011, part two was released on March 29, 2011, and part three was released on May 31, 2011. They were exclusively sold at RightStuf.com
and at Bandai Entertainment's The Store. Also, as of March 29, 2011, Durarara!! (Eps. 1-9, dubbed) have been added to the U.S. Playstation Network Video Store. The show began its U.S. broadcast with Cartoon Network
's Adult Swim
block on June 26, 2011.
and Kana Hanazawa
, the voices for Ryūgamine Mikado and Sonohara Anri respectively.
Light novel
A is a style of Japanese novel primarily targeting junior high and high school students . The term "light novel" is a wasei-eigo, or a Japanese term formed from words in the English language. Light novels are often called or for short...
series written by Ryohgo Narita
Ryohgo Narita
' is a Japanese light novelist. He won the Gold Prize in the 9th Dengeki Novel Prize for Baccano!, which was made into a TV anime in 2007. His series Durarara!! was also made into a TV anime, which began airing January 2010....
, with illustrations by Suzuhito Yasuda
Suzuhito Yasuda
, is a Japanese manga artist and illustrator. He most recognized for illustrating the light novels series Durarara!! and Kamisama Kazoku both adapted into anime series, and for being the original creator of the manga series Yozakura Quartet which was also adapted into an anime series.- Biography...
, that has also been adapted in to a Japanese anime series. As of February 2011, nine volumes have been published by ASCII Media Works
ASCII Media Works
is a Japanese publishing company in the Kadokawa Group which formed on April 1, 2008 as a result of a merger between ASCII and MediaWorks where MediaWorks legally absorbed ASCII. Despite this, the former president of ASCII, Kiyoshi Takano, became the president of ASCII Media Works. The company...
under their Dengeki Bunko
Dengeki Bunko
is a publishing imprint affiliated with the Japanese publishing company ASCII Media Works . It was established in June 1993 with the publication of Hyōryū Densetsu Crystania volume one, and is a light novel imprint aimed at a male audience...
imprint
Imprint
In the publishing industry, an imprint can mean several different things:* As a piece of bibliographic information about a book, it refers to the name and address of the book's publisher and its date of publication as given at the foot or on the verso of its title page.* It can mean a trade name...
. A manga
Manga
Manga is the Japanese word for "comics" and consists of comics and print cartoons . In the West, the term "manga" has been appropriated to refer specifically to comics created in Japan, or by Japanese authors, in the Japanese language and conforming to the style developed in Japan in the late 19th...
adaptation by Akiyo Satorigi started serialization in the shōnen manga magazine Monthly GFantasy on April 18, 2009. An anime
Anime
is the Japanese abbreviated pronunciation of "animation". The definition sometimes changes depending on the context. In English-speaking countries, the term most commonly refers to Japanese animated cartoons....
adaptation began airing in Japan in January 2010. The series is about a dullahan
Dullahan
The Irish dullahan is a type of unseelie fairie. It is headless, usually seen riding a black horse and carrying his or her head under one arm. The head's eyes are massive and constantly dart about like flies, while the mouth is constantly in a hideous grin that touches both sides of the head...
working as an underworld courier in Ikebukuro
Ikebukuro
is a commercial and entertainment district in Toshima, Tokyo, Japan. Toshima ward offices, Ikebukuro station, and several shops, restaurants, and enormous department stores are located within city limits....
, Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
, an internet-based anonymous gang called The Dollars, and the chaos that unfolds around the most dangerous people in Ikebukuro. A game based on the series for the PlayStation Portable
PlayStation Portable
The is a handheld game console manufactured and marketed by Sony Corporation Development of the console was announced during E3 2003, and it was unveiled on , 2004, at a Sony press conference before E3 2004...
was released on September 22, 2010.
Plot
The series is set in modern day Ikebukuro, Japan. The story starts when Mikado Ryūgamine, a young boy who longs for the exciting life of the big city, moves to Ikebukuro at the invitation of his childhood friend Masaomi Kida, who he hasn't seen since he was young, to attend Raira Academy with him. After first meeting Masaomi at the train station, they both set out at night to the streets of Ikebukuro. Masaomi warns him about people he doesn't want to cross in the city: like a violent and superhumanly strong man, Shizuo Heiwajima, an information broker, Izaya Orihara, and a mysterious gang known as "The Dollars." After running into some of the side characters, Mikado witnesses a local legend called the "Black Rider", who rides around Ikebukuro on a black bike that occasionally brays like a horse, and who is also rumored to have no head under it's helmet.The narrative follows all of the characters equally, showing how their lives intersect, creating a greater plotline from what each character knows about a common incident.
Light novel
The Durarara!! light novelLight novel
A is a style of Japanese novel primarily targeting junior high and high school students . The term "light novel" is a wasei-eigo, or a Japanese term formed from words in the English language. Light novels are often called or for short...
s are written by Ryohgo Narita
Ryohgo Narita
' is a Japanese light novelist. He won the Gold Prize in the 9th Dengeki Novel Prize for Baccano!, which was made into a TV anime in 2007. His series Durarara!! was also made into a TV anime, which began airing January 2010....
and illustrated by Suzuhito Yasuda. The first novel was released in April 2004 under ASCII Media Works under their Dengeki Bunko imprint, and as of February 10, 2011, nine novels have been released. A Chinese-language release in Taiwan and Hong Kong is published by the Taiwan branch of Kadokawa Media
Kadokawa Shoten
is a well-known Japanese publishing company based in Tokyo, Japan. Kadokawa has published both manga novels and magazines, such as Newtype magazine...
under their Fantastic Novels imprint. Daewon C.I. licensed the Korean-language release of the series in South Korea and releases the novels under their Newtype Novels imprint.
Manga
A manga adaptation written by Narita and illustrated by Akiyo Satorigi first appeared in the May issue of Square EnixSquare Enix
is a Japanese video game and publishing company best known for its console role-playing game franchises, which include the Final Fantasy series, the Dragon Quest series, and the action-RPG Kingdom Hearts series...
's Monthly GFantasy in April 2009 and became a regular series starting with the magazine's July issue released June 2009. As of December 12, 2010, three tankōbon
Tankobon
, with a literal meaning close to "independently appearing book", is the Japanese term for a book that is complete in itself and is not part of a series , though the manga industry uses it for volumes which may be in a series...
have been released. The manga is licensed in North America by Yen Press
Yen Press
Yen Press is the manga and graphic novel imprint of Hachette Book Group. In addition to their regular book releases, Yen Press produces a monthly anthology called Yen Plus. The company's varied list demonstrates an interest in publishing a wide variety of Japanese manga, Korean manhwa, and other...
, and will release the first volume in January 2012.
Anime
An anime adaption of the light novels was announced in the wraparound sleeve of the sixth volume of the light novel. The anime is produced by Brain's BaseBrain's Base
is a Japanese animation studio.-TV series:2002*Daigunder2003*Pluster World2005*Kamichu!*Gunparade Orchestra2006*Innocent Venus2007*Kishin Taisen Gigantic Formula*Baccano!2008*Kure-nai*Natsume's Book of Friends...
and started airing on January 7, 2010 on MBS, TBS, and CBC. Crunchyroll is to simulcast
Simulcast
Simulcast, shorthand for "simultaneous broadcast", refers to programs or events broadcast across more than one medium, or more than one service on the same medium, at the same time. For example, Absolute Radio is simulcast on both AM and on satellite radio, and the BBC's Prom concerts are often...
the anime at 480p
480p
480p is the shorthand name for a video display resolution. The p stands for progressive scan, i.e. non-interlaced. The 480 denotes a vertical resolution of 480 pixel high vertically scanning lines, usually with a horizontal resolution of 640 pixels and 4:3 aspect ratio or a horizontal resolution of...
and 720p
720p
720p is the shorthand name for 1280x720, a category of High-definition television video modes having a resolution of 1080 or 720p and a progressive scan...
within 24 hours of its Japanese premiere. Other users could see the same episode in standard definition for free one week later. The anime adapts the first three novels. The anime has been licensed by Beez Entertainment
Beez Entertainment
Beez Entertainment is a European anime distributor, and they also distribute anime soundtracks. They mainly act as the European branch for Bandai Visual as it is owned by Namco Bandai Holdings...
for European release. At Anime Expo
Anime Expo
Anime Expo, abbreviated AX, is an American anime convention held in Los Angeles, California and organized by the non-profit Society for the Promotion of Japanese Animation . With rare exceptions, the convention is traditionally held on the July 4th weekend and lasts for four days...
2010, Aniplex of America confirmed that they have the license to Durarara!! and are planning to produce an English dub for a planned January 2011 release. The English dub was produced at Bang Zoom! Entertainment
Bang Zoom! Entertainment
Bang Zoom! Entertainment is an audio post-production studio, located in Burbank, California, that has worked on several anime, video games, feature films, and directly-to-DVD projects...
.
Aniplex of America released Durarara!! in three digipak
Digipak
Digipak is a patented style of CD, DVD or BD packaging, and is a registered trademark of AGI World Ltd., an Atlas Holdings company.-Features:...
, two-disc sets. Part one was released on January 25, 2011, part two was released on March 29, 2011, and part three was released on May 31, 2011. They were exclusively sold at RightStuf.com
The Right Stuf International
The Right Stuf International, Inc. is an American retailer based in Grimes, Iowa that markets and distributes anime and manga-related products throughout the United States and internationally...
and at Bandai Entertainment's The Store. Also, as of March 29, 2011, Durarara!! (Eps. 1-9, dubbed) have been added to the U.S. Playstation Network Video Store. The show began its U.S. broadcast with Cartoon Network
Cartoon Network
Cartoon Network is a name of television channels worldwide created by Turner Broadcasting which used to primarily show animated programming. The channel began broadcasting on October 1, 1992 in the United States....
's Adult Swim
Adult Swim
Adult Swim is an adult-oriented Cable network that shares channel space with Cartoon Network from 9:00 pm until 6:00 am ET/PT in the United States, and broadcasts in countries such as Australia and New Zealand...
block on June 26, 2011.
Radio
A internet radio show called was aired on February 26, 2010 and has ended, as of March 25, 2011. The hosts are Toshiyuki ToyonagaToshiyuki Toyonaga
is a Japanese seiyū and actor.-Anime:* Ballad of a Shinigami * Capeta * Durarara!! * Fresh Pretty Cure! * Get Ride! Amdriver...
and Kana Hanazawa
Kana Hanazawa
a voice actress represented by Office Osawa talent agency. She is notable for voice acting leading roles for a number of anime television shows and other anime-related media in Japan.-Anime voice roles:Leading roles in bold2003...
, the voices for Ryūgamine Mikado and Sonohara Anri respectively.
External links
- Durarara!! Official US Website
- デュラララ!!ラジオ 略して デュララジ!! (Web radio show)