Italian mobster stories are not among the most common or most popular when it comes to anime, with most stories sticking to fairly normal storylines. For those seeking out anime about more realistic, down-to-Earth stories it seems as though the options come few and far between.
The majority of the popular shows in any given season come with fantastical worlds that, while often interesting and certainly don't make for bad shows, can sometimes not quite scratch a viewer's itch. 91 Days is an anime that immediately stands out for the Italian mafia at its focus, America-based story, and an overall feeling that it would find itself much more at home with the likes of Martin Scorsese’s films. This doesn’t mean that these elements don’t work, however, as they work far better than one might think.
What Is 91 Days?
91 Days is an anime set at the end of the prohibition era in America, where Italian mafiosos saw their rise to power selling illegal hooch. Years after witnessing his father’s murder at the hands of the mafia, Angelo Lagusa receives a mysterious letter from a friend of his father’s saying that it’s time to return to his hometown and exact his revenge. Hiding under the name Avilio Bruno, Angelo works his way up the ranks of the Venetti clan and edges ever closer to his vengeance.
An original anime by Shuka animation studio, 91 Days was released in 2016 on Crunchyroll. With 12 episodes and one OVA, this shorter series found mostly positive reviews with most who had seen it identifying it as something definitely worth seeing. Years later, it still stands out as a unique story to anime for many elements that perfectly come together to form this mafia story.
What Makes This Story Stand Apart
While mafia stories aren’t necessarily completely absent from anime, and crime-focused stories aren’t in short supply either, a story focused on the Italian-American mafia of the 1930s is very unique. Prohibition-era America is a time period almost exclusively used by American directors. Many other anime featuring mafia-type characters simply set their stories elsewhere.
Another aspect that helps is just how real the characters feel. This is a very grounded story that, while obviously hyperbolizing some aspects, for the most part, presents very grounded characters. Angelo’s rage and desire for vengeance are very much believed and the audience can genuinely buy into his quest. Nero, Angelo’s way into the Vanetti clan, also stands as a character who goes through some solid arcs over the course of the show and is dynamic.
The Visuals
This show has some wonderfully gritty and grounded animation that makes the characters and the world feel real. The time period shines through in every little detail, and there’s never a jarring moment that makes it feel as though this story couldn’t have taken place in one form or another. The art style very much works in favor of the story and helps it be grounded in the time period.
The cinematography as well stands out, with the framing of most scenes ranging from engrossing to jaw-dropping. There are many stand out moments where everything comes together and just works, visually telling the story alongside simply presenting it. There are many other moments as well where the visuals are so inspired that scenes become breathtaking and make one only realize after they were holding their breath.
The Music
The music for this show is excellent, with none of the tracks feeling generic or lost. Long pulls on the violin and gentle keys on the piano make for a very 1930s music list that likely sounds exactly how one would imagine a 1930s mafia story to sound like. This backing score makes for engaging scenes that excellently control emotion through small changes in the music. The opening, Signal, created by TK also stands out as an excellent intro to the show that gets viewers in the mood for what they’re about to see.
The Dub Is Actually Pretty Good
For many anime, the English dubs are often a mixed bag. There are many reasons behind this, but some anime go above and beyond to give their best presentation no matter the language. With 91 Days, the English voice actors truly show dedication to the craft with many an Italian accent at play. This helps embroil the viewer in the world of the story and makes a solid argument as to why the English dub makes a little more sense to watch over the Japanese with subtitles version.
Overall this anime shoots for and gets a lot right in its quest to tell this mafioso story. The story direction, the visuals, and the acting add up to a story that lives and breathes in the world that it’s set in. There is some true passion for the mafia genre at play, and it shows in every minute of every episode. The music is one sign of this, with the score playing strong into the feelings of the show, highlighting every dramatic moment. This show deserves a watch, just to partake in the feeling of being a gangster in the 1930s hauling illegal hooch past corrupt police officers.