ANIPLEX: Life After Alchemy?

So, what's the creative direction of Aniplex, the Japanese anime production company, after the conclusion of their highly successful series, Fullmetal Alchemist?
More alchemy!

Baccano!, the newest anime from Aniplex to broadcast in Japan, explores life in early 1930s America during a time when liquor is prohibited and many rum runners and gangsters make a living by supplying it. Anime Insider Magazine writes on the series:
"While in many ways Baccano! is a study of anarchy in gangland, its denizens use not just machine guns, moonshine, and knives, but also alchemy, the occasional loyal homunculus, and assassins, all in the search for eternal life."
Yep, eternal life.

Essentially, the cast -of what appears to be three dozen or so characters- will go looking for the Philosopher's Sto-, er, I mean, a bottle of the most sacred and sought-after of elixirs, that was, quite unfortunately passed off as an illegal liquor and thrown in a pile of other such illegal liquor during a raid. However, this bottle contains the potion that gives the partaker eternal life! Now several groups of people who are 'in-the-know' about this certain elixir, are on the search for the lost bottle. It all depends on who reaches it first, and, like Baccano! director, Takahiro Omori says to AI magazine, "There is no way that you'll be able to guess the outcome!"

The series, which combines CG animation and well-animated scenery and backgrounds, is sure to please, even if it is a vaguely reminiscent of another series (is anyone else getting a Maes Hughes vibe from this Maiza Avaro character? It took me a while to find a good comparison photo, so say it does, darn it!). Plenty of gratuitous violence and blood as well! Mark my words, I feel that in a year from now, this series will be licensed for DVD or Television for some English speaking production company.

Edit: Also, I'm testing this feature:
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Now playing: L'Arc~en~Ciel - Ready, Steady, Go!
via FoxyTunes