The Anime Dramedy On Streaming That Will Make You Feel Every Emotion
Based on the manga serial of the same name by Kafka Asagiri, Bungo Stray Dogs season 5 of the anime premiered in July 2023 on Crunchyroll. This anime produced by Bones, from Kadokawa Pictures, Inc. is a dark fantasy and is geared for older teenagers and adults. Common Sense Media suggests 15+.
It features fantasy violence and mature themes. There are also several light novels and movies set in the same universe.
Bungo Stray Dogs is set in a multifaceted and intricate world where certain magic is real and the interplay of personal politics is complex and convoluted. There are three main factions: the Guild, the Port Mafia, and the Armed Detective Agency. The Agency is full of people with special gifts tasked with solving crime and protecting the city of Yokohama from the Port Mafia.
Bungo or Bungou translates to Literary, so the name connection makes a lot of sense.
Bungo Stray Dogs initially follows a young man, Atsushi Nakajima, after his expulsion from the orphanage he was abandoned at. Nakajima learns how to control his supernatural gift, while he deals with growing up, solving crimes, and not getting himself killed. He has the ability to turn into a white tiger under the light of the moon, though controlling it does prove difficult.
There are some mentions of pretty horrific things happening to Nakajima as a very small child that, even in understanding the reasoning behind it, might make some people squeamish watching Bungo Stray Dogs.
Interestingly, many of the other characters he comes in contact with have the names of famous writers from the United States, Japan, and Russia, including Lucy Montgomery, Fyodor Dostoyevsky, and Francis Scott Key. The inclusion of the globally known authors gives a touchstone for in the same way that the dullahan in Durarara! did.
Bungo or Bungou translates to Literary, so the name connection makes a lot of sense.
Bungo Stray Dogs’ Margaret Mitchell, named after the author of Gone with the Wind, has an ability called “Gone with the Wind” which allows her to use the wind to break things apart. John Steinbeck’s ability is called the “Grapes of Wrath” and allows him to grow grapevines from his body. Edgar Allan Poe’s “Black Cat in the Rue Morgue” ability appears to be one of the most fun as he can transport people into the novel they are currently reading.
Fans of anime who enjoy supernatural elements, cleverness, and detective stories will likely find something they like in Bungo Stray Dogs.
The author name and ability gimmicks are clever and a lovely homage for fans of those authors.
As the story continues, the central character shifts and allows for the exploration and development of other characters and relationships, struggles, and growth of the world and the people in Bungo Stray Dogs. The themes of survival, redemption, and protecting the city, especially all the orphans of the city, wind through the series.
While there are some mixed feelings about the anime in the United States, Bungo Stray Dogs is incredibly popular in Japan and has a 4.8 star user rating on Crunchyroll. As with anything, there are detractors. Some find the gimmick to be a bit too convoluted.
Generally speaking, the average American might not know the authors who write in other languages which may make it a little more difficult to quickly understand the abilities of those characters from Bungo Stray Dogs right away. In some ways, it highlights the cultural differences between the East and West.
Margaret Mitchell, named after the author of Gone with the Wind, has an ability called “Gone with the Wind” which allows her to use the wind to break things apart.
The animation is clean and very much in keeping with the general style of modern anime with bright colors, sharp lines, and occasional choppy transitions. The music is frenetic and disjointed with touches of rap, acid jazz, light rock, and orchestral arrangements but can be a bit grating in places.
Fans of anime who enjoy supernatural elements, cleverness, and detective stories will likely find something they like in Bungo Stray Dogs, but it isn’t going to be for everyone. While season 6 still hasn’t been officially confirmed, season 5 caught up to the published manga, so it may be some time before the fate of the continuing adventures is known and, because of the release schedule for the manga, it may be years before there is enough material for another season.
