Why are Bungou Stray Dogs hashtags so much in use? Who is Dazai? Why nowadays do we see him on Instagram reels and youtube? People are curious to know about Dazai. Well, Dazai is a fictional and powerful character in Bongou Stray Dogs, but he is not the protagonist. You will have to read to learn more about the anime series. What makes Bungou Stray Dogs stand out from others? And why the audience can’t get enough of it?
Kafka Asagiri has written a fascinating mystery series Bungou Stray Dogs (also known as Bungō Sutorei Doggusu in Japanese), and Sango Harukawa illustrated it. The manga series, which was released in Japan on Dec 4, 2012, got really popular, and hence an anime adaptation was made of the series.
The anime adaptation of Bungou Stray Dogs premiered on 7 April 2016. The fans very much enjoyed it, so season 2 was rereleased on October 6, 2016. 3 years later, season 3 has been released as well (2019). Since the release of the season, 3 fans have been asking for season 4 now. Rumors are going on that the official date will be announced by 2021 winter or 2022 fall.
The Plot of Bungou Stray Dogs
Bungou Stray Dogs begins with Atsushi, a young chad growing up in a terrible orphanage. He gets kicked out of the orphanage under suspicion of bringing a tiger when a mystical tiger appeared out of the blue. Atsushi was homeless and hungry. He was on the verge of death when another bizarre incident occurs and turns his life upside down.
Atsushi rescues a man called Osamu Dazai from drowning; this event, to be precise, changes his fate completely. Osamu is a supernatural detective who was working on the case of a mystical tiger. Eager to clear his name, Atsushi joins Osamu’s investigation into the tiger and eventually becomes a part of their gang. The show is all about their guild making progress, solving crimes, and dealing with rivals.
Where to Watch?
- Netflix
- Crunchyroll
- Gogo Anime
- Animeflex
- Just watch
What are the attractive elements of this show?
- Drama
- Mystery
- funny
- Undeniably charming characters
Review
At the beginning of the Bungou Stray Dogs Anime, I didn’t feel any excitement about the show. Because in many scenes, the humor was forced into the drama; however, from episode 3, my whole outlook towards the show changed. The author made each episode a cliffhanger, which would make the viewer curious to know what would happen next, and I especially felt really excited to see what’s going to happen in the next episode! But the series ended too soon, and I felt like it should’ve been a two-cour series instead.
Check out a review video on Bungou Stray Dogs to have a better insight.
Storyline
The story of Bungou Stray Dogs is undoubtedly engaging. If anyone would ask me what’s the best part of the show? I’d say the best part of Stray dogs that I enjoyed most was the show’s delivery, which was strong, dramatic well maintained with a supernatural storyline. But Sometimes, the balance of stray dogs would be confusing as it kept jumping from a comedy to drama, and then finally back to comedy.
This kind of balancing would affect the viewers negatively because some viewers may not feel engagement or enjoyment in such scenes. You can also try watching similar series with a bit of fantasy like Seven Deadly Sins, Jujutsu Kaisen, etc.
But I’d like to mention that the story is actually pretty solid. In terms of supernatural occurrences in the story, it sometimes reminded me of many of the Durarara and Baccano series (You must try these anime too). Oh, and not to forget the comedy style!
Looking at the whole gang warfare, port mafia vs. armed detective company reminded me of another anime gang- yellow scarves vs. the dollars. However, the motives of both the gangs are different, but they are also similar on some grounds. It is always refreshing to have short snippets of comedy and fun after dramatic or serious events.
It eases your mind and lets you enjoy the show. I believe that the uniqueness of Stray Dog’s title had a strong point overall. It is one of those titles that’s fun to watch because of an interesting story with a pinch of other elements like unexpected and exciting new developments.
Animation
Visual animation and the art style of Bungou Stray Dogs reminded me of Baccano! You can also notice that some characters are similar too. I noticed that Bungou Stray Dogs’ setting, background, and character designs have a strong 1940s-1950s feel.
A key animator who worked on background settings worked really hard and did a top-notch job. The fight scenes were of high-end quality, and I loved this thing about the show. Fights and action scenes are sure to have your attention.
During fights, I noticed that the fast-paced animation greatly increased the battles’ intensity. Plus, I also observed that characters seem to keep having a convert when it comes to fighting, so there is also a sense of build-up in the scenes. Dr. Stone’s animation, especially the background was excellent too; I wonder if they hired the same key animator.
Character designs are eye-catching and interesting, and the eyes were the most attractive to me. For some unknown reasons, male characters’ features stood out more than the females. My favorite character is Dazai; if you’ve watched it, then comment on your favorite character in the comments section below.
Sound
The sound was also good. The opening and ending songs were good too, but not sure if they were any special. I enjoyed both the soundtracks and voice actors used in Stray dogs, but the only exception was Chiaki Omigawa. Her voice was annoying and felt like nails scratching on a chalkboard.
No other voice actor had any issues. The background music and fight scene build-up music were also nice. The unique thing during battles was that the music would intensify the fight and keep the viewers engaged.
Characters
Character growth and development are visibly prominent and worthy of mention. But no worries, events in season 2 will definitely help characters develop further so that they aren’t perceived as boring and plain. Not all characters stood out except Dazai, even though he wasn’t the protagonist. I don’t think any other character except Dazai would have a long-lasting impression on the viewers.
Enjoyment
I would rate ⅘ for Enjoyment. It’s not a bad anime, and I can assure you that. It successfully delivers a lot of drama, action, and mysterious elements. Perhaps it’s because of the writing style and illustrations that it didn’t really appeal to many.
My overall feeling about the show is positive. Still, there’s too much mystery, and there’s an unavoidable essence of incompleteness like they are relying on season 2 to make things even better. Despite all these reasons, I believe that stray dogs delivered enough greatness, which would make the viewers come back for more.
Final words
Okay, as I’ve watched all the seasons of Bungou Stray Dogs, I know it keeps getting better, which is also the sole reason for its popularity. Fans keep asking for more as they’re a great source of a mix-up comedy with mystery. Obviously, it had flaws too. It might get boring in Season 2 because each character’s past is revealed at a slow pace.
Even I was going to quit it, but probably after episode 7 or 8, things get interesting and starts making sense. So if you’re looking for something fun to watch, then give this a try. It will keep you entertained, and I’m sure Dazai will be your favorite character as well.
I’ll rate it 4/5.
FAQs on Bungou Stray Dogs Anime
1. Will there be a Bungou stray dogs Season 4?
Yes, I hope so. Based on the research I did, I think we should be hearing official news by the winter of 2021. You can also read in detail at Episode; they will provide you with the latest updates!
2. Who is the strongest in Bungou stray dogs?
Till now, I think it’s Osamu Dazai as he can neutralize any abilities he comes in contact with. Still, there is Chuuya Nakahara too, who seems to be more powerful as he seems to have no control over his power, according to CBR.
3. Is Bungo stray dogs Anime on Netflix?
Yes, it’s on Netflix.
