Bungou Stray Dogs is an interesting anime that is based on a manga written by Kafka Asagiri and illustrated by Sango Harukawa. It currently has two seasons with each 12 episodes and one movie. The third season has been confirmed to air sometime next year. Its protagonists are named after famous authors or characters of their works and most of them have a special ability, some kind of super power with which they may do either good or bad, depending on their intentions and the organization they are working for, including solving murder mysteries for the police and carrying out hits assigned by the mafia. The story mainly follows the members of the "Armed Detective Agency" and their everyday lives and hardships, as they frequently have to deal with the savage members of the Port Mafia and the Guild, two opponents stopping at nothing to take over the city and suit their own agenda.
Atsushi Nakajima, an orphan kicked out of the orphanage, finds his way into the Armed Detective Agency, when he discovers that he is the man-tiger that is currently threatening the city. Dazai Osamu, a former member of the Port Mafia now redeeming himself in the Armed Detective Agency, takes him in and keeps him in check, as his special power allows him to negate any other power with a single touch. The team dynamic is hilarious and the bickering between the eccentric individuals finding refuge in the Agency makes this anime fun to watch. Each character is special in their own way, be it the hobby suicidal Dazai Osamu, who’s silly attitude sometimes distracts from his tactical brain, the proud Doppo Kunikida, who can conjure any weapon the size of his notebook, Kenji Miyazawaor, a carefree but super strong teen from the country side, Akiko Yosano, the medic of the team, who is able to heal any wound (provided that the individual is in mortal peril), Junichiro Tanizaki with the ability called „light snow“, which allows him to project illusions within a certain area, or Ranpo Edogawa, the self proclaimed master detective capable of solving any mystery within 60 seconds (although he is the only non-gifted individual simply relying on the skill of deduction, unbeknownst to himself).
But nothing is ever as easy as it seems and peaceful moments never last long. Dazai’s questionable moral compass and his complicated relationship with the Port Mafia cause some serious trouble, especially since his former underling, Ryunosuke Akutagawa - who possesses a horribly short temper and an extremely dangerous ability called Rashomon - moved up the ranks and is desperate to gain Dazai’s attention. It doesn’t help that Atsushi Nakajima is wanted by almost every thug in town, because his head has a bounty on it, or that an uncontrollable child assassin is roaming the city.
The interactions between the different groups and organizations keep the pace of the plot and lead to some interesting character development. Flashbacks and friendly rivalries give further insight into the heads of the protagonists (or antagonists). Although certain characters might have ended up on opposing fronts, they may still join up to fight a greater evil and it is hard not to relate with the members of either group, because no matter how brutal they might be at times, each of them is written in a matter that just makes you like them.
The audiovisual aspect of the anime works well and the sense of humor that is always somewhat present brightens up the darker parts of the story.
Although there are one or two filler episodes and not every arc is equally interesting, the anime is definitely worth watching. Even if it’s just for the silly bunch of people sharing a common goal.
I rate this anime with a 7/10.
Character Analysis: Osamu Dazai
(Potential Spoilers ahead)
Osamu Dazai is a very interesting character, and one I find absolutely terrifying for several reasons. First off, he is gifted with very high intelligence and the skills to convince and deceive the people around him. His schemes, that never really surface before the blow has been dealt, clearly illustrate just how well informed he is and that he’s not shying away from using the people around him like pawns in a game of chess. His moral code isn’t based on a general understanding of good and bad, but on the words of one person he valued dearly: Sakunosuke Oda. Although it seems somewhat touching that he cared about his „friend“ so much that he changed his ways, it also points out that Dazai - on his own - does not mind cruelty or violence.
Even his former partner in the Port Mafia was disgusted by his actions, as Dazai continued to shoot an already dead enemy of theirs while he was laughing. It seems as if Dazai does not mind injustice, torture or terrorism, as long as it is not directed towards his innermost circle or interfering with his current mission. His indifference and the inability to care about „sides“ and the people in general hint at a slightly sociopathic personality. While he takes no joy in causing harm, the frightening aspect of his character is mainly the playfulness and manipulation he frequently puts to use to suit his goal. He treats it all like a big game - and he is either the puppeteer pulling the strings or the spectator, depending on the case at hand. The often silly behavior he displays is a mere farce that covers up the capacity for violence and cruelty.
I am not sure whether he intentionally deceives people with his odd character aspects (like his love for suicide), but I think that - to him - it is a way to deal with life, to make it more interesting. He constantly seeks out the thrill, be it from saving people or hunting them down. He is indiscriminate in a way, that he does not mind where the excitement comes from, as long as it offers a welcome change to the boring everyday life. His ability to lead and his innate authority (when he is being serious) are very impressive. It is thus no coincidence that he was part of the Port Mafia, as his skillset surely was most beneficial to them, just like it is now to the Armed Detective Agency.
And here we also see just how ambivalent he can be, by taking a look at Atsushi and Akutagawa, both of whom have been (or still are) his trainees - and they couldn’t be any more different. While Dazai was still working for the Port Mafia, he trained Akutagawa with very harsh and brutal methods, going so far as to shoot him, risking to kill him for good had he (Akutagawa) not managed to use his ability to shield himself. Dazai tolerated no weakness and taught him that ruthlessness, cruelty and violence were the only way to pursue. There was not a trace of care in his behavior. Dazai’s brutal nature and his very high standards led to Akutagawa trying to finally get acknowledged by his well respected teacher.
In contrast, Dazai behaves very differently towards Atsushi, whom he treats very friendly and showers with praise (at least when talking to others, most likely to infuriate them) - despite him being rather tender-natured and initially unskilled in combat. It is no wonder that Akutagawa felt betrayed when Dazai left the Port Mafia (including his squad and recruits), joining the opposite side and treating a greenhorn with the kind of respect Akutagawa had always longed to receive. And the worst thing is, Dazai is very much aware of this fact and uses it against Akutagawa in various occasions, ridiculing him even further.
It makes us wonder just why Dazai changed so much and why he behaves so differently now, but I think the reason is not that he „changed“ but rather, that he tries something different now. Like a social chameleon, he fits into any community as long as he deems it worth his efforts. And while Oda might have influenced him to do so, it doesn’t mean that Dazai actually is good.
"Be on the side that saves people. If both sides are the same, become a good man. Save the weak, and protect the orphans. Neither good nor evil means much to you, I know... but that'd make you at least a little bit better..." - Sakunosuke Oda to Dazai
Apart from his honest friendship with Oda, the bonds he forms with other people are usually stronger from their end, which creates a disparity in emotional care that eventually fosters discontent and anger towards Dazai, as he is not capable of returning the friendship in the same way. Dazai’s failure to make good on expectations of other people causes these strains in various relationships that he casually forms - and breaks.
It could be that he simply does not get attached in order to avoid the potential pain of loss, or that he, just like Oda said, has a hole inside of him that he'll never be able to fill. "Nothing in this world can fill the lonely hole you have." - Sakunosuke Oda to Dazai
In my mind, that makes Dazai, albeit very intriguing, a highly unpredictable and dangerous character, who does not join either side out of an intrinsic understanding for what is just and what is unjust, but because of a personal conviction, that may change any time.
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