Bungou Stray Dogs REVIEW

A show brings detective vibes to the surface is something I hardly resist, just as this one in the SPRING 2016 anime series, Bungou Stray Dogs [文豪ストレイドッグス], that takes place in Yokohama, is an anime show in which entertain us with twists and turns of detective agency called Armed Detective Agency. Those people within the agency are gifted people with wide range ability to support their job there. The series is surely fancier than the description below, however, I will try to make a brief summary and not letting any trace as spoiler here.

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Armed Detective Agency, as stated above, is an organization with individuals possessing supernatural powers. People in the agency will handle and take over any job the police or military cannot be entrusted to. It isn’t like the police in this series is useless, it’s just that they’re normal and the agency’s members are gifted. To fight something great, it’s rational to prepare something even greater. Gifted versus gifted. It’s reasonable to assume it will just be another show of people with supernatural power in the whole scene dominating, but note that, this show is worthier than common schema of supernatural anime series.
 
The appearance of weretiger is the beginning of the story...
The lonely Nakajima Atsushiーas our main character whose ability “Beast Beneath the Moonlight”, discovers Dazai Osamuーthe suicidal maniac of Armed Detective Agencyーflows in the river and decides to save him from drowning even if his own fate itself is already a mess. His action to save Dazai becomes a turn-over. Soon after his meeting with Dazai, Atsushi finds out his identity under the moonlight is a beast which is the reason why he got thrown away from the orphanage. Atsushi is the fearsome and deadly weretiger worth seven billion yen in a black market. He curses himself because of his own ability. He becomes scolded and unwanted, people fear him, except those who want him for evil purposes (such as Port Mafia organization).
 
The dilemma of the truth of his own identity as a weretiger is often showed here as the entity that transformed into psychological conflict of Atsushi's subsconcious. Although it sounds hard and stressing, Atsushi isn’t someone who easily sink to pitch black thoughts as others told he is. He, step-by-step, manages to bear the truth and mingles with other unique people as Agency’s member. In addition, the harm will always be there for the Armed Detective Agency who recruits him as a worker there. No need to worry, because this Agency, despite of its silly and laughable members, is something that has a chance to fight the Port Mafia. (Port Mafia: feared by many, even police and the agency, by being so dangerous and makes port as territory.)

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Be judgemental and consider your enjoyment will be over for this show. The show is a mix between comedy, msytery, and action (supranatural), and that’s how it works. Those mix genres are the attraction that gains attention here. If you’re looking for something so serious like mystery only, or something up for the badass fights only, or even laughter all over the place (comedy), better you drop this. The reason I can enjoy this anime to the fullest because this series mix all of those genres into one product, Bungou Stray Dogs. Inflexible people will be hard to deal with this one.
 
By having mixed-up genres here, the characters continue their journey to solve cases as well as pursuing the relationship amongst them. The characters development here is outstanding. First, Bungou Stray Dogs has nice introduction for main characters. Smooth introduction in the first episode of Armed Detective Agency members, then it is also applied to the character development. It is smooth but not boring, so great. Like Nakajima Atsushi, he amazingly develops his own perception to himself into something greater because of the supportive Armed Detective Agency there.
(somewhat spoiler) His low self-esteem faces critical issue and forces him to know his potential. The staffs don’t rush his development, they give vibes that Atsushi is a really good person, not pessimistic but sometimes appears hesitating to do something, but he will do it with commitment anyway. Such a strong way to elaborate someone’s turmoil.
And some other minor characters, registered as Armed Detective Agency, aren’t decribed enough here. They do have their own scenes and explanation as the story goes but not as much as major characters (well it’s logic tho’), however they fit their roles flawlessly except the fact how minor they are.
 

The characters here are well-divided. Some have powers for close combat, characters which powers are long-range combat, and also characters with mysterious skills that do combat with their own unique style. The visualization is not superb one, you can tell from the battle scenes. However it does great job since the background story isn’t only in the office or fight scenes. When they take cases from outsider (with less harm and less gifted persons interfere), the show displays entertaining view. Three anime series I have watched so far in this season, unfortunately miss beach or swimming pool scenes. Well, don’t mock me hard, I realize it’s inappropriate to put beach scenes in this show lol (I just wish if they did it XD)
 
OP theme for Bungou Stray Dogs is sung by GRANRODEO titled “Trash Candy”. GRANRODEO has done well for this theme song, I like this song more than some GRANRODEO’s works like a few songs in Kuroko’s Basketball series. This song is quite exciting because of collaboration of synthesizer and riffs. The beat isn’t too aggressive but strong. Luck Life does the ED theme song, "Namae wo Yobu yo (名前を呼ぶよ)". The pleasure is palpable when hearing this song. It’s opened by drum beats and melodious guitar rhythm. I like the bass part here. The ED has delicate tunes as the mellow songs should have. The lyric of Namae wo Yobu yo is suited to the main character, more meaning added.
 
 
I rate this anime 9+. I really enjoy this one, watching it non-stop because I stored it ‘til the 7th ep, and my enjoyment for this killing me to wait the next episode when it was still on-going.
Pros: Personally, I like the art. Moreover characters designs.
I like how they make a mix among comedy, mystery, action into a seinen series as good as it is.
The theme & insert songs.
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#ep_7 "Justice is a weapon. It can be used to cause harm, but it cannot protect or save others."

#ep_8 "No matter how powerful it may be, a pawn is just a pawn... What about you? Are you a pawn or the master? Or are you a pawn who is waiting to be crushed?" Akutagawa to Dazai

#ep_8 "Gifts don't necessarily bring happiness to their wielders. I know that better than anyone!" Atsushi – Kunikida

#ep_10 "You don't get to decide whether someone is worthy of being alive!" Atsushi to Akutagawa

Dazai Osamu – “A good book is always good, no matter how many times you've already read it."

Dazai Osamu – "You have acting like a worthless human being down to an art form."

[minutiae] (CAREFUL might be SPOILER)
These are Armed Detective Agency members.
Nakajima Atsushi. Ability: "Beast Beneath The Moonlight”. Personal Motto: "What's better than being alive?"
Dazai Osamu. Ability: "No Longer Human", allows him to render any other ability null through simple touch. Personal Motto: “Have a pure, cheerful, and energetic suicide."
Kunikida Doppo. Ability: "Doppo Poet."
Yosano Akiko. Ability: "Thou Shalt Not Die."
Edogawa Ranpo. Ability: "Ultra-Deduction". Personal Motto: “All's well that's well for me!”
Miyazawa Kenji. Ability: "Be Not Defeated by the Rain." Miyazawa Family Motto: “Should Cows Act Up, Hit Them With Whatever’s Close At Hand.”
Tanizaki Junichirou. Ability: "Light Snow."
Tanizaki Naomi. Junichirou's little sister.
President of The Armed Detective Agency, Fukuzawa Yukichi. Ability: "All Men Are Created Equal."
Secretary of the Agency, Haruno Kirako.
 
These are Port Mafia members.
Port Mafia Leader: Mori Ougai (called Rintarou by Elise-chan). He said he is an ex-doctor. Ability: “Vita Sexualis.”
Port Mafia Superior Officer: Akutagawa Ryuunosuke. Ability: "Rashoumon." An ability specializing for slaughter.
Port Mafia Superior Officer: Higuchi Ichiyou.
Port Mafia Strongest Squad is Black Lizard, a merciless one.
Black Lizard Commander: Tachiwara Michizou.
Black Lizard Commander: Gin.
Black Lizard Leader: Hirotsu Ryuurou. Ability: “Falling Camellia.”
Port Mafia Operative: Kajii Motojirou. Ability: "Lemon Bomb."
Port Mafia Assassin: Izumi Kyouka. Ability: "Demon Snow."
Port Mafia Executive: Nakahara Chuuya. Ability: "For The Tainted Sorrow."
Minor characters.
University Lecturer: Sasaki Nobuko. A victim of serial abduction that saved by Kunikida.
Cyber Network Warrior: Taguchi Rokuzou. One of the information of the agency is a hacker, and another one shows as a taxi driver.
There are the Guild who wants Atsushi.
Leader of The Guild, A Gifted Organization: Francis F. Ability: "The Great Gatsby”.
Guild Apprentice: Lucy M. Ability: “Anne of Abyssal Red.”
 
 

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