Bungo Stray Dogs

Plot

The story centers on individuals who are gifted with super natural powers and use them for different purposes including holding a business, solving mysteries, and carrying out missions assigned by the mafia. The story mainly follows the members of the "Armed Detective Agency" and their everyday lives.

Most characters in the series are named after famous literary authors and/or characters in their works, including Ryūnosuke Akutagawa, Atsushi Nakajima, Agatha Christie, Osamu Dazai, Fyodor Dostoyevsky, Rampo Edogawa, Edgar Allan Poe, Mark Twain, Natsuhiko Kyogoku, Kenji Miyazawa, Doppo Kunikida, and Akiko Yosano.

Armed Detective Agency

Atsushi Nakajima (中島 敦, Nakajima Atsushi)

Voiced by: Yūto Uemura, Lynn (young Atsushi)Named after Atsushi Nakajima. The main protagonist of the series, he is 18 years old. His ability is named Beast Beneath the Moon (月下獣, Gekkajū), an ability to turns him into a white tiger that gives him a monster strength and fast regeneration, however, he has no control over it when he fully transformed. He constantly finds himself bewildered by the antics of his co-workers. Because his whole life he was called useless, he suffers from a lack of confidence that only started to change when he joined the Agency.

Osamu Dazai (太宰 治, Dazai Osamu)

Voiced by: Mamoru MiyanoNamed after Osamu Dazai. A member of the Armed Detective Agency who takes Atsushi under his wing and loves to flirt with women. With a carefree attitude, he is constantly trying to commit suicide, only to fail every time because he is always miraculously saved by something. His ability is called No Longer Human (人間失格, Ningen Shikkaku), which allows him to cancel any ability by touch. He used to be an executive of Port Mafia, but refuses to tell his coworkers. The death of his friend Sakunosuke made him resign from the mafia and join the Agency.

Doppo Kunikida (国木田 独歩, Kunikida Doppo)

Voiced by: Yoshimasa HosoyaNamed after Doppo Kunikida. Dazai's partner, who always gets angry at his antics. A former math teacher, he always writes and plans every second of his day ahead, so he hates unplanned events and wasting his time. His ability is called Lone Poet (独歩吟客, Doppo Ginkaku), and allows him to bring into existence any object he writes in his notebook as long as it isn't bigger than the notebook itself.

Junichirō Tanizaki (谷崎 潤一郎, Tanizaki Jun'ichirō)

Voiced by: Toshiyuki ToyonagaNamed after Junichirō Tanizaki. A member of the Agency around the same age as Atsushi. His ability is called Light Snow (細雪, Sasameyuki), which allows him to project illusions within a certain area. While he dislikes his sister's antics, he goes on an uncontrollable rage if someone harms her.

Ranpo Edogawa (江戸川 乱歩, Edogawa Ranpo)

Voiced by: Hiroshi KamiyaNamed after Ranpo Edogawa. The self-proclaimed only detective in the Agency. He dislikes any trivial knowledge, like knowing how to ride a train or returning to the Agency. He calls his skill Super Deduction (超推理, Chō suiri), but he actually doesn't have any supernatural power, he's simply very smart and observant.

Kenji Miyazawa (宮沢 賢治, Miyazawa Kenji)

Voiced by: Hiroyuki KaguraNamed after Kenji Miyazawa. Coming from the countryside, he's a very optimistic and carefree boy, who's very popular with the residents of the country. His ability is called Undefeated by the Rain (雨ニモマケズ, Ame ni mo Makezu), which grants him superhuman strength when he's hungry.

Akiko Yosano (与謝野 晶子, Yosano Akiko)

Voiced by: Yū ShimamuraNamed after Akiko Yosano, she is the medic of the Armed Detective Agency. Her ability is called Thou Shalt Not Die (君死にたもうこと勿れ, Kimi Shinitamou koto nakare), which allows her to heal others and even herself, but only works as long as the person is half dead to begin with, so she usually injures them herself. This makes her co-workers terrified of being treated by her.

Yukichi Fukuzawa (福沢 諭吉, Fukuzawa Yukichi)

Voiced by: Rikiya KoyamaNamed after Yukichi Fukuzawa, he is the President of the Armed Detective Agency, as well as Kunikida's mentor. His ability is All Men Are Equal (人上人不造, Hito no Ue ni Hito wo Tsukurazu), which allows him to suppress the abilities of his subordinates. This ability is especially useful for those who lack control over their abilities like Atsushi and Kyōka.

Kyōka Izumi (泉 鏡花, Izumi Kyōka)

Voiced by: Sumire MorohoshiNamed after Kyōka Izumi. A young orphan girl under Port Mafia, but after Atsushi defeats Akutagawa, she's taken in by the Agency. Her ability is Demon Snow (夜叉白雪, Yasha Shirayuki), the ability to materialize Demon Snow, a sword-wielding phantom, which only follows orders coming from the mobile phone, that was given to her by her mother, and does not comply to Kyouka's own wishes. She has only recently gained control of the spirit after joining the Agency due to the President's ability. It is reveled that her parents were actually assassins, and as such face a number of enemies. One day, one of the enemies had the ability of body manipulation, and tried to get Kyōka's father to kill her. However her mother had the ability 'Demon Snow' and was forced to kill her father before killing herself as she was also coming under the same influence. But before she died, she ordered Demon Snow to protect Kyōka and passed on her ability to Kyōka via an unknown method, limited only to blood relatives. However the process was incomplete resulting in the fact that the phantom only listens to orders from the mobile phone.

Kirako Haruno (春野 綺羅子, Haruno Kirako)

Voiced by: MinaA clerk working at the Armed Detective Agency.

Naomi Tanizaki (谷崎 ナオミ, Tanizaki Naomi)

Voiced by: Chiaki OmigawaJunichirō's sister who is very clingy and knows everything about him. She's not an ability user.

Port Mafia

Ryūnosuke Akutagawa (芥川 龍之介, Akutagawa Ryūnosuke)

Voiced by: Kenshō OnoNamed after Ryūnosuke Akutagawa. A member of Port Mafia. His ability is called Rashomon (羅生門), a coat that turns into a black beast, which can tear everything apart, even space. While short-tempered, the mention of Dazai finding his subordinates at the Agency more capable than him angers him greatly.

Chūya Nakahara (中原 中也, Nakahara Chūya)

Voiced by: Kishō TaniyamaNamed after Chūya Nakahara, he is an Executive Member of the Port Mafia and Dazai's former partner. His ability is called For the Tainted Sorrow (汚れつちまつた悲しみに, Yogoretsu Chimatsuta Kanashimi ni), which allows him to manipultate the gravity vector and strength of objects with which he is in physical contact. He's rather short and dislikes being reminded of it, especially by Dazai he was very happy when he was tould Dazai had left the Port Mafia and opened a 69' wine bottle.

Ichiyō Higuchi (樋口 一葉, Higuchi Ichiyō)

Voiced by: Asami SetoNamed after Ichiyō Higuchi, she is a member of the Port Mafia and a subordinate of Akutagawa, who she admires. She lacks an ability but compensates it with her fighting skills.

Motojirō Kajī (梶井 基次郎, Kajī Motojirō)

Voiced by: Wataru HatanoNamed after Motojirō Kajii. A member of Port Mafia who is an infamous bomber even in the discreet mafia. His ability is Lemon Bomb (檸檬爆弾, Remonēdo), which prevents him from being harmed by lemon-shaped bombs he makes himself.

Ryuurou Hirotsu (広津 柳浪, Hirotsu Ryurou)

Voiced by: Atsushi OnoNamed after Ryuurou Hirotsu. A sharply dressed man, he is a commander of Black Lizard, the mafia's squad of hitmen. His Ability, 'Falling Camellia', sends objects flying with a powerful force. He's diligent in his work and dislikes unprofessional behaviour.

Michizō Tachihara (立原 道造, Tachihara Michizou)

Voiced by: Yū HayashiNamed after Michizō Tachihara. A short-tempered commander of Black Lizard.

Gin (銀)

Voiced by: Shiina NatsukawaA very quiet commander of the Black Lizard group. While assumed male, Dazai revealed she's actually Ryūnosuke Akutagawa's sister. She can be just as short tempered as her brother.

Ougai Mori (森 鴎外, Mori Ōgai)

Voiced by: Mitsuru MiyamotoNamed after Ougai Mori. The leader of Port Mafia. Despite being a mafia boss, he acts like a gentleman, being polite to allies and enemies alike. As a former doctor, he's more than capable of using his knowledge to hurt others. His Ability, 'Vita Sexualis' (ヰタ・セクスアリス, Uita sekusuarisu), allows him to configure Elise's actions and mood; enabling her to act as a distraction or to protect him with superhuman feats such as flight or extreme speed.

Elise (エリス, Erisu)

Voiced by: Sora AmamiyaA young girl under the care of Ougai Mori. While her actual relationship with Mori is unclear, she considers the mafia as a whole to be her family.

Kouyou Ozaki (尾崎 紅葉, Ozaki Kōyō)

Voiced by: Ami KoshimizuNamed after Ozaki Kōyō. She is a Port Mafia executive and has the ability, 'Golden Demon' (金色夜叉, Konjakiyasha), capable of conjuring a sword wielding spirit like Kyouka and commanding it at will. She cares deeply for Kyōka and wants her to have the happiness that she never got.

Sakunosuke Oda (織田 作之助, Oda Sakunosuke)

Voiced by: Junichi SuwabeNamed after Sakunosuke Oda. A low-ranking member of Port Mafia and a friend of Dazai and Ango. His ability, Flawless (天衣無縫, Ten'imuhō) allows Oda to predict the future for 5-6 seconds. His name is often shortened as 'Odasaku'. He wanted to eventually retire from the mafia and be a writer, but the terrorist André Gide killed the orphans under his care. This made him lead a one-man assault against Gide and killed him at the cost of his own life. His death is what motivated Dazai to leave the mafia.

Kyūsaku Yumeno (夢野久作, Yumeno Kyūsaku)

Voiced by: Haruka KudōNamed after Yumeno Kyūsaku, and also known as "Q". His ability Dogra Magra (ドグラ・マグラ, Dogura Magura), is a mind control curse, that activates by splitting a doll he always carries and someone injures him. He was considered too dangerous by the mafia and imprisoned.

The Guild

Francis Scott Key Fitzgerald (フランシス・スコット・キー・フィッツジェラルド)

Voiced by: Takahiro SakuraiNamed after Francis Scott Key Fitzgerald, he is the Leader of the "Fellowship of The Guild". His ability is called The Great Gatsby, which grants him an increase in strength based on how much money he spends in any way, shape or form. Simply throwing currency off a balcony can trigger his power. While his initial goal was originally believed to be to obtain the permit that allows the Armed Detective Agency to operate, it is later revealed that Fitzgerald was searching for a way to bring his dead daughter back to life. After the Guild falls, he has nothing as he has used all his assets to fight Atsushi and Akutagawa. He becomes a beggar for a time, until meeting up with Louisa who helps him regain his confidence and together they decide to rebuild a new Guild and his empire.

Lucy Maud Montgomery (ルーシー・モード・モンゴメリ)

Voiced by: Kana HanazawaNamed after Lucy Maud Montgomery. A member of The Guild and Fitzgerald's subordinate. An orphan who suffered trauma from her caretakers like Atsushi, although she never recovered the way he did. This resulted in Lucy developing a psychotic personality, while also developing a dependency on the guild as she believes no one else is willing to accept her. Her ability is 'Anne of Abyssal Red' which allows her to create an alternate reality known as "Anne's Room", in which people are imprisoned if they get caught by Anne the Monster while playing tag.

When the Guild collapses, she manages to get a position in the cafe below the agency, where she works as a waitress and errand girl. She gets along with Atsushi but always bickers with Kyōka.

Margaret Mitchell (マーガレット・ミッチェル)

Voiced by: Kaori NazukaNamed after Margaret Mitchell. A member of the Guild, partnered with Nathaniel Hawthorne. Margaret's temperament can only be described as arrogant, prone to looking down on anyone around her be they friend or foe. Her ability is called "Gone with the Wind", which allows her to literally weather any object caught in the wind. It is unknown whether there are any restrictions to what this ability can affect.

Nathaniel Hawthorne (ナサニエル・ホーソーン)

Voiced by: Tarusuke ShingakiNamed after Nathaniel Hawthorne. A member of the guild, and partner to Margaret Mitchell. A man of god who always carries a Bible with him, Nathaniel believes that it is his duty to punish the sinners of this world. As a result, he often comes off as arrogant when he "judges" people and is prone to getting into quarrels with Margaret. Nathaniel's ability is called The Scarlet Letter, which allows him to convert his own blood into holy words and control them. They can be fired like bullets, or built up as a shield to deflect the enemy's attack.

John Steinbeck (ジョン・スタインベック)

Voiced by: Kengo KawanishiNamed after John Steinbeck. A member of the Guild, and partner to H.P. Lovecraft. Steinbeck is a relaxed and easygoing farmboy who comes from a large family of farmers from North America. He joined the Guild in an effort to support them financially. Despite Steinbeck's relaxed personality, he can be very cold to his enemies such as when he calmly tormented the captured Q. Steinbeck's ability is called The Grapes of Wrath, which allows him to sprout grapevines from his neck which he can graft to other plants. Any plant with a grafted grape branch can be freely controlled by Steinbeck as if it was part of his own body.

He actually despises Fitzgerald, seeing his view on people and money as disgusting and cruel. After the Guild collapses, he becomes the leader of the Guild remnants. When he hears that Fitzgerald plans to rebuild his empire he decides to crush Fitzgerald's ambition.

Howard Phillips Lovecraft (ハワード・フィリップス・ラヴクラフト)

Voiced by: Shunsuke TakeuchiNamed after H. P. Lovecraft. A member of the guild and partner to John Steinbeck. A bizzare man in his late twenties, Lovecraft is prone to being distracted by the most unusual things such as wood grains. While it's never outright stated in the series, Lovecraft hints that his ability "The Great Old Ones", is not an actual ability as Dazai was unable to nullify it. When fully activated, The Great Old Ones turns Lovecraft into a powerful tentacle monster that can only be damaged in the inside of his body. After the defeat of Fitzgerald, Lovecraft claims his contract has become null, so he bizarrely walks into the ocean, claiming that he's going to sleep.

Mark Twain (マーク・トウェイン)

Voiced by: Hiroyuki YoshinoNamed after Mark Twain. A member of the guild and his ability is "Huckleberry Finn & Tom Sawyer", an ability that takes the forms of the dolls known as Huck Finn (ハック・フィン)(voiced by Risae Matsuda) and Tom Sawyer (トム・ソーヤ)(voiced by Satsumi Matsuda). He serves as sniper and thanks to Huck and Tom his aim is excellent.

Louisa May Alcott (ルイーザ・メイ・オルコット)

Voiced by: Hikaru UedaNamed after Louisa May Alcott. A member of The Guild whose ability is named "Little Women", which allows her slow time down when she is thinking in a private room. Her shy demeanour makes her work as a strategist. She had never used her ability for herself and is completely devoted to Fitzgerald.

Herman Melville (ハーマン・メルビル)

Voiced by: Takayuki SugōNamed after Herman Melville. An elder member of The Guild whose ability is "Moby-Dick", which takes the form of a gigantic white whale-themed airship. Herman used to be the Guild leader in the past.

Edgar Allan Poe (エドガー・アラン・ポオ)

Voiced by: Toshiyuki MorikawaNamed after Edgar Allan Poe. A member of The Guild with the ability "Black Cat in the Rue Morgue". Poe can transport readers into the setting of any novel that they are currently reading. He also has a pet racoon named Karl.

Other characters

Ango Sakaguchi (坂口安吾, Sakaguchi Ango)

Voiced by: Jun FukuyamaNamed after Ango Sakaguchi. A government worker whose ability is "Discourse on Decadence". Ango once worked as Port Mafia's Intelligence Agent, but it was under the Government's orders to spy the mafia's activities. During his time working as an intelligence agent under for the Port Mafia, he also became an agent for Mimic under Mori Ougai's orders.

André Gide (アンドレ・ジッド)

Voiced by: Shin-ichiro Miki'Named after André Gide. He was the leader of a criminal organization from Europe known as Mimic. Like Sakunosuke, his ability, "Strait is the Gate", allows him to see a few seconds into the future. A former soldier betrayed by his country, he wanted to have a glorious death, and killed Oda's loved ones to drive him to despair. After a lengthy duel, they mutually killed each other.

Fyodor Dostoyevsky (フョードル・ドストエフスキー)

Voiced by: Akira IshidaNamed after Fyodor Dostoyevsky. He is the head of the Rats in the House of the Dead. His ability is "Crime and Punishment".

Manga

Kafka Asagiri and Sango Harukawa began publishing the manga in Kadokawa Shoten's seinen magazine Young Ace in 2012. Kadokawa has compiled the series into eleven tankōbon volumes as of October 2016. The series has been licensed for North America by Yen Press.

Light novel

Four novels in the series, including a spin-off novel featuring Yukito Ayatsuji and Natsuhiko Kyougoku; written by Asagiri and with illustrations by Harukawa, have been published by Kadokawa.

Anime

An anime television series adaptation produced by Bones was directed by Takuya Igarashi and written by Yōji Enokido. Nobuhiro Arai and Hiroshi Kanno served as the chief animation directors, while the former also served as character designer along with Ryō Hirata. Taku Iwasaki composed the series' music. Kazuhiro Wakabayashi was the series' sound director at Glovision. Additionally, Yumiko Kondou was the art director, Yukari Goto was the anime's color designer, Tsuyoshi Kanbayashi was the director of photography, and Shigeru Nishiyama was the editor. Granrodeo performed the anime's opening theme, titled "Trash Candy", and Luck Life performed the anime's ending theme, titled "Namae o Yobu yo" ((名前を呼ぶよ, Call Out The Name).

The series was split into two halves: the first half, containing twelve episodes, premiered on 7 April 2016 and ended on 23 June 2016, being broadcast on Tokyo MX, TVS, CTC, tvk, GBS (Gifu Broadcasting), Mie TV, SUN, TVQ Kyushu, and BS11. The second half, also containing twelve episodes, premiered on 6 October 2016 and ended on 22 December 2016. The series has been licensed for streaming by Crunchyroll. Screen Mode sung the opening theme titled "Reason Living" while Luck Life once again sung the ending theme titled "Kaze ga Fuku Machi" (風が吹く街, lit. "Town where wind blows").

An OVA will be bundled with the 13th limited edition manga volume, which is scheduled for release on 31 August 2017.

The anime is licensed in North America by Crunchyroll (with home video distribution from Funimation) and in the United Kingdom by Anime Limited.

Film

At the Mayo(w)i Inu-tachi no Utage Sono Ni event on 19 February 2017, a film project based on the manga series was announced.