If you are looking for anime that will have you gripped and have you holding on at every twist and turn, then this is the show for you. If you want an anime that has extremally likeable, insanely complicated and just overall cool characters, this is the show for you. If you are looking for action packed fight scenes this is the anime for you! Honestly Bungo stray dogs has something for everyone, and is a great introduction to the seinen genre as a whole.

Summary

Bungo stray dogs is a 2016 anime about our main character Atsushi, an orphan, finding out he has what's called 'a special ability' that allows him to turn into a tiger. We follow along as he meets Dazai, who introduces him to the armed detective agency, a group of ability users who work together to solve mysteries and fight organized crime. Atsushi soon joins and we are taken on a journey as Atsushi as he meets each armed detective member and learns about their ability, goes on missions, and learns to control his own ability, with lot of (mafia- related) drama mixed in-between.

# Positives Though this show has a wide range of attributes, one main highlight for me was the really interesting dynamics between every single character that is usually fueled by equally riveting backstory. One of the main themes of bungo stray dogs is the past and how it effects the future, which it handles beautifully. The show only improves as the seasons progress and as you meet more of the characters and learn the reason for some of their actions. With betrayals and double crosses at every corner you never know what's coming next. Speaking of characters, everyone who is watching this show can find a character they like and/or relate too. The spectrum of personalities is wide so you are bound to find one that resonates with you, even if just a little. # negatives One problem with this show is the animation. Whilst not bad in any sense of the word, they most often do not hold a candle to the manga pages they were adapted from. The framing is often weird and way worse than in manga. They constantly show characters at this weird fish eye angle which is just unsettling. Many emotional moments just don't have the same impact. Being animated by studio bones, which has repeatedly been disappointing fans with their anime adaptations, this is no surprise. This is not too say they have completely messed it up. I would personally say this is some of bones best work and the first season does not look bad for a 2016 anime. Fight choreography is great and the characters 'abilities' are beautifully displayed and easy to understand as a result Another criticism I do have is that the main character, Atsushi, does get pushed to the side quite a lot. He more acts like a vessel for telling the viewer things about the world, as he does not know himself. However he does grow and develop throughout the story, so it is not like he is completely neglected.

QUICK RANT ABOUT THE WOMEN IN BSD

One huge credit i have to give to Bungo stray dogs is it is one of the only anime to have both well written and well designed female characters. They have their own personalities, they are useful in battle, they are not complete idiots, they don't only talk about how much they love a man, their outfits are not over sexualized and they do not have impossible proportions. I know what your thinking- 'wow the bar really is low'. But it is because in the anime space it can be hard to find inspirational, smart, not overly sexualized female characters but bsd care about their female cast and does not just discard them once they feel they are no longer relevant! one thing I will say though, (spoilers ahead btw) is Yosano's, the doctor of the ADA, ability is too heal people fully but she can only do it if the person is on the brink of death so she often has to hurt someone more before she can heal them. The hurting someone more bit is for some reason mildly sexualized in the anime? It's weird but does not effect her overall character.

if you like angst, a likeable cast , rich backstories, and interesting abilities (some which have such specific conditions they are reminiscent of jjba) then you will enjoy this anime
Overall, a great watch that will have laughing crying and everything else in-between.