Bungo Stray Dogs

TV review by Melissa Camacho, Common Sense Media
Bongo Stray Dogs TV Show poster.

Common Sense says

age 15+

Dark, violent, humorous anime has suicide talk, innuendo.

HBO Max Action 2016
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Parents say

age 14+

Based on 2 reviews

Kids say

age 13+

Based on 7 reviews

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  • Bongo Stray Dogs TV Show: Dazai Osamu, Nakajima Atsushi, and Doppo Kunikida.
  • Bongo Stray Dogs TV Show: Fellow team members.
  • Bongo Stray Dogs TV Show: Looking for something supernatural.

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A Lot or a Little?

The parents' guide to what's in this TV show.

What Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that the Japanese anime series Bungo Stray Dogs features fantasy violence (with aggressive behavior, fight scenes, automatic weapons, and some limited blood and injuries shown). A character is obsessed with suicide, but the topic is often (but not always) dealt with using humor. Innuendo ranges from comical to overtly sexual. There's some occasional strong language, and on occasion the verbal abuse of a teen is audible.

Community Reviews

p0rt_m4fia
p0rt_m4fia Adult
September 9, 2022
age 12+

pls take my word for this my sillies

i absolutely love the show! im 14 and i think its really good. you should definitely watch it. people literally overreact for the age rating. sure,, it has some violence and chuuya loves curse words but its not even bad smhhh. i believe in dazai slander !! TBH I LEARNED MORE ABOUT LITERATURE FROM THIS ANIME THAN ENGLISH CLASS HADSKJAKDSDKH :D
3 people found this helpful.
Christine M.
Christine M. Adult
March 2, 2023
age 16+
Most of the reviews are skewing 13+, and ordinarily I would agree with them if it weren't for one factor. One of the characters in this show is constantly trying to commit suicide and it's played for laughs. The way this show treats the subject of suicide is typically used for comedy but it can be almost glorified if taken the wrong way. Ordinarily, I wouldn't see suicide comedy as being too dangerous for 13 year olds, but this show does it in a particular way. While the suicide itself is never glorified, the character IS. The character is very cool, the kind who kids might want to emulate considering he's just that awesome. Combine that with how the show does not treat his suicide attempts with care, and you've got a dangerous cocktail. I am of the opinion that young teenagers could easily take it the wrong way mostly because I have watched them do it. I have seen a lot of young fans of this show adopt suicidal tendencies so they can be like this character. While children are going to be mentally ill regardless, I still think it shows that this should be kept away from them. I think this show should be watched when your brain is decently developed so you can properly understand how how this show treats the subject of suicide. Children under 16 are, from my experience, very susceptible to misunderstanding it and seeing it as cool or glorified. This is a seinen anime. It's target audience is adults, and in many countries it's rated 17 or 18+, and it is my belief that this is for a reason. Besides that, though, it isn't terribly dark or disturbing and there isn't really any sexual content. That is why I leave it at 16+
See all 2 parent reviews

What's the Story?

Based on the popular Japanese manga series written by Kafka Asagiri, BUNGO STRAY DOGS follows the members of a unique detective agency committed to keeping the mafia from taking over Yokahama. After Nakajima Atsushi (Yuto Uemura/Max Mittelman) is forced out of the orphanage for having supernatural powers, he unexpectedly finds himself recruited by private investigators Osamu Dazai (Mamoru Miyano/Kaiji Tang) and Doppo Kunikida (Yoshimasa Hosoya/Patrick Seitz), to join the Armed Detective Agency, which is made up of superhumans working extremely dangerous cases that neither the police nor the military can handle. Atsushi and the rest of the team use their individual supernatural abilities to deal with dangerous villains and crime bosses, including Ryunosuke Akutagawa (Kensho Ono/Brian Beacock), who is a member of the Port Mafia organization.

Is It Any Good?

The hardboiled detective styled-anime combines crime solving, humor, action, and a fair share of fantasy to create an entertainingly bizarre story. The quirky cast members are each based on real-life authors, and their abilities named after their most famous works, which makes for an intriguing ensemble. Despite lots of comedic moments, the overall story world is quite dark. There are moments in the series' narrative that feel disjointed, which sometimes makes it a little confusing. Nonetheless, the plot lines eventually come together, making Bungo Stray Dogs a solid viewing option for anime fans.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about why Atsushi Nakajima is often filled with self-doubt. Does having supernatural powers eventually help him feel more confident? How do Osamu Dazai and the rest of the team relate to what he's been through?

  • Bungo Stray Dogs roughly translates into "literary stray dogs." Is this an accurate title for the series? Why?

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