‘Bungou Stray Dogs’ Ending, Explained: Why Did Dazai Let Himself Get Captured? What To Expect From Season 2?

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Directed by Takuya Igarashi and written by Yoji Enokido, “Bungou Stray Dogs” is based on the famous Manga sharing the same name created by Kafka Asagiri. The anime is jam-packed with supernatural action. The characters belonging to this anime share their names with famous poets and writers of Japanese literature active during the early to mid-1900s. Based on real-life poets with turbulent pasts, it’s no surprise the characters share more than just their names. The supernatural powers the character exhibits are named after some notable works by their namesake. The franchise is created as a tribute to these masterminds of literature, and the plot of the anime intrigues the audience to delve deep into the many works left by them. Although the anime has a fairly regular storyline, it provides a detailed study of Japanese culture as well as mentions notable works, making it more unique than other anime.

Spoilers Ahead


‘Bungou Stray Dogs’ Plotline: What Is The Animated Series About?

Set in the timeline of Present Day Japan, the art style shares the vibe of the 1920s aesthetics. The main characters don outfits that share an uncanny resemblance to their real-life counterparts along with their habits. Dazai, the protagonist of the series, adopts a stray weretiger, Atsushi, who is clueless about his transition from human to tiger. Atsushi is introduced to his abilities by Dazai, and he is adopted and trained by the Detective Agency that Dazai is a part of. Atsushi meets new people who are also a part of this agency and finds out about the bounty put on his head in the Black Market. He is hounded by assassins and people employed by the Port Mafia looking to cash in on the bounty. Atsushi saves Kyoka while she was sent on a mission to kill her and later got caught and thrown into a ship, while Dazai jumps into the hands of the Port Mafia to find out who had set the bounty. The season ends with a new character being revealed.


Why Did Atsushi Save Kyoka?

Atsushi discovers his ability to turn into a weretiger and gets hired by the detective agency, where Dazai, Kunikida, and the rest of the employees take their turns teaching him how to handle the job. They also address his issues in a rather comical manner. However, the episode with Kyoka resonates deeply with Atsushi. Atsushi has a deep connection with abandoned people and can relate to them due to his being abandoned as well. Kyoka was told that she was worthless if she couldn’t kill Atsushi, because he was also repeatedly told that he was useless and unlovable. He could come out of that darkness because Dazai adopted him and gave him a second chance. Atsushi wanted the same for Kyoka, and upon realizing that she was constantly under surveillance and hypnosis, he told her to keep on killing with the help of her ability. He could turn away from her and allow her to be swept away in guilt over the actions she had no control over. Kyoka did not deny her crime and instead was ready to turn herself in and face punishment, even though she had no free will. Atsushi wanted Kyoka to live instead of being punished for something she had no control over. He also wanted her to feel loved and worthy of being loved, which is why he spent the entire day listening to her wishes. On the verge of escaping from the ship, helped by Kyoka, Atsushi refused to let go of the wish to give a second chance to the girl whose childhood was taken away from her, just like Atsushi.


Why Did Dazai Let Himself Get Captured?

Dazai knew that Kyoka was sent by Akutagawa to capture him. Dazai’s previous job was revealed to be an Executive in the Port Mafia in this season. Unbeknownst to his colleagues and friends, Dazai’s last job helped them get away alive when others would be killed on the spot. Dazai gets kidnapped and brought in for questioning. He is all chained up; chains that he could break at any time. However, he stays put, waiting for the opportune moment to strike and get information. His ability to nullify the powers of another ability user really helps him out in every fight. He waits only to be confronted by Chuya, Dazai’s ex-partner. Chuya ultimately helps Dazai escape and keeps it a secret. Dazai sweeps through all the data stored to find out who placed the bounty on Atsushi’s head and also to gauge who was behind setting the Port Mafia against the Agency. Dazai reveals it to be the Guild, which operated primarily outside of Japan and was known as a myth to most. After getting the information, Dazai escapes without any injuries and goes back to discuss his newfound research with the agency.


‘Bungou Stray Dogs’ Season 1: Ending Explained – Introduction of Ougai Mori, Onset of Season 2.

In the last episode, the guild reveals itself and offers to buy the Special Ability Business Permit from President Fukuzawa, and also that they were the ones who dangled the bait of the Weretiger and the prize of catching it in front of the Mafia. In this altercation, after they got rejected by Fukuzawa, they kidnapped Kenji and later vanished with an entire skyscraper. They also kidnapped Naomi and started a game starring Atsushi and Junichiro. At first glance, there was another man, who at first glance seemed to be a bystander. However, as the game progressed, he seemed more and more authoritative. He also helped out Atsushi by giving him a confidence boost and figuring out a way to get out of this guild’s trap led by Lucy and her special ability that also controls a doll named Anne. Atsushi and Junichiro work together while the seemingly harmless man uses his special ability to help them by intimidating both Lucy and Anne into freezing. Atsushi makes it out of the trap with his friend in tow. Kyoka arrives to help him out of concern, but seems to freeze up after she sees the man. The man takes his leave after finding Eliza and also gauging the strength and power of Atsushi and Junichiro. He is seen walking toward the other members of Port Mafia, and the dead body he walks over seems to be the dead Guild assassin who was sent to cause trouble in the Mafia. The man remains nameless, but his identity as the leader of the Port Mafia is established through the last few minutes of the episode. His name is Ougai Mori, and he sets off enough curiosity among the audience to make them wait for the next season.


“Bungou Stray Dogs” is a 2016 Anime Action series directed by Takuya Igarashi.

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Alokananda Sen
Alokananda Sen
Alokananda Sen holds a bachelor's degree in Journalism and Mass Communication. She has a keen interest in graphic designing, reading, and photography. Her insatiable appetite for cinema and pop culture enticed her to work as a content writer. She is currently pursuing a Post Graduate Diploma focused in Animation & VFX to explore a new dimension in her career.

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