Bungo: Stories of Desire

Bungo Stray Dogs (Japanese: 文豪ストレイドッグス, Hepburn: Bungō Sutorei Doggusu; lit. 'Literary Stray Dogs'), also abbreviated as BSD, is a Japanese manga series written by Kafka Asagiri and illustrated by Sango Harukawa, which has been serialized in Kadokawa Shoten's seinen manga magazine Young Ace since 2012. Each character is named after influential authors and writers of the late 19th century to early 20th century and their powers are based on said author's books. The series follows the members of the Armed Detective Agency as they try to protect Yokohama from organizations such as the Port Mafia. The story mainly focuses on the weretiger Atsushi Nakajima, who joins others gifted with supernatural powers to accomplish different tasks including solving mysteries and carrying out missions assigned by the agency. The manga originated from Asagiri's desire to write famous literary artists as fighters including the famous Osamu Dazai, having become popular thanks to a Nico Nico Douga video. In writing the cast, Asagiri decided to focus on weak characters, deeming Atsushi as a weak hero who needs to be helped by his wise mentor, Dazai. The author read multiple novels in the making of the series to feature as many writers as possible. Meanwhile, Dazai's character was mostly explored in light novels he wrote. The series inspired a spin-off manga, Bungo Stray Dogs Wan!, as well as multiple light novels, an anime television series adaptation produced by Bones, an anime film, Bungo Stray Dogs: Dead Apple, a spin-off television series adaptation of Bungo Stray Dogs Wan! and a live-action film, Bungo Stray Dogs The Movie: Beast. The manga was a commercial success with 16 million copies in print. Though the manga was critically successful based on the multiple cast presented and the artwork, Atsushi's characterization was often noted to be overshadowed by the supporting cast as the lead's trauma is constantly brought back across the narrative.