Bungo Stray Dogs is a unique and fascinating anime. What makes it special is that it turns famous real-life authors into anime characters with supernatural powers. Despite this clever idea, the show has stayed underrated compared to other popular titles. If you are new to it, knowing the right order to watch the anime can make the story much easier to follow. The anime jumps between timelines and uses flashbacks often, so watching it in the right sequence helps you understand everything.
The story begins with the first four episodes of Season 2, called the Dark Age Arc. These episodes take place four years before the main story. We see Dazai when he was part of the Port Mafia. He is close friends with Ango Sakaguchi and Sakunosuke Oda. Ango disappears mysteriously, and Oda and Dazai are sent to find him. Oda soon learns that Ango is a government spy. This betrayal breaks their friendship. Later, Oda loses his humanity after a tragedy and dies. Dazai is there with him when he passes, and Oda’s last words inspire Dazai to leave the Port Mafia and protect people instead of killing.
Next, watch Season 1. This introduces the Armed Detective Agency, the Port Mafia, and gifted individuals with supernatural abilities. Dazai recruits Atsushi Nakajima, an orphan who can turn into a white tiger called Beast Beneath the Moonlight. We also meet characters like Ranpo Edogawa, Akiko Yosano, Kenji Miyazawa, Ryunosuke Akutagawa, and Ichiyo Higuchi.
Then continue with Season 2, episodes 5 to 12, known as The Guild Arc. A foreign organization called The Guild targets the Detective Agency. Francis Scott Key Fitzgerald, the leader, shows his power, The Great Fitzgerald, and a major battle unfolds.
After that, watch the movie Dead Apple. This story takes place six years after Season 2. A mysterious white fog causes gifted users to die, seemingly by suicide. Members of the Detective Agency and Port Mafia investigate the strange deaths, and Dazai’s past is further revealed.
Season 3 follows and adapts three arcs: the Prequel Arc, the Guild Aftermath Arc, and the Cannibalism Arc. We see a young 15-year-old Dazai recruit Chuuya. Their relationship starts tense but changes over the mission. The season then jumps back to the present timeline after Dead Apple. The government declares both the Detective Agency and Port Mafia as terrorists, and a new antagonist, Fyodor Dostoevsky, emerges.
Season 4 raises the stakes. Fyodor Dostoevsky manipulates situations to show his power. We learn more about Fukuzawa, Ranpo, and the origins of the Detective Agency. Civilians start questioning gifted users, and a terrorist group called The Decay of the Angel frames the Agency for crimes.
Finally, Season 5 picks up immediately after Season 4. The Detective Agency is still on the run from the government and Fukuchi Ouchi’s forces. Atsushi and Sigma try to stop Fukuchi, while Dazai faces off against Fyodor in a key conflict.
If you prefer to watch the anime as it was released, start with Season 1, then Season 2, followed by Dead Apple, Season 3, and then Season 4 in two parts.
You can watch Bungo Stray Dogs on Crunchyroll, and in some regions, it is also available on Amazon Prime Video. The movie Dead Apple is available on Crunchyroll as well. Watching the series in this order or release order will make the story much easier to follow and more enjoyable.
