12 Best Anime Like Bungō Stray Dogs
Bungo Stray Dogs might never end up in the history books among the “Big Three” anime series, but it’s definitely a title to look out for. This seinen title follows the members of the “Armed Detective Agency” as they try to protect Yokohama from the mafia. A popular title with a respectable fandom, Bungo Stray Dogs has been adapted into several media and with more material on the way, we have decided to talk about the series a bit. This list is going to include a total of the 12 best anime series like Bungō Stray Dogs you need to watch. The series are going to be listed in no particular order, since our only goal here is to bring you a list of 12 titles that you can enjoy if you like Bungō Stray Dogs, so be sure to check them all out.
1. Psycho-Pass
Original Run: October 12, 2012 – December 12, 2019
Number of Episodes: 41
What it’s about: In 2112, in Japan, Sibyl, a computer system, transformed society into a “perfect world”, thanks to the ubiquitous cameras, drones, and scanners, Sibyl is able to analyze and quantify the criminal intentions of a person (named “Psycho-Pass “) and determines who is likely to commit a crime. When a citizen exceeds the norm, the inspectors of the Bureau of Public Security accompanied by their executors (person having an abnormally high “Psycho-Pass”), pursue and apprehend these people to make them undergo therapy, lock them up or shoot them down. square.
This is the world that embarks Akane Tsunemori, a new inspector who has just joined Division 1 of the Public Security Bureau. She wishes to uphold justice truly and loyally, however she learns that Sibyl’s judgments are not as perfect as her colleagues think.
Why you should watch it: Psycho-Pass is set in a futuristic dystopian society, and the characters don’t have any superpowers, but nevertheless, it is one of the best titles on this list. Namely, this futuristic psychological thriller has a very similar dark aesthetic, numerous cultural references, and mysteries that are definitely on par with those of Bungō Stray Dogs. It is also one of the best anime in recent years.
2. Durarara!!
Original Run: January 8, 2010 – March 26, 2016
Number of Episodes: 60
What it’s about: For a long time, young Mikado Ryūgamine lived only in the small town where he was born and could not even come to class trips. At the start of high school, he wants to participate in the exciting life of a big city and accepts when his childhood friend Masaomi Kida invites him to a school in Ikebukuro. Masaomi shows his friend the city and introduces him to some of his friends, and finally he warns of people and gangs that Mikado should better avoid. These include the violent Shizuo Heiwajima, the information seller Izaya Orihara and a mysterious gang called the Dollars. On his very first day, he also manages to see of an urban legend: a headless motorcyclist who works as a courier for the Ikebukuro underground.
The motorcyclist lives with Shinra Kishitani, a doctor who works for the criminal in Ikebukuro. 20 years ago, the Dullahan named Celty Sturluson came to Japan from Ireland in search of her lost head. Here she hopes to get more information about her head, which she feels close to her while carrying out assignments for the Tokyo underworld. She met her roommate, who is interested in her nature but also in her as a woman, on her trip when he was still a child.
Why you should watch it: As far as Durarara!! is concerned, it is basically Bungō Stray Dogs but without that many cultural references. The setting is quite similar, it features very similar characters, and it has supernatural elements which will definitely please fans of Bungō Stray Dogs. Durarara!! is generally a title you cannot miss, especially in this context.
3. Kekkai Sensen
Original Run: April 4, 2015 – December 23, 2017
Number of Episodes: 24
What it’s about: In New York City, a breach between the outside world and Earth first appeared three years ago. New York was completely annihilated and rebuilt during that horrible night, enclosing residents of the city as well as creatures from other dimensions in a bubble. The city, now known as Hellsalem’s Lot, is actually a paranormal melting pot where magic and lunacy coexist with the commonplace and where every kind of human scum works together to control the supernatural. The mysterious super-agents of Libra are engaged in a fierce battle to stop someone from breaching the Bull and unleashing the horrors of New Jerusalem.
Why you should watch it: Kekkai Sansen might be the oddball of this list, as it is far quirkier than Bungō Stray Dogs, but it is very similar in many ways. The supernatural aspect is more pronounced than in Bungō Stray Dogs, but aside from that, Kekkai Sansen is mostly the same combination of supernatural and urban mystery that you will definitely enjoy.
4. Noragami
Original Run: January 5, 2014 – December 25, 2015
Number of Episodes: 25 + 4 OVAs
Why you should watch it: Before she was struck by a bus while attempting to stop someone from being driven over, Hiyori Iki was an ordinary middle school student. Later revealed to be God Yato, the stranger is dressed in a sports suit and a scarf. She turns into half an ayakashi, a monster, as a result of this tragedy. She asks Yato to help her return to normal when she runs into him again and discovers that he is a deity. However, Yato recently misplaced his sacred sword (shinki), a different magical creature that aids a deity and increases his might.
He is likewise a weak god who is only very little recognized. When an Ayakashi attacks both of them, Yato names the spirit of a boy Yukine and chooses him to be the next Shinki. This turns out to be a good weapon, but because of his quick passing, he was quite insecure and impetuous. Yato initially is unable to assist Hiyori, not even with Yukine’s aid. He sees that Mayu, his previous weapon, is now working for him as he goes to Tenjin, the deity of instruction.
Why you should watch it: Noragami is also a bit on the lighter side of the specter, but it is nevertheless a title that combines the supernatural with the mysterious and is thus a suitable candidate for this list. Hardcore fans of Bungō Stray Dogs might not fight the humor as overly entertaining, but if you can get past that, Noragami is certainly worth your while.
5. Cowboy Bebop
Original Run: April 3, 1998 – June 26, 1998
Number of Episodes: 26
What it’s about: In the year 2071, the crew of the spaceship Bebop travels the solar system in search of bounties. In the slang of the time, these bounty hunters were called “cowboys.” Most episodes revolve around a bounty; however, the focus of the story is on each character’s past and more general ancient events, which connect as the series progresses. The first story is that of Spike Spiegel, a former member of a criminal organization, the Red Dragons, who is haunted by a love triangle he experienced with his former teammate in the Red Dragons, Vicious, and a mysterious woman named Julia.
Why you should watch it: Okay, Cowboy Bebop is such a classic that you don’t really need a particular reason to watch it save for the fact that it is Cowboy Bebop we’re talking about. But, even if we’re just comparing it to Bungō Stray Dogs, Cowboy Bebop is, similar to Psycho-Pass, a title where the supernatural is replaced with science-fiction, but where the characters and the mysteries are equally entertaining.
6. Hamatora
Original Run: January 8, 2014 – December 21, 2015
Number of Episodes: 32 (+ 1 movie)
What it’s about: Young Nice works as a detective in his own office, called Hamatora (“Yokohama Troubleshooter”) in Yokohama. He has a reputation for taking on any case, especially extraordinary ones. When solving the assignments, not only his powers of deduction and perception help him, but also his minimum – a special ability that was cultivated in him. He was also at the Falcutas Academy, where those with a minimum of talent are trained to then hold high positions in the state. But Nice hated the training there and left the academy to set up his own business with his young partner Hajime.
While he has the ability to move five meters at the speed of sound, Hajime is unusually strong – and unusually voracious at the same time. To bring Nice back to the academy, the star student Murasaki is sent after him. He should convince him to return or kill Nice. At first, he is amazed by his way of working and dealing with him, and he refuses to recognize his talent as a detective. Then he is repeatedly surprised by Nice’s success and Murasaki’s image of his target changes. All attempts to persuade him to return also fail.
Why you should watch it: Hamatora is very similar to Bungō Stray Dogs, albeit it focuses more on one protagonist rather than a whole group, although a group is present. But, the setting is similar, there are supernatural elements, and there are mysteries that need to be solved. There aren’t as many cultural references, but that is just a segment of Bungō Stray Dogs, not the whole deal.
7. Tokyo Ghoul
Original Run: July 4, 2014 – December 25, 2018
Number of Episodes: 48 (+2 OVA episodes)
What it’s about: The story of Tokyo Ghoul revolves around the student Ken Kaneki, who falls in love with a young woman named Rize Kamishiro. After meeting her, she bites his shoulder in a secluded alley and reveals that she is a ghoul, which shocks Ken. As Rize is about to eat Ken, several large metal poles fall on her from the construction site of a building. Roze dies in the process, while Ken is rushed to hospital with life-threatening injuries.
After recovering, he is released from the hospital. On the day of his release, he finds out that he is no longer human. He looks in the mirror, and shivers run down his spine because he now has one “red eye.” He realizes that Rize’s organs were transplanted into him in the hospital. Since he now owns Rize’s organs, he is a so-called and very rarely occurring “half-ghoul.”
Why you should watch it: Although Tokyo Ghoul might be a bit more brutal and less mysterious than Bungō Stray Dogs, it is nevertheless a title that will definitely satisfy all your needs. It combines the supernatural with urban fantasy into a truly thrilling story that will take you on an emotional rollercoaster from the very beginning, and that is why we recommend it.
8. Banana Fish
Original Run: July 5, 2018 – December 20, 2018
Number of Episodes: 24
What it’s about: In 1973, some young Americans are stationed in Vietnam. More and more Americans are mysteriously dying. Displaying symptoms similar to those of the deceased, Griffin Callenreese shoots several of his friends who died in a killing spree before collapsing and muttering the words “Banana Fish.” In 1985, Griffin’s seventeen-year-old brother Aslan, known to everyone as Ash Lynx, leads street gangs in New York City. Highly intelligent and skilled with weapons, Ash was kidnapped as a child and forced into prostitution.
Among other things, he was the lover of mafia boss Dino Golzine, who gave Ash the power he has on the streets. Ash takes care of his brother, who has become dependent on care due to the incident in Vietnam, and continues to only utter the words “Banana Fish”. Japanese photographer and journalist Junichi Ibe arrives in America with nineteen-year-old Eiji Okumura; they know cops who investigate mysterious suicides and see a connection to Ash in them. Ash received a pill containing the drug “Banana Fish”, which is linked to his brother’s suicide and rampage, on a side street from a man who later died from his injuries. The cops introduce Ibe and Eiji to Ash, who quickly develops affection for Eiji.
Why you should watch it: Banana Fish is a pure mystery-thriller work, but the thrills of the story, as well as its occasional oddities, are likewise something that Bungō Stray Dogs fans will enjoy. This is a title that made it on the list because it is a great mystery, but if you’re more into the supernatural aspect of the series, you might not be drawn to it at first.
9. GREAT PRETENDER
Original Run: June 2, 2020 – September 21, 2020
Number of Episodes: 20
What it’s about: Makoto Edamura is a Japanese boy who makes money by implementing small scams, calling himself ‘Japan’s biggest crook’. One day, trying to deceive Laurent Thierry, whom he believes to be a simple tourist, he discovers that the man is himself a cunning and expert crook; Laurent seems to take Edamura under his wing and asks him to collaborate with him, drawing him into a series of scams in various parts of the world.
Why you should watch it: The style is quite different, and there is a lot more humor than in Bungō Stray Dogs, but fans should nevertheless enjoy the GREAT PRETENDER because of all the mysteries that it has. It is a more lighthearted approach to the genre, but it still offers enough uniqueness to be loved by Bungō Stray Dogs fans.
10. Akame ga Kill!
Original Run: July 7, 2014 – December 15, 2014
Number of Episodes: 24
What it’s about: The young swordsman Tatsumi travels to the imperial city together with two comrades. They want to earn money in the imperial city to help their village. But arbitrariness and violence have reigned in the city ever since Minister Honest manipulated the young emperor in his interests. The powerful exploit, torture, and kill the poor for their amusement. So Tatsumi and his comrades are first separated in a robbery, then Tatsumi is outwitted and loses his money and, like his comrades before, gets caught by one of the rich families. But he escapes with the help of Night Raid, a group of assassins.
Why you should watch it: Ah, Akame ga Kill! is definitely a title you need to enjoy thoroughly. It appeals more to the supernatural aspect of Bungō Stray Dogs, so those who watch the show for that will definitely enjoy it. Akame ga Kill! is not as serious in its approach as Bungō Stray Dogs, but it should still be an entertaining watch for all fans of the show.
11. Darker than Black
Original Release: April 6, 2007 – September 29, 2007
Number of Episodes: 25
What it’s about: Ten years ago, a mysterious area known as Hell’s Gate appeared in Tokyo, devastating the landscape and altering the sky. The celestial bodies disappeared and were replaced by false bodies. Shortly after, we discover the existence of human beings endowed with supernatural powers called “pactisants”. Today, a vast wall has been built to prevent anyone from approaching Hell’s Gate. Each false star corresponds to a contracting party, vibrates when it uses its power, and disappears if it dies. Pactisants are, therefore, generally designated using an identifier from an astronomical catalog. Many nations use pactisants as secret agents or assassins.
Why you should watch it: Darker than Black is another underrated classic on this list and a story that is actually very similar to Bungō Stray Dogs, but is more supernatural, darker (as the title suggests), and without that many cultural references. Still, if you like a good dark, urban fantasy story, Darker than Black is a title you cannot miss with.
12. Baccano!
Original Run: July 26, 2007 – November 1, 2007
Number of Episodes: 16
What it’s about: Thematically, a large part of the action takes place in the 1930s at the time of Prohibition and the beginning of the Great Depression after the 1929 stock market crash in the United States. Large parts of the city are in the hands of criminal organizations that are involved in small wars and assassinations. The plot itself is discussed in a conversation between the Deputy Chief of the Daily Days and young Carol.
The girl tries to commit to Firo as the charismatic protagonist but is immediately asked by her strict companion not only to concentrate on parts of the events but to look at them as a whole. This results in a wild narrative structure that frequently switches between places and times without prior notice. It is up to the viewer to put the individual pieces of the story together to form a whole.
Why you should watch it: Baccano! is a title that demonstrates to you what Bungō Stray Dogs would look like in a steampunk setting. It’s not so big on the supernatural element, but it has a very similar set of characters and motifs, which is why we decided to conclude our list with Baccano!, as we are certain that Bungō Stray Dogs fans will love the series.