Season 4 of Bungo Stray Dogs has come to an end. Fans can rejoice, however, with the announcement of Bungo Stray Dogs season 5 coming this July. Manga readers can speculate where season 5 will pick up based on the ending of season 4. This article will contain spoilers for both the fourth season as well as the current manga chapters. If you are not caught up, then save this article and come back to it at a later date.
Bungo Stray Dogs Season 4 Recap
Bungo Stray Dogs season 4 kicked off with backstory of the creation of the Armed Detective Agency. These first three episodes were based on the third light novel, The Untold Origins of the Armed Detective Agency. Episode 4 picked up right where season 3 left off.
With episode 4 came a different introduction sequence than those first three episodes. This introduction sequence showed clips of characters and events that would have to happen beyond the scope of one, 13-episode season of anime. Episode 4, titled “The Perfect Murder, The Perfect Killer, Part 1,” is manga chapter 54. Manga readers, such as myself, noticed that events from much later in the manga, including the dreaded chapter 88, were alluded to in this particular intro. There was a fear among fans that the anime would rush through the manga to get to this particular section during season 4. The only way for Studio Bones to animate chapter 88 would be to extend season 4 or announce a fifth season. Lo and behold, season 5 is coming sooner rather than later.
Season 4 episode 13, titled “Skyfall,” brought viewers to the end of chapter 77. Tachihara visits Gin and Hirotsu of The Black Lizard and comes to the realization that the Armed Detective Agency is, in fact, innocent. This chapter and episode both end with Sigma falling from the Sky Casino with Nikolai on the receiving end to save his life. Over 13 episodes, the pacing gave us 23 chapters of the manga. While the anime did leave some important moments out of this season, fans were given the closing scene they were hoping for for this season.
Bungo Stray Dogs Season 5: What we know and what is to come
If Bungo Stray Dogs season 5 maintains the same pacing over 13 episodes, then the next season could potentially end somewhere around either the end of volume 21 or just after Dazai and Fyodor are removed from their prison cells in chapter 95. Currently, the manga has 106 chapters, with chapter 107 coming out in the next few weeks. There are 22 volumes currently with no release date for volume 23. I do not believe season 5 will catch us up to be current with the manga.
Based on the promotional trailer, season 5 will pick up right at chapter 78, titled,
“To Threaten God.” Kunikida survives the explosion from the helicopter fight with Tecchou and finds himself held by the Hunting Dogs. Also, fans will be witness to Akutagawa and Atsushi working together to take down Fukuchi. It will be interesting to see if they keep the introduction sequence the same for the next season, as it laid out some of the key moments we will see in July. Bram must be introduced, and we will have to see Aya once again. Looking back, this last season’s opening sequence felt like a teaser for what is coming in season 5.
【INFO】「文豪ストレイドッグス」第5シーズンの制作が決定！2023年7月より放送開始となります！さらにキャラクターデザイン・総作画監督の新井伸浩さん描き下ろしのキービジュアル、イントロダクション、原作者からのお祝いコメントも公開！https://t.co/NjE6p7IshL#bungosd pic.twitter.com/nm9hqTHpPv
— アニメ「文豪ストレイドッグス」公式 (@bungosd_anime) March 29, 2023
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