Seasons (Episodes)
5 (61)
Warning: The following contains minor spoilers for Bungo Stray Dogs, now streaming onCrunchyroll.
Archetypes are a useful framework for understanding characters, but the trouble is that they can often become a shorthand for character analysis that forgoes a deeper understanding. There are so many great characters inBungo Stray Dogsthat everyone’s list of favorites will look a bit different, but there’s one character that - more and more - feels overlooked: Kunikida Doppo.
Based on one of the pioneers of Japanese naturalism, Kunikida is a mentor to protagonist Atsushi Nakajima and second-in-command of theArmed Detective Agency in Yukichi Fukuzawa’s absence. His ability, The Matchless Poet (also translated by Crunchyroll as “Doppo Poet”) allows him to recreate any item from memory so long as it is not larger than his notebook.
Who Is Kunikida Doppo?
Kunikida is a man of ideals - a quality that he wastes no time asserting once he takes center stage as early as Season 1. He strives to live a life of virtue and has planned out every step of it in his notebook, from his dreams and aspirations to his love life and even just his daily schedule. It’s a rigid structure to live, but one which Kunikida views as a guiding light to not only live his best life but to live in a way that benefits society and upholds justice.
So, naturally, this detail-oriented man with a diligent work ethic finds his sense of equilibrium frequently shaken by the eclectic oddballs comprising his friends and co-workers. Resultingly, he’s not quite as stoic of a leader as Fukuzawa. For all his composure, he is prone to bursts of comical anger,most often directed at Osamu Dazai, whose mischievousness and carefree attitude are his antithesis.
A Man Perhaps Best Utilized in a Pair
It’s no secret why Dazai is such a beloved character and the mesmeric core of the story. He’s on the side of good, but his past and layered personality suggest a dark side that makes him extremely compelling. People love bad boys, but it’s worth noting just how pivotal Kunikida is inmakingDazai such an effective character. If there wasn’t a straight-laced “good cop” bouncing off of Dazai’s witty jabs, the banter wouldn’t have the same charm.
In the pre-Chuuya Nakahara era ofBungo Stray Dogs, Kunikida was the perfect foil to Dazai, hence their being partnered up at various points in Season 1. Episodes 6 and 7 were adaptedfrom the very firstBungolight novel, a story which originally was set two years before the series began. Instead, the anime places this story after Atsushi has joined, which works just as well and, in fact, significantly benefits Kunikida’s character.
It’s Tough Being A Hero
It’s not difficult to see why Kunikida might slip under the radar for some fans when considering favorites among the cast. He’s a Lawful Good character and the trouble with them is that they can be received as boring because they play by the rules and audiences like characters who break rules. After all, sometimes the audience wants to break the rules themselves, so it’s cathartic, while also yielding a flawed protagonist that might be more relatable.
These are generalizations, of course, but one doesn’t have to hate Kunikida or the Lawful Good archetype to demonstrate indifference based on such surface-level qualities. And make no mistake, it’s only the surface-level qualities that set Kunikida even remotely apart from a large castknown for consistently bold introductions. If Kunikida is overlooked compared to the rest of them, then it stands to reason that he’s lacking a certain something.
What Makes A Favorite Character?
Finding outwhatis a conundrum because what makes a character someone’s favorite can be anything from the biggest plot points to the most subtle moments. Ranpo’s backstory in Season 4 made an already great character even better, same with Yosano that same season. All it takes is a single good episode to become obsessed with someone who, up until that point, might have been just another character. Lucky for Kunikida, he got two early on.
The Azure Messenger story is very much the defining tale of his character; one that challenges the ideals that define him, through the return of an old case that’s come back to haunt him. It’s a story that ends in tragedy and which leaves him furious and frustrated.Next to Season 2’s Dark Era arc, it’s one of the first dramatic moments whereBungogets serious in a way that demands pause. Yet, despite not reaching a favorable conclusion, Kunikida stands firm.
Challenging an Ideal
Another thing that - again, on a surface level - can be frustrating about Lawful Good characters is how their conflicts can be rooted in their innate goodness. Thus, the villains, human nature, or even the universe at large, endeavor to tarnish it and “break” the hero. A less charitable interpretation of such a character might conclude that they lack a substantial flaw.
The trouble with this conclusion is that it sort of eschews the point of a character arc. If a more relatable, flawed character is compelling,it’s because they are challenged to confront said flaws, either fixing them or giving in. In the same way, an idealistic character is useful because their conflicts challenge their propensity to be the kind of person that the audience should hypothetically strive to be.
Kunikida is a compelling character because he represents how hard it is to live up to ideals, and the importance of striving to despite the impossibility of never faltering. And it isn’t a conclusion that he comes to without a struggle. The best part of the Azure Messenger case is how it affects him throughout the rest of the season. Despite his assertions, Kunikida becomes more jaded, which leads him todiscourage Atsushi from trying to save Kyouka.
But Atsushi doesn’t give up, and Kunikida noticeably has some of that faith in his ideals restored. One of the best creative choices the anime made was adapting the first light novel as they did. It allowed the climax of Season 1 to be even more impactful by giving Kunikida a complete arc, the drama of which would be echoed in future seasons.
Kunikida’s Enduring Presence in the Story
Truth be told, the most pressing reason why Kunikida has faded from the discourse is his seeming lack of relevance since Season 3.Between the underrated Episode 25and the Cannibalism arc, Kunikida cements his place as a leader. However, the death he witnesses in that same arc is a harrowing event that has yet to truly take hold and push his story forward.
There have been suggestions of an inner conflict, like in Kunikida’s scenes with Jouno of the Hunting Dogs, but as of the end of Season 5, they haven’t amounted to much. With any luck, Bungo Stray Dogs' next arc will have something exciting in store for him, because it would truly be a tragedy not to see this man’s search for ideals end prematurely. Like the best characters in this series, such quests cut right to the beating heart behind this story.
