Is Bungo Stray Dogs: DEAD APPLE Worth Watching?

When manga series adaptations get anime original movies, it can be a mixed bag between a fun adventure or a nebulously-cannon story that might not matter in the end. Bones’ superpowered detective series Bungo Stray Dogs treated fans to the series’ first feature film, Dead Apple, but even with an original story by author Kafka Asagiri, is this an apple worth sinking your teeth into?

Dead Apple began small, originally meant as an OVA before Kadokawa decided to turn the project into a film, and even then the idea was put forth that it would be a recap film. However, as this film would be the only Bungo anime project released between seasons 2 and 3, Asagiri thought that the fans should get something more, and thus wrote an original script.

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The Story of Dead Apple

The creation of this film makes for a satisfying story itself, such as the staff at Bones going to a campsite retreat to plan out the production. The enthusiasm for creating something that is immensely rewatchable, with captivating visuals and equally captivating dialogue, is easily felt in interviews about the project. Asagiri has always been heavily involved in the show’s creation, and the film’s script similarly retains his quality of storytelling.

Dead Apple follows the Armed Detective Agency as they investigate a strange series of events where Gifted individuals are being killed by their own abilities in what appear to be suicides. Their only lead is a man named Shibusawa Tatsuhiko, the “Collector,” but before they can get anywhere, fog envelops the city, making everyone but the Gifted vanish, forcing those left behind to fight against their own powers.

Complicating matters further, Dazai appears to be colluding with Shibusawa, with the assistance of then-new-character Fyodor Dostoevsky, creating a mystery about Dazai’s allegiances and his plan. One of this film’s most impressive traits is the way it balances characters. At its core, it’s about Atushi, Kyouka, and Akutagawa, but Chuuya plays a major role as well, and Dazai, Fyodor, and Shibusawa steal every scene they’re in.

Studio Bones put their best foot forward from minute one, chronicling the final night of the Dragon’s Head Conflict, the bloodiest battle in Yokohama’s criminal history. The streets are heavy with the stench of death and fan-favorite Oda Sakunosuke returns for a brief cameo before Chuuya roars onto the scene with reckless abandon – and a very cool motorcycle.

In fact, everything about this opening is cool and feels emblematic of an apparent objective to create not just a good Bungo Stray Dogs story, but a truly spectacular action film. Even composer Taku Iwasaki feels like they are operating on a slightly elevated mindset, creating tracks more befitting an epic theatrical film compared to a TV Anime, and the results can be downright chilling.

The characters must come face-to-face with their own abilities and by extension, themselves and their weaknesses, in order to reclaim their powers. It means overcoming physical limitations, but it also means confronting trauma associated with the ability. For Kyouka and Atsushi, this is especially resonant given their arcs in the TV series, though unfortunately, the latter is done far dirtier through this framing.

The Atsushi Problem

Atsushi Nakajima starts out in Season 1 as a fairly weak and not-at-all confident person, but capable of brave feats once they’ve pushed themselves past their fear. But their flaws were fairly relatable and as his power grew, his confidence grew with it, without ever sacrificing the kindness that makes him who he is. The movie’s portrayal, however, leaves something to be desired.

By losing his ability, the writing reduces him back to how he was in Season 1, which feels disingenuous to how his character had evolved up to that point in the film. Challenging his reliance on his ability isn’t an issue, but his being annoying as a result is an issue. By a certain event at the mid-point, his screams for Kyouka can be grating on the ears.

It’s a shame too because Yuuto Uemura is a great actor who truly brings this character to life, but the writing and vocal direction simply don’t do the character favors. And the reason that Atsushi’s characterization is so frustrating is that it is an otherwise inconvenient blight on a pretty stellar film.

A Cinematic Delight

The reason why anime films can sometimes feel like a fleeting enjoyment is the sensation that none of what is happening really matters because it’s only tenuously canon. If no one can die and nothing with lasting consequences can happen, then the film has to end more or less where it began, right? Well, that’s partly true, but anime-original films do have the benefit of original characters.

Cowboy Bebop The Movie didn’t necessarily have lasting consequences, but it’s still an exceptional story with a villain and supporting characters who had a full arc. Similarly, Dead Apple’s narrative might not have sweeping consequences, but what it does with its characters is quite interesting and can arguably elevate the main text. Not only is the film mentioned in the TV series afterward, but it introduces Fyodor as a villain.

Across the board, the way that this film bridges past and present makes it feel invaluable as a piece of this story. Additionally, while Shibusawa might not strike fans as one of the most memorable villains, his connection to Atsushi is shocking and helps resolve some of the aforementioned character writing qualms in time for the climax.

Dead Apple’s plot seems fairly straightforward but the “apple” theme is quite compelling, taking a symbol common in fairytales and fiction and using it as the centerpiece. Asagiri wrote the story with Dazai at the center, partaking in a “forbidden fruit” of sorts, and the rest of the story was built around that apple motif. Funnily, it’s a fairytale in which Dazai is the princess and Chuuya is the prince.

That’s another great thing about this movie; it’s impeccably balanced for a film based on a series with such a large cast. Atsushi, Kyouka, and Akutagawa are the main trio we follow, and Dazai is at the center of the story, but Chuuya plays a surprisingly large role and has some of the best scenes by far. His small, understated arc could very well have been the film itself and been just as entertaining.

The funny thing about the film’s flaws is that it only stings so much because it holds the film back from possibly being one of the best entries in the franchise yet. For many, Atsushi’s re-run of a character arc puts it towards the bottom of the list instead, which is a damn shame. In spite of all of that, it is definitely a film worth watching for any fans that have yet to check it out.

Bungo Stray Dogs: Dead Apple is an aesthetic tribute to what the team at Bones is capable of with this series. It is held back by the writing of its protagonist, which is a burdensome and potentially lethal affliction for any film. With that said, viewers willing to look past that hurdle will be reminded why the series is as loved by its fans as it is. Their next film can only be better.

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Source: Spoon 2di (translation via @HyakuyAichan on Twitter)