Paper Versus Pixels; a Comparison

By Valeria Gonzalez Gutierrez

In most cases the show is slightly different from the book it’s based on.

Slight changes that may have made it easier to film or in order to help the story move along better. For whatever reason, the movie or somehow is always different from the book. One of my favorite animes is “Bungou Stray Dogs.” It’s a show about an orphan, Asushi Nakajima, and how him saving a man, Osamu Dazai, from a suicide attempt which leads him joining a detective agency.

This anime was turned into one based on the manga “Bungou Stray Dogs,” by Kafka Asagiri and illustrated by Sango Harukawa, all the characters in both the manga and anime are based on authors and their novels or poems. The most the characters have in common with their real counterparts is names. 

There are slight differences between the manga and anime. Scenes that were either taken out or added for whatever reason. The main focus is going to be on the Guild Arc, which in the manga is chapters 15 through 37 and in the anime is season 2. 

One of the first differences that could be caught was in chapter 15, the protagonists are trapped in a sorta creepy version wonderland room thanks to ability users. 

Along with the 4 good guys that were captured there was also a ‘villain’, Ogai Mori, that was stuck with them. Said Villain is also an ability user,  with the ability “vita Sexuali’ based on his novel. In the manga and show his novel takes the form of small girl named Elise, Elise will do whatever Mori wants, while still having her own will 

This was one of the first changes, in the anime Mori uses his ability against the enemy. In the manga he helped the protagonist by pulling him back and giving him advice.

Not really sure why this was made but it can be assumed it was in order to make the scene have more action. Even though by the look of it, it already did, it didn’t seem like it was necessary change.  

Along with changing the scenes, they also changed some of the lines. In chapter 30 of “Bungou Stray Dogs,” the characters Chuuya Nakahara and Osamu Dazai are having a conversation and Chuuya Nakahara says “The night you fled from the mafia… I celebrated with a 1989 vintage. That was how sick I was of you.” 

Amirah Najem, ’25 says, “I think that the change was counter- intuitive. Anime is so much better when it’s calm yet dramatic, it’s more meaningful.” 

Another change I saw was the main character Atsushi Nakajima throwing a baby at the character Michizō Tachihara in order to get away.

Sadly they took this amazing scene out of the anime for probably no absolute reason. This was definitely not needed, they probably took out cause they didn’t think it was necessary for the plot line. 

During these panels Chuuya Nakahara has a blank face on his face. In the anime scene this panel was changed in both mood and lines. The mood in the original scene was a bit melancholy especially if you known the background story behind it. In the anime the mood is more angry and humorous. 

The changes were mostly unnecessary, maybe made to speed the plot along or make the darker scenes lighter. Najem wasn’t the only one with an opinion on this.

Kathryn Robles, ’25 says “A character throwing a baby at another character. I can’t say I completely understand, but based on what I’m hearing I think it depends on perspective.  Of course, personally, I would say some changes don’t need to be made if the material is already good.”

Both of the girls had their opinions based on their preferences and mindset.  Robles also said “I would say meaningful, but that’s just me.  Sure, everyone needs comedy, but a lot of times a serious things need to be addressed and, in terms of anime, I think it helps the audience relate to a character that has serious issues or traits” 

Tags: anime, bungou stray dogs, entertainment, manga, redwood gigantea, redwood high school, Valeria Gonzalez Gutierrez