What to watch: Detective Conan a thrilling intro into anime
Detective Conan – one of the most legendary anime – is an old but gold show that whets the appetite for whodunnit mystery thrill seekers.
Even if you’re not really into anime, Detective Conan (aka Case Closed) is a great intro to the genre, with a storyline finely balanced between murder, gore, romance and riddles.
It’s so popular that one of its movies was recently shown on the big screen in New Zealand. But you’d be wrong to think it’s as kid friendly as Kiki’s Delivery Service. There’s some gnarly scenes of murder and decapitation, yet still tame compared with more violent manga-adapted anime.
The story follows teenager Shinichi, a detective famous for his impeccable crime-solving deductions. After being caught snooping on a mysterious cash swap, he’s forcibly given an experimental drug which turns his body into the size of a child’s.
Taking a page out of Superman’s book, he goes undercover with a pair of glasses and the name Conan Edogawa - a mash up of Sherlock Holmes author Conan Doyle and Japanese mystery author Edogawa Ranpo.
With the help of his karate-fighting crush and a cunning trio of kids, Shinichi races against time in Mission Impossible scenarios to secretly solve crime using nifty gadgets from a lab scientist – all in the name of hunting down the mysterious gang who changed him.
Audiences aren’t just gripped by finding the culprit in each episode, but most importantly solving ‘how’. It becomes a fun puzzle to see who can figure it out first – you or Conan?
The Japanese anime has more than 1000 episodes. So, it’s a no-brainer that Netflix has carefully chosen just a handful of episodes – ones central to the main plot – to appeal to non-familiar audiences as well as fans. But if you’re all about cracking the cases, you can find more episodes on streaming services Apple TV and Crunchy Roll.
Don't watch it if... you're too young. The show is rated M on Apple TV. In some of the earlier episodes you'll also find some rhetoric of the 90s and early 2000s, so if you find that too cringe then perhaps opt for the Netflix episodes.
If you like Detective Conan, what should you watch next?
The Mentalist: If you're into smart people solving cases like Conan, then go no further. Even if you've seen it before, it's not a bad one to watch again. (Neon)
Taxi Driver: This gritty K-drama is one where justice or revenge is served, beyond the law. (Apple TV, Netflix)
The Brokenwood Mysteries: you don't need to go far to find a good local cop drama. (TVNZ+)
