Detective Anime/Manga –3 Reasons For Detective Conan Popularity-
By
Minami Murata
English 102
Instructor Dan Hurley
June 17, 2016
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Minami Murata
Dan Hurley
English 102
June 17th 2016
Detective Anime/Manga -3 Reasons For Detective Conan Popularity –
The word “anime” is a Japanese word, an abbreviation of the English word “animation”.
Many people know the country of Japan from various things. Japanese anime is one of them. In
modern time, Manga (Japanese comic) and Japanese Anime are celebrated around the world as a
significant part of Japanese literature. Anime/Manga has become increasingly popular. Even now
in modern day Japan, Manga/Anime have become iconic symbols of Japan. Kinko Ito and Paul
A. Crutcher described, “Manga is a huge and lucrative business and is considered one of the
most important Japanese cultural export to the world today. In Japan, manga is read and loved by
all kinds of people regardless of age, sex, social class, occupation, and educational level” (Soc
(2014) 51:44-48)”. Some people believe Manga/Anime have a negative influence, but others
enjoy reading and watching them tremendously. Many people relax with them after a hard day at
work or at school. Many just want to reduce stress with a little anime. It gradually becomes a
favorite pastime or even a hobby. To criticism that the Japanese manga has a negative influence
on the young, some claim there is little evidence that students directly imitate misbehavior that is
portrayed in manga/anime -such as bad language, bullying, fighting or other violating. Some
claim that Manga can encourage creativity, provide new perspectives and ways of thinking.
Some even suggest manga can favorably alter personality and character as much as it might do
so unfavorably.
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According to the article, “A Mysterious Detective Mystery” by Viccy Kemp said.
“Reading provides not only a mirror that reflects one’s own experiences but also a window into
how other people live. And mystery novels are remarkable for their ability to bring readers face-
to-face with situations and individuals they might never encounter in real life” (70). There are
many well-known mystery authors such as Edogawa Rampo -of the first Japanese modern
mystery. Soji Shimada is well-known Detective Mitarai Series. There are over a thousand of
mystery authors in Japan.
Gosho Aoyama has been a highly celebrated manga/anime author for
twenty years – famous for his series “Detective Conan” known as “Case Closed”. He was born in
Hokuei, Tottori Prefecture, Japan in 1963. His work is also enjoyed in places outside Japan like
North America, United Kingdom, South East Asia among others. Aoyama’s “Detective Conan”
celebrated its 20th anniversary in 2016 -a highly rated televised animation beginning in 1996. A
movie version was in the theater every year from 1997 -boasting enormous popularity and
earning more than 30 billion yen (300 million US dollars) for eight consecutive years. In 2003
the manga version topped 100 million total circulation. In March 2014, it sold 150 million
copies. Both the manga and anime have been translated, published, broadcast in other
countries in 2001, 46th, Shogakukan manga Award boy sector winner (“Detective Conan –One
truth prevails-”).
One website explains, Anime/Manga has been adapted into a miniseries by TMS
Entertainment and Yomiuri Telecasting Corporation, by Kenji Kodama and director
Yasuichiro Yamamoto. Each episode usually lasts about 25 minutes, but there are also
special extended episode 1 hour, 2 hours, or 2.5 hours. The first episode aired on Nippon
Television Network System (NTV) (Japan) on January 8, 1996. So far, more than 800
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episodes have been broadcast, including the film to No. 15. This is among the longest
cartoon in Japan. From June 1996 to October 2006, after the film was shown on
television, Shogakukan released them on VHS cassettes. 426 episodes had been released
under this format until Shogakukan decided to stop and switch to DVD format -starting
with the first episode. To celebrate 15 years of its launch, the serial is provided via “the
video on demand (Wikipedia).
In fact, “Detective Conan” has enriched Japanese literature. From an educational point of
view, fans learn how to become a “Detective in their own life” learning valuable investigative
skill. A generation of readers developing thinking skill. In the series, “Detective Conan”, the
author Gosho Aoyama teaches by example. Many people want to know how “Detective Conan”
became so popular? The series apparently succeeds on three factors: audience age, complexity of
plot/context, and mystery solving.
First reason is the age range, which the anime/manga is directed for any type of viewer.
There is unique characteristics that express in the “Detective Conan “story. The simplicity of the
plots of cartoons or anime create the children to understands it more and enjoy further. While the
complexity of anime constitutes all ages, especially teens and adults, making a significant target
for each group. “Anime has been the liking for youngsters from early age of 5. There were not
only for youngster but also for teenagers as well as adults” (The Influence of Online Anime
towards Children 200). Commonly, detective fiction is serialized. “Detective Conan” is one of
them.
In “Detective Conan”, Opening the story, a 17-year-old high school boy Shinichi Kudo
(also known as Jimmy Kudo in Case Closed) has to change his identify to “Conan Edogawa.”
Shinichi is the son of Yusaku and Yukiko Kudo – a detective novelist and a former famous
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actress. Shinichi was raised and educated in a good family. His father’s work introduces Shinichi
to crime scene investigation. Shinichi is also an avid reader. Following along with his father at
times makes him interested in investigating cases and finding clues/evidence that might be used
to solve the mystery. Shinichi solved many cases and is known as “the savior of the police.”
Shinichi wants to be like Sherlock Holmes of 19th century London. Shinichi in the beginning of
“Detective Conan” was described as an excellent detective student. The story begins as Shinichi
and his childhood -Ran are on their way to an amusement Park. Shinichi witnessed an illegal
transaction between men dressed in black. The men see him starting, catch and beat him
unconscious. Then the men try to poison -Apotoxin-4869 with the aim kill him, but the poison
does not kill Shinichi. When he wakes up, he realizes he is shocked to thin out into the shape of
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