Detective Conan can be considered a national sensation... in Japan. Even when the show is one of the longest running shows airing, when the manga sells fantastically, or even when there is a entire town (Tottori) based of it, its just not known that well in the west. But why is that? Its most likely due to how different the show was compared to the other simpler shonen shows like dbz and naruto. Children didn't need to think for themselves, and have deeper themes, they just wanted to see a good fight. Nothing wrong with that, but I think it was a shame that it never became a part of most kids childhoods as those other shows did.

I came across this show through netflix. I find the mysteries infinitely re-watchable. I won't pretend like I can solve the mysteries, but its still satisfying to see the end verdict. How each story is structured is ultimately the same, but it stays great. Conan and the gang hang out and play, then they come across a mystery of some sort. Conan needs to use this child body of his to his advantage and catch the lies of the suspects. Knocking out Kogorou with a sleep dart of sorts, and use change his voice to deliver the verdict. Of course there is some change, but every time this happens it still feels fresh, due to the incredible schemes the suspects come up with as they confess everything and shout out to the world their reasoning, and either feel sorry after learning the truth, or are still convinced of their conviction.

The characters of the show are some of the industries best. Shinichi who tries to act cool like a legendary detective, but has to go through extra struggle in his child versions. Ran, his childhood friend and lover is really tough for having to be separated from shinichi for soo long. There are many more memorable characters like the infamous KAITO KID, and Haibara.

The sound track is incredible and fits it perfectly. That piano on the higher parts, and that smooth and sounding jazz on the low and soft spoken parts. The endings basically all revolve around ran and her longing to be with shinichi. The openings an be really hype like the newest one, Makka Na Lip, which is really in the style of detective Conan.

Conan is undisputedly a cultural icon of Japan and Anime. There are soo many iconic parts about him and the story. His equipment like his voice changing bow tie, his special glasses, his watch, the high power shoes that can produce a soccer ball, and his skateboard. His design exudes style of someone trying to be a cool detective, and it works. Some other iconic parts about the series as a whole, the way the suspects are shrouded in a black tone, reoccurring story elements like Sleeping kogorou, and the ALELE?

You might be quick to think that there is no plot at all, but each individual mystery contributes to the growth of the characters as a whole. The best parts are the mainly story bits sprinkled through the chapters. But even if there is no huge overarching story, the individual mysteries are what keep me coming back, and I wouldn't have it any other way.

This is the show that separated the mainstream from the obscure, even if its not obscure in Japan.