9:48 p.m. - Sunday, Apr. 19, 2009
Detective Conan Thoughts, Opinions, and Review 8/10
Ok, yesterday, Detective Conan's movie 13 came out in theaters in Japan on APRIL 18, 2009! and it is called "Detective Conan: The Raven Chaser." (My twin sister's name is Raven so its a bit weird to hear it on a movie) SO anywho, there has been much anticipation for this movie. The number 1 reason being is it is centered around the BLACK ORGANIZATION. For all of you who have never heard of Detective Conan, it is probably the most popular anime in Japan, and it's reign is pretty long. It has been airing in Japan since 1994 and it is still ongoing! The manga isn't even done. And the funny part about it is people want to see how it ends, but it's been around so long, Japan would seem weird without it! They made a museum, a bridge, and a statue in Japan in honor of this anime. If you are American, you probably know it as Case Closed. Case Closed was introduced to me about five years ago on Adult Swim. It didn't air very long, considering they wanted to make room for other animes. Also, Americans tend to like animes about stereotypical things like demons, wizards, vampires, and ninjas. An anime about a detective? That seems common in mainstream America...but in fact its not. In fact, it is the best Detective anime you'll ever see, and probably better than alot of fighting animes as well. It is interesting, exciting, and at times hard-core. Its like CSI Miami, Law and Order CI, only funnier.
The following anime is Shonen, or meant to target a young male audience.*
The story of Detective Conan is this: ahem: Kudou Shinichi *Shinichi* was a high school detective who was good at what he did, was widely known, and popular for his skills in solving crimes from the smallest details. His hero is Sherlock Holmes, and he aspires to be as good of a detective, if he isn't already. He lived his life solving with his childhood friend (and supposed "love interest") Mouri Ran. Ran's father is also a detective (Mouri Kogoro) who is inadequate compared Shinichi when it comes to solving cases (he's inadequate to everyone) as he loves to get drunk, is always looking at women, and has stupid deductions when presented with a crime scene. So Shinichi one day went to an amusment park with Ran, and after solving a case there (which happens everywhere Shinichi goes), he finds two men who seem suspicious and decides to follow them down an alleyway. The men discover him and make him swallow a poison that was meant to kill him, but instead shrunk him back into a child. Now he's forced to solve mysteries as a child while trying to get back to his real body. He goes to his friend, and inventor, Professor Agasa for help. He also decides to stay with the Mouris in the hopes of catching up with those men while on a detective case. He takes on the alias Conan Edogawa. Eventually, he meets up with a woman who worked with those men, and she told him about the crime syndicate (the underground gang) known as the Black Organization, because they all carry a weapon of choice, and some ride classic car models (halo mixed with need for speed underground type thing), and duh, they wear all black. He then meets that woman's sister, Haibara, who happens to be the creator of APTX-4869 the drug that shrunk Shinichi's body. Now he is after the Organization with the help of the CIA and FBI to particularly capture the organization's best man, Gin, and his partner, Vodka. Haibara used the drug to shrink herself. Her real name is Shiho Miyano, also known in the organization as "Sherry." She helps Conan get back to normal and he protects her from the organization that's after her for being a traitor. Now what do you think?
I'm going to give you my own thoughts and review of this anime, fair and square. Story(s), characters, music, and writer.
Story- pros: The story(s) shall I say is really well put together. It is set up so that it can last for a lifetime. I have never known ANY show that ever lasted this long, not even in America. it is still being aired on tv and had 12 theatrical sequels (13 movies all together)! It has more than 500 episodes, and it is still going, more than 60 volumes of the manga and it is still going, and two live dramas! Really, to me, it is many stories, because each episode is a new case and not all relate directly to the story. If you are a newcomer, woo!, don't even think about watching the whole anime (if you do it will take you about five months or more if you have other obligations. i watched them all! lol it was rough). You might have to read the whole manga, if that's what you prefer. Or get the most important volume titles from a fan who knows the most important part of the story. Otherwise, watch the episodes up until 129, then decide what you want out of this anime. If you love the story and want to know more, pick all of the Black Organization or Haibara episodes. But there won't be as many cases to solve in those. If you like solving cases, pick some Detective Boys cases, that may or may not include Haibara (be careful). Also be careful with the Ran episodes. If you become a fan of THAT romance, then pick the 1 hour specials (which might be about Shinichi, Heiji, or Kaitou Kid. The good part about this anime is there is something there for everyone. It is not over-dramtic, and not childish at all, even if the main character has turned back into a child. My advice is to go for the Black Organization episodes, which are action-packed and thrilling. The Org is just cool too ;). The story overall is thrilling, suspenseful, exciting, and well planned and detailed characters, anything you might find in a detective story. But each episode teaches you some street sense, so if you've been sheltered, you won't solve these clues. cons: I recommend you DON'T watch the RanXShinichi episodes. Those episodes can become too sappy and way too boring. I just feel she cramps Shinichi's style rather than being an asset to his unique personality. First off, she doesn't LIKE when Shinichi talks about mysteries, and shes too clingy. (Nothing against her personally...well maybe). She doesn't play a big role in the anime other than being a childhood crush, and so, her episodes are a BORE. She can fight Karate...ok another thing about this anime is it is veeeerrrry long. It is almost hard to keep up with the story sometimes because something new always happens right under my nose. if you want to watch all of the episodes now and get it over with, don't count on it. It will never end. soo...just watch it as a hobby, but don't look forward to the end.
characters- pros: The characters are well-developed to the point you know each character's background and life-style and kinks and twists. Even a small character has development. Of course, in detective stories you have to have details about each character to have suspects. But this anime has a large cast (there seems to be a new character in each new season), and yet each character is equally represented. That is rare. My favorite characters that fit this description Haibara, Kaitou Kid, Gin, Vermouth, Chianti, Shuichi, Shinichi, and the Detective Boys. I looove Haibara. She is my ultimate favorite. If you know anything about me, I like girls who are not stereotypical anime girls. She has a unique personality and she was part of the BO! Sherry is awesome. I also prefer the ConanxAi romance as many fans are turning the cheek. They are just an interesting pair. She is funny, cute, and VERY intelligent. she has a brain, not just looks. She doesn't fight over guys, and she isn't stupid. I also love Kaitou Kid. He is so cool! I love his character better than Shinichi! I wish that they had an anime for him. He is just a cool thief! He is the inspiration behind one of my own stories (obviously I write stories). Gin is one of the best characters in the anime! How many people can rock a classic Porsche? In fact, the whole organization is the best! The organization is full of interesting characters from skilled snipers, to doggy-dog assassins. Some are skilled in technology, possibly in the art of acting, even when using weapons. And the rules are tough. But it is all to benefit "that person." The way to identify them is through their black clothes and their names, which are all named after drinks (Tequila, Sherry, Vodka, Belmont (Vermouth),Bourbon, Chianti, etc). Some are known for signature cars (like the Porsche) and others are known by weapons (like Gin's Beretta M1934 or Haibara's APTX-4869). Just a fantastic villain organization. Laslty, I like the Detective Boys. They're funny and their episodes are the best to me. I love watching their mysteries because they are fun to solve and the most exciting. I also love Shinichi. He is so awesome. He is cocky, confident, and just so cute! (especially in the live action).Cons: There are some useless characters. Some of the characters that are considered "main" are useless to the whole story. Should i mention her? Yes, you know who: Ran. She is so useless, that her article on Wikipedia is shorter than Mouri Kogoro! lol (well at least she has one. Kaitou Kid's friend doesn't have one. lol) She does not add to the story. Her and Shinichi's relationship is so flat. It isn't interesting, it is just full of her crying over a guy she claims loves her and tries to control HIM with her emotions. She acts like they're dating! She is a horrible character. From the first episode, i thought she was whiny and emotional, I just dealt with it because thats how all women are portrayed in anime. But then Haibara came. This also has to do with time difference, as Ran was invented in the 90s and Haibara is a new-age character (told ya the anime was long).
Music- pros: They choose music according to the feeling of the season. There are a TON of seasons, so that means there will be at least two songs per season. The soundtrack(s) will be SUPER long. I have my favorite. The ending to the first season "Step by Step" and the beginning of the second season (forgot title) and "Revive." But my most FAVORITE song is Clash of Red and BLack's theme Zard's song.
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Writer- Goshyo Ayama (? I believe) He wrote kaitou kid first and continued with Detective Conan is ka-chillion yen enterprise. What a success story. The writer uses a lot of parallel in his stories. You can tell it's his work because he'll have the following things: childhood friend and "love interest" to the main characters, a confident, arrogant, and skilled main character, the Black Organization, a crazy deranged parent who probably is father to the childhood friend, and a EMO/sardonic/sarcastic female who knows the main character's secret. Not to mention, the rival. All of his works are similar in that way (well most of them are..well two of the most popular). Pros: I like his unique characters. He has wonderful ideas for characters, like a skilled but gracious thief, who steals to teach a lesson, by using magic tricks. Or a detective who becomes a child, and can solve a mystery with the smallest details presented before him. His character development is his strongest point to making a story, with interesting backgrounds. And they all twist into the story. The main characters are always attractive to the audience (not just by looks but by demeanor). Cons: This is just on my part. If you disagree that's ok. But I can not stand the CHILDHOOD FRIEND relationship. It's not always a bad idea in anime, but it is just too COMMON in anime and not unique. It is also dragging the story down every time Shinichi has to answer to Ran for something. I even tried to get into it in Kaitou Kid (I like her better than Ran) but I couldn't. The weird part is, the people that the writer makes fall in love with the main characters who are NOT childhood friends (does this make sense) look better with the main characters! I do like Heiji and Kazuya but to me it's just alright. Their relationship is funny, but I just don't like that about his work. I guess it irritates me because it's so common and its now annoying. Or maybe I just love when Conan is around Haibara because the story always seems more interesting. He doesn't have to have a relationship EXACTLY like Heiji's (even if that's supposed to be his alter ego/doppelganger/whatever). They need to twist something. The funny part is my friend was born the same day as Shinichi and he hates Ran! lol He says shes too clingy and cries too much and shes kind of ditzy and doesn't have a clue about anything going on in the story (not even on how to solve a case). While some might argue that is why Shinichi loves her because she's unique and charming and caring and not so intelligent, she also tends to remind me of Ayumi. There seems to be some parallel to two girls who get ALL the guys....whereas Haibara is the most unique protagonist in the anime....Ran..meh..she's alright, she just doesn't look good with Shinichi to me, with or without Haibara. If Haibara was Shiho again, I'd real go nuts about that relationship... actually, thats the live action....
If you watched this whole movie, you might see what i mean or you might contradict it. But come on! Haibara (Shiho) has way more back-bone than Ran! And she's cuter and cooler too! She is so hard for Shinichi to figure out, as some fans would say, but thats good for him since he's a detective! Have you noticed that when Ran got in the picture, it got all sappy? Ugh! If she says his name one more time! Ugh! She's a nuisance! I feel Shinichi and Shiho had far more chemistry than Ran and Shinichi even if she is clinging to him and following him around and walking with him, it just seems like a NORMMAL< BORING relationship that hasn't even begun yet. Whereas, Shiho and Shinichi has some spark and chemistry and some fiya! Well thats my spin on Detective Conan. If you have any questions, comments, or concerns, you can comment here, or email me at [email protected]. or my other journal ANIMEJOURNAL2.LIVEJOURNAL.COM if you prefer that. ~Over and Out~ I talk too much!lol :p
