Anime Anime Global

May 21 is “Detective Day”.

The anniversary date comes from the first time an advertisement for the detective industry appeared in a Japanese newspaper on the same day in 1891.

A detective who solves difficult cases is an essential character when it comes to unraveling mysteries. Many different types of detective characters have solved many mysteries in the anime as well. Who is the most popular among them?

Here at Anime!Anime!, we conducted a reader survey after 2 years asking, “Who is your favorite detective character from anime?”. During the survey period between May 10 to May 17, a total of 219 responses were received.
There were more female respondents with the gender ratio being 30% male and 70% female. The age group was about 50% for those under the age of 19, about 25% for those in their 20s, focusing mainly on youngsters.

■The most eccentric detective Conan is on top!
The 1st place goes to Edogawa Conan from “Detective Conan” with an approval rating of about 25%, maintaining the same position as in the last year.
The fact that it has been broadcast for many years since it was made into a TV anime in 1996 was the deciding factor in the poll.
Readers commented, “Conan is the only detective that comes up to my mind since it has been broadcast for such a long time”, and “It has always been there for over 20 years”.

While some commented about Conan, such as “He's a child in appearance and an adult when it comes to intellect. He can solve any difficult case”, others left a comment about his adult form, Kudou Shin'ichi, “He has a sharp mind and his language is not affected by the use of cheesy lines or cliche”, and “I was touched by the fact that he doesn't let anyone, even the criminals, suicide themselves, he always tries to not hurt anyone around him, and faces the truth of unbelievable cases”.

Various characters from “Conan” were ranked in, such as Hattori Heiji which received the comment, “No matter how much hard is the case, he will always give a hand to Conan. I love their duo”, and Mouri Kogorou which was also praised by his fans, “He is usually a drunkard and only interested in beautiful women and money, but I was impressed by the fact that he actually cares about his family and is able to throw away anyone who carries a blade. He can get things done when he has to”.

The survey includes other characters from the series, such as Sera Masumi, “I love Sera's great skills in martial arts and her girlishness that sometimes comes out. I also love to see her performance in the movies!”, and Amuro Tooru, “Being detective is not his main occupation. He often disguises himself as many faces, and he's very intelligent and cool”.
The survey has totalized the votes for Conan and Shin'ichi, which would become separately three-quarters of the votes for Conan and one-fourth of the votes for Shin'ichi.

The 2nd place goes to Edogawa Ranpo from “Bungo Stray Dogs” with an approval rating of about 15%, ranking up from the 3rd place of the last year.

Edogawa Ranpo is a famous detective of the “Armed Detective Agency”, a group of people with supernatural powers. The gap between his different personalities got very popular among the fans; “While being a brilliant person who can solve any difficult case in a matter of seconds with his outstanding discernment and observational skills, he has a childish side and loves dagashi (cheap candies and snacks). I love this kind of gap in his personality”. Some readers praised some differences in the acting voice, “Ranpo can't even get on a train alone, but when he puts on his glasses and starts deducing, his eyes change. Kamiya's different uses of his voice are majestic”.

The 3rd place goes Oreki Houtarou from “Hyouka” with an approval rating of about 10%, ranking up from the 8th place of the last year.

He has gained a lot of votes as a famous detective and member of the Classics Club; “He's always under the influence of Eru-chan, but he's a great detective when he shows off his deductions!”, and “He is an apathetic boy who shows his coolness in solving cases calmly”. Although he is not a detective, fans have praised his deduction skills; “I think that his famous deductions that come from insight can be compared to those of a true detective”.

■Here are some of the other comments!
Yagashira Kiyotaka from “Kyoto Teramachi Sanjou no Holmes”; “A great detective who can solve anything and also an apprentice who learns how to do appraisals for antiques. He usually speaks in standard Japanese, but sometimes his Kyoto accent comes out”.
Sakaido from “Id:Invaded”, “The most interesting anime I've seen recently. I love his line, 'I'm a brilliant detective'”.

There were some votes for the “Underworld Detective”, Urameshi Yuusuke from “Yu Yu Hakusho”, “The Reigun he uses is cool. I still make his impression sometimes!”, and the “Love Detective”, Fujiwara Chika from “Kaguya-sama: Love Is War”, “I find very funny the clumsy advice written on her personal book which comes out every time she's having some girls' talk”.

This is a survey that has been held after two years since the last time, and it includes several new characters from “The Case Files of Lord El-Melloi II -Rail Zeppelin Grace Note -“, “Case File nº221: Kabukicho”, and others. Some votes were detectives in a single episode of the series, such Matsuno Osomatsu in “Mr. Osomatsu”.

■Top 20
[Who is your favorite detective character from anime? 2020 Ver.]
1. Edogawa Conan (Kudou Shin'ichi) “Detective Conan”
2. Edogawa Ranpo “Bungo Stray Dogs”
3. Oreki Houtarou “Hyouka”
4. Amuro Tooru “Detective Conan”
5. Sera Masumi “Detective Conan”
6. Kindaichi Hajime “The Kindaichi Case Files”
6. Hattori Heiji “Detective Conan”
6. Mouri Kogorou “Detective Conan”
9. Lord El-Melloi II “The Case Files of Lord El-Melloi II -Rail Zeppelin Grace Note -”
10. The Brilliant Detective, Sakaido “Id:Invaded”
10. Holmes “Sherlock Hound”
12. Matsuno Osomatsu “Mr. Osomatsu”
13. Ishikawa Takuboku “Woodpecker Detective's Office”
13. Sherlock Holmes, “Case File nº221: Kabukicho”
13. Yagashira Kiyotaka “Kyoto Teramachi Sanjou no Holmes”
16. Urameshi Yuusuke “Yu Yu Hakusho”
16. Butt Detective “Butt Detective”
16. Katrielle Layton “Layton Mystery Tanteisha: Katori no Nazotoki File”
16. Dazai Osamu “Bungo Stray Dogs”
16. Fujiwara Chika “Kaguya-sama: Love Is War”

(Response period: May 10 to May 17, 2020)