Meitantei Conan (Detective Conan) is a shounen manga series created by Aoyama Gosho in 1994 and published weekly in Shogakukan's Shounen Sunday magazine. Inmensely popular in Japan, this series skilfully combines mystery, intrigue, action, humor and romance with a wide variety of delighful characters.

The story follows the ventures of one Kudo Shinichi, a brilliant 16-year old high school student who's an aspiring detective already lending his help to the Tokyo Metropolitan Police. However, his career is suddenly brought to a halt when a pair of men, belonging to a so-called Black Organization, discover the youngster while spying on them. They decide to use a lethal experimental drug (APTX4869) on him to dispose of the threat. Fortunately for Shinichi, he doesn't die, but rather reverses physically to the state of a 6-year old kid -- with his brain intact.

In order to regain his original body, Shinichi must uncover the Organization behind those men in black and obtain an antidote. He tells Dr. Agase (an old friend of the family) about what happened, and ends up living in his childhood friend (and object of his affection) Mouri Ran's house, posing as Edogawa Conan. Moreover, Ran's father, Mouri Kogoro, is an unsuccessful private eye -- who ends up being used by the shrunken Shinichi as a method for solving cases (with the help of Agase's gadgets).

Shinichi, now Conan, continues solving crimes, while trying to get closer to the Organization and going back to elementary school. He also meets several people along the way (friends and foes), most of which ignore his true identity. So far, the story has spanned across more than 55 volumes, with no end in sight.

The anime version of the franchise, produced by Tokyo Movie Shinsha, started airing in 1996 and has currently more than 455 episodes made (as of December 2006). Just like the manga, the anime has been licensed in several other countries, including the US (Case Closed, ugh), Canada, UK, France, Spain, Italy, Germany, etc. Though the series' highest popularity rate remains in its place of origin.

Also, ever since 1997, every Golden Week in Japan a movie based on the series is premiered in theaters. So far, 10 movies are out, the latest one conmemorating its 10th anniversary, and which remained for three consecutive weeks at the number one position in the Japanese box office. Most movies are number one at debut, if not for several weeks. Movies screened so far:

1. Meitantei Conan: The Time-Bombed Skyscraper
2. Meitantei Conan: The Fourteenth Target
3. Meitantei Conan: The Last Wizard of the Century
4. Meitantei Conan: Captured in her Eyes
5. Meitantei Conan: Countdown to Heaven
6. Meitantei Conan: The Phantom of Baker Street
7. Meitantei Conan: Crossroad in the Ancient Capital
8. Meitantei Conan: Magician of the Silver Sky
9. Meitantei Conan: Strategy above the Depths
10. Meitantei Conan: The Private Eyes' Requiem
11. Meitantei Conan: Jolly Roger in the Deep Azure (announced)

Moreover, there are also 6 OVAs (original video animation) made by Shonen Sunday starting 2000 and available through a limited time promotion (though they're being released on DVD now). These include:

1. Conan VS Kid VS Yaiba
2. 16 Suspects?!
3. Conan, Heiji and the Vanished Boy
4. Conan, Kid and the Crystal Mother
5. Target is Kogoro! The Detective Boy's Secret Investigation
6. Follow the Vanished Diamond! Conan & Heiji VS Kid!

To celebrate the 10th anniversary, a live-action Meitantei Conan special was also produced in 2006. It was called: A Challenge Letter to Kudo Shinichi ~Prologue until their Goodbye~

Starring Oguri Shun as Shinichi, Kurokawa Tomoka as Ran and Jinnai Takanori as Kogoro, the special acts as a prequel of the actual storyline, narrating a kidnapping case Shinichi is challenged to solve. Its ending sequence overlaps with the beginning of the manga/anime series.

Meitantei Conan (Detective Conan) belongs to Aoyama Gosho. No infringement intended. Start in my Life is made by a fan, for fans and is in no way affiliated with him. Content and layout © Estefania @ uchiha.org, 2002-07.