Over thirty years, fans have been driven crazy with the intricate mysteries and long building arcs, with only one truth in Detective Conan. Through thousands of chapters, we were anticipating the variety of cases that continued to surprise fans, including murders, kidnappings, thieves, high-stakes battles, and even the slow-burn romances. The franchise’s impact is so massive that it inspired an entire town in Hokuei, Japan, becoming a popular tourist site for fans of the mystery anime, especially since it’s also the hometown of creator Gosho Aoyama-sensei.
With 29 movies and counting, the series continues on a global scale, becoming a massive pop-culture staple. The musical talents have also accomplished incredible records, with over 133 consecutive opening and ending songs that include Mai Kuraki, ZARD, the iconic orchestra soundtracks, and more legendary individuals. All songs have beautifully depicted powerful and thrilling moments, while giving some of the most depressing and relatable themes. It’s already unprecedented with the number of diverse cases, and combines brilliantly with the music for those unforgettable moments.
After a long hiatus since the 2009 Funimation era, the series is celebrating its 30th anniversary with new English dubs on Crunchyroll and Netflix. Although some movies like The Sniper from Another Dimension were signs of support for the American fans, nothing beats the revival and renewed energy of what Studio Nano has been cooking with their specially made episodes. Hopefully this also means a complete collection of episodes that no streaming series has ever curated, allowing any fan to properly jump into one of the longest running shows. To celebrate this milestone, I’m sharing my favorite episodes and exploring the significance behind them.
Quick Heads-up: This breakdown contains major spoilers! I’ve added some episode summaries under the pictures and enhanced a few images so they’re easier to see. All visual assets belong to their original owners and are used here for commentary and analysis under Fair Use guidelines.
10. The Ginkgo-Colored First Love — Episodes 421 & 422
Episodes Plot: Professor Agasa recalls his first love in Elementary School, Fusae Campbell and the promise that they would meet every 10 years, with a letter containing riddles about animals for the location. Agasa has to recall every memory and describe everything about their time together to the Detective Boys, before it’s too late.
My first pick was a romantic story that some fans might recall, when Professor Agasa races to find his long-lost crush Fusae Campbell. Unlike the majority of love stories, this was only two episodes and hasn’t had a proper reunion since then. The Ginkyo leaf symbolized the endurance of their long love and message against bullying, especially for the mixed-races that might feel out of place. Who else has felt that not being born or raised like natives would lead to self pity and anger for being different? Fusae’s blonde hair was the target of racism, but you know, Agasa proved that it could be a sign of strength and the symbol of her future as a famous accessory and fashion designer.
The way the mystery uses animal sounds and codes to bridge Fusae’s two worlds is brilliant. It’s a ‘thank you’ to those of us watching outside of Japan, who grew up navigating two different cultures daily. For example, pet owners are usually speaking in another language with their pets and would only respond in that specific tongue. It surprised me how different the Japanese perceived the animal sounds, much like my introduction to Japanese words like Hamburger and Computer. All in all, it was funny and amazing how well thought out a child could craft riddles, when most wouldn’t have at that young age.
Unlike the other main pairings, Agasa and Fusae’s story has been left on ice since November 2005, leaving fans in dire need of a proper conclusion. It’s also the most natural relationship that doesn’t end up in a dangerous situation, like being shot at or in constant danger. Hopefully we’ll see their next meeting, since it’s technically been more than the promised 10 years and beyond cameos, as shown in the photos below!
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