Detective Conan
A Japanese mystery franchise centered on a teenage detective transformed into a child who continues solving cases while investigating the organization responsible.
Last updated October 2, 2026
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Overview
Detective Conan is a Japanese mystery and detective-fiction franchise created by manga artist Gosho Aoyama. It began serialization in Shogakukan’s Weekly Shōnen Sunday in January 1994 and has since developed into one of Japan’s most durable cross-media entertainment properties. In English-speaking markets, the franchise is also widely known as Case Closed. The story follows Shinichi Kudo, a highly capable high-school detective who witnesses a suspicious transaction involving a criminal organization. After being attacked and forced to ingest the experimental drug APTX 4869, he survives but is physically transformed into a child. To conceal his identity and protect people close to him, he adopts the name Conan Edogawa and lives with Ran Mouri and her father, private detective Kogoro Mouri. The central narrative combines episodic mysteries with a continuing conspiracy plot. Conan uses deductive reasoning, scientific knowledge and devices developed by the inventor Professor Agasa to resolve murders, kidnappings, frauds and other crimes. He frequently allows Kogoro to receive public credit by rendering him unconscious and using a voice-changing device to present the solution through him. At the same time, Conan searches for evidence about the Black Organization and a way to restore his original body. The premise gives the franchise a flexible format: individual cases can be enjoyed independently, while recurring characters and the organization storyline provide long-term continuity. The manga was adapted into a television anime in 1996 by TMS Entertainment and related production partners. The animated property expanded into theatrical films, original video works, television specials, spin-off manga and animation, novels, games, live-action adaptations and a large licensing program. Major spin-offs include Zero’s Tea Time and The Culprit Hanzawa, while crossover productions have included Lupin the 3rd versus Detective Conan. The theatrical films have become an important annual event in Japan and a major mechanism for introducing younger audiences to the franchise while retaining older fans who encountered it through the original manga or early television broadcasts. Detective Conan’s commercial scope extends well beyond publishing and screen entertainment. Licensed products have appeared in apparel, food, household goods, toys, stationery, consumer electronics, games, collectible goods, credit cards, exhibitions, themed retail experiences and promotional collaborations. In China and other Asian markets, the property has been used in campaigns aimed at both younger consumers and adult fans who grew up with the series. Its recognizable symbols and characters—including Conan, the Black Organization, APTX 4869, Kaitou Kid and characters associated with the police and detective communities—make it adaptable to packaging, digital advertising, merchandise and experiential marketing. The franchise’s long life is supported by regular new manga material, continuing television production, annual or near-annual film releases, character-focused spin-offs and licensing partnerships. Its positioning combines traditional fair-play mystery, action, romance, humor and an ensemble cast. Although the work originated as a boys’ manga, its broad character network and cross-generational exposure have helped it become a general-audience Japanese cultural brand. The rights structure is distributed across the original creator, Shogakukan, animation and film producers, broadcasters, publishers and regional licensees; no single public corporate owner of the entire franchise is established in the supplied material.
History
Detective Conan emerged from the Japanese mystery-manga boom of the early 1990s. After Gosho Aoyama completed his earlier series Yaiba, Shogakukan proposed a detective title capable of competing in a market energized by works such as The Kindaichi Case Files. Aoyama initially considered giving the protagonist a supernatural ability, but the editorial direction favored conventional deduction. His long-standing interest in Sherlock Holmes and classic detective fiction helped shape Shinichi Kudo as a Holmes enthusiast and highly analytical teenage investigator. The manga began in Weekly Shōnen Sunday in January 1994. Its defining narrative device was established immediately: Shinichi is reduced to a child after taking the experimental drug APTX 4869 and adopts the identity Conan Edogawa. This allows the series to alternate between school life, domestic comedy, police investigations, romance and a darker serialized pursuit of the Black Organization. The format also created a durable cast, including Ran Mouri, Kogoro Mouri, Professor Agasa, the Detective Boys, Ai Haibara, Heiji Hattori, Kaitou Kid and numerous police and intelligence characters. The anime adaptation began in 1996 and became the principal vehicle for international recognition. TMS Entertainment and associated production teams developed a long-running television series, theatrical films, specials and original video productions. The film series turned Detective Conan into a recurring cinema event, generally using large-scale crimes, action set pieces and prominent supporting characters while preserving the deductive identity of the source material. The franchise also expanded through novels, games, live-action television projects and character-centered spin-offs. Publishing growth marked several important stages. The manga reportedly exceeded 100 million copies in circulation by 2003 and later passed 148 million copies by 2015. In 2017, reported worldwide circulation exceeded 200 million copies. A 100-volume project was announced in 2021, accompanied by commemorative promotion. The series continued beyond earlier expectations that the story might end around volume 100, demonstrating the durability of its serialized format and commercial ecosystem. The franchise’s international development has been especially visible in East Asia. In mainland China, licensed print publication began in the early 2000s, followed later by authorized digital distribution through platforms including Tencent Animation, Bilibili Manga and Kuaikan Manga. Digital availability also expanded in North America through Viz Media’s digital manga service. Regional rights holders and licensees have supported merchandise, exhibitions, financial products, food collaborations and themed retail activities. Detective Conan’s modern business model is therefore broader than the original comic. It operates as a content, character and licensing property whose value is renewed by continuing manga chapters, weekly animation, theatrical releases, anniversary exhibitions and consumer collaborations. Its audience spans children, teenagers and adults, and its strongest markets combine habitual viewing with active collection of character goods. The franchise remains active, although precise ownership, financial results and executive governance are divided among rights holders and are not fully established in the supplied sources.
- 2021
100-volume commemorative project
[1]A 100-volume project and commemorative website are launched around the publication milestone.
- 2017
Worldwide circulation exceeds 200 million copies
[1]Reported worldwide circulation surpasses 200 million copies as the creator confirms the series will continue beyond volume 100.
- 2015
Circulation exceeds 148 million copies
[1]Reported manga circulation reaches more than 148 million copies.
- 2009
Lupin the 3rd crossover
[2]A television special brings Detective Conan together with Lupin the 3rd, expanding the franchise’s crossover profile.
- 2003
Circulation exceeds 100 million copies
[2]Collected manga circulation passes the 100-million-copy threshold.
- 2001
Wins a Shogakukan Manga Award
[2]The original manga receives the 46th Shogakukan Manga Award in the boys’ category.
- 1996
Television adaptation begins
[3]The ongoing television anime adaptation launches, creating the foundation for the broader multimedia franchise.
- 1994
Manga serialization begins
[1]Detective Conan begins publication in Weekly Shōnen Sunday as a new mystery series by Gosho Aoyama.
Products and positioning
A cross-generational Japanese mystery-entertainment franchise combining recurring detective fiction, serialized conspiracy storytelling, character relationships and extensive licensing.
Manga · 1994
Detective Conan manga
The original serialized detective manga created by Gosho Aoyama. It combines self-contained mysteries with a continuing investigation into the Black Organization and the search for a drug reversal. Collected volumes, digital editions and regional licensed translations form the publishing core of the franchise.
Television animation · 1996
Detective Conan television anime
The long-running animated adaptation translates the manga’s cases into weekly television storytelling and adds anime-original material, specials and related productions. It is a central discovery point for audiences outside Japan and supports the character and merchandise businesses.
Animated film · 1997
Detective Conan theatrical films
The theatrical series presents larger-scale mysteries and action-driven plots featuring Conan and the wider cast. Annual or recurring film releases function as major franchise events, often accompanied by promotional campaigns, exhibitions, limited goods and licensed collaborations.
Spin-off animation and manga · 2018
Zero’s Tea Time
A character-focused spin-off centered on Rei Furuya, also known through his public identity as Tōru Amuro. It broadens the franchise’s perspective beyond Conan and demonstrates the commercial strength of its supporting characters.
Spin-off animation and manga · 2022
The Culprit Hanzawa
A comedic spin-off built around the silhouette-like culprit figure frequently used in Detective Conan’s visual language. It reinterprets the franchise’s crime motifs in a lighter format and extends the property to streaming-oriented audiences.
Consumer products and licensing
Licensed merchandise and collaborations
The licensing program covers apparel, food, stationery, toys, household products, electronics, games, collectibles, financial products and themed experiences. Collaborations commonly use recognizable characters, mystery terminology and visual symbols such as APTX 4869.
Marketing campaigns
- 2025Detective Conan 30th-anniversary exhibition promotion in Hangzhou
China
A 30th-anniversary exhibition in Hangzhou used the franchise’s long-running character and story archive to attract fans during the holiday period and support surrounding retail activity.
Outcome. The supplied report attributes year-on-year increases in holiday footfall and sales at the host commercial complex to the event, but does not provide independently verified franchise revenue.
- 2023DQ x Detective Conan: Search for the Delicious Truth
China
Dairy Queen launched three Detective Conan co-branded ice-cream cakes around Children’s Day. Product concepts referenced the Black Organization’s silhouette character, APTX 4869 and Conan, with chocolate, strawberry and chocolate-vanilla flavors. Packaging, fridge magnets and a limited bow-shaped multifunction cushion extended the collaboration beyond food.
Outcome. DQ created themed stores in Guangzhou, Shanghai and Hangzhou, giving consumers an immersive environment for photography, product trial and merchandise collection.
- 2016Shanghai Bank Detective Conan Credit Card mobile campaign
China
Shanghai Bank used the Detective Conan TV 20th Anniversary Exhibition as the setting for a data-driven campaign promoting its co-branded credit card. The campaign combined audience profiling, mobile-device targeting, location-based advertising around Shanghai Takashimaya and an interactive H5 page using Conan-themed creative.
Outcome. The case report states that the campaign generated 4,069,649 impressions and 419,175 clicks between May 26 and August 16, with a reported click-through rate of 1.03%.
Brand decisions
2021
Launch the 100-volume franchise initiativeGeneration changeBackground
The manga reached a major collected-volume milestone while the creator indicated that the story would continue beyond earlier expectations of ending around volume 100.
Action taken
Shogakukan and related partners launched a commemorative 100-volume project and online anniversary site.
Aftermath
The initiative reinforced the franchise’s publishing longevity and supported renewed fan engagement across media and merchandise.
1996
Expand the manga into television animationProduct launchBackground
The manga’s episodic mysteries and strong central premise provided a suitable foundation for a continuing animated adaptation.
Action taken
Production partners developed and launched an ongoing television anime, establishing a second major pillar for the property.
Aftermath
The television series broadened the audience and enabled later films, specials, spin-offs and licensing activity.
Recent events
OPPO launches Detective Conan limited-edition product series[7]
Reported:
OPPO launched a Detective Conan limited-edition product series on July 28, including a customized phone, smartwatch, fitness band, wireless earbuds, and power bank. The products were available for reservation, with sales planned to begin on July 30 for most items and August 16 for the smartwatch.
Sources8 sources
- 1Detective Conan overview and publication historybaike.baidu.com
- 2Detective Conan history and circulation milestonesm2.allhistory.com
- 3Detective Conan television animezh.wikipedia.org
- 4Shanghai Bank Detective Conan credit-card campaigniaiad.com
- 5DQ x Detective Conan collaborationsocialbeta.com
- 6Detective Conan IP and anniversary exhibition coverage36kr.com
- 7OPPO发布名侦探柯南限定系列产品finance.sina.com.cn
- 8Oppo launches Detective Conan edition phone to attract anime loversglobal.chinadaily.com.cn
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