Is the Anime Really Finished?#
If you are wondering whether you can dive into Case Closed (also known as Detective Conan) and expect a neat, tied-up conclusion, the answer is no. The series is very much ongoing.
Starting in 1996 as an adaptation of the 1994 manga, the anime has continued to produce content for decades. Recent news from 2026 indicates that the series is still ranking highly in Japanese TV charts and continuing to release major theatrical films, such as Detective Conan: Highway no Datenshi.
Because the anime is a long-running adaptation of an equally long-running manga, viewers who watch only the anime will find themselves in a long-term commitment. To get the most current progress of the story or potentially reach the conclusion faster, you may want to buy the manga to supplement your viewing.
What is Case Closed About and Who is it For?#
Case Closed is a masterclass in the mystery and crime genres. The story follows Shinichi Kudo, a high school detective known as “The Modern Sherlock Holmes.” After being drugged by mysterious men in black, Shinichi is shrunken to the size of a child. Adopting the alias Conan Edogawa, he lives with his childhood sweetheart, Ran Mouri, and uses his intellect to solve cases via Ran’s father—a second-class detective who becomes famous thanks to Conan’s secret assistance.
Why You Should Watch It#
This series is perfect for audiences who enjoy:
- Intricate Mysteries: Every episode is a puzzle waiting to be solved.
- Crime and Police Procedurals: The themes heavily revolve around detective work and law enforcement.
- Slow-Burn Romance and Drama: The relationship between Conan (Shinichi) and Ran provides an emotional core to the action.
- Psychological Tension: The overarching plot involving the “men in black” adds a layer of danger and suspense.
If you’re ready to start solving crimes, you can watch the anime on Prime Video.
Recommended Watch Orders#
Navigating Case Closed can be daunting due to the sheer volume of content, including series, movies, and specials. Here are the best ways to approach it. (For a detailed visual breakdown, please refer to our relationship tree provided below the article.)
The Release Order#
For those who want to experience the series as the world did, follow the release dates. Start with the main Detective Conan anime (1996) and integrate the movies as they were released, starting with The Time Bombed Skyscraper (1997) and leading all the way up to the most recent 2026 releases.
The Completionist’s Order#
If you want every single piece of content, you have a lot of ground to cover. A complete journey includes:
- The Main Series: The core Detective Conan anime episodes.
- The Movies: All theatrical sequels from 1997 to 2026.
- Side Stories and Specials: Include the Magic File series, The Stranger From 10 Years Later, and special episodes like Episode One: The Great Detective Turned Small (an alternate retelling).
- Spin-offs: Watch Detective Conan: Zero’s Tea Time and Detective Conan: The Culprit Hanzawa.
- Crossovers and Related Works: Don’t miss the Lupin III vs. Detective Conan specials and the Magic Kaito adaptations (Kid the Phantom Thief and Magic Kaito 1412).
- Prequels: Be sure to include the 2026 prequel Meitantei Conan Episode “ZERO” Kudō Shinichi Suizokukan Jihen.
The “Manga-First” Order#
For those who don’t mind reading, the most efficient way to consume the story is to read the Case Closed manga (1994) and use the anime for the high-action sequences and movies. This allows you to move through the plot at your own pace while still enjoying the animation.
Final Tips for New Viewers#
Because this series is so vast, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. We recommend focusing on the main plot arcs involving the “men in black” if you want to see the story progress, while treating the standalone mysteries as fun diversions.
While you’re diving into the world of Conan Edogawa, why not pick up some Detective Conan merchandise to celebrate your new obsession?
If you find our investigation into anime lengths and watch orders helpful, consider supporting us on Ko-fi to keep the blog running!
Case Closed • manga • 1994-01-05 (Weekly Shōnen Sunday, 1994 #5)
└─(adaptation)→ Detective Conan • anime • 1996-01-08
└─(side story)→ Detective Conan Magic File • anime • 2007-04-11
└─(sequel)→ Detective Conan Magic File 2 • anime • 2008-04-19
└─(sequel)→ Detective Conan Magic File 3 • anime • 2009-04-18
└─(sequel)→ Detective Conan: Magic File 4 - Osaka Okonomiyaki Odyssey • anime • 2010-04-17
└─(sequel)→ Case Closed Movie: The Time Bombed Skyscraper • anime • 1997-04-19
└─(sequel)→ Case Closed: The Fourteenth Target • anime • 1998-04-18
└─(sequel)→ Case Closed: The Last Wizard of the Century • anime • 1999-04-17
└─(sequel)→ Case Closed: Captured in Her Eyes • anime • 2000-04-22
└─(sequel)→ Case Closed: Countdown to Heaven • anime • 2001-04-09
└─(sequel)→ Case Closed: The Phantom of Baker Street • anime • 2002-04-11
└─(sequel)→ Detective Conan: Crossroad in the Ancient Capital • anime • 2003-04-09
└─(sequel)→ Detective Conan: Magician of the Silver Sky • anime • 2004-04-07
└─(sequel)→ Detective Conan: Strategy Above the Depths • anime • 2005-04-07
└─(sequel)→ Detective Conan: The Private Eyes' Requiem • anime • 2006-04-12
└─(sequel)→ Detective Conan: Jolly Roger in the Deep Azure • anime • 2007-04-10
└─(sequel)→ Detective Conan: Full Score of Fear • anime • 2008-04-08
└─(sequel)→ Detective Conan: The Raven Chaser • anime • 2009-04-07
└─(sequel)→ Detective Conan: The Lost Ship in The Sky • anime • 2010-04-04
└─(sequel)→ Detective Conan: Quarter of Silence • anime • 2011-04-09
└─(sequel)→ Detective Conan: The Eleventh Striker • anime • 2012-04-01
└─(sequel)→ Detective Conan: Private Eye in the Distant Sea • anime • 2013-03-31
└─(sequel)→ Detective Conan: Dimensional Sniper • anime • 2014-03-31
└─(sequel)→ Detective Conan: Sunflowers of Inferno • anime • 2015-04-02
└─(sequel)→ Detective Conan: The Darkest Nightmare • anime • 2016-04-04
└─(sequel)→ Detective Conan: The Crimson Love Letter • anime • 2017-04-03
└─(sequel)→ Case Closed: Zero the Enforcer • anime • 2018-04-03
└─(sequel)→ Case Closed: The Fist of Blue Sapphire • anime • 2019-04-02
└─(sequel)→ Detective Conan: The Scarlet Bullet • anime • 2021-04-16
└─(related)→ Detective Conan: The Scarlet Alibi • anime • 2021-02-11
└─(sequel)→ Case Closed: The Bride of Halloween • anime • 2022-04-15
└─(related)→ Meitantei Conan: Honchо̄ no Keiji Monogatari ~Kekkon Zenya~ • anime • 2022-04-15
└─(sequel)→ Detective Conan: The Black Iron Submarine • anime • 2023-04-14
└─(related)→ Meitantei Conan Haibara Ai Monogatari: Kurogane no Mystery Train • anime • 2023-01-06
└─(sequel)→ Case Closed: The Million-dollar Pentagram • anime • 2024-04-12
└─(related)→ Detective Conan vs. Kid the Phantom Thief • anime • 2024-01-05
└─(sequel)→ Detective Conan: One-eyed Flashback • anime • 2025-04-18
└─(sequel)→ Detective Conan: Highway no Datenshi • anime • 2026-04-10
└─(adaptation)→ Meitantei Conan: Halloween no Hanayome • manga • 2023-06-22 to 2024-01-24 (Shonen Sunday S, Aug 2023 - Mar 2024)
└─(adaptation)→ Meitantei Conan: Hiiro no Dangan • manga • 2022-02-24 to 2022-09-24 (Shonen Sunday S, Apr - Nov 2022)
└─(adaptation)→ Meitantei Conan: Gōka no Himawari • manga • 2022-12-23 to 2023-05-25 (Shonen Sunday S, Feb - Jul 2023)
└─(adaptation)→ Detective Conan: Magician of the Silver Sky • manga • 2024-02-24 to 2024-09-25 (Shonen Sunday S, Apr - Nov 2024)
└─(related)→ Detective Conan: Conan vs Kid vs YAIBA • anime • 2000
└─(sequel)→ Detective Conan: 16 Suspects • anime • 2002
└─(sequel)→ Detective Conan: Conan and Heiji and the Vanished Boy • anime • 2003
└─(sequel)→ Detective Conan: Conan and Kid and Crystal Mother • anime • 2004
└─(sequel)→ Detective Conan: Hyōteki wa Kogoro! Shōnen Tanteidan Maruchichōsa • anime • 2005
└─(sequel)→ Detective Conan: Conan Edogawa & Heiji Hattori versus Kid the Phantom Thief • anime • 2006
└─(sequel)→ Detective Conan: A Challenge from Agasa • anime • 2007-03-13
└─(related)→ Detective Conan: Conan vs Kid - SHARK & JEWEL - • anime • 2005-07-29
└─(side story)→ Detective Conan: The Stranger From 10 Years Later • anime • 2009
└─(side story)→ Detective Conan Magic File 2011 - Niigata - Tokyo Omiyage Capriccio • anime • 2011-04-16
└─(related)→ Detective Conan: London kara no Maru Hi Shirei • anime • 2011-05-30
└─(alternate retelling)→ Detective Conan - Episode One: The Great Detective Turned Small • anime • 2016-12-09
└─(related)→ Meitantei Conan: Excalibur no Kiseki • anime • 2012-04-27
└─(related)→ Lupin III vs. Detective Conan • anime • 2009-03-27
└─(sequel)→ Lupin III vs. Detective Conan The Movie • anime • 2013-12-07
└─(spinoff)→ Detective Conan: Zero's Tea Time • anime • 2022-04-04
└─(related)→ Meitantei Conan: Joshi Kōsei Tantei Suzuki Sonoko no Jikenbō • anime • 2008
└─(related)→ Detective Conan: Kid in Trap Island • anime • 2010
└─(related)→ Detective Conan: The Culprit Hanzawa • anime • 2022-10-03
└─(prequel)→ Meitantei Conan Episode "ZERO" Kudō Shinichi Suizokukan Jihen • anime • 2026-01-03
└─(related)→ Detective Conan: 30-gō Satsujin Jiken • anime •
└─(related)→ Magic Kaito • manga • 1988 to 2007
└─(adaptation)→ Magic Kaito: Kid the Phantom Thief • anime • 2010-04-17
└─(adaptation)→ Magic Kaito 1412 • anime • 2014-10-04 to 2015-03-28
└─(spinoff)→ Detective Conan: The Culprit Hanzawa • manga • 2017-05-25 (serialized in Shonen Sunday S)
└─(spinoff)→ Detective Conan: Zero's Tea Time • manga • 2018-05-09 (serialized in Weekly Shonen Sunday)
