With over five hundred chapters (and still running), more than ten movies, countless tv specials, OAV's and a real action drama. Case Closed, known in Japan as Meitantei Conan (literally Detective Conan) has become over the last decade one of the most important and long-running series of the anime industry.

More than a phenomenon, this series has exactly proven how comercial anime can have quality and merits despite their success. Created and based on the original manga by Gosho Ayama (who's still running after almost a decade) tells the story of Shinichi Kudo, an incredibly smart 17 year old boy who calls himself the "new century Sherlock Holmes" since not only he dreams of becoming a real detective, he uses all the well known detective techniques such as deduction and logic.

However this doesn't last long, since after resolving a case in an amusement park with his girlfriend Ran Mouri (who secretly loves) is leaved to death by a group of misterious "men in black" which he tried to follow. To uncover the crime they decide to teste an experimental drug on him, which instead of killing him shrinks him to the age of seven.

As anyone can see, from here it looks like a retake of a detective story. But what makes the series so special, it's the unique way in which the concept it's presented. Let me explain: since Conan actually has the intelligence of a teenager (and a detective), but the body of a third grader he must solves cases using not only his deduction powers, but also by using an amazing colection of gadgets including a voice changing tie, "enhanced-kick" shoes and a watch who shots sleeping darts. Since he has to act as a kid to uncover his identity, he solves the cases by "using" the detective Kogoro (highly incompetent and father of Ran) who actually always get's the credit for the solved cases.

Gosho Aoyama mixes and presents all the elements of the detective genre: strange deaths in an unusual scenario. In every chapter, both the viewer and Conan are faced with a mistery that "nevers is what it seems" and where there is only "one truth". But what makes the series stronger and deeper, it's their amazing script and characters. Each chapter deals about death, but after following the clues, the characters realize something about themselves, that nothing it's black and white or completely good and evil. In the conclusion of every chapter the killer is discovered (always followed by a great surprise or a revelation), but in the end it's the regret of their actions where the killer finds peace, pain or redemption. Overall and amazing series and one of the most brilliant and original classics of modern anime.

RATE: 3.5. The series it's stupidly long, and it's way far from over. Still, check any episode (I mean any, from episode 1 to the 400+) and you be highly satisfied, and that's what probably has made the series so sucessful. The fact that anyone can see it and enjoy it. Even if you don't like detective stories this is an anime to watch, it's THAT good. Higly Reccomended.