Case Closed: Case 2
Deadly Illusions
Genre: Mystery/crime comedy-drama
Producers: TMS Entertainment/FUNimation
Creator: Gosho Aoyama
Medium: Japanese 2D animation
The Skinny: Conan, Rachel, and Richard are pulled into a pair of mysteries surrounding the appearances of a mystical spirit and the death of an apartment owner
Think: Monk minus the anxiety blended with a touch of Murder, She Wrote with a more youthful cast
Rating: 13+
Where Found: In video stores courtesy of FUNimation Entertainment
Pros: Three uncut, uncensored episodes that hasn't aired on Cartoon Network
Cons: These episodes may NEVER be on Cartoon Network.
My Take:
By now, everybody knows what Case Closed is all about. If you don't, here's a brief synopsis:
Jimmy Kudo, a 17-year old master detective, got assaulted by a pair of men in black and drugged with a strange pill, leaving him in a shrunk-down childlike form. After being advised by his mentor to not tell his family and friends what has happened to him for fear that they may end up killed, Jimmy takes on the guise of Conan Edogawa, a young boy with a very inquisitive mind. He proves to be a valuable assistant to Richard Moore, a bumbling detective who has gained the reputation of being "the sleeping detective" as a result of Conan's keen eye for details and his belief that one truth always prevails.
Strangely, the second volume of Case Closed is called Volume 4. I didn't understand why the sudden change of volume numbers from 1 to 4 by FUNimation especially since Volume 1 comprised of Episodes One through Four and Volume 4 comprised of Episodes 53 through 55, and to tell you the truth, I still don't quite understand it. However, I wasn't disappointed in the episodes of this volume at all.
The "fourth" volume continues the story of Jimmy Kudo/Conan Edogawa and his struggles dealing with his new diminutive size as well as his latest escapades throughout Japan, this time taking him and the Moores to a temple haunted by an ancient spirit and back at home, they have to deal with an unusual murder committed in the most unusual way. Without spoiling anything, this volume contines to prove why Detective Conan continues to be one of Japan's most popular animated series.
Case Closed is still one of the best shows to come out of Japan in a long, long time, and it's a shame Cartoon Network is actually considering not ordering new episodes, so this collection may be the only place to see these new episodes stateside. Afterall, Case Closed brings a touch of class not seen on Adult Swim since Cowboy Bebop. It's brilliantly-produced, well-performed, and just downright excellent, Pierre Bernard be damned. FUNimation once again made Case Closed's transition to DVD in North America an easy one.
Jeff Harris
August, 2004
