It is not always at the forefront but this is a detective themed anime/manga blog. In that spirit we have decided to create a small database of detective series. Every title on the list is a anime or manga that has a detective as the star of the story. Sometimes the detectives are professional, some times they are amateur detectives, and some are reluctant detectives who find themselves embroiled in a mystery. The only real requirement is that the mystery or mysteries they are trying to solve be a major part of the plot. Titles that have a one shot mystery like episode 30 of Hayate the Combat Butler are not listed for they are not true detective series.
Please feel free to send suggestions of titles to add to or remove from the list. In fact, we implore you, we need help! This is a work in progress. Series in bold are recommended.
- 13-nichi wa Kinyoubi? by Chizuru Enomoto
- 20th/21st Century Boys by Naoki Urasawa
- A.D. Police Files by AIC
- Agatha Christie’s Great Detectives Poirot and Marple by Oriental Light and Magic
- Amnesia Labyrinth (Kagerou Meikyuu) by Nagaru Tanigawa and Kohane Natsumi
- Anyamaru Tantei Kirumin Zoo by JM Animation
- Astral Project: Tsuki no Hikari by Garon Tsuchiya and Syuji Takeya
- Big O by Sunrise
- Billy Bat by Naoki Urasawa
- Brave Police J-Decker by Sunrise
- Chief Detective Kenichi by Osamu Tezuka
- Cinderella Boy by Magic Bus
- Clamp School Detectives by CLAMP
- Cyber City Oedo 808 by Madhouse
- Daughter of Twenty Faces by Shinji Ohara
- Dazzle (Unprecedented Game) by Minari Endo
- Death Note by Tsugumi Ohba and Takeshi Obata
- Deka Kyoshi by Tamio Baba
- Denno Coil by Madhouse
- Detective Boy Rock Holmes by Osamu Tezuka
- Detective Conan by Gosho Aoyama
- Detective School Q by Tadashi Agi
- Domain of Murder by Studio DEEN
- Dorobou to Keiji by Kaname Itsuki
- Dr. Fabre Is A Detective by Easy Film
- Dr. Thrill by Osamu Tezuka
- Fake by Sanami Matoh
- Ghost Hunt by Fuyumi Ono
- Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex by Production I.G
- Glass Maiden (Crystal Blaze) by Studio Fantasia
- Gosick by Kazuki Sakuraba
- Heat Guy J by Satelight
- Hello, Harinezumi by Kenshi Hirokane
- Higurashi no Naku Koro ni (When They Cry) by 07th Expansion
- Jiraishin (Ice Blade) by Tsutomu Takahashi
- Kagen no Tsuki by Ai Yazawa
- Karakuri Zoushi Ayatsuri Sakon (Puppet Master Sakon) by Sharaku Marou and Takeshi Obata
- Kaze No Yojimbo by Studio Pierrot
- Kindaichi Case Files by Yozaburo Kanari and Fumiya Sato
- Kurosagi Corpse Delivery Service by Eiji Otsuka and Housui Yamazaki
- Licensed by Royal by Pioneer
- Majin Tantei Nogami Neuro by Yusei Matsui
- Master Keaton by Hokusei Katsushika and Naoki Urasawa
- Missing Code by Elena Katou and Masara Minase
- Monster by Naoki Urasawa
- MPD Psycho by Eiji Otsuka and Shou Tajima
- Mugen Shinshi: Dream Dimension Gentleman by Yousuke Takahashi
- Neon Genesis Evangelion: Shinji Ikari Detective Journal by Takumi Yoshimura
- Nightmare Inspector by Shin Mashiba
- Ojiichan wa Shounen Tantei by Inoue Yoshihisa
- Paprika by Madhouse
- Paranoia Agent by Madhouse
- Partner by Miho Obana
- Patlabor by Studio Deen
- Phantom Quest Corps by Madhouse
- Pluto by Naoki Urasawa
- Professor Layton and the Eternal Diva by OLM, Inc.
- Psychic Detective Yakumo by Nihon Bungeisha
- Psychometrer Eiji by Yuma Ando and Masashi Asaki
- Q.E.D. by Motohiro Katou
- Remote by Seimaru Amagi and Tetsuya Koshiba
- Rose Hip Rose/Rose Hip Zero by Tohru Fujisawa
- Seikimatsu Tantei Kurabu by Yotsuya Simon
- Senkou no Night Raid by A-1 Pictures
- Sexy Voice and Robo by Iou Kuroda
- Sherlock Hound by Tokyo Movie Shinsha
- Skull Man by Kazuhiko Shimamoto
- Soredemo Machi wa Mawatteiru by Ishiguro Masakazu
- Spiral: The Bonds of Reasoning by Kyou Shirodaira and Eita Mizuno
- Spiral Alive by Kyou Shirodaira and Eita Mizuno
- St. Luminous Mission High School by GENCO
- Steam Detectives by Kia Asamiya
- Sukeban Deka by Shinji Wada
- Suteki Tantei Labyrinth by Meito Manjo and Seiji Wakayama
- Switch by Otoh Saki and Tomomi Nakamura
- Tantei Opera Milky Holmes by J.C. Staff
- Tokyo Babylon by CLAMP
- Top Secret ~The Revelation~ by Madhouse
- Umineko no Naku Koro ni by 07th Expansion
- Yakushiji Ryoko no Kaiki Jikenbo by Yoshiki Tanaka and Narumi Kakinouchi
- Zettai Shounen by Ajia-do Animation Works
- Zodiac P.I. by Natsumi Ando
*We have not watched/read everything on this list*
