It is not always at the forefront but this is a detective-themed blog. In that spirit we have decided to create a small database of detective anime and manga 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.
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 and Takashi Nagasaki
- A.D. Police Files by AIC
- Agatha Christie’s Great Detectives Poirot and Marple by Oriental Light and Magic
- Aibou – Tatta Futari no Tokumeigakari by Koyasu Tamayo
- AKB48 Satsujin Jiken by Gosho Aoyama and Masaki Gotou
- Amnesia Labyrinth by Nagaru Tanigawa and Kohane Natsumi
- Angie Girl (Her Majesty’s Petite Angie) by Nippon Animation
- Anyamaru Tantei Kirumin Zoo by JM Animation
- Arisa by Natsume Ando
- Astral Project: Tsuki no Hikari by Garon Tsuchiya and Syuji Takeya
- Beautiful Bones: Sakurako’s Investigation by Tetsuo and Shiori Ota
- Big O by Sunrise
- Billy Bat by Naoki Urasawa and Takashi Nagasaki
- Bishoku Tantei by Akiko Higashimura
- Black Detective by Yen Hioka
- Bungou Stray Dogs by
- Brave Police J-Decker by Sunrise
- Chief Detective Kenichi by Osamu Tezuka
- Cinderella Boy by Magic Bus
- CLAMP School Detectives by CLAMP
- Combination by Ohkawa Ageha and Sei Leeza
- Cuticle Detective Inaba by Mochi
- Cyber City Oedo 808 by Madhouse
- Danganronpa The Animation by Lerche
- Daughter of Twenty Faces by Shinji Ohara
- Dazzle (Unprecedented Game) by Minari Endo
- Dear Holmes – Naoko Moto
- 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 Dog Sherdock by Yuma Ando and Yuuki Satou
- Detective School Q by Tadashi Agi
- Doberman Cop, The by Buronson and Shinji Hiramatsu
- 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
- ERASED by Kei Sanbe and A-1 Pictures
- Fake by Sanami Matoh
- Forensic Girl Hayama-san by Izumi Sato
- Ghost Hunt by Fuyumi Ono
- Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex by Production I.G
- Ghost in the Shell: Arise by Production I.G
- Glass Maiden (Crystal Blaze) by Studio Fantasia
- God’s Notebook (Kamisama no Memochou) by Sugii Hikaru and Tiv
- Gosick by Kazuki Sakuraba
- Hamatora by NAZ
- Haruchika: Haruta & Chika by
- Heat Guy J by Satelight
- Hello, Harinezumi by Kenshi Hirokane
- Higurashi no Naku Koro ni (When They Cry) by 07th Expansion
- Himitsu by Shimizu Reiko
- Holmes Twins! – Victorian Mystery by
- Houkan Tantei Sharoku by Yoshizaki Seimu
- Hyakka Teien no Higeki by Yamada Akihiro
- Hyouka by Kyoto Animation and Task Ohna
- Jiraishin (Ice Blade) by Tsutomu Takahashi
- K no Souretsu by Kusumoto Maki
- Kagen no Tsuki by Ai Yazawa
- Kamen Tantei (Masked Detective) by Matsuri Akino
- Kan Tantei D&W by Yasunori Mitsunaga
- 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
- Kizoku Tantei Edward by Fushino Michiru
- Kuitan by Terasawa Daisuke
- Kurosagi Corpse Delivery Service by Eiji Otsuka and Housui Yamazaki
- Licensed by Royal by Pioneer
- Lupin vs. Holmes by Toei Animation
- Lupin III VS. Detective Conan by TMS Entertainment
- Majin Tantei Nogami Neuro by Yusei Matsui
- Master Keaton by Hokusei Katsushika and Naoki Urasawa
- Master Keaton Remaster by Naoki Urasawa and Takashi Nagasaki
- Meitantei Yumemizu Kiyoshirou Jiken Note by Kaoru Mayamine and Kei Enue
- Mikeneko Holmes no Yuurei Joshu by AIC
- 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
- Muhyo & Roji’s Bureau of Supernatural Investigation by Yoshiyuki Nishi
- Neon Genesis Evangelion: Shinji Ikari Detective Journal by Takumi Yoshimura
- Nightmare Inspector by Shin Mashiba
- Ojiichan wa Shounen Tantei by Inoue Yoshihisa
- Ouroboros by Kanzaki Yuuya
- Paprika by Madhouse
- Paranoia Agent by Madhouse
- Paranoia Street by Kago Shintaro
- Partner by Miho Obana
- Patlabor by Studio Deen
- The Perfect Insider by Hiroshi Mori and A-1 Pictures
- Phantom Quest Corps by Madhouse
- Pluto by Naoki Urasawa and Takashi Nagasaki
- Professor Layton by OLM, Inc.
- Prophecy by Tetsuya Tsutsui
- Psychic Detective Yakumo by Nihon Bungeisha
- Psychic Power Nanaki by Ryo Saenagi
- Psychometrer Eiji by Yuma Ando and Masashi Asaki
- Q.E.D. by Motohiro Katou
- Rampo Kitan: Game of Laplace by Lerche
- R.E.M. by Chuang Yi
- Reizouko Tantei by Saemi Endou and Izumi Satou
- Remote by Seimaru Amagi and Tetsuya Koshiba
- Reverse Edge: Ookawabata Tanteisha by Yuho Hijikara and Akio Tanaka
- Robot Keiji by Shotaro Ishinomori
- Rose Hip Rose/Rose Hip Zero by Tohru Fujisawa
- Satisfaction Guaranteed by Ryo Saenagi
- Seikimatsu Tantei Kurabu by Yotsuya Simon
- Senkou no Night Raid by A-1 Pictures
- Sexy Voice and Robo by Iou Kuroda
- Sherlock Bones by Yuma Ando and Yuuki Satou
- Sherlock Hound by TMS Entertainment
- Sherlock Holmes no Bouken by JET
- Shin Kamen Tantei by Matsuri Akino
- Skull Man by Kazuhiko Shimamoto
- Smoking Gun – Minkan Kasoken Chosa’in Nagareda Midori by Tomohiro Yokomaku and Syuji Takeya
- Soil by Kaneko Atsushi
- Soredemo Machi wa Mawatteiru by Ishiguro Masakazu
- Souldrop no Yuutai Kenkyuu by Kadono Kouhei and Akiyoshi Fuurei
- 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
- Strange+ by Verno Mikawa
- 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
- Tantei Team KZ Jiken Note by Megu Sakura, Hitomi Fujimoto, and Ryou Sumitaki
- Tokyo Babylon by CLAMP
- Top Secret ~The Revelation~ by Madhouse
- Umineko no Naku Koro ni by 07th Expansion
- UN-GO by BONES
- Vector Case File by Yasutaka Fujimi and Shinsaku Kamimura
- Yakushiji Ryoko no Kaiki Jikenbo by Yoshiki Tanaka and Narumi Kakinouchi
- Yaneura no Sanposha by Osada Noto
- Yondemasu yo, Azazel-san (You’re Being Summoned, Azazel-san) by Yasuhisa Kubo
- Young Miss Holmes (Christie High Tension) by Shintani Kaoru
- Zettai Shounen by Ajia-do Animation Works
- Zodiac P.I. by Natsumi Ando
*We have not watched/read everything on this list*
