Case Closed: The Culprit Hanzawa

A mysterious stranger slips into Beika, a town already familiar with strange crimes, and their arrival kicks off an offbeat string of incidents that blend murder mystery with broad comedy. The series centers on Makoto Hanzawa, a figure whose motives are hinted at more than spelled out, and it watches how his presence bounces off the town's famous residents. Familiar faces from the wider Detective Conan world show up, and the show prefers eyebrow-raising setups and clever misdirection over grim detail. Episodes trade tense investigative moments for absurd reactions and visual gags, keeping the tone light even when the subject is crime.

Released in 2022, Case Closed: The Culprit Hanzawa was created by Mayuko Kamba alongside Gosho Aoyama, drawing on Aoyama's original Detective Conan material. The cast includes Shouta Aoi as Makoto Hanzawa, with Inori Minase, Minami Takayama, Wakana Yamazaki, and Megumi Urawa in supporting voice roles.

The series didn't register major industry awards or high-profile nominations after its release. It seems to have been aimed more at fans and niche viewers than award voters, relying on clever character use and tonal twists rather than prestige recognition.

Although not a mainstream phenomenon, the show made a notable splash among Detective Conan followers by turning a familiar universe into a comedic playground. Its short, sharp episodes and exaggerated culprit motif sparked fan art and social chatter, with viewers enjoying how it pokes fun at detective conventions while keeping ties to the original franchise.

Critical and fan response has leaned positive, reflected in a 7.6/10 user score from 47 votes. Most praise highlights the way the show flips detective tropes into comedy, and how voice performances sell the humor. Themes include the absurdity of villainy, the gap between reputation and reality, and how a small town copes with outsized personalities. It's easy to watch, often funny, and aimed at people who like mysteries with a wink.