Search - Case Closed - Starter Set (Season 4) on DVD

Hmm . . . .

Ibuki | 08/25/2004

(3 out of 5 stars)

"First off, let me say that Detective Conan (aka Case Closed) rocks, period. The show itself deserves ten stars, but this package deserves a negative five (for reasons explained below). I won't bore you with the details of the shows in this set and I hope other posters won't either. It's a good mystery that stands on its own; I would hate to spoil the story for you. However, that being said, there are several problems with this Funimation release.

1. The names are "Americanized." I don't think there's a single name that they didn't change. And if you play around with the subtitles, there's one that goes along with the English dub (with the Americanization) and one from the original Japanese (so you'll probably get confused as to who's who if you're not paying attention). Luckily the story remains intact after the translation; otherwise Funimation could have butchered a great mystery show.

2. Disk one contains the first four episodes from the first season. Disk two then jumps to season four and there's every indication that the next disks will continue from season four on. This is good news for those out there who want to hurry up and get it over with (well over 350 episodes and still going in Japan). But it's bad news for complete-ists like myself. I really want to know what happens in episode five from season one, especially after the teaser at the end of episode four. Not to mention 60 some odd episodes that take place between disk one and two!

3. Disk two only has three episodes. What a total rip-off! I've got DVDs with eight episodes plus extras, so I know Funimation can do at least five episodes per disk. If I didn't find this set for $26 there's no way I would have paid any amount of money for a three episode disk, just as a matter of principle.

All in all, the shows are great. You shouldn't expect to much in the way of resolving the main plot; the show is still running in Japan and Shinichi/Jimmy is still trying to reverse the shrinking. But if you want to watch a good mystery, laid out just as well as Sherlock Holmes (by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle) and his less well known son Nero Wolfe (by Rex Stout, made into a TV show for A&E), then you'll definitely like Detective Conan (Case Closed). It's quite episodic in nature, so you can take in the separate cases at your leisure and in whatever order you wish (with the exception of the first two episodes). The individual cases rarely relate to each other.

I guarantee you'll enjoy the show more if you push the whole Jimmy shrinking thing out of your mind because it'll be a long while before you get any resolution (this is made easier by the show's episodic nature). After 350+ episodes and 8 movies, he's not any closer to getting big again. Rumor has it that the author is about to wrap the story up in the near future, but then we'll still have to wait a long time before it's translated and released on this side of the pond.

And speaking of the movies, Funimation has also picked up the rights to release the first few Detective Conan movies for US release. I sincerely hope they do a better job, but I'll probably pick them up whether they do or not.

If you like mysteries, and can find this for a reasonable price, by all means pick it up. If you're on the fence you can check the show out in the Adult Swim block on Cartoon Network (currently running at 1:00 am Eastern). Be warned: It's on Adult Swim for a very good reason. There's lots of killing, in nearly every imaginable way, but that's only natural for a mystery show."

Best Anime Ever!!!

Sean M. Lonergan | CA USA | 07/13/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Yeah, the DVD hasn't come out yet, but just trust me. Buy this one, you will love it. Bassically, Conan Edigawa, (Jimmy Kudo's identity after being turned into a child) solves mysteries, which happen to occur every where he goes. But it is great. This seems like it is a kid show, but it is definetley not. Parents, do not buy this for your children if they are young. The episodes can be pretty brutal. For example, in episode 1, a girl beheads her boyfriend. Children will also be scared of this show. The scariest part to me, is not seeing the dead bodies, but as Conan solves the cases, to make the show very interesting, you see the crime commited as Conan narorates. This show is like none I have ever seen. This show is immersive. Those of you who are afraid of feeling stupid about watching an anime show, do not watch this show. As soon as the crime is commited in every episode, I find it immpossible to pull myself away. Simply put, everybody who watches this show will want to watch it every night. If you want to make sure you like the show, watch it, on Cartoon Network's Adult Swim, Monday-Thursday at 1:00 A.M. The show is worth the wait. 5 out of 5 stars."

Great show... not a great box set.

Mary McNichol | philadelphia | 11/10/2005

(3 out of 5 stars)

"Don't let the "season 4" in amazon's heading decieve you. When I recieved this item I was extremely disappointed to find that this is not the complete fourth season. I don't exactly know how they have the episodes catagorized but this "starter set" actually includes episodes 1-4[The Big Shrink, The Kidnapped Debutante, Beware of Idols, Fish Marks the Spot] on the first disc and then spisodes 53-55[The Mist Goblin Murder Part I, The Mist Goblin Murder Part II, Weapon Of Choice] on the second disc. I was very disappointed because I actually already own both of these DVDs! It wasn't very clear what was included, and while I assumed I was going to have two copies of 4.1[the second disc] I didn't think I was only getting 1.1[the first disc] as well!"

A Very Unique Anime

Archmage Ryokosha | 10/15/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"As others have said Case Closed (Detective Conan) is an excellent anime. It is by far one of the most unique animes I have ever seen, it has a feel about it that reminds me of the "Poirot" mystery movies shown on A&E, and much like those movies, even though Case Closed is based on mystery, rewatching the same episode more then once does not get old. To me that is what makes this anime so worth the money, even knowing answer to the mystery the second or third time around does not seem to lessen the enjoyment of the series, and the depth and life that is breathed into the characters such as Rachel (Ran) and Conan/Jimmy (Shinichi) helps make this high amount of rewatchablity possible.

It should be noted too that some of the possible negatives that have been mentioned are true but nothing that takes away from the enjoyment of the anime. While many of the names become "Americanized" names, something that in and of itself is unusual these days with anime dubs, it somehow is not as annoying within Case Closed as it might be within another anime. Also as hinted at not all of the names are changed, and if anything with all those that are changed hearing the un-Americanized names almost sounds out of place within Case Closed.

Lastly the three episodes per disc which was mentioned and will be seen with upcoming releases is nothing new for Funimation releases, check any of their other series and you will find most if not all are also released three episodes per disc. So while releasing only three episodes per disc, even with the skipping of two full seasons, might take us a long time to reach the 350+ episodes of the entire series, these shows are very much worth watching and picking up as they come out and what a better way to start then with this wonderful starter set that gives two discs and a nice taste of Case Closed."