Behind the Scenes: Detective Conan
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In the world of manga and anime, one of the timeless masterpieces that almost everyone knows (or at least has heard of) is ‘Detective Conan’, which tells the story of a pint-sized detective who unravels complex mysteries in each mysterious case. The manga has been running continuously for more than 30 years now, and remarkably, it remains consistently entertaining and compelling.
This long-lasting success is the result of the extremely meticulous thinking process and working method of Gosho Aoyama, the 60-year-old artist who created the world of Conan. He is usually a very private person who rarely allows anyone to enter his workspace. The fact that he agreed to let a team from NHK follow his work for nearly eight months allows us to say with confidence that this is truly a special documentary that viewers should not miss.
Behind the Scenes: Detective Conan – Gosho Aoyama, Manga Artist is a special episode of Professional Work Style by NHK, first aired in Japan in April 2024 under the title “What the World Looks Like Through a Child’s Eyes,” before its international version was released on NHK World-Japan in December of the same year. What makes this documentary special is that after persistent requests, Aoyama finally agreed to be filmed, and the crew chose to install automated cameras inside the studio for several months to record his work as he developed story outlines, researched and experimented with new information, and drafted manuscripts—without a film crew constantly coming in and out to disturb his concentration. The result is rare, highly personal behind-the-scenes footage.
ภาพจากสารคดี Behind the Scenes: Detective Conan
ภาพจากสารคดี Behind the Scenes: Detective Conan
The most compelling part is undoubtedly when Aoyama talks about his working philosophy. Many people may have wondered why the murder mysteries in Detective Conan are often so complex and filled with tricky details, and whether he is ever afraid that children might not understand them. Aoyama gives a fascinating answer: “Kids are smart. If we make things too easy, they’ll know we’re trying to fool them. So I don’t treat them as if they’re just children. I research topics that interest me and try to truly understand them. Even if they’re difficult, if I present them well, kids will enjoy them even more… I believe in children.”
Another distinctive trait of Aoyama is his meticulous standard of detail, from being willing to spend time fixing tiny elements that almost no one would notice (he once said that when he sees a small line he is dissatisfied with, “I see it, so I don’t like it,” and he fixes it immediately), to maintaining the same color palette used for drawing his original manuscripts without washing it. He compares preserving the same palette to “an eel restaurant that has kept its original sauce recipe for decades.”
In addition to seeing Aoyama’s working process and learning about his background since childhood, we also get to hear from people close to him, such as Mitsuru Adachi, a legendary sports manga artist, who half-jokingly remarks about his longtime peer: “I don’t really know whether he grew up to be a socially responsible adult or not. All I know is that he draws manga like a genius junior high school student.” This perfectly captures the sense of ‘childlikeness’ within Gosho Aoyama that has never diminished with time. (In fact, the writer feels that his appearance and his constant excitement about various things make him look even younger than his actual age.)
ภาพจากสารคดี Behind the Scenes: Detective Conan
ภาพจากสารคดี Behind the Scenes: Detective Conan
Another moment that is likely to deeply move fans is the incident in 2015, when he had to be hospitalized after pushing himself too hard with work until his health deteriorated. He recalled, “At that time, I didn’t feel anything at all. I wasn’t even afraid of dying. I felt completely numb.” But even as his body was weakened, his spirit did not fade, because there was still “stories he wanted to tell” left unfinished. “I want people to see what kind of people Shinichi and Ran were like when they were young, and what made them become who they are. I had to tell that story. So, I felt that I couldn’t die until I finished it.” It was this driving force, combined with the overwhelming support from fans, that gradually helped him recover and return to doing the work he loves once again.
All of this makes Behind the Scenes: Detective Conan an important record that allows us to see the daily life, mindset, and spirit of a great artist of our time. Together, these offer the most tangible explanation of why this manga has been able to win the hearts of fans of all generations, across many countries around the world, for such a long time.
ภาพจากสารคดี Behind the Scenes: Detective Conan
ภาพจากสารคดี Behind the Scenes: Detective Conan
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