Canon
Canon refers to information that is considered "official" by a fictional universe's fan-base. In this case the word canon refers to information that is considered official for Detective Conan.
Contents
Canon
In Detective Conan only the information, storylines, settings, and characters found in the manga and information given by Gosho Aoyama in interviews are considered to be canon.
Canonicity is especially relevant to fans of Detective Conan for two main reasons. The first is that the major ongoing mysteries in the manga only involve information that is canon. That means that Gosho has designed the story so that all mysteries in the manga can be solved using only information from the manga - knowledge of anime-only episodes, movies, etc. is not required to arrive at the correct conclusion. This means that only characters who appear in the manga are potential suspects for the Boss of the Black Organization, for instance. It is extremely rare for useful clues for the major mysteries to show up in anime-only episodes or movies, and even when they do, those clues usually appear only after many decisive hints have already been revealed in the manga.[1]
The second reason canonicity is relevent is that non-canon material can impact the reader's ability to solve the story's mysteries or logically contradict the main storyline. Alterations or omissions in the anime have introduced serious plotholes that create logical inconsistencies or remove clues so that cases are harder or impossible to solve. Because of this, even manga-based episodes are generally considered suspect and the manga overrides the anime in canonicity where the two conflict. Even absent outright contradictions, non-canon episodes and movies can also create implications that lead to illogical conclusions.[2]
Non-canon
The following sources of information are considered to be non-canon and are deemed unofficial:
- Detective Conan Special
- TV original episodes
- Movies[3]
- OVAs
- Video games
- Drama specials and series
- Novels
- Modifications made by foreign adaptations of Detective Conan, such as name changes
- Any change in the TV episodes that makes them different from the original manga, including additional anime-original scenes, dialogues, and information
Although the movies are considered non-canon, Gosho Aoyama has confirmed in interviews that he's deeply involved in the creation of them, and that several of his ideas are incorporated into the stories.[4][5]
Non-canon information that has become canon
Certain elements from non-canon sources have been upgraded into canon when they were re-introduced into the main manga by Gosho Aoyama.
Characters
Wataru Takagi
Wataru Takagi was first introduced in On Location, TV Drama Murder Case as an unnamed police detective that had accompanied Inspector Megure on the scene. For some time, this character only appeared in the TV original episodes directed by Haruo Ogawara. The character's name is first given as "Detective Takagi" in the credits for the Karaoke Box Murder Case despite his face not actually appearing on-screen. Although the Karaoke Box Murder Case was based on a manga story, Takagi does not appear in the original. Takagi receives his first manga canon appearance in the Actor's Apartment Case.
Ninzaburo Shiratori
Ninzaburo Shiratori was first introduced in The Time-Bombed Skyscraper and received his first canon manga appearance in the Treadmill Murder Case as Takagi's rival for Miwako Sato's affections.
Detective Chiba
Detective Chiba was first introduced in the anime version of The Final Screening Murder Case and received his first canon manga appearance in Sato's Father Case. Curiously enough Chiba's first name has not been given in the manga or anime. Aoyama has implied in an interview that since Wataru Takagi was named after his voice actor it was unlikely he would repeat himself by giving Detective Chiba his voice actor's first name (Isshin) too.[6]
Azusa Enomoto
Azusa Enomoto was first introduced in The Mysterious Old Man Disappearance Case as a waitress at Café Poirot as a background character. She receives her name and first speaking appearance in The Deduction That Was Too Good. Her first canon manga appearance occurs during the Forgotten Cellphone Case.
Midori Kuriyama
Midori Kuriyama was first introduced in The Fourteenth Target as Eri Kisaki's secretary and received her first canon manga appearance in the Eri vs. Yukiko case.
Takahiro Sanada
Takahiro Sanada was first introduced in The Eleventh Striker as a new player on the Big Osaka soccer team and received his first canon manga appearance in the Kite-Flying Competition Murder Case.
Events
- Misao Yamamura was first promoted to inspector in The Raven Chaser, and this was referenced in the anime in The Witch Enshrouded by Fog, and then made it to the manga in the Kappa Murder Case.
Other
- The telescopic lens modification for Conan's glasses that was introduced in Countdown to Heaven has entered manga canon in the Unsmashable Snowman Case.
- The fact that Eri Kisaki is bad at cooking. [7]
- The fact that Kogoro is afraid of heights. [8]
See also
References
- ^ Note: More recent movies since Movie 18 have connected with ongoing storylines. In Movie 18, Okiya was shown speaking in Akai's voice for a single line. While decisive, this clue was very late relative the the number of major hints given in the manga and anime-adaptations.
- ^ For instance, in Movie 13, the Black Organization attacked the Tokyo Tower with a military helicopter. This leads to strange questions about how they obtained such powerful military equipment at a moment's notice, and how they could fly it into the heart of Tokyo without attracting the attention of Japan's self-defense airforce. In addition it creates a contradiction since the Organization is supposed to value secrecy, yet such a brazen and stunning attack would surely attract the entire world's attention and extremely potent law enforcement attention from many countries.
- ^ Interview gab Gosho Aoyama am 22. Juli 2006 im Rahmen einer Pressekonferenz auf dem Comic-Salon in Erlangen
Interview with Gosho Aoyama on 22nd July 2006 at a press conference at Comic-Salon in Erlangen
Q: In einem der Kinofilme legt sich Sonoko eine andere Frisur zu(siehe Film 5). Wird sie diese Frisur auch in Manga bekommen?
Q: During one of the movies Sonoko got a different hairstyle (see movie 5). Is she also going to get this hairstyle in the manga version?
A: Die Filme und die Manga sind völlig getrennt. Im Manga wird Sonoko also ihre alte Frisur behalten.
A: The movies and the manga version are completely separated from each other. So Sonoko will keep her old hairstyle in the manga version.
transcript in German
translation credit to Aki-kun - ^ http://meitanteikonanplot.blogspot.se/2014/03/special-post-two-part-1-interview-with.html
- ^ http://detective-conan-news.blogspot.se/2011/05/2011-aoyama-gosho-interview.html
- ^ "Translating Interviews". justwantanaccount. 2012-01-12. http://www.detectiveconanworld.com/forum/topic/1555-translating-interviews/page__view__findpost__p__245256. Retrieved on 2012-04-29.
- ^ Super Digest Book 40+
- ^ Super Digest Book 40+
