, also known as the , is a Japanese mystery novel series written by
Nisio Isin
, stylized as NISIOISIN to emphasize the palindrome, is a pseudonymous Japanese novelist, manga author, and screenplay writer.
Nisio debuted in 2002 with the novel ''The Beheading Cycle'' (the first in his ''Zaregoto'' series), which earned him ...
and illustrated by Kinako.
Kodansha
is a Japanese privately-held publishing company headquartered in Bunkyō, Tokyo. Kodansha is the largest Japanese publishing company, and it produces the manga magazines ''Nakayoshi'', ''Afternoon'', ''Evening'', ''Weekly Shōnen Magazine'' an ...
released twelve volumes from October 2015 to May 2021 under their Kodansha Taiga label. A
manga
Manga (Japanese: 漫画 ) are comics or graphic novels originating from Japan. Most manga conform to a style developed in Japan in the late 19th century, and the form has a long prehistory in earlier Japanese art. The term ''manga'' is u ...
adaptation with art by Suzuka Oda was serialized from 2016 to 2019. It was collected in five ''
tankōbon
is the Japanese
Japanese may refer to:
* Something from or related to Japan, an island country in East Asia
* Japanese language, spoken mainly in Japan
* Japanese people, the ethnic group that identifies with Japan through ancestry or cultur ...
'' volumes. Both the novel series and the manga are licensed in North America by
Vertical
Vertical is a geometric term of location which may refer to:
* Vertical direction, the direction aligned with the direction of the force of gravity, up or down
* Vertical (angles), a pair of angles opposite each other, formed by two intersecting s ...
.
An
anime
is Traditional animation, hand-drawn and computer animation, computer-generated animation originating from Japan. Outside of Japan and in English, ''anime'' refers specifically to animation produced in Japan. However, in Japan and in Japane ...
television series adaptation by
Shaft aired from April 11 to June 27, 2021, on
ABC
ABC are the first three letters of the Latin script known as the alphabet.
ABC or abc may also refer to:
Arts, entertainment, and media Broadcasting
* American Broadcasting Company, a commercial U.S. TV broadcaster
** Disney–ABC Television ...
and
TV Asahi
JOEX-DTV (channel 5), branded as (also known as EX and and stylized as TV asahi), is a television station that is owned and operated by the subsidiary of certified broadcasting holding company , itself controlled by The Asahi Shimbun Compan ...
's
ANiMAZiNG!!!
, stylized as ANiMAZiNG!!!, is a late-night anime programming block planned and produced by ABC Animation of Asahi Broadcasting Group (production committee participation), and is launched by ABC with TV Asahi under the All-Nippon News Network aff ...
programming block.
Characters
;
:
:The main protagonist of the series. Year 2, class B at Yubiwa Academy Middle School. She becomes the student council president in ''Dizaka no Bishōnen''.
:She became involved with the Pretty Boy Detective Club in a case involving a star that she had been searching for ten years. Following the resolution of the case, she has been dressing up as a man and visiting the club. She has become a regular member since ''The Pretty Boy in the Attic''. She has excessively-good eyesight and usually wears glasses to suppress it. She is also known as "Mayumi the Seer."
:She also appears in
''Mazemonogatari'', a collaborative novel with the ''
Monogatari
is a literary form in traditional Japanese literature – an extended prose narrative tale comparable to the epic novel. ''Monogatari'' is closely tied to aspects of the oral tradition, and almost always relates a fictional or fictionalized st ...
'' series. Under the direction of Manabu, she visits the North White Snake Shrine to observe the heavens.
;
:
:5th grade, class A at Yubiwa Academy Elementary School. His nickname is Kogoro (fifth grader → Kogo). The leader of the Pretty Boy Detective Club. Also known as "Manabu the Aesthete." Mayumi calls him "the leader."
:He claims to be uneducated and acts cheerfully and arrogantly without reading the atmosphere but always seeks beauty and will not do anything that goes against aesthetics. Although he often does nothing but gives orders, he is recognized as a leader by the group.
;
:
:Year 3, class A at Yubiwa Academy Middle School. Former student council president. Vice leader of the Pretty Boy Detective Club. Also known as "Nagahiro the Orator." After Michiru pointed out to Mayumi in ''Oshie to Tabisuru Bishōnen'' that she was calling him "Sakiguchi-senpai," she started calling him "Senpai-kun."
:He has a fiancée who is in the first grade of elementary school, so he has been ridiculed as a
lolicon
In Japanese popular culture, is a genre of fictional media in which young (or young-looking) girl characters appear in romantic or sexual contexts. The term, a portmanteau of the English phrase "Lolita complex", also refers to desire and a ...
, but he denies it. He says, "I'm not a lolicon. It's just that my fiancée, whom my parents decided on their own, happens to be six years old." He has been the president of the student council for three consecutive years since his speech as the representative of the new students when he entered the school. He has a beautiful voice, which he admits to himself and others, and is good at not only making speeches but also copying vocal cords. He is the liaison officer for the Detective Boys. He is a soft-spoken honor student.
;
:
:Year 2, class A at Yubiwa Academy Middle School. Also known as "Michiru the Epicure." Mayumi calls him "delinquent."
:He is a dangerous person who tops the "ranking of students who should never be involved in the school." He is known as "the bossman" outside of school, but he is also a good cook and has a family-oriented side. He has a habit of using a lot of satirical metaphors.
;
:
:Year 1, class A at Yubiwa Academy Middle School. Ace of the track and field team. Also known as "Hyota the Adonis." Mayumi calls him "Mr. Bare-Legs."
:He wears a uniform that has been changed to look like shorts. Ever since he entered the school wearing such a uniform, all the girls who saw it stopped shortening their skirts and started wearing black stockings. He has a well-developed face and is ridiculed for being like the archangel who bosses other angels.
:He insists on exposing his legs even in winter. He is a member of the detective squad's physical strength and mobility section. Despite his cute appearance, he often acts carelessly and makes dangerous comments. Has been kidnapped three times in the past. His parents are divorced.
;
:
:Year 1, class A at Yubiwa Academy Middle School. Also known as "Sosaku the Artiste." Mayumi calls him "Child Genius."
:He is the heir to the Yubiwa Foundation, the parent organization of the Yubiwa Academy. He is the de facto president of the Yubiwa Foundation. A child prodigy with both financial and artistic talents. He is a member of the Detective Boys' art team. He is expressionless and of few words, but only Manabu can read his thoughts. Usually only speaks twice in each book.
;
:
:The leader of the "Twenties," a group of illegal couriers. Also known as the "Twenty Faces of Beauty."
:She is not a good person, but she is a beautiful woman who loves her friends.
;
:
:A second-year student at Hairdressing Middle School. Student council president. Charismatic and ambitious.
:He runs a casino called "Reasonable Doubt." He is involved with a private weapons company and reports on their products.
:He also appears in
''Mazemonogatari'', a collaborative novel with the ''
Monogatari
is a literary form in traditional Japanese literature – an extended prose narrative tale comparable to the epic novel. ''Monogatari'' is closely tied to aspects of the oral tradition, and almost always relates a fictional or fictionalized st ...
'' series.
Media
Novels
The novels are written by Nisio Isin and are illustrated by Kinako. During the development of the story in the ''
Bōkyaku Tantei
is a Japanese mystery novel series written by Nisio Isin and illustrated by Vofan. It has been published by Kodansha since October 2014 under their Kodansha Bungei label. A manga adaptation by Yō Asami titled was serialized in Kodansha's ' ...
'' series, the "Pretty Boy Detective Club" was a group originally intended to appear there, but Nisio Isin decided it could be published as an independent story.
Kodansha
is a Japanese privately-held publishing company headquartered in Bunkyō, Tokyo. Kodansha is the largest Japanese publishing company, and it produces the manga magazines ''Nakayoshi'', ''Afternoon'', ''Evening'', ''Weekly Shōnen Magazine'' an ...
has published eleven volumes from October 2015 to December 2019 under their Kodansha Taiga imprint. In an interview for the Japanese magazine "Da Vinci," Nisio stated his plans for 2021 and said that he wanted to develop a new story in the series because of the anime adaptation. On March 13, 2021, the new volume titled ''The Pretty Boy in the Rue Morgue'' was announced. It was released on May 14, 2021. The novels are licensed in North America by
Vertical
Vertical is a geometric term of location which may refer to:
* Vertical direction, the direction aligned with the direction of the force of gravity, up or down
* Vertical (angles), a pair of angles opposite each other, formed by two intersecting s ...
,
which has published three volumes of the series. The English editions were translated by Winifred Bird.
Manga
A
manga
Manga (Japanese: 漫画 ) are comics or graphic novels originating from Japan. Most manga conform to a style developed in Japan in the late 19th century, and the form has a long prehistory in earlier Japanese art. The term ''manga'' is u ...
adaptation with art by Suzuka Oda, began serialization in
Kodansha
is a Japanese privately-held publishing company headquartered in Bunkyō, Tokyo. Kodansha is the largest Japanese publishing company, and it produces the manga magazines ''Nakayoshi'', ''Afternoon'', ''Evening'', ''Weekly Shōnen Magazine'' an ...
's
''shōjo'' manga magazine ''
Aria
In music, an aria (Italian: ; plural: ''arie'' , or ''arias'' in common usage, diminutive form arietta , plural ariette, or in English simply air) is a self-contained piece for one voice, with or without instrumental or orchestral accompanime ...
'' in April 2016, and it moved to Kodansha's
''shōnen'' manga magazine ''Shōnen Magazine Edge'' in October 2018 after ''Aria'' ceased publication in April 2018, and continued the publication until July 17, 2019. It was collected in five ''
tankōbon
is the Japanese
Japanese may refer to:
* Something from or related to Japan, an island country in East Asia
* Japanese language, spoken mainly in Japan
* Japanese people, the ethnic group that identifies with Japan through ancestry or cultur ...
'' volumes.
The manga is licensed in North America by
Vertical
Vertical is a geometric term of location which may refer to:
* Vertical direction, the direction aligned with the direction of the force of gravity, up or down
* Vertical (angles), a pair of angles opposite each other, formed by two intersecting s ...
. The English release is in omnibus 2-in-1 volumes.
Anime
An
anime
is Traditional animation, hand-drawn and computer animation, computer-generated animation originating from Japan. Outside of Japan and in English, ''anime'' refers specifically to animation produced in Japan. However, in Japan and in Japane ...
adaptation was announced on the tenth volume of the novel on November 22, 2019.
The television series is under the chief direction of
Akiyuki Shinbo
is a Japanese animator, director, writer, and storyboard artist. Best known for his works with Shaft (company), Shaft, he has attained international recognition with the studio for his unique visual style and storytelling methods.
Born in Koor ...
, direction of
Hajime Ootani,
animated by
Shaft, produced by
Aniplex
is a Japanese anime, music production and anime licensee company owned by Sony Music Entertainment Japan. Established in September 1995, Aniplex has been involved in the production and distribution of several anime series, such as both ''Fullm ...
, featuring character designs adapted for animation by
Hiroki Yamamura (Shaft), and music composed by Masatomo Ota and EFFY. Shinbo and Shaft are serving as series script supervisors, and Yukito Kizawa is writing the scripts themselves.
Kenjirou Okada
is a Japanese director and storyboard artist best known for directing '' March Comes In like a Lion''.
Career
Okada started off in the anime industry as a production assistant for '' Zoids: Genesis'' in 2005 at Group TAC
was a Japanese anim ...
is the assistant director; and Yamamura, Akihisa Takano (Shaft), and Sayuri Sakimoto are the chief animation directors. Tsutomu Shibuya (Shaft), Nagisa Sekiguchi (Shaft), and Ryou Komori are the main animators. The series aired from April 11 to June 27, 2021, on
ABC
ABC are the first three letters of the Latin script known as the alphabet.
ABC or abc may also refer to:
Arts, entertainment, and media Broadcasting
* American Broadcasting Company, a commercial U.S. TV broadcaster
** Disney–ABC Television ...
and
TV Asahi
JOEX-DTV (channel 5), branded as (also known as EX and and stylized as TV asahi), is a television station that is owned and operated by the subsidiary of certified broadcasting holding company , itself controlled by The Asahi Shimbun Compan ...
's
ANiMAZiNG!!!
, stylized as ANiMAZiNG!!!, is a late-night anime programming block planned and produced by ABC Animation of Asahi Broadcasting Group (production committee participation), and is launched by ABC with TV Asahi under the All-Nippon News Network aff ...
programming block.
Sumika performed the series' opening theme song "Shake & Shake,"
while the series' cast
Ayumu Murase
is a Japanese voice actor affiliated with the agency VIMS.
Biography
Murase was born in the United States, but grew up in Aichi, Japan. He lived in Aichi until graduating from high school, after which he attended university in Kyoto Prefecture ...
, Taito Ban,
Toshiki Masuda
is a Japanese voice actor and singer previously affiliated with Space Craft Group. He became a freelancer in August 2018. He joined the record label Toy's Factory in November 2018 as a voice actor and solo singer.
Biography
Masuda was born on Ma ...
,
Shōgo Yano
is a Japanese voice actor affiliated with Super Eccentric Theater. Yano graduated from Hosei University and debuted as an actor in 2012, in a stage role with Super Eccentric Theater. He debuted as a voice actor in 2014, as the voice of Shingo Sa ...
, and
Gen Satō
is a Japanese voice actor from Kanagawa Prefecture who is affiliated with I'm Enterprise. He is known for his roles as Chrome in ''Dr. Stone'', Rintarō Futsu in ''Stars Align'', Fumiya Tomozaki in '' Bottom-tier Character Tomozaki'', and Sōsa ...
performed the ending theme song "Beautiful Reasoning."
Aniplex of America
Aniplex of America Inc. or Aniplex USA is the U.S. distribution enterprise of Aniplex, an anime and music production company owned by Sony Music Entertainment Japan. It was established in March 2005 in Santa Monica, California, with the goal o ...
licensed the series and streamed it on
Funimation
Crunchyroll, LLC, previously known as Funimation from 1994 to 2022, is an American entertainment company owned by Japanese conglomerate Sony as a joint venture between Sony Pictures and Sony Music Entertainment Japan's Aniplex that specializes ...
.
Reception
The
School Library Journal
''School Library Journal'' (''SLJ'') is an American monthly magazine containing reviews and other articles for school librarians, media specialists, and public librarians who work with young people. Articles cover a wide variety of topics, with ...
listed the first volume of ''Pretty Boy Detective Club'' as one of the top 10 manga of 2021.
Notes
References
External links
*
*
*
*
{{Hajime Ootani
2015 Japanese novels
2021 anime television series debuts
Anime and manga based on novels
Aniplex
Asahi Broadcasting Corporation original programming
Book series introduced in 2015
Japanese mystery novels
Kodansha books
Kodansha manga
Mystery anime and manga
Shaft (company)
Shōjo manga
Shōnen manga
Vertical (publisher) titles
Nisio Isin