How to watch

Detective Conan Watch Order in the correct order

How to watch the Detective Conan anime and movies in order

Last updated: September 30 2026

Written by: ChronoAlice

Detective Conan, known as Case Closed in some regions, is one of the longest-running anime ever, with hundreds of episodes and dozens of films. This guide simplifies its intimidating watch order so you can follow the shrunken detective's cases.

Detective Conan follows brilliant teenage detective Shinichi Kudo, who is transformed into a child by a mysterious criminal organization and adopts the alias Conan Edogawa while secretly solving cases and hunting the men who shrank him. With over a thousand episodes and an annual film series, it's a mystery institution that can look overwhelming to newcomers.

πŸ• Release Order

Release order follows the ongoing television anime alongside the theatrical films, which have been released roughly once a year since 1997.

  1. Detective Conan (1996 TV series, ongoing)
  2. The annual theatrical films (1997 onward)

The films are mostly self-contained mysteries that release alongside the TV series, so they can be enjoyed without disrupting the main story.

πŸ“– Story Chronology

The core story runs through the television series in episode order, with the films acting as standalone adventures that loosely align with the point of the series they released alongside.

  1. Detective Conan (1996 TV series) β€” follow the episodes in order
  2. The annual films β€” watch each roughly in line with its release year

Which Order Should You Choose?

Because the series is so long, most fans recommend watching the TV anime in episode order while prioritizing the plot-critical Black Organization episodes, then enjoying the films as standalone treats around the time they released. The movies rarely require deep continuity knowledge, so they're a great way to sample the franchise. If the episode count feels daunting, start with the first arc and the earliest films, then follow the main plot threads at your own pace.

πŸ”— Related Guides

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