Top 10 Anime Detectives

“Hyouka” (2012)
Our first of several young investigators on this list, doesn’t like to do anything that he considers a waste of energy. When he entered high school he joined the Classics Club at the insistence of his sister, so it wouldn’t be abolished. Despite Houtarou wanting to shirk his club duties he becomes involved in a series of mysteries that not only spans the club’s long history but also his own personal life. Despite his lax attitude, Houtarou is actually pretty resourceful when it comes to the different mysteries and proves that some people are just born prodigies.

“Future Diary” (2011-12)
The god Deus is dying and to determine his successor, he chooses ten people to participate in a game of death. The chosen participants are destined to kill one another using supernatural diaries that have a multitude of abilities. Akise Aru gets involved in the battle not only to learn more about the game, but to protect Yukiteru from dying at the hands of Yuno. Possessing a high intellect Akise is able to discover Yuno’s true intentions as well as his own creation by Deus as the observer of the diary game.

“Danganronpa: The Animation” (2013)
When a group of students gets imprisoned in Hope’s Peak Academy, the bizarre bear, Monokuma tells them that the only way to escape is to murder one another and not get caught. Every time a student is killed, Kyoko Kirigiri steps in as the lead investigator alongside Naegi to solve each murder. Calm and levelheaded Kirigiri is one of the only students able investigate objectively, leading them to be able to determine the true culprit. There is a reason that her title is Ultimate Detective.

“Ergo Proxy” (2006)
In the city of Romdeau, humans and androids known as AutoReivs coexist. Soon however, a series of gruesome murders are committed by AutoReivs who have become self-aware as a result of the Cogito virus. It is then up to Re-l Mayer of the Citizen Intelligence Bureau to find the cause of these murders. Re-l is also the granddaughter of the reagent of Romdeau whose influence she uses to command respect. With her dark clothes, dark blue eye shadow and serious personality she is the embodiment of the no-nonsense detective.

“Un-Go” (2011)
In a post war Tokyo, Shinjuro solves various mysteries alongside his shapeshifting demon partner Inga. Often stoic, Shinjuro comes off as rude and is easily annoyed, however his analytical and deductive skills are top notch. But his true power comes when partner, Inga, is able to ask a person one single question - which they are forced to tell the truth. In exchange for this partnership, he must give his demon partner a steady supply of human souls, which works as an extra incentive for his case solving. One thing’s for sure, this is one dangerous detective duo.

“Monster” (2004-05)
Inspector Lunge is a grizzled detective who is tasked with tracking down the murder of several doctors. Believing that the main protagonist Dr. Tenma is the main suspect, he does everything in his power to find the truth. Lunge has a remarkable memory, being able to remember things by “typing” them into his mind. He is dedicated to his job to such a degree that he alienates his own family. Even after being discharged, he still continues his investigation into who committed the murders, and their mysterious past which turned them into the proverbial monster.

“Tokyo Ghoul” (2014-15)
This young man is a detective for the Commission of Counter Ghoul, an organization dedicated to eradicating the monster’s known as ghouls. Juuzou’s appearance and psychotic personality are due to his tragic childhood past where he was kidnapped and forced to kill for the entertainment of Ghoul’s. This led him to developing a child-like demeanor without being able to feel empathy for others. However after his partner Shinohara becomes seriously injured he learns to care for his comrades, though we can’t say the same for ghouls.

“Psycho-Pass” (2012-14)
In this series crime is kept in check using the Sybil System, which scans the probability of someone committing a crime. Shinya Kogami is an Enforcer under the leadership of Akane Tsunemori. He is tasked with hunting down potential criminals using his Dominator, which is designed to punish those who have exceeded the Crime Coefficient. Shinya himself has also exceeded the limit, due to a previous case, but thanks to Akane he is able to keep it in check. His tragic past fuels him to solve even the most deadly of cases.

“Detective Conan” (1996-)
“Only one truth prevails!” This is the motto of Shinichi Kudo the famous high school detective. One day while at the theme park with his friend Ran Mouri, Shinichi investigates two mysterious men only to be ambushed and given a poison that transforms him into a kid. He then takes the name of Conan Edogawa and moves in with Ran and her bumbling detective father. Using Ran’s father as a scapegoat Conan solves crimes with nothing but his intellect and his fancy gadgets made by the scientist Dr. Agasa.

Before we investigate our top pick, here are a few Honorable Mentions.

Yuuko “Alice” Shionji
“Heaven’s Memo Pad” (2011)

Neuro Nougami
“Majin Tantei Nougami Neuro” (2007-08)

Inspector Zenigata
“Lupin the Third” (1971-)

Keichi Ikari
“Paranoia Agent” (2004)

Kenjiro Shibazaki
“Terror in Resonance” (2014)

“Death Note” (2006-07)
When it comes to the power of deduction, this young detective puts all of our previous entries to shame. After criminals across the world start dying of heart attacks L steps in and is quickly able to nail down a small list of suspects, including Light Yagami. Although battling against supernatural forces, L was able to keep a cool mind throughout, never once lifting his suspicions toward Light. Although Kira was eventually able to kill L using his Death Note, L’s deductions served his successor Near who was eventually able to defeat Light.

Do you agree with our list? Which anime detective would you hire to solve mysteries for you? For more hard-boiled Top 10’s published daily, be sure to subscribe to WatchMojo.com.