Princess Mystery Solving is a Great Detective: What is the appeal of a detective story that makes use of mystery-solving talent?

"Princess Nazotoki is a Great Detective": The appeal of solving mysteries and the growth of a young girl

■Overview of the work

"Nazotoki Hime wa Meitantei" is an OVA based on the original manga by Anan Mayuki, and was first released as a DVD supplement to the September 2012 issue of Ciao on August 3, 2012. This work attracted attention as the first full-scale mystery manga in the girls' magazine Ciao, and is appealing for its story that depicts the fun of solving mysteries and the growth of the main character.

■ Story

Hinami Shion, a library committee member, is a shy girl who is not good at speaking in front of people. However, the moment the mystery of the case is solved, she takes off her glasses and transforms into "Princess Mystery Solving", solving the case with her incredible powers of deduction. Together with Jin Umezaki and Rikka Fujisaki, who are in love with Hinami, the three take on various cases.

■Explanation

The original work depicts a fascinating detective solving authentic tricks that will blow your mind. Hinami is usually a plain girl with glasses who loves to read, but in the scenes where she solves mysteries, she transforms into a strong-willed and intelligent "Princess of Mystery Solving." This contrast is what makes the story so appealing. The first episode was included in the DVD "Ciao Ciao TV!" that came with the September 2012 issue of Ciao, and new episodes have been released regularly since then.

■Cast

・Shion Hinami: Kido Ibuki ・Fujisaki Ritsuka: Ishikawa Kaito ・Umezaki Jin: Matsuoka Yoshitsugu ・Umiji Satoko: Ishida Haruka (AKB48)

■ Main staff

・Original Story: Mayuki Anan ・Planning: Ciao Editorial Department ・Director and Storyboard: Elan ・Character Design: Takao Sano ・Art Director: Miyuki Kondo ・Color Design: Chiho Nakamura ・Director of Photography: Atsushi Ozawa ・Editor: Hiromi Komine ・Sound Director: Yuki Urakari ・Sound Effects: Kaori Yamada ・Sound Production: HALF H・P ​​STUDIO
・Music: Yamasaki
・Animation Production: SynergySP
・Produced by: Shogakukan Shueisha Productions ・Produced and written by: Shogakukan

■ Main Characters

・Shion Hinami: A shy girl who loves reading. Take off her glasses and you'll be a brilliant mystery-solving princess!
・Ritsuka Fujisaki: The most problematic child in school. She has a strange intuition.
・Umezaki Jin: He loves books and is good with computers. He loves Mystery Solving Princess!

■Subtitle

・Episode 1: Pirate Treasure and Lullaby (September 2012 issue)
・Episode 2: Christmas Client (December 2012 issue)
・Episode 3: The Legend of the Cupid Statue (May 2013 issue)
Episode 4: The Kidnapped Mystery-Solving Princess (August 2013 issue)
Episode 5: The Mystery-Solving Prince is a Mysterious Detective!? (December 2013 issue)

■ Theme songs and music

TM
・Mystery Solving☆Thrilling☆Great Detective ・Lyrics: Edoyama Murasaki ・Composition: Sadesubarikord ・Arrangement: Sadesubarikord ・Singer: Shion Hinami (Kido Ibuki)

■ Appeal and evaluation of the work

"Princess Mystery Solving is a Great Detective" is a very unique mystery series aimed at girls. The protagonist, Hinami Shion, is usually a shy girl who loves to read, but in mystery-solving scenes she plays an active role as "Princess Mystery Solving," and her dual personality leaves a strong impression on viewers. This contrast is one of the charms of the series and is what has attracted so many fans.

In addition, the tricks for solving the mysteries depicted in each episode are often serious, even though they are aimed at children, and provide an opportunity to stimulate the viewer's thinking. In particular, each episode has a different theme, such as pirate treasure or a Christmas client, so you can enjoy it without getting bored.

Another point not to be missed is the character growth. As the story progresses, Hinami overcomes her fear of public speaking and finds the courage to solve the case with her friends. This growth resonates with viewers and adds depth to the story. In addition, supporting characters such as Umezaki Jin and Fujisaki Rikka are also unique, and Hinami's growth is depicted from their perspective.

The performances of the voice actors are also worthy of praise. In particular, Kido Ibuki, who plays Shion Hinami, naturally portrays both the shy Hinami and the Mystery Princess, bringing out the charm of the characters. In addition, Matsuoka Yoshitsugu, who plays Umezaki Jin, and Ishikawa Kaito, who plays Fujisaki Ritsuka, also express the individuality of their respective characters well, raising the quality of the work as a whole.

■Production background and technical aspects

"Princess Nazotoki is a Great Detective" was produced by an animation production company called SynergySP. SynergySP is a company with a reputation for producing anime for girls, and their technical skills and experience are put to good use in this work. In particular, the character design and art direction work firmly express the worldview of the work, enhancing its visual appeal.

The sound is also excellent. Sound direction by Yuuki Uragari and sound effects by Kaori Yamada effectively bring out the mystery-solving scenes and the emotions of the characters. Yamasaki's music is also an important element in enhancing the atmosphere of the work.

■ Viewer demographics and recommended points

"Princess Nazotoki is a Great Detective" was created primarily for young girls, but the content can be enjoyed by a wide range of age groups. It is especially recommended for viewers who like mysteries and stories that depict the growth of characters. It is also possible to watch it with the whole family, so parents and children can enjoy solving mysteries together.

The recommended points include:

• Enjoy authentic mystery solving tricks
• The protagonist's growth story is moving
• Unique characters are attractive
• The voice actors' performances are superb
• High visual and audio quality

■ Related works and recommendations

If you enjoyed "Princess Mystery Solving is a Great Detective," we also recommend the following related titles:

• Detective Conan: A work that depicts serious mystery and character development
• "Detective Opera Milky Holmes": A work depicting the exploits of a group of young detectives
• "Himitsu no Akko-chan": A work for girls with a transformation theme

These works also offer mystery and character development, making them perfect for fans of "Princess Mystery Solving"

Conclusion

"Princess Nazotoki is a Great Detective" is a very appealing mystery work for girls. The growth of the main character, Hinami Shion, and the authentic mystery-solving tricks depicted in each episode will move and excite the audience. In addition, the unique characters, excellent voice actors, and high production quality also enhance the appeal of the work. This is a work that we would definitely recommend to viewers who like mysteries and stories that depict the growth of characters.