Case file n221 : Kabukicho

Case File nº221: Kabukicho is an innovative and engrossing anime series produced by Production I.G and directed by Ai Yoshimura, which started airing in 2019 on Tokyo Broadcasting System. The series delivers a unique spin on the legendary Arthur Conan Doyle's characters through an imaginative blend of mystery, comedy, and edgy twists.

The story takes place in the modern, sizzling, neon-lit red-light district of Kabukicho in Shinjuku, Tokyo. Absorbing the essence of its vibrant environment, this anime series successfully portrays this world-famous district's spirit, infused with nightlife, entertainment, and intrigue. The title "Case File nº221: Kabukicho" refers to the 221 cases our protagonists are dealing with, each of these cases being components of a much vaster and complicated puzzle.

At the heart of the narrative is the iconic duo of Sherlock Holmes and Dr. John H. Watson. However, in trust with the location and stylistic shift from Victorian London to modern-day Tokyo, these characters, too, have undergone a re-imagination. Sherlock Holmes, in this version, is a freewheeling detective with an uncanny level of observations and deductions. Simultaneously, he's an eccentric with a love for rakugo, a form of traditional Japanese comedic storytelling, which he often uses to reveal his deduction at the end of each case.

Dr. John Watson, on the other hand, is an ordinary physician who stumbles upon Holmes and gets entangled in the complex world of Kabukicho. Unlike his literary counterpart, this Watson is a more reluctant sidekick wrestling with Holmes's peculiar habits and the district's harsh realities. Nonetheless, his humanistic perspective and grounded personality keep Sherlock's wildness and the grueling underbelly of Kabukicho in balance.

Beyond this iconic duo, Case File nº221: Kabukicho is populated by a diverse array of characters. Mrs. Hudson is a local bar owner who provides refuge to Holmes. Then there's Mary Morstan, a seemingly kind-hearted lady with a mysterious past. James Moriarty positions himself as a "consulting criminal," always keeping the audience on the edge of their seats. Each character is beautifully reimagined, adding new facets to the original constructs.

In terms of its aesthetics, the show shines. It cleverly captures the essence of its real-world counterpart, Kabukicho's district. Elaborate designs and intense color palettes express the area's pulsating allure and underlying threats. From dimly-lit alleyways and bustling streets to the vibrant bars and questionable establishments, Kabukicho springs to life, taking on a character of its own.

The animation quality is top-notch, with intricate attention to character designs and light-play, creating a visually pleasing balance between modern anime art style and traditional Japanese motifs. The shift in color palettes under different circumstances, be it a comedic episode or a high-stake investigation, adds vibrance and depth to the story progression.

The audio aspect does not lag behind either. The music score by Takuro Iga is excellent, catching the mood at any given moment, whether it's a high-tension chase, a brain-twisting deduction scene, or a bizarre comedy routine. The show treats viewers with a variety of styles ranging from classical composition and jazz to pop and electronic music, enhancing each scenario distinctively.

Case File nº221: Kabukicho is an ambitious mystery-comedy series that offers an absorbing blend of Sherlock Holmes-style detective adventures and modern anime sensibilities. Regardless of whether you are a fan of the original Sherlock stories or anime series featuring mysteries and intrigues, this show carries a certain charm that is sure to hook viewers with its penchant for the unexpected. With its fascinating characters, rich visuals, and labyrinthine narrative structure, this anime delivers a punchy and refreshingly new dose of Sherlock and Watson in their full, unabashed glory.