The ‘Detective Conan’ franchise has officially announced the production of its first two-hour television special in nearly ten years. This major reveal was part of the celebrations for the anime’s upcoming 30th anniversary which marks three decades since the series premiered in 1996. The last time the long-running series aired a special of this length was ‘Episode ONE: The Great Detective Turned Small’ back in 2016. Fans have been eagerly awaiting a return to this extended format which allows for more complex and cinematic storytelling within the television series. This new project promises to be a significant addition to the canon of the beloved mystery franchise.

Titled ‘The Case of Murder No. 30’, the upcoming two-hour special will feature a completely original storyline not found in the manga. The script is being written by Takeharu Sakurai who is a veteran screenwriter known for his work on high-profile films in the franchise. Sakurai previously penned the record-breaking ‘Black Iron Submarine’ as well as the recent hit ‘One-eyed Flashback’. His involvement suggests a serious and suspenseful tone for the special given his history with some of the darker and more action-oriented entries in the series. While a specific broadcast date has not yet been confirmed the anticipation surrounding this original mystery is already high.

In addition to the two-hour event the franchise released a trailer for another highly anticipated project called ‘Episode ZERO: The Shinichi Kudo Aquarium Case’. This one-hour special is scheduled to air on January 3, 2026, and serves as a prequel to the main series. The story revisits the time before the protagonist was transformed into a child and focuses on a mystery Shinichi Kudo solved while visiting an aquarium with Ran Mori. The newly released promotional video offers a glimpse into this nostalgic chapter by showcasing Shinichi in his prime as a high school detective. It functions as a lead-in to the 30th-anniversary festivities and sets the stage for the year ahead.

The announcements included several other exciting collaborations and musical updates for the franchise. The anime will feature crossover episodes with the ‘Japan International Birdman Rally’ and the professional football league ‘J.League’. The soccer collaboration is particularly notable as it marks the first partnership with the league in three years and will feature voice acting from talent Yuka Kageyama. On the musical front legendary singer Mai Kuraki is returning to perform the new ending theme song titled ‘TOWA’ starting in January. Kuraki is famous for holding the Guinness World Record for the most theme songs sung by a single artist for the same animation series.

To cap off the anniversary news special orchestral concerts have been scheduled for early 2026 in Yokohama and Kobe. These events will celebrate the show’s vast musical history which has accompanied the mystery-solving adventures for thirty years. With a new original movie titled ‘Highway Fallen Angel’ also slated for release in April 2026 the franchise shows no signs of slowing down. The combination of nostalgic prequels and fresh original specials highlights the enduring popularity of Gosho Aoyama’s creation.

Please let us know what you think about the return of the two-hour special format for the anime in the comments.