Majin Tantei Nougami Neuro

Majin Tantei Nougami Neuro

http://forums.gotwoot.net/gallery/fi.../6/2/neuro.jpg

Based on the shounen manga by Matsui Yuusei serialised in Weekly Shounen Jump.

Neuro is a being from the underworld, who likes to eat "riddles" and "mysteries" and since he had heard that mysteries abound in the world above, he comes surface side in search of the ultimate riddle capable of satisfying his insatiable hunger. He arrives in front of Katsuragi Yako whose father has been murdered, and smells a tasty riddle...

He helps her to solve the murder on her father and in turn forces Yako to act as a detective in his stead, always searching for the ultimate riddle. -AniDB

Links:
Download: Episode 1 HQ - NEET-Fansubs, Episode 1 MQ - NEET-Fansubs
Official
AniDB
ANN

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Now, I'm not traditionally the greatest consumer of mystery and specifically detective stories, particularly in anime form, though I have seen a few. This is probably mainly because I tend to look for shows that have some out of real life elements (aside from those multitude of high-school comedies and such). Still, this series got my attention because of the demonic influence.

The first episode was quite nice, though it felt a bit hurried considering the criminal case. But perhaps this first episode was more of an introduction of the characters, their relationships and dispositions. At that it succeeded quite well. But I hope in the future solving the cases will be more intellectual processes.

Other than that Yako and Neuro are both quite funny characters. Yako is blissfully ignorant of everything going on around her while "studying" the crime scenes, despite being called a remarkable detective. Neuro is suitably demonic, using Yako ruthlessly as his cover, and I hope he will remain that way.

Yeah, I couldn't help but compare it to Conan. The case didn't seem very intellectual at all. Or give you little clues to look at to make you try and take a stab at the thing yourself, except for the dead guy's shadow covered by steam that is.

Hurr... "777 Tools of Heaven," is it? More like the "770 Tools Not-to-be-seen in this Anime."

I have to agree with the above- the case can't really be thought out, more like it just solves itself out of nothingness. That being said, though, I'm now intrigued by just how elaborate each of these "cases of the week" are going to get.

NEET's release schedule not being too neat, I decided to have a look around, and spotted Catchphrase's releases. They have subbed up to episode 4:

Episode 2 HD - Catchphrase
Episode 2 SD - Catchphrase

Episode 3 HD - Catchphrase
Episode 3 SD - Catchphrase

Episode 4 HD - Catchphrase
Episode 4 SD - Catchphrase

I spotted nothing peculiar in the subs or the quality of the releases. Looked fine to me, though I'm no Bud, so take my evaluation with a grain of salt.

After three episodes I'm beginning to think the cases might not turn out to be intellectual at all. The comedy aspect of the show remain good, though. But still I'd wish the cases allowed some pondering. Now they are even presented in a away that hardly lets you make any guesses (the evidence and such remains in Neuro's head and is not shown on screen) or they are so simple cases there's no mystery at all.

Well, I still like the characters and they only seem to be getting better so I'm not giving up.