Pretty Boy Detective Club
First novel volume cover
美少年探偵団
(Bishōnen Tanteidan)
GenreMystery[1]
Coming-of-age[2]
Created byNisio Isin
Novel series
Written byNisio Isin
Illustrated byKinako
Published byKodansha
English publisher
ImprintKodansha Taiga
Original runOctober 20, 2015 – May 14, 2021
Volumes12
Manga
Written byNisio Isin
Illustrated bySuzuka Oda
Published byKodansha
English publisher
MagazineAria
Shōnen Magazine Edge
DemographicShōjo
Shōnen
Original runApril 28, 2016 – July 17, 2019
Volumes5
Anime television series
Directed byAkiyuki Shinbo[a]
Hajime Ootani
Produced byYōhei Itō (Kodansha)
Tatsuya Ishikawa (Aniplex)
Norihiko Kusano (ABC Animation)
Written bySeries composition:
Akiyuki Shinbo
Shaft[b]
Scripts:
Yukito Kizawa
Music byMasatomo Ota
EFFY
StudioShaft
Licensed byAniplex of America
Original networkANN (ABC, TV Asahi)
Original run April 11, 2021 – June 27, 2021
Episodes12

Pretty Boy Detective Club (Japanese: 美少年探偵団, Hepburn: Bishōnen Tanteidan), also known as the Bishōnen Series (美少年シリーズ), is a Japanese mystery novel series written by Nisio Isin and illustrated by Kinako. Kodansha released twelve volumes from October 2015 to May 2021 under their Kodansha Taiga label. A manga adaptation with art by Suzuka Oda was serialized from 2016 to 2019. It was collected in five tankōbon volumes. Both the novel series and the manga are licensed in North America by Vertical.[3] An anime television series adaptation by Shaft aired from April 11 to June 27, 2021, on ABC and TV Asahi's ANiMAZiNG!!! programming block.

Characters

Mayumi Dojima (瞳島 眉美, Dōjima Mayumi)
Voiced by: Maaya Sakamoto[4] (Japanese); Suzie Yeung[5] (English)
The main protagonist of the series. Year 2, class B at Yubiwa Academy Middle School. She becomes the student council president in Dizaka no Bishōnen.
She became involved with the Pretty Boy Detective Club in a case involving a star that she had been searching for ten years. Following the resolution of the case, she has been dressing up as a man and visiting the club. She has become a regular member since The Pretty Boy in the Attic. She has excessively-good eyesight and usually wears glasses to suppress it. She is also known as "Mayumi the Seer."
She also appears in Mazemonogatari, a collaborative novel with the Monogatari series. Under the direction of Manabu, she visits the North White Snake Shrine to observe the heavens.
Manabu Sotoin (双頭院 学, Sōtōin Manabu)
Voiced by: Ayumu Murase[6] (Japanese); Griffin Burns[5] (English)
5th grade, class A at Yubiwa Academy Elementary School. His nickname is Kogoro (fifth grader → Kogo). The leader of the Pretty Boy Detective Club. Also known as "Manabu the Aesthete." Mayumi calls him "the leader."
He claims to be uneducated and acts cheerfully and arrogantly without reading the atmosphere but always seeks beauty and will not do anything that goes against aesthetics. Although he often does nothing but gives orders, he is recognized as a leader by the group.
Nagahiro Sakiguchi (咲口 長広, Sakiguchi Nagahiro)
Voiced by: Taito Ban[6] (Japanese); Howard Wang[5] (English)
Year 3, class A at Yubiwa Academy Middle School. Former student council president. Vice leader of the Pretty Boy Detective Club. Also known as "Nagahiro the Orator." After Michiru pointed out to Mayumi in Oshie to Tabisuru Bishōnen that she was calling him "Sakiguchi-senpai," she started calling him "Senpai-kun."
He has a fiancée who is in the first grade of elementary school, so he has been ridiculed as a lolicon, but he denies it. He says, "I'm not a lolicon. It's just that my fiancée, whom my parents decided on their own, happens to be six years old." He has been the president of the student council for three consecutive years since his speech as the representative of the new students when he entered the school. He has a beautiful voice, which he admits to himself and others, and is good at not only making speeches but also copying vocal cords. He is the liaison officer for the Detective Boys. He is a soft-spoken honor student.
Michiru Fukuroi (袋井 満, Fukuroi Michiru)
Voiced by: Toshiki Masuda[6] (Japanese); Alejandro Saab[5] (English)
Year 2, class A at Yubiwa Academy Middle School. Also known as "Michiru the Epicure." Mayumi calls him "delinquent."
He is a dangerous person who tops the "ranking of students who should never be involved in the school." He is known as "the bossman" outside of school, but he is also a good cook and has a family-oriented side. He has a habit of using a lot of satirical metaphors.
Hyota Ashikaga (足利 飆太, Ashikaga Hyōta)
Voiced by: Shōgo Yano[6] (Japanese); Caleb Yen[5] (English)
Year 1, class A at Yubiwa Academy Middle School. Ace of the track and field team. Also known as "Hyota the Adonis." Mayumi calls him "Mr. Bare-Legs."
He wears a uniform that has been changed to look like shorts. Ever since he entered the school wearing such a uniform, all the girls who saw it stopped shortening their skirts and started wearing black stockings. He has a well-developed face and is ridiculed for being like the archangel who bosses other angels.
He insists on exposing his legs even in winter. He is a member of the detective squad's physical strength and mobility section. Despite his cute appearance, he often acts carelessly and makes dangerous comments. Has been kidnapped three times in the past. His parents are divorced.
Sosaku Yubiwa (指輪 創作, Yubiwa Sōsaku)
Voiced by: Gen Satō[6] (Japanese); Brian Timothy Anderson[5] (English)
Year 1, class A at Yubiwa Academy Middle School. Also known as "Sosaku the Artiste." Mayumi calls him "Child Genius."
He is the heir to the Yubiwa Foundation, the parent organization of the Yubiwa Academy. He is the de facto president of the Yubiwa Foundation. A child prodigy with both financial and artistic talents. He is a member of the Detective Boys' art team. He is expressionless and of few words, but only Manabu can read his thoughts. Usually only speaks twice in each book.
Rei (麗)
Voiced by: Hiroki Nanami[4] (Japanese); Amber Lee Connors[5] (English)
The leader of the "Twenties," a group of illegal couriers. Also known as the "Twenty Faces of Beauty."
She is not a good person, but she is a beautiful woman who loves her friends.
Lai Fudatsuki (札槻 嘘, Fudatsuki Rai)
Voiced by: Kohsuke Toriumi[4] (Japanese); Todd Haberkorn[5] (English)
A second-year student at Hairdressing Middle School. Student council president. Charismatic and ambitious.
He runs a casino called "Reasonable Doubt." He is involved with a private weapons company and reports on their products.
He also appears in Mazemonogatari, a collaborative novel with the Monogatari series.

Media

Novels

The novels are written by Nisio Isin and are illustrated by Kinako. During the development of the story in the Bōkyaku Tantei series, the "Pretty Boy Detective Club" was a group originally intended to appear there, but Nisio Isin decided it could be published as an independent story.[7] Kodansha has published eleven volumes from October 2015 to December 2019 under their Kodansha Taiga imprint. In an interview for the Japanese magazine "Da Vinci," Nisio stated his plans for 2021 and said that he wanted to develop a new story in the series because of the anime adaptation.[8] On March 13, 2021, the new volume titled The Pretty Boy in the Rue Morgue was announced. It was released on May 14, 2021.[9] The novels are licensed in North America by Vertical,[3] which has published three volumes of the series. The English editions were translated by Winifred Bird.[10]

No. Title Original release date English release date
1Pretty Boy Detective Club: The Dark Star that Shines for You Alone
Bishōnen Tanteidan Kimi Dake ni Hikari Kagayaku Ankokusei (美少年探偵団 きみだけに光かがやく暗黒星)		October 20, 2015[11]
978-4-06-294001-6		September 29, 2020[12]
978-1-94-998051-6
2The Swindler, the Vanishing Man, and the Pretty Boys
Petenshi to Kūki Otoko to Bishōnen (ぺてん師と空気男と美少年)		December 17, 2015[13]
978-4-06-294011-5		December 29, 2020[14]
978-1-94-998087-5
3The Pretty Boy in the Attic
Yaneura no Bishōnen (屋根裏の美少年)		March 17, 2016[15]
978-4-06-294023-8		April 27, 2021[16]
978-1-94-998088-2
4Oshie to Tabisuru Bishōnen (押絵と旅する美少年)September 21, 2016[17]
978-4-06-294047-4		—
5Panoramato Bidan (パノラマ島美談)October 19, 2016[18]
978-4-06-294049-8		—
6Dī-zaka no Bishōnen (D坂の美少年)March 22, 2017[19]
978-4-06-294065-8		—
7Bishōnen Isu (美少年椅子)October 19, 2017[20]
978-4-06-294095-5		—
8Ryokui no Bishōnen (緑衣の美少年)May 23, 2018[21]
978-4-06-294122-8		—
9Bishōnen Emu (美少年M)October 24, 2018[22]
978-4-06-513306-4		—
10Bishōnen Tokage (Hikarihen) (美少年蜥蜴【光編】)November 22, 2019[23]
978-4-06-517422-7		—
11Bishōnen Tokage (Kagehen) (美少年蜥蜴【影編】)December 20, 2019[24]
978-4-06-518009-9		—
12Morugu-gai no Bishōnen (モルグ街の美少年)May 14, 2021[25]
978-4-06-523389-4		—

Manga

A manga adaptation with art by Suzuka Oda, began serialization in Kodansha's shōjo manga magazine Aria in April 2016, and it moved to Kodansha's shōnen manga magazine Shōnen Magazine Edge in October 2018 after Aria ceased publication in April 2018, and continued the publication until July 17, 2019. It was collected in five tankōbon volumes. The manga is licensed in North America by Vertical. The English release is in omnibus 2-in-1 volumes.[26]

No. Original release date Original ISBN English release date English ISBN
1 September 7, 2016[27]978-4-06-380874-2July 27, 2021[28]978-1-64-729047-4
2 February 7, 2017[29]978-4-06-380905-3July 27, 2021[28]978-1-64-729047-4
3 August 7, 2017[30]978-4-06-380941-1December 28, 2021[31]978-1-64-729076-4
4 June 7, 2018[32]978-4-06-511826-9December 28, 2021[31]978-1-64-729076-4
5 September 6, 2019[33]978-4-06-517028-1——

Anime

An anime adaptation was announced on the tenth volume of the novel on November 22, 2019.[1] The television series is under the chief direction of Akiyuki Shinbo, direction of Hajime Ootani,[34] animated by Shaft, produced by Aniplex, featuring character designs adapted for animation by Hiroki Yamamura (Shaft), and music composed by Masatomo Ota and EFFY. Shinbo and Shaft are serving as series script supervisors, and Yukito Kizawa is writing the scripts themselves.[35] Kenjirou Okada is the assistant director; and Yamamura, Akihisa Takano (Shaft), and Sayuri Sakimoto are the chief animation directors. Tsutomu Shibuya (Shaft), Nagisa Sekiguchi (Shaft), and Ryou Komori are the main animators. The series aired from April 11 to June 27, 2021, on ABC and TV Asahi's ANiMAZiNG!!! programming block.[34][6] Sumika performed the series' opening theme song "Shake & Shake,"[4] while the series' cast Ayumu Murase, Taito Ban, Toshiki Masuda, Shōgo Yano, and Gen Satō performed the ending theme song "Beautiful Reasoning."[36][37] Aniplex of America licensed the series and streamed it on Funimation.[38]

No.Title [39][40]Directed by [c]Storyboarded by [c]Original air date [41]
1"The Dark Star that Shines for You Alone Part 1"
Transliteration: "Kimi Dake ni Hikari Kagayaku Ankokusei Sono Ichi" (Japanese: きみだけに光かがやく暗黒星 その１)		Kenjirou OkadaHajime OotaniApril 11, 2021 (2021-04-11)
2"The Dark Star that Shines for You Alone (Part 2)"
Transliteration: "Kimi Dake ni Hikari Kagayaku Ankokusei Sono Ni" (Japanese: きみだけに光かがやく暗黒星 その2)		Takashi YasuiHajime OotaniApril 18, 2021 (2021-04-18)
3"The Dark Star that Shines for You Alone (Part 3)"
Transliteration: "Kimi Dake ni Hikari Kagayaku Ankokusei Sono San" (Japanese: きみだけに光かがやく暗黒星 その3)		Takashi Asami
Hoshihira Fujita		Hajime OotaniApril 25, 2021 (2021-04-25)
4"The Swindler, the Vanishing Man, and the Pretty Boys (Part 1)"
Transliteration: "Petenshi to Kūki Otoko to Bishōnen Sono Ichi" (Japanese: ぺてん師と空気男と美少年 その１)		Yūji TokunoKenjirou OkadaMay 2, 2021 (2021-05-02)
5"The Swindler, the Vanishing Man, and the Pretty Boys (Part 2)"
Transliteration: "Petenshi to Kūki Otoko to Bishōnen Sono Ni" (Japanese: ぺてん師と空気男と美少年 その２)		Naoaki ShibutaMie ŌishiMay 9, 2021 (2021-05-09)
6"The Pretty Boy in the Attic (Part 1)"
Transliteration: "Yaneura no Bishōnen Sono Ichi" (Japanese: 屋根裏の美少年 その１)		Hoshihira FujitaTakashi KawabataMay 16, 2021 (2021-05-16)
7"The Pretty Boy in the Attic (Part 2)"
Transliteration: "Yaneura no Bishōnen Sono Ni" (Japanese: 屋根裏の美少年 その２)		Yūji TokunoTakashi KawabataMay 23, 2021 (2021-05-23)
8"The Pretty Boy Traveling with the Brocade Portrait (Part 1)"
Transliteration: "Oshie to Tabi Suru Bishōnen Sono Ichi" (Japanese: 押絵と旅する美少年 その１)		Kenjirou OkadaKenjirou OkadaMay 30, 2021 (2021-05-30)
9"The Pretty Boy Traveling with the Brocade Portrait (Part 2)"
Transliteration: "Oshie to Tabi Suru Bishōnen Sono Ni" (Japanese: 押絵と旅する美少年 その２)		Takashi YasuiMie ŌishiJune 6, 2021 (2021-06-06)
10"The Pretty Boy on D. Hill (Part 1)"
Transliteration: "Dī-zaka no Bishōnen Sono Ichi" (Japanese: D坂の美少年 その１)		Naoaki Shibuta
Hoshihira Fujita		Takashi KawabataJune 13, 2021 (2021-06-13)
11"The Pretty Boy on D. Hill (Part 2)"
Transliteration: "Dī-zaka no Bishōnen Sono Ni" (Japanese: D坂の美少年 その２)		Takashi Yasui
Yūji Tokuno		Takashi Yasui
Yūji Tokuno		June 20, 2021 (2021-06-20)
12"The Pretty Boy on D. Hill (Part 3)"
Transliteration: "Dī-zaka no Bishōnen Sono San" (Japanese: D坂の美少年 その３)		Kenjirou Okada
Hajime Ootani		Hajime OotaniJune 27, 2021 (2021-06-27)

Reception

The School Library Journal listed the first volume of Pretty Boy Detective Club as one of the top 10 manga of 2021.[42]

Notes

  1. ^ Credited as Chief Director (総監督, Sō Kantoku).
  2. ^ Credited as Fuyashi Tou (東冨耶子).
  3. ^ a b Information is taken from the ending credits of each episode.

References

  1. ^ a b "NisiOisin's Bishōnen Series School Mystery Novels Get Anime". Anime News Network. November 21, 2019. Retrieved November 23, 2019.
  2. ^ 美少年シリーズ [The Beautiful Boy Series]. Kodansha Taiga (in Japanese). Kodansha. Retrieved December 21, 2020.
  3. ^ a b "Kodansha USA Announces Codename: Sailor V Eternal Edition, Ghost in the Shell: The Human Algorithm, Orient, More Manga for Print". Anime News Network. March 18, 2020. Retrieved March 20, 2020.
  4. ^ a b c d Hodgkins, Crystalyn (March 13, 2021). "Pretty Boy Detective Club TV Anime Reveals New Promo Video, More Staff, More Cast". Anime News Network. Retrieved March 13, 2021.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h Friedman, Nicholas (May 28, 2021). "Pretty Boy Detective Club English Dub Announced, Cast & Crew Revealed". Funimation. Retrieved May 28, 2021.
  6. ^ a b c d e f "NisiOisin's Pretty Boy Detective Club Anime Reveals Cast, April 10 Debut in 1st Video". Anime News Network. January 29, 2021. Retrieved January 29, 2021.
  7. ^ 小田, すずか (2016). 美少年探偵団（１） [Beautiful Boy Detective Group (1)] (in Japanese). Kodansha. p. 192. ISBN 978-4-06-380874-2.
  8. ^ ダ・ヴィンチ 2021年1月号 [Da Vinci, January 2021] (in Japanese). Kadokawa. December 4, 2020. pp. 88–89.
  9. ^ NISIOISIN Official Account [@NISIOISIN_info] (March 13, 2021). アニメ「美少年探偵団」第2弾PV、追加スタッフ・キャスト、主題歌情報公開です！
    https://bishonen-tanteidan.com
    そして！原作「美少年シリーズ」スペシャル新作の刊行が決定しました
    『モルグ街の美少年』
    西尾維新 ・著　イラスト／キナコ
    5/14 講談社タイガ より発売します！     [Anime "Bishonen Tanteidan" 2nd PV, additional staff, cast, and theme song information is now available!
    https://bishonen-tanteidan.com
    And! A special new edition of the original "Bishonen Series" will be published soon!
    The Pretty Boy in the Rue Morgue
    Written by Nisio Isin, illustrated by Kinako
    On May 14 Kodansha Taiga will release it!] (Tweet) (in Japanese). Retrieved May 1, 2021 – via Twitter.
  10. ^ Ward, Demelza (October 17, 2020). "Pretty Boy Detective Club Volume 1 Review". Anime UK News. Retrieved May 1, 2021.
  11. ^ 美少年探偵団 きみだけに光かがやく暗黒星 [Bishonen Tanteidan: You Are the Only Light That Shines in the Dark]. Kodansha Book Club (in Japanese). Kodansha. Retrieved October 10, 2020.
  12. ^ "Pretty Boy Detective Club". Penguin Random house. Bertelsmann. Retrieved July 29, 2020.
  13. ^ ぺてん師と空気男と美少年 [The Impostor, the Unnoticeable and the Beautiful Boy]. Kodansha Book Club (in Japanese). Kodansha. Retrieved October 10, 2020.
  14. ^ "Pretty Boy Detective Club, volume 2". Penguin Random house. Bertelsmann. Retrieved July 29, 2020.
  15. ^ 屋根裏の美少年 [The Beautiful Boy in the Attic]. Kodansha Book Club (in Japanese). Kodansha. Retrieved October 10, 2020.
  16. ^ "Pretty Boy Detective Club, volume 3". Penguin Random house. Bertelsmann. Retrieved March 26, 2021.
  17. ^ 押絵と旅する美少年 [The Beautiful Boy Traveling with Oshie]. Kodansha Book Club (in Japanese). Kodansha. Retrieved October 10, 2020.
  18. ^ パノラマ島美談 [Panorama Island Beauty Stories]. Kodansha Book Club (in Japanese). Kodansha. Retrieved October 10, 2020.
  19. ^ Ｄ坂の美少年 [The Beautiful Boy on D Hill]. Kodansha Book Club (in Japanese). Kodansha. Retrieved October 10, 2020.
  20. ^ 美少年椅子 [The Beautiful Boy's Chair]. Kodansha Book Club (in Japanese). Kodansha. Retrieved October 10, 2020.
  21. ^ 緑衣の美少年 [The Beautiful Boy in Green]. Kodansha Book Club (in Japanese). Kodansha. Retrieved October 10, 2020.
  22. ^ 美少年М [The Beautiful Boy M]. Kodansha Book Club (in Japanese). Kodansha. Retrieved October 10, 2020.
  23. ^ 美少年蜥蜴【光編】 [The Beautiful Boy Lizard (Light Edition)]. Kodansha Book Club (in Japanese). Kodansha. Retrieved October 10, 2020.
  24. ^ 美少年蜥蜴【影編】 [The Beautiful Boy Lizard (Shadow Edition)]. Kodansha Book Club (in Japanese). Kodansha. Retrieved October 10, 2020.
  25. ^ モルグ街の美少年 [The Beautiful Boy in the Rue Morgue]. Kodansha Book Club (in Japanese). Kodansha. Retrieved May 14, 2021.
  26. ^ Mateo, Alex (October 9, 2020). "Vertical Licenses Pretty Boy Detective Club Manga, Reveals Anime's 2021 Premiere Date". Anime News Network. Retrieved October 9, 2020.
  27. ^ 美少年探偵団（１） [Beautiful Boy Detective Group (1)]. Kodansha Comic Plus (in Japanese). Kodansha. Retrieved October 10, 2020.
  28. ^ a b "Pretty Boy Detective Club (manga), volume 1". Penguim Random House. Retrieved July 6, 2021.
  29. ^ 美少年探偵団（２） [Beautiful Boy Detective Group (2)]. Kodansha Comic Plus (in Japanese). Kodansha. Retrieved October 10, 2020.
  30. ^ 美少年探偵団（３） [Beautiful Boy Detective Group (3)]. Kodansha Comic Plus (in Japanese). Kodansha. Retrieved October 10, 2020.
  31. ^ a b "Pretty Boy Detective Club (manga), volume 2". Penguim Random House. Retrieved November 11, 2021.
  32. ^ 美少年探偵団（４） [Beautiful Boy Detective Group (4)]. Kodansha Comic Plus (in Japanese). Kodansha. Retrieved October 10, 2020.
  33. ^ 美少年探偵団（５） [Beautiful Boy Detective Group (5)]. Kodansha Comic Plus (in Japanese). Kodansha. Retrieved October 10, 2020.
  34. ^ a b アニメ「美少年探偵団」に村瀬歩・坂泰斗・増田俊樹・矢野奨吾・佐藤元、PVも公開 [The anime "Bishonen Tanteidan" features Ayumu Murase, Ban Taito, Toshiki Masuda, Shogo Yano, and Gen Sato, and the PV has been released!]. Natalie (in Japanese). January 29, 2021. Retrieved January 29, 2021.
  35. ^ "美少年探偵団" (in Japanese). Aniplex. Retrieved December 21, 2020.
  36. ^ アニメ「美少年探偵団」村瀬歩ら歌唱のEDテーマ解禁PV、新ビジュアルや配信情報も [Anime 'Bishonen Tanteidan' ED theme sung by Ayumi Murase and others revealed in PV, new visuals and distribution information]. Natalie (in Japanese). March 28, 2021. Retrieved March 28, 2021.
  37. ^ "Pretty Boy Detective Club Anime's New Video Unveils Ending Song by Cast". Anime News Network. March 28, 2021. Retrieved March 28, 2021.
  38. ^ Friedman, Nicholas (March 31, 2021). "Solve Your Troubles! Pretty Boy Detective Club Arrives Exclusively on Funimation". Funimation. Retrieved March 31, 2021.
  39. ^ "Sutōrī｜Anime "Bishōnen Tanteidan" Kōshiki Saito" STORY｜アニメ「美少年探偵団」公式サイト [Story｜Anime "Pretty Boy Detective Club" Official Website]. bishonen-tanteidan.com (in Japanese). Archived from the original on April 8, 2021. Retrieved April 8, 2021.
  40. ^ "Watch Pretty Boy Detective Club Sub | Comedy, Drama, Slice of Life Anime | Funimation". Funimation. Archived from the original on April 11, 2021. Retrieved April 11, 2021.
  41. ^ "On'ea｜Anime "Bishōnen Tanteidan" Kōshiki Saito" ONAIR｜アニメ「美少年探偵団」公式サイト [On Air｜Anime "Pretty Boy Detective Club" Official Website]. bishonen-tanteidan.com (in Japanese). Archived from the original on March 28, 2021. Retrieved March 28, 2021.
  42. ^ Hazra, Adriana (December 5, 2021). "School Library Journal Names Top 10 Manga in 2021". Anime News Network. Retrieved December 5, 2021.

External links

Works by Nisio Isin
Series published in Aria
Shōnen Magazine Edge series
Shaft television series
Akiyuki Shinbo
Hajime Ootani
Categories