Detective Conan OVA 8: High School Girl Detective Sonoko Suzuki's Case Files - Reviews

The eighth Detective Conan OVA was greatly improved from the previous two special projects for the Case Closed franchise.  And High School Girl Detective Sonoko Suzuki's Case Files is the first OVA which involves a murder.  The victim stabbed in the back.  A pool of blood oozing all about.  The black figure of the perpetrator flashing a villainous smile as the blade is thrust down.

FAKE OUT!!!!!!!!!!!

No murder at all, just Sonoko brainstorming ideas for a play that will help a local church in their charitable work.  A play that will be performed in that church's sacristy.  A play that will feature the clever deductive skills of Sonoko.  A play which compels to call on God for mercy.  In short, a play conceived, written, directed, produced, and starred in by Ran's rich girl BFF.

A mystery with all the aspects of comedy, an excellent change of pace.  Sonoko ponders a play that would expose the incompetence of the great Mori Kogoro.  A crime with four suspects, each with names of the four cardinal directions. A crime committed in the editor's office of a NEWS magazine.  And a clue of the dead editor pointing towards something.  Great promise for a great play until Ai rips so many holes in the Swiss cheese plot.

Each member of the Detective Boys offers a possible story, each one making a new main character with the focus on self.  Typical, since Sonoko is doing this play to showcase herself.  Finally, Conan, or rather Shinichi Kudo (for the romance angle) concocts an ending that is firm, consistent, and resistant to holes.

Watch for the surprise twist and the person who will finally play the master detective.

The animation technique for OVA 8 is a major advance on the manga-esque offerings of OVAs 6 and 7.  It demonstrates a clearer advancement of the franchise over the mid-00's.  Conan's wicked sense of humor outdoes itself, making the humor element of OVA 8.  Even the theme selections were polished, featuring the flute, recorders, and violin which symbolizes the main characters’ key trait.  Of course, Shinichi plays the violin, parallel to his idol Sherlock Holmes.

At this point, High School Girl Sonoko ... is one of the better projects promoting the Conan brand.