A murder investigation connected to counterfeit money sounds like a solid way to give Detective Conan’s 30th anniversary some extra weight. Instead of just finding a killer, there is a potentially wider threat to unravel.
But according to Anime News Network’s review, Detective Conan: The Counterfeit Crime Case of Ultra 30 struggles to turn that promising idea into a satisfying special. Its detailed look at Japanese banknote production earns praise; the investigation that follows gets a much cooler response.
Here is the spoiler-light breakdown of ANN’s assessment—not an independent review from egg.network.
The money-making details are the main attraction
The special runs approximately 90 minutes, with close to a third devoted to explaining how Japanese currency is produced.
That is a substantial chunk of time for an anime murder mystery, but ANN considers the material one of the production’s strengths. The review praises both the explanations and the visual attention given to the manufacturing process.
These sequences also serve a purpose beyond background information: details introduced during the currency discussion become relevant to the eventual solution.
More importantly, the counterfeiting angle gives the case a potentially broader dimension. The conspiracy could have consequences across Japan, creating a setup that reaches beyond the immediate murder investigation.
The problem, in ANN’s assessment, is that this early promise becomes the special’s high point rather than the foundation for something better.
A bigger cast does not produce a better investigation
The case brings together multiple familiar characters, with the wider police operation providing a reasonable explanation for some of their involvement.
Heiji Hattori’s appearance also has a geographical connection: the review notes that one of the money-printing bureaus is in Osaka.
However, ANN argues that a plausible reason to show up is not the same as having something meaningful to do. Conan handles the important investigative work, while the supporting cast contributes little to solving the mystery.
Heiji, specifically, is criticised for offering no distinctive insight that helps Conan reach the answer. Several police characters receive limited dialogue without making much difference to the investigation, and some characters lose relevance as the story approaches its conclusion.
For an anniversary production bringing familiar faces together, that is a significant criticism: the reunion may look substantial without functioning as a genuine team effort.
The resolution cannot carry the buildup
ANN’s complaint is not that the solution is incoherent. It is that the answer is too easy to anticipate, with insufficient surprises to reward the extended setup.
The review also argues that the special could have benefited from a tighter edit. With so much time spent assembling characters and establishing the stakes, the straightforward resolution leaves that preparation feeling disproportionate.
There are positives beyond the premise. ANN praises the overall visuals and the music, even while finding the final stretch disappointing.
What Malaysia and SEA readers should take from this
Our analysis: If you are deciding whether this special belongs on your watchlist, the useful distinction is between an interesting subject and a compelling mystery. ANN’s account suggests the currency-production material offers more novelty than the detective work itself.
Readers hoping for meaningful contributions from the wider cast should also keep that criticism in mind. An anniversary label raises expectations, but it does not tell you how effectively a story uses its returning characters.
The supplied review does not establish Malaysian or wider Southeast Asian viewing availability. For now, its clearest takeaway is about expectations: an unusual case premise and strong presentation, but an ending ANN finds insufficient for the occasion.