TV Anime Detective Conan Exhibition Osaka Report: Planning, Storyboards, Theme Songs, and Famous Scenes

The TV Anime Detective Conan Exhibition commemorating the 30th anniversary of the broadcast lets visitors look back at both the production process behind the anime and memorable scenes from its 30-year history.

The Osaka venue will be open from Saturday, July 11, through Sunday, August 16, 2026, at a special exhibition space inside the Yomiuri Telecasting Corporation headquarters.

© 青山剛昌／小学館・読売テレビ・ TMS 1996

A major highlight is the chance to follow the production process in order, from character design and art settings to storyboards, animation, voice recording, and theme songs. The exhibition also includes displays of famous scenes, a special exhibition movie, and an interactive area featuring past NEXT CONAN’S HINT segments.

Note: This article includes photographs of exhibits that are normally off-limits to general visitors. We received special permission to photograph them.

This article focuses on the exhibition’s main highlights based on what was presented at a media preview, omitting the announcer’s guided commentary.

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TV Anime Detective Conan Exhibition 30th Anniversary: Osaka Venue Basics

The Osaka exhibition is held in a special venue at the Yomiuri Telecasting Corporation headquarters.
(Nearest station: JR Osakajokoen Station)

The exhibition runs from Saturday, July 11, through Sunday, August 16, 2026. Hours are 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., with final admission at 5:30 p.m.

Here are the key points to check before visiting.

• Venue: Special exhibition space at the Yomiuri Telecasting Corporation headquarters
• Dates: Saturday, July 11–Sunday, August 16, 2026
• Hours: 10:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m.; final admission at 5:30 p.m.
• Same-day tickets: Adults US$13.75; students US$9.38
• Saturday, July 11, and Sunday, July 12, are priority-reservation days
• Admission restrictions may be imposed during busy periods

Saturday, July 11, and Sunday, July 12, are priority-reservation days. Even with a ticket, visitors without a reservation may need to wait depending on crowd levels.

Those planning to visit just after opening should not assume that buying an admission ticket is enough; be sure to check how the priority-reservation days work.

Tickets and Tickets with Special Bonuses

Admission to the Osaka venue is available through advance tickets and same-day tickets.

Advance tickets cost US$12.50 for adults and US$8.13 for students. Same-day tickets cost US$13.75 for adults and US$9.38 for students.

The special-bonus ticket includes a merchandise voucher for an Acrylic Display Stand featuring Conan and 30 other characters. Fans who want to display their favorite acrylic stand or plush should compare it with the standard ticket before choosing.

Preschool children are admitted free but must be accompanied by a guardian. At the Osaka venue, one guardian may accompany up to two preschool children.

Decide on the Audio Guide Before Entering

The audio guide costs US$4.38. It lets you explore the exhibition while listening to characters including Conan Edogawa, Kaito Kid, Toru Amuro, Shuichi Akai, and Ai Haibara.

One important point is that the audio guide cannot be purchased after entering. An audio-guide-only ticket can be bought at the venue entrance on the day, but you cannot add it later if you decide you want it once inside.

Because the guide runs on a smartphone, each visitor needs their own phone and earphones or headphones. The venue does not provide Wi-Fi, phone or earphone rentals, or charging services, so make sure your battery is sufficiently charged.

The Entrance Features a 30th-Anniversary Character Lineup

The first thing to catch your eye after entering is a display of Conan Edogawa and 30 characters celebrating the 30th anniversary.

It is the place where you immediately feel that you have come to see 30 years of Conan. Check the signs on-site to confirm whether photography is allowed, and take time to enjoy this first area.

This exhibition is not merely a retrospective of famous scenes. From the opening area onward, it is arranged so that visitors can follow, step by step, how the anime has been created.

Experience 30 Years of the Familiar Opening in the Introduction

The introduction brings together 30 years of the familiar TV-anime opening scene featuring the line, “A child in appearance, but an adult in intellect.”

The longer you have watched the series, the easier it is to notice changes in the artwork and direction. The atmosphere of the early years, the expressions of today’s characters, and the pacing of the footage all show how the impression of the same series has evolved over time.

This section connects with a message from Gosho Aoyama saying that it is fun to observe how the character artwork has changed. Look closely for small differences, and you can enjoy the exhibition from the very first area.

A closer look reveals that the monitors showing older footage are housed in deep boxes designed to resemble cathode-ray tube televisions.

The Main Highlight: How a TV Anime Episode Is Made

One of the most important exhibits to see is the section tracing the production process of the TV anime Detective Conan.

Following the sequence of planning, storyboarding, animation, voice recording, and theme songs reveals how many stages are involved in completing a single episode that viewers normally watch on television.

Planning Area: Discover How Characters and the World Are Designed

The planning area displays materials for character designs, vehicles appearing in the series, items, and art settings.

Before an anime is made, creators must carefully design how characters look, the locations where scenes take place, and the tools involved in each case. This section shows that the cases and the characters’ roles are not created by instinct alone.

Among the setting materials, I found information about a surprising connection between Kaito Kid and Professor Agasa.
I had not known about it, so it caught me by surprise!

The walls also feature points Gosho Aoyama considers important when creating characters, along with production-team selections of behind-the-scenes stories, memorable details, and tricks from individual case files.

At the center are scale models of the Mouri Detective Agency and the Kudo residence created from art reference materials. Fans will likely want to stop and examine these familiar locations from the anime in three dimensions.

Storyboard Area: See the Blueprint Before the Story Becomes Moving Images

The storyboard area covers the walls with storyboards that were actually used in production.

A storyboard serves as a blueprint for building a story as moving images. It determines who appears in each shot, which expressions are shown, and where tension is created. The displays reveal ideas behind the direction that are difficult to see in the finished footage alone.

The media preview included storyboards for the remake of “The Moonlight Sonata Murder Case” and for “Wedding Eve,” the episode in which Toru Amuro first appears.

This area is also fun for searching for materials from episodes featuring your favorite character or cases that left a strong impression. When crowded, it can take time to read the wall displays slowly, so allow extra time here.

Animation Area: Experience the Moment Color and Motion Are Added to Line Art

The animation area lets visitors experience how storyboards become finished footage.

Based on storyboards containing shot and direction notes, key drawings are created, connected into moving sequences, and then combined with backgrounds, BGM, and other elements to form the final episode. The exhibit makes clear how many detailed steps lie behind scenes normally seen only as completed animation.

Original key drawings and surviving animation cels are also on display. It is interesting to compare them with the finished footage and see how Conan’s expressions, character movements, and the tension of a case are conveyed through drawings.

Visitors interested in animation production are likely to spend a long time here. For families with children, explaining, “These drawings move and become the anime,” before examining the detailed materials can make the display easier to understand.

Voice-Recording Area: Compare Conan Edogawa’s Full Range of Emotions

The voice-recording area focuses on the process of adding voices to characters after movement has been created.

A section lets visitors compare Conan Edogawa’s expressions of joy, anger, sorrow, and pleasure, showing how the voice changes with emotion even for the same character.

The exhibition also presents congratulatory messages from the voice actors who play Conan Edogawa and the 30 characters featured in the main visual.

Photography of these comments was prohibited even for the press. Be sure to take your time viewing them at the venue.

Theme Song Area: Look Back on 30 Years Through CD Covers and a Timeline

The theme song area spotlights the music that is essential to the TV anime.

A wall of CD covers and a timeline of past theme songs trace the series’ musical history from the first opening theme in 1996 onward.

This is an area where conversations with companions naturally begin: “I was watching during the time of this song,” or “This opening is the one I remember best.” Friends and couples are likely to have plenty to talk about here.

Monitors also let visitors enjoy past theme songs together with video footage. It is nice to experience the series’ 30-year history with your ears as well as by reading the displays.

Memorial Scenes: Revisit Famous Moments and Character History in Chronological Order

The Memorial Scenes section displays unforgettable scenes and standout moments for individual characters.

Because the exhibition proceeds chronologically from the start of the broadcast in 1996, longtime fans may find memories of the years when they watched Conan returning along with the scenes.

For example, a color object recreating the scene in Episode 1 where Shinichi and Ran visit an amusement park evokes the beginning of the story. Thinking that Detective Conan’s long journey began here makes it feel like one of the most symbolic places in the 30th-anniversary exhibition.

Other displays trace memorable scenes by character, including tense episodes involving the Black Organization, episodes that significantly advance the relationship between Shinichi and Ran, and notable moments featuring Heiji and Kazuha.

The Thanks Theater Screens an Exhibition-Exclusive Special Movie

The Thanks Theater presents a special movie created for the exhibition.

It is an original story available only here, made with gratitude for the fans who have supported the TV anime Detective Conan.
Although short, the animation condenses everything that feels distinctly Detective Conan into a must-see experience for fans.

A story bringing together so many major characters is rare.

Because visitors enter the theater after viewing the production materials, they watch the movie with a better understanding of what happens behind the scenes. That makes it possible to pay closer attention than usual to character expressions, voices, music, and direction—a viewing experience unique to this exhibition.

NEXT CONAN’S HINT: A Quiz-Like Finale

The final area presents a selection of past NEXT CONAN’S HINT segments.

This familiar feature appeared after the TV anime’s ending as a clue to the next case. The display invites visitors to remember which case each hint led to.

Using a red magnifying glass reveals hidden answers. It is an interactive, quiz-like display that is easy for both adults and children to enjoy.

The area also introduces behind-the-scenes production of the special exhibition movie. By reviewing at the end the same production process introduced at the beginning, it provides a well-organized conclusion to the exhibition.

Some panels display signatures from people involved in the production.

Don’t Miss the Merchandise Area and Acrylic Panels

After finishing the exhibits, the merchandise area is another part of the fun.

The Osaka venue plans to sell original items and Detective Conan merchandise. Only visitors who have entered the exhibition may use the merchandise area.

The venue also has an area lined with large panels, which should make a fun photo spot with favorite characters.

Merchandise may sell out depending on availability. Anyone determined to buy a particular item should check the latest updates on the official website or official X account before visiting.

Check the Official Website for the Latest Information

Time Needed Depends on How Much You Read; Allow Extra Time for Shopping

The official page for the Osaka venue does not specify an estimated viewing time.

However, visitors who want to thoroughly see the production materials, storyboards, voice-actor comments, video displays, theme-song area, and Memorial Scenes will likely be more satisfied if they allow plenty of time rather than rushing through.

Official FAQs for earlier venues suggested about 90 minutes. At the Osaka venue as well, plan for at least around 90 minutes if you want to enjoy the exhibits, photography, and shopping, and longer during busy periods.

Crowds may be heavier especially on weekends just after opening, during summer vacation, and in the afternoon. Those who want to read the materials carefully may find weekday mornings easier to navigate.

Who Is It Recommended For? Enjoyment Changes With Your Fan History

The longer you have watched the Detective Conan anime, the stronger the nostalgia at this exhibition is likely to be.

At the same time, it is also suitable for recent fans. Because the production process is introduced in order, you do not need to know every famous anime scene to enjoy the exhibition.

• Longtime fans: Take time to enjoy changes in the artwork, theme songs, and memorable scenes
• Newer viewers: Discover episodes to watch next
• Families with children: NEXT CONAN’S HINT and video displays are easy to understand
• Friends: Conversations about theme songs and favorite characters are sure to get lively
• Animation-production fans: The flow from planning to storyboards and animation is a major highlight

For families with children, prioritizing models, video, audio, and quiz elements is likely to be more enjoyable than trying to make children read every detailed document.

On a date or with friends, discussing which era of Conan you watched while exploring the theme-song area and Memorial Scenes can make the exhibits connect more deeply with personal memories.

Things to Check Before Visiting

To enjoy the exhibition, review the following points before your visit.

• Saturday, July 11, and Sunday, July 12, are priority-reservation days
• The audio guide cannot be purchased after entry
• Check your smartphone, earphones, and battery level
• Some exhibits prohibit photography
• Merchandise may sell out, and admission restrictions may be imposed

In particular, you must decide at the entrance whether to use the audio guide. Those who want to explore while listening to a favorite character’s voice should prepare in advance rather than rushing after arriving at the venue.

Even where photography is allowed in some areas, not every exhibit can be photographed. Voice-actor comments, signatures, and production materials may be off-limits to photography.

Summary: Enjoy 30 Years of Detective Conan Through the Production Process

The TV Anime Detective Conan Exhibition commemorating the 30th anniversary of the broadcast is more than a chance to feel nostalgic about characters and famous scenes. It lets visitors follow, in order, how the anime is made.

The progression from planning to storyboards, animation, voice recording, and theme songs gives new weight to each episode that viewers normally watch without thinking about the work behind it.

The Memorial Scenes, Thanks Theater, and NEXT CONAN’S HINT areas also provide a rich look back over the series’ 30-year history.

Before visiting the Osaka venue, check the priority-reservation dates, audio guide details, smartphone and earphone needs, and no-photography areas. Those who want to read the exhibits carefully should allow plenty of time.

Buy on Asoview: Detective Conan Exhibition
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Frequently Asked Questions

When is the Detective Conan Exhibition held in Osaka?

The Osaka venue is open from Saturday, July 11, through Sunday, August 16, 2026. It is located in a special exhibition space at the Yomiuri Telecasting Corporation headquarters. Hours are 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., with final admission at 5:30 p.m.

Is a reservation required on July 11 and 12?

Saturday, July 11, and Sunday, July 12, are priority-reservation days. Entry may still be possible without a reservation, but visitors may need to wait during busy periods. Those visiting just after opening should check the priority-reservation information when purchasing tickets.

Can I purchase the audio guide after entering?

No. The audio guide cannot be purchased after entry. An audio-guide-only ticket can be bought at the venue entrance on the day. Before entering, check your smartphone, earphones, and battery level if you plan to use it.

Can I take photographs inside the exhibition?

Except in designated photography areas, some exhibits prohibit photography, video recording, and audio recording. Certain areas, including voice-actor comments and signature displays, cannot be photographed, so follow the signs and staff instructions at the venue.

Can families with children enjoy the exhibition?

Yes. Video displays, models, and the quiz elements in NEXT CONAN’S HINT are easy for children to understand. However, because many areas contain detailed materials to read, families may find it easier to focus on video and interactive exhibits.

Can I visit only the merchandise shop?

No. The merchandise area is limited to visitors who have entered the exhibition. Stock and sales conditions may change, so check the official website or official X account before visiting if there is an item you particularly want.

Currency conversion rate used: US$1 = ¥160.