Magic Kaito 1412

There's a perpetual, particular mindset that one must have in order to appreciate and enjoy magic. It's something innocent. It's something that makes you appreciate the awe and wonder presented in the moment; a beautiful deception. A part of you will want to know the answer, constantly hunting for the secret. But another part of you doesn't mind. It's something that you want to know the answer to, but know you shouldn't. That's because you know the answer doesn't matter. You want to be fooled. Magic Kaito 1412 is a rather simplistic show, despite magic being its core element. It's an episodic series and, as such,doesn't require much of an obligation to follow intently. Like all episodic series, some episodes will also be better than others. However, this layout works impeccably well for this particular show; I couldn't imagine it being done differently. For the most part, Magic Kaito is broken down into heists that usually span one episode, with the occasional part-two. In each episode Kaito dons the persona of the Kaito Kid, an unconventional, gentlemanly thief, who steals rare jewelry and returns it shortly afterwards. He often performs his heists in a flashy manner, which often becomes something like a free, public magic show. Periodically, characters from Detective Conan make appearances (Shinichi/Conan really being the only relevant figure, of course), which is entertaining in its own right. Due to the episodic nature of the series, many of the characters who appear in Magic Kaito are not recurring. The only characters who appear in every episode are Kaito and Aoko, who have been friends, and neighbors, since childhood. The dynamic between Kaito and Aoko is very light-hearted and exactly what you would expect from close friends. Their relationship, for the most part, seems fun and realistic, yet also quite childish and pure. They tease one another, but also know when to support each other as well. They share quite a few sweet, romantic moments in the series, which was a more refreshing type of intimacy that you rarely see in many shows nowadays. It's not overbearing, nor is it the main focus, but it offers a warm, cozy feeling nonetheless. Unfortunately, character development is not a strong point of Magic Kaito. There isn't much growth or change in any of the characters, so what you see is what you're going to get from episode one onwards. In addition, many of the characters in the series give off the impression of being fairly dumb, to be quite frank. But, I suppose there's a certain pitiful charm to their stupidity that slowly becomes endearing. The art, animation, and sound are easily the weakest points of Magic Kaito, though that is something that's to be completely expected. This is not a show with high production values and it never gave off any impressions of being one. It doesn't have the best visual appeal, nor is the soundtrack anything special. However, production values don't mean everything. Magic Kaito takes a more humble approach to a very pleasant series and it works well enough. In spite of its exceedingly lacking popularity, Magic Kaito 1412 was a very delightful, lively watch. The heart of all magic tricks and illusions lies within the enjoyment of the people watching, a point that is well pointed out in this series. In that regard, Magic Kaito 1412 succeeds.

"Ladies and gentlemen! I bring you the illusions that sparkle at night"- Kid the Phantom Thief. If you are already a fan of Kid the Phantom Thief or Detective Conan, you should enjoy this series. If you are unfamiliar with either of those names, you can still watch this series and enjoy it. Having information about the characters will definitely inform your viewing experience, but it is not needed. Story: 7 This series is episodic in nature, which each story focusing on Kid the Phantom Thief attempting to steal some jewel or valuable object, which brings him into conflict with the police, other thieves, royalty, teen detectives, anda certain child detective. The engaging part of the story is learning the explanation behind the magic tricks performed in the series (most of which are pretty clever). Many scenarios require a great suspension of disbelief, and the stories can be formulaic at times, but still very enjoyable. Art: 8 The animation quality is great, recreating the unique art-style from the manga. There are plenty of night shots with beautiful lighting and lots of flowing capes. Sound: 8 The background music is great, there are a couple really great tracks that range from jazz to techno beats. The OPs and EPs are great tunes and get you excited for the series. The Japanese dub has great voice acting, especially from the main character. Character: 7 I've heard complaints the characters are stereotypical. I can see how characters fit into typical shonen character roles, but they are enjoyable nonetheless. Kaito is a stubborn and prideful guy who has a good heart and Aoko is a sweet girl who just can't seem to be honest with him about her feelings, but she can give him the what for when needed! Enjoyment: 9 The idea of having a secret identity is a story-line I enjoy watching and the mission Kaito gives himself at the start of the series provides strong motivation to his actions. Having not watched any Detective Conan prior to viewing this, I was apprehensive about watching a spin off series from a long running show . Magic Kaito proved to be very entertaining and a good adventure series, and the episodes with Conan are some of the best ones! Seeing the magic tricks explained and seeing mysteries solved kept me interested in watching more. Kid the Phantom Thief is so charismatic that you can't help but cheer for him!

Batman:Japan is a relaunch of the classic superhero movie but with a Japanese Bruce Wayne joining the world of crime instead of fighting it in order to find his father's killer. All jokes aside, as someone who loved the 2010 version I just had to pick this up. Although a lot of the episodes are the same with some extremely minor details changed, it does include contents from a couple of the Kaitou Kid specials from the Conan anime which is nice because it gives Kaito fans a way to enjoy a comprehensive collection of all of our favourite phantom thief's adventures without having tosift through 700 episodes of Conan. From an aesthetic perspective, the show looks quite good. The characters look more crisp than the OVA version and the colours are more vibrant. However, it's hard to say if 1412 is strictly better than the OVA version in terms of art because the OVA had a bit of an old school charm to it. Also some of the CGI looks really out of place in 1412. The soundtrack of this show is honestly amazing. All of the opening and ending these can be contenders for the top 5 opening and endings themes of the season. The BGM ranges from some sappy jazz to quick beat rhythm that makes you want to move along with the action. Now the problem with Kaito is that the story is quite repetitive. It's akin to the monster of the week shounen but with thefts. Though some of the ways Kaito solves his problems can be considered as bigger asspulls than No Game No Life, a lot of the more thought out ones, especially the ones involving Conan, are quite intriguing and will make you go "aha" afterwards. To me, the most important aspect of the show are the characters. Honestly speaking, the main characters Kaito and Aoko are quite stagnant and set in their tropes. However, there's no rule stating that stagnant characters cannot be loveable characters. Though Kaito can sometimes make you cringe with his white knighting neckbeard fedora M'lady act, he and Aoko both have a sort of charisma that makes you love them. They are especially adorable during the romance episodes albeit being a bit cheesy. I would definitely recommend this anime to people looking to watch something lighthearted and have some fun. And I would definitely recommend it to Conan fans who haven't checked out the OVA version yet as this is the ultimate fanservice.

“Opportunity makes a thief.” – Francis Bacon For any thief, lying, stealing, and taking every opportunity is part of their job. What about for a guy like Kaito? He seizes every opportunity and takes granted by the decisions he makes. The end result is usually something desirable in his favor. You know what they say about magic right? It’s like a fantasy wonder and Kaito makes it his own reality. Magic Kaito is like magic because it will leave you in a state of awe for seizing every opportunity to shine with its presentation. For starters, the series has some loosely connection with Detective Conan (Case Disclosed),another series by Gosho Aoyama. However, this only starts and stops at cameos from certain characters between the shows. In essence, Magic Kaito operates on his own set of principles with its unique story. And as for this story, we have a young man who takes on a double persona. His name is Kaito Kuroba, who occasionally goes by his infamous alter ego, Kaito Kid. The series also depict a bit about his father, a man that Kaito looks up to. But unfortunately, his father was killed eight years prior to the events of the story. In present time, Magic Kaito 1412 focuses on Kaito with his double life and in a story of magic and mystery origins. To call this series a mystery might be an overstatement for some though. At taking a closer glance, it’s immediately obvious who Kaito’s alter ego is. Even with the masterfully disguised transformations, the series takes on a more lighthearted atmosphere with the phantom thief trope. The other side of the story also shows Kaito’s normal life where he lives with a normal family and hanging out with his normal childhood friends, Aoko. So how does this show manage to succeed? Simple. Like a thief, the series seizes every opportunity to show what the franchise is capable of. It captures a well-meaning sense of events as well as sending the right message. Staying honest with its premise, the series adapts events relating to Kaito and his mischievous adventures. It can even feel complex at times when Kaito gets into more trouble than he should be when getting involved with authority figures. But hey, that’s what makes this show stand out so well. It shows a multidimensional portrayal of Kaito’s character that connects with the story. And like any story, the series also adapts a promising cast of characters. Although Kaito is the main star of the show, the other cast members aren’t neglected. Most prominently, we see Kaito’s childhood friend Aoko who he has known since they were kids. The series makes some obvious suggestions that the two are mutually attracted to another but often plays it off with teasing. However, it creates a charming atmosphere when any opportunity comes and goes. There’s chemistry between Kaito and Aoko that extends more than just childhood friends. The events they become a part of manages to beautifully articulate and craft their roles. It also creates a variety of emotions when we see the outcome of these events. There’s also relevance when it comes to every episode when the characters become part of the problem or solution. Because like I mentioned before, all the main cast gets some spotlight whether it’d be Kaito’s rival Saguru, the mischievous witch Akako, or the hotheaded investigator Ginzo Nakamori. Even Kaito’s father has his own set of background episodes despite not being actually being present in the series. This is important because it’s what motivates Kaito to become the person he is during the present storyline. And while he isn’t actually present in the events of the present, the show manages to create a great belief with the man. In retrospect, it’s inspirational and accomplishes what it’s trying to do – seizing the opportunity with a platform of gadgets it has to work with. On the downside, the show’s subtle romance isn’t exactly strong in its standards as the main focus is usually on the phantom thief himself. Despite titled ‘Magic Kaito 1412’, you won’t be getting cheesy magical battles between characters. Rather, many of the episodes features a cat-and-mouse like game. Some parts of the story will feel repetitive and predictable while others can have unexpected results. Take it as a grain of salt but the series does have some episodes that will be a hit or miss when it comes to expectations. Still, one thing I always give credit for this show is the charming comedy. It doesn’t rely on shock value such as fan service or cliché romance angles. Instead it delivers by its remarkable performance between the characters that connects with the story. Easily understandable yet compelling. Silly at times yet relevant. Simple yet intelligent. This show is like a love child from the great Harry Houdini himself. A-1 Pictures adapts this series and although not impressive with some of their shounen adaptations, this show is one to admire. Every setting has its props that works well whether it’s the handy gadgets Kaito uses or what he steals. Character designs are also very convincing especially with Kaito and his noticeable outfit. That white tall hat complete with a pair of long cape and eyeglass makes him stand out as the poster boy of the show. Other characters are also fitting with their design such as Akako’s mysterious beauty as her role of the witch and the frustrating yet amusing expressions of inspector Ginzo. However, one feature of the character designs I have to bring up would be the characters’ noses. It shouldn’t be hard to spot but some of the noses are a bit over exaggerated than it should be. While it does not ruin the characters, the design there can be distracting. For more or less, music and soundtrack does play some key roles in this show. Starting with the OP and ED songs, the series appeals to its lyrics and highlights moments of Kaito’s mysterious career in short yet catchy scenarios. Every episode’s soundtrack also has this consistency to adapt its various tropes to the point. Without the OST or soundtrack, some scenes may be left without its texture and feelings. But when coordinated like the way it did, the show comes to life thanks to its skillful effort at this adaptation. Finally, voice mannerisms has great expression. I give praise to Kaito and Akako’s VA for portraying their double life characters. It’s not always easy to play a character that portrays different personalities but Kappei Yamaguchi and Eri Kitamura did wonderfully. This series may feel a bit underrated at times but overall is a fun take for a shounen adventure. Rather than battling against monsters or saving the world, we have Kaito fighting with his own motivations. The characters that he gets acquainted with all has some connection with the overall tone of the story. And despite some episodes being predictable, it’s overall riveting as it reminds us how fun sometimes life can be. And as a side bonus, some of your favorite characters from Detective Conan may surprise you in this series. So let this show unfold and tell you a story about a man who became the phantom thief.