Fans of Detective Conan in China are experiencing a turbulent time. What was meant to be a blockbuster anniversary collaboration has unexpectedly turned into a flop, placing the iconic Conan series at the center of unprecedented criticism.
The controversy began when YTV released special anniversary images celebrating Detective Conan’s 30-year legacy. To boost excitement, the Japanese side decided to team up with My Hero Academia, which is also approaching its 10th anniversary this April.
Instead of excitement, this crossover met with fierce backlash from Chinese netizens. The keywords “Conan” and “My Hero Academia” quickly topped search trends with a flood of negative comments, forcing the Chinese rights holders to work overnight to manage the crisis.
The sharp turn in public opinion is rooted in My Hero Academia’s controversial past. In 2020, the series was removed from major platforms like Tencent Video and Bilibili amid accusations of disrespecting history.
Specifically, the villain Maruta Shiga in chapter 259 was seen as evoking painful wartime memories. The term “Maruta” was a brutal label used by Unit 731 for victims of inhumane experiments. For a national treasure like Conan, known for its huge fanbase and clean image, to collaborate with a title on China’s blacklist felt like a bitter betrayal to many fans.
Under intense public pressure, Shanghai Character Rights Management Company, the exclusive Conan licensee in China, issued an urgent statement on Weibo last Saturday night.
The statement emphasized, “This collaboration carries no political stance or implications. It is simply part of a large-scale campaign to promote interaction between works.”
It also highlighted that the Japanese side supports friendly cultural exchanges and aims to convey positive values. However, rather than calming the situation, this explanation only fueled the backlash.
Many netizens criticized the statement as superficial, lacking a sincere apology, and accused it of trying to cover up the core issue.
For now, the future of this crossover in China remains uncertain. Will Conan overcome this crisis, or will it suffer significant damage from the firm stance of the Chinese online community?