We bring a variety of snacks to a haunted house in Detective Conan Episode 20 with our mystery guest -- Theodosia Mayfield, creator of Delve Immersive and experienced haunted house performer. We return to Detective Conan for a Halloween special and our last episode of 2021. The Detective Boys investigate the creepy house at the end of the street, and we investigate the creepy lack of waffle ice cream sandwiches in our lives. Plus: how hard would it be to get away with murder ... in space? Podcas...
Nov 01, 2021•1 hr 15 min
We all examine our seats for any unsavory surprises in Rampo Kitan: Game of Laplace Episodes 1 and 2 with our mystery guest -- Nate May, improviser and member of Daddy Issues Improv. We investigate a shocking and strange adaptation of the mystery and thriller stories by classic Japanese author, Edogawa Rampo. There are a lot of bizarre choices in this very detective-y anime -- some are delightful, some are confusing, and some are dreadful. We talk about the emo lyrics of the opening song, the ar...
Oct 25, 2021•1 hr 24 min
We swashbuckle from rooftop to rooftop in The Castle of Cagliostro, along with mystery castle expert: comedian and writer, Drew Kramcsak. This week we follow Lupin III to the vaguely European and beautifully animated countryside in the classic anime film, The Castle of Cagliostro, the directorial debut of Hayao Miyazaki. Noah pretends to be blonde, Michael remembers things about Inspector Gadget, and everyone goes out to a diner to get cheesecake once it's all over. Plus: Drew puts in a plug for...
Oct 11, 2021•1 hr 35 min
We deploy misdirection to steal a precious sapphire in Magic Kaito Episode 2, joined by mystery magic expert, Fred Siegel. The Dying Message Podcast is still missing! This week we track down the elusive Kaito Kid, a Detective Conan character who has a spin-off origin-story series. He uses flashy magic in his heists, and we are bringing it to you via the magic (haha) of podcasting. Plus: Fred reports on the anime he remembers from the local Philadelphia TV program "Wee Willie Weber's Colorful Car...
Oct 03, 2021•1 hr 14 min
We rollerskate and jazzercise our way to freedom in Cat's Eye Episode 1, joined by mystery art expert, Karen Coleman Hinners. The Dying Message Podcast has been stolen! We're on the case to track down the thieves by watching thief/heist anime starting with the amazing 80s anime - Cat's Eye. Along the way, we'll learn about the mischeivous reputation of the tanuki and also that there are a lot of Culkins out there in the world. Plus: Karen provides amazing insight into what it's like to have your...
Sep 27, 2021•1 hr 18 min
On a new Dying Message Extra*, we look at the first life action Detective Conan prequel,The Letter of Challenge, with returning funny movie-folk, Kai Bobbi and Jim O'Donnell, co-hosts of the Rotten Treasure podcast. To celebrate the 50th episode of our podcast, we dive right in to the first live action Detective Conan TV special. In this prequel story, Ran and Sonoko are kidnapped, Shinichi is full of himself, Kogoro has a fake mustache, and Megure is possibly played by three kids in a trenchcoa...
Sep 20, 2021•1 hr 36 min
We reveal pertinent information while riding motorcycles in The Crimson Love Letter (Detective Conan Movie 21) with mystery guests Kai Bobbi and Jim O'Donnell of the Rotten Treasure podcast. We're gearing up for Episode 50 next week by bringing back two fantastic mystery guests to watch a full-length, shiny, exciting, complicated, character-full movie. We do a ton of research on the traditional Japanese card game Karuta and try to figure out whether it's a good motive for murder. Plus: we let ou...
Sep 13, 2021•1 hr 46 min
We take the express elevator to murder in Detective Conan Episode 19, joined by mystery guest, Rachel Benjamin When a high school karate champion gets a once in a lifetime opportunity to be a fashion model, what could possibly go wrong? Just a meticulously planned murder with a devious elevator alibi trick. Along the way, we learn about Rachel's high school yearbook, that even fancy carpets should be disposed of, that Alan works as a security guard, and that Michael has never taken the time to G...
Sep 06, 2021•1 hr 12 min
We fail to recognize a woman after she changes clothing in Detective Conan Episode 13, joined by mystery guest, Gina Gennari, who is taking a break from the world of True Crime to talk with us about fictional crime. It seems like a simple case of a girl looking for her father (and then a shrunken detective accidentally tripping and planting a tracking device on said girl [and then going to look for her after her "father" is murdered]). In reality, we had a hell of a time talking about this episo...
Aug 30, 2021•1 hr 33 min
It's time to crown a new Detective Champion on Part 2 of this year's hottest competitive book club -- Dying Message Challenge: The Inugami Curse. We'll be revealing the secrets of this classic Japanese murder mystery, along with fun games and surprises along the way. Last week, amateur sleuths Sam, Kate, and Michael guessed the ending of The Inugami Curse and now that they've finished the book, we'll see who was closest to the actual ending. It all builds up to the biggest surprise of all -- who...
Aug 23, 2021•1 hr 23 min
Is it a book club? Is it a game show? Our spin-off: Dying Message Challenge is a little bit of both, and it's back better than ever! Three contestants try to solve the murders in the novel The Inugami Curse before reading the end of the book. They'll earn additional points in a series of challenges posed by host Noah Max Levine, and compete for the title of "Detective Champion." Part 1 spoils the beginning of the book -- but not the solution to the murders. If you enjoy our coverage of mystery a...
Aug 09, 2021•1 hr 17 min
We skateboard across the surface of a river in Detective Conan Episode 12, with fantastic mystery guest -- comedian Fran Fortunato Buckle up for an exciting car/skateboard chase as Detective Conan takes to the streets. There's a lot of strange behavior by six-year old kids in this episode including: climbing into the trunks of car and declaring their love for each other. Plus: Fran brings us a mysterious and bloody mystery and gives us the low-down on what she's learned from hours of Dragon Ball...
Aug 02, 2021•1 hr 12 min
We play the piano as flames dance around us in Detective Conan Episode 11, joined this week by mystery guest, Jesse Spillane -- the musician who created our theme music! This week we tackle an all-time classic of Detective Conan: The Moonlight Sonata Murders. An island with a cursed piano that holds a terrible secret? Sign us up! Plus: There's extra music in this episode! Hear the Moonlight Sonata as we talk about it. Wow! That's fancy! Podcast cover art by Myriam Bloom. Theme music excerpted fr...
Jul 24, 2021•1 hr 32 min
On a new Dying Message Extra*, we look at a recent manga, i tell c, that promises "a unique take on the crime-suspense genre" with returning troublemakers, Katie Cwirko and Nick Elmer. As if the manga we're reading wasn't wild enough (with a twist you've got to hear us talk about to believe), Katie and Nick bring opinions on a variety of topics including: crepes and pretzels, Barnes and Noble bathrooms, literary drinking games, and Cats (the movie). This is an absolute wild ride that will make y...
Jul 19, 2021•1 hr 14 min
We solve a mystery backwards and light the hillside on fire in Detective Conan Episode 9, joined this week by mystery guests, Michelle Reap and Dean Wilhelmi. In this episode of Detective Conan, we see the murder take place (just like Columbo or that train episode of Detective Academy Q). But the murderer's alibi is broken because of how embarassed everyone is when brushing their teeth -- except for Noah who would brush his teeth in front of a total stranger. Plus: Michelle and Dean try to help ...
Jul 12, 2021•1 hr 15 min
We receive unwanted gifts on a regular basis in Detective Conan Episode 7, joined this week by mystery guest, Sarah Carter. Three main plot threads this week: 1) a surgeon is plagued by deliveries of toys, flowers, and money 2) Ran pretty much figures out her teenage sweetheart has become the child, Conan 3) Sarah Carter joins us for this plot heavy episode and asks a lot of important questions Plus: We all reveal our ages, we start selling mac and cheese, and we talk a bit about Sailor Moon. Po...
Jul 04, 2021•1 hr 10 min
In our first ever Dying Message Extra*, we dig up the gay detective film Third Man Out (2005) to celebrate pride month with Steve Kleinedler and Harrison Scantling. We have a good time going into all the strange bits and pieces of this movie -- every single candy dish and husband-poured margarita. We also ponder queer representation in this and other mystery films, and rack our brains trying to think of other queer murder mysteries. (Does that Golden Girls episode count?) Podcast Cover Art by My...
Jun 28, 2021•1 hr 14 min
We defy gender norms to make our own Valentine's Day chocolate in Detective Conan Episode 6, joined this week by mystery guest, Megan Edelman. No one is acting their age on the first Valentine's Day in Detective Conan. High school girls go on dates with college boys, a mother crashes her son's valentine's day, and a six-year old boy acts much more like the jealous teenager he secretly is. But by the end of it, we do find a short and delicious mystery to unravel. Plus: Michael critiques chocolate...
Jun 19, 2021•1 hr 17 min
We are very knowledgeable about the trains in Detective Conan Episode 5, joined this week by mystery guest -- Joe Wendrychowicz, host of Fair Deal: An Improvised Mediation Podcast. In this episode, Conan tries out two new gadgets/accessories to his outfit: the Power-Enhancing Kick Shoes and the Glasses Microphone. Meanwhile, everyone on this train is carrying a black briefcase, and one of them has a bomb inside! It's not even ten minutes into the episode when we accidentally solve one of our gue...
May 30, 2021•1 hr 8 min
We straighten out a painting and inherit a big pile of gold in Layton Mystery Tanteisha episode 1 with our mystery guest -- Jack O'Keeffe, comedian and host of the Good Quiz. We investigate the pilot episode of the spin-off anime series of the Professor Layton spin-off game: Layton's Mystery Journey. There's plenty of time for tea amid the refreshingly light mystery of a man whose entire family has disappeared -- were they eaten by a house? Plus: We reveal the secret origin of Batman, I attempt ...
May 26, 2021•1 hr 7 min
We contaminate a crime scene with the help of children in Detective Conan (Case Closed) Episode 3 with our mystery guest -- Siobhan O'Hara, stand-up comedian and mouse hunter. Would it be worth it to be immortal if you had to be six years old forever? We answer this question with our mystery guest after seeing how hard it is for Shinichi Kudo to solve a murder now that he's six years old. Plus: We get an update from Ryan on Moriarty the Patriot and solve a not-so-poopy mystery. Podcast cover art...
May 17, 2021•1 hr 22 min
We ride a hatless dog to rescue a twice-kidnapped "debutante" in Detective Conan (Case Closed) Episode 2 with our mystery guest -- Nick Elmer, our returning episode-two guy. Picking up right where we left off last week, we follow a shrunken high school detective as he copes with his new life as a six-year old child. We also course correct a bit from last week's very critical breakdown of episode 1 to focus in on the charm of Detective Conan that has led to its 20+ year-run. Oh, and we find time ...
May 10, 2021•1 hr 12 min
We buckle down to it and ride a roller coaster in Detective Conan (Case Closed) Episode 1 with our mystery guest -- Katie Cwirko, our podcast's fantastic pilot person. It's the pilot episode that launched 1000 further episodes. That's right! This week, we tackle the 1000-episode murder mystery behemoth that is Detective Conan and fulfill the promise in our preview episode to explain what it's all about. Along the way, we stop at a theme park that is not up to code, and make some very personally ...
May 03, 2021•1 hr 12 min
We adopt three orphans to impress a lady in Moriarty the Patriot Episodes 2 and 3 with our mystery guest -- Ryan T. Barlow, comedian, humorist and musician. This is the kind of Sherlock Holmes adaptation that could only exist in anime -- three beautiful Moriarty brothers intent on using crime to fight the unjust class system in Victorian England. It takes us a lot of effort to remember which Moriarty brother is which, but it's worth it. Plus: Ryan fixes his bathtub and Michael falls down a Googl...
Apr 25, 2021•1 hr 30 min
We put on drag and compete to beat Sherlock Holmes in Case File nº221: Kabukicho (Kabukicho Sherlock) Episode 1 with our mystery guest -- Josh Hitchens, host/creater of the Going Dark Theatre podcast. This anime premiered in the fall of 2020 when the world was simpler. Like this straightforward modern take on Sherlock Holmes. Set in a possibly dystopian version of the Kabukicho red light district of Japan. With a full roster of eccentric detectives trying to outdo Holmes. Oh, and also, Mrs. Huds...
Apr 17, 2021•1 hr 30 min
We spend an unfathomable (and limitless) amount of money producing Millionaire Detective Balance: Unlimited Episode 1 with our mystery guests Cara Schmidt and Alex Fierro. Originally airing in April 2020, this detective anime pilot gives new meaning to the words "big spender." Ever watched a detective show and worried that the main characters weren't obscenely wealthy enough? Well, do we have some great news for you! Plus: the mystery of the friendly neighbors and the unexpected soap. Podcast co...
Apr 12, 2021•1 hr 19 min
We question whether a poet would make a good detective in Woodpecker Detective's Office: Episode 1 with our mystery guest -- teacher, power lifter, and literature enthusiast, Maddy. This anime series from Spring 2020 casts historical Japanese figures from 1902 Japan in a murder mystery and romance (or is the romance just in Noah's head?) This episode has everything we're looking for: a brothel with paper thin walls, a murder mystery with paper thin plotting, some nice art, and silly pin-ups. Pod...
Apr 04, 2021•1 hr 9 min
We discover the treasure of a lost civilization in Lupin III: The First along with our three mystery guests: comedian Tanya Morgan and her two kids, Brandon (11) and Monay (9). It's a whole lot of firsts on this week's Dying Message: 1) we watched a movie; 2) it's in CG; 3) it was released this year; 4) it's about a thief and not a detective; 5) we have three mystery guests; 6) two of our mystery guests are kids; 7) this is a long list; 8) are you excited to listen to the episode? This is a grea...
Jan 02, 2021•1 hr 17 min
We wrap our investigation into Detective Academy Q and share our final thoughts on all 45 episodes of this series. We don't have a guest this week, but we manage to solve quite a few mysteries on our own, like: What were the best episodes of Detective Academy Q? Why was the ending so disappointing? What's next for the Dying Message podcast? Can we eat cookies quiet enough to not mess up with recording? Plus: we share the conclusion of last week's exciting oven mystery, with a clip featuring last...
Dec 28, 2020•50 min
We solve the final mysteries in Detective Academy Q: Episodes 44 and 45 with mystery guests -- Alexis Howland and Nate Biagiotti, co-hosts of Alexis and Nate Don't Know. Well, that's a wrap on Detective Academy Q, as we detail its very unsatisfying conclusion along with two very confused guests. We go through all the dramatic reveals, car chases, boat chases, and characters by the bucketload. Somehow, we still have enough time to explore two temples and make some powerful enemies. Plus: a real-l...
Dec 21, 2020•1 hr 28 min
