10 Anime Detectives That Should Have Caught Light Before L

One of the main reasons Death Note has remained one of the most popular thriller anime of all time is the intense and complex relationship between Kira and his nemesis, Detective L. Both characters are true geniuses whose mental games are on a level most people can't even fathom. For most fans, the best arcs in Death Note are those who focus on the ideological struggle between Light and L because it made them think hard about morality and truth.

While L is definitely a great detective who could have uncovered Light's secrets given enough time, it cannot be denied that there are many others in the anime industry who have many advantages over the man. Whether it's superhuman powers of analysis or actually supernatural powers, these anime detectives probably would have done better pursuing Light for his crimes.

10

Futa de la Stella – Katekyo Hitman Reborn

At first glance, Futa may appear to be an ordinary child whose love of books is a little more extreme than usual, given that he is always seen carrying a massive book. Yet, behind his friendly smile and innocent attitude hides a power so unique and valuable that several mafia families have died trying to acquire it. Futa is among the best and strongest psychics ever, who can rank everything in existence.

His powers give him knowledge on almost any subject, and the results of his predictions are terrifyingly accurate. As seen during the future arc of Katekyo Hitman Reborn! anime, one of the best Shonen in history, Futa often used this power to gather as much information about a target as possible. This means that the boy would not have to risk his life to go after Light, as he could reveal his identity by simply ranking the people most likely to be Kira.

9

Shinichi Kudo – Case closed

Hiding in plain sight is often the perfect weapon for a detective, as it allows them to move without alerting the target. When paired with seemingly superhuman cognitive abilities, impeccable memory and extraordinary gadgets, an investigator becomes capable of solving even the most difficult cases. No one knows this better than Shinichi Kudo, also known as the acclaimed Detective Conan, one of the best investigators in anime history.

In addition to an amazing mind, Conan was also gifted with a sharp eye that could notice even the smallest deviations. His abilities have shocked fans for decades, solving more than 1000 cases using only his intellect and intuition. While the idea of ​​magic would probably be a bit of a hurdle for Shinichi at first, there's no denying that he would somehow find a way to connect Light to Kira's murder, as he's been proving ever since his classic anime began in the 90s.

8

Victorique de Blois – Gosick

Coming from an ancient heritage of intellectuals, Victorique is a girl who grew up surrounded by mystery novels and encyclopedias. Her childhood was spent absorbing as much knowledge as she could, culminating in an intellectual level that can only be described as superhuman. When it came time for her to debut as a detective, she shocked the world by solving even the most difficult cases, while being involved in one of the best historical romances in anime.

While Victorique possesses great intuitive skills, the true threat to Light and his plans would be her closest supernatural intellect. Her ability to piece together evidence of a crime like pieces of a puzzle makes her not only one of the best female detectives ever, but a thorn in Kira's side. She would quickly find out the nature of Light's kills, as well as the means by which he carries them out.

7

Akise Aru – Future Diary

Although it can be argued that the hate Future diary receives is not all deserved, it cannot be denied that it is lacking in many respects. Nonetheless, one of the aspects where it does a great job is the brilliant detective Akise Aru, whose abilities seem to be enough to fool fate itself. Despite living in a world where terrorists and criminals often gain access to knowledge of the future, Aru was constantly ready to thwart their plans.

Most of his success can be attributed to his almost uncanny ability to predict the next move a target will make by simply looking at their past actions and finding the pattern. Light's arrogant attitude and massive ego often made him taunt his opponents, which would make it easy for Akise to find him. As someone familiar with supernatural beings, he wouldn't dismiss the Death Note as a possibility.

6

Ranpo Edogawa – Bungo Stray Dogs

Known by many to be the most vital member of the Armed Detective Agency, Ranpo is a man with deductive abilities so impressive, even he thought they were unnatural. For most of his career, this charismatic man was able to solve cases that would have baffled the most experienced investigators. He achieved this feat by using his ability, Super Deduction.

This skill is said to have given him superhuman deductive powers, helping him reach conclusions with little or no evidence. However, later in life, Ranpo discovered that he never had any powers to begin with; he was simply the most intelligent man in his universe. Abilities like Ranpon's would be enough to quickly capture Kira, as Light wouldn't have time to even think of a counter strategy.

5

Saitou Yakumo – Psychic Detective Yakumo

For most pop culture detectives, solving a murder case tends to be the most difficult challenge, as anyone who would know all the details of the crime has been hushed up as a precaution. Saitou Yakumo, a talented detective and one of the best ghost hunters in anime, does not struggle with this problem, as he was born with the perfect tool to quickly solve any murder mystery.

Thanks to his red eye, this man can not only see, but also interact and talk with ghosts. He's proven to be an incredible detective even without supernatural powers, but there's no doubt that his ability would be an excellent tool against Kira. By talking to the spirits of characters that almost captured Light as Kira, he would be sure to bring the killer to justice.

4

Sherlock Holmes – Moriarty the Patriot

Sherlock Holmes, arguably the most famous detective of all time, is a brilliant man whose crime-free skills may seem supernatural to many. The version included in the The Patriot Moriartyone of the best anime of the Victorian era, has all the abilities and charms needed to solve even the most bizarre cases.

Holmes has an impressive ability to deduce everything he can from a person with a single glance, being able to deduce their background, personality and even their secrets in seconds. He's also not bound by the law, preferring to break a few rules here and there if it means catching a criminal. As such, there is little Light can do against one of the smartest detectives anime has ever seen.

3

Oreki Houtarou – Hyouka

Although a large majority of detectives prefer never to rely on luck, some often hope for a little help from fortune to make their job easier. Then there's Hotarou, an amazing genius whose own laziness and boredom lead him to believe that all of his deductive skills come from pure coincidence.

Objectively, one of the smartest protagonists alive, Oreki is capable of finding clues where most other investigators would never even look. He has an uncanny ability to connect two seemingly unrelated pieces of evidence, which often become the key to solving the case. As such, this encounter would end with Kira being defeated by one of the best child detectives in anime.

2

Ron Kamonohashi – Ron Kamonohashi's Forbidden Deduction

Once the most famous aspiring detective from the BLUE Academy, Ron is an exceptionally intelligent individual who seemingly inherited the skills of his late ancestor, Sherlock Holmes. His mind works in ways no ordinary human can understand, seeing patterns and clues even in the most unassuming places. Regrettably, he is unable to perform his duties, as his license was suspended.

As such, he works through his friend and assistant, Totomaru, a hard-working but slightly unintelligent detective who uses Ron's insights to solve cases. Most likely, Kamonohashi would be able to beat Kira quickly by using his incredibly strong detective skills. Yet his true strength would come in the form of anonymity, as Light would never know that Totomaru isn't the real threat to his plans.

1

Kyoko Kirigiri – Danganronpa: The Animation

Peak's Hope Academy is a school where only the best of the best can enroll, at least before it became the setting for one of the best dystopian anime ever. As such, it's no surprise that the girl accepted into this prestigious institution for her detective skills is among the most gifted of all time. Kyoko Kirigiri, also known as the Ultimate Detective, is a descendant of a long line of successful investigators.

Kyoko has been trained since childhood to find clues in the most unusual places, as well as finding the missing link in any case simply by examining the scene. Her abilities are such that she can deduce even the most unlikely solutions to a problem, making her an extremely dangerous threat against a character like Kira. Kyoko was able, almost magically, to uncover the rules of the Death Note and use them to her advantage to overthrow Kira's reign of terror.