Rampo Kitan: Game of Laplace

Rampo Kitan: Game of Laplace (乱歩奇譚 Game of Laplace) is a Japanese anime television series produced by Lerche, directed by Seiji Kishi, and written by Makoto Uezu. The series aired on Fuji TV's Noitamina programming block from July 2 to September 17, 2015. The anime is inspired by the works of author Edogawa Ranpo and commemorates the 50th anniversary of his death in 1965.

Plot
The story begins at a middle school where the murder and dismemberment of a teacher has taken place. Kobayashi, a boy who goes to this school and the lead suspect in the case, meets the genius detective Akechi, who comes to the school to investigate. After being cleared of the crime, Kobayashi takes an interest in Akechi and, in spite of his friend Hashiba's worries, volunteers to be Akechi's assistant.

Characters

 * Kogorō Akechi (アケチ コゴロウ)
 * A genius 17-year-old detective who solves abnormal crimes for fun. The government has given him a special license in order to capitalize on his special investigative skills. He is regularly seen taking aspirin and guzzling coffee drinks.
 * A genius 17-year-old detective who solves abnormal crimes for fun. The government has given him a special license in order to capitalize on his special investigative skills. He is regularly seen taking aspirin and guzzling coffee drinks.


 * Kobayashi Yoshio (コバヤシ)
 * A middle school boy who is often mistaken for a girl, he is blamed for dismembering his homeroom teacher. Much like Akechi, he is excited when he discovers that he can solve mysteries, and he's unfazed by morbid details of murder. Kobayashi asks to become Akechi's assistant if he can discover the real killer of his homeroom teacher.
 * A middle school boy who is often mistaken for a girl, he is blamed for dismembering his homeroom teacher. Much like Akechi, he is excited when he discovers that he can solve mysteries, and he's unfazed by morbid details of murder. Kobayashi asks to become Akechi's assistant if he can discover the real killer of his homeroom teacher.


 * Sōji Hashiba (ハシバ)
 * A passionate boy who is best friends with Kobayashi. He is the heir to the rich Hashiba company and detests Akechi for being "cold hearted" at first. He is also against the idea of Kobayashi becoming Akechi's assistant and often looks out for Kobayashi. He is the class rep and is popular with girls. It is implied he has romantic feelings for Kobayashi.
 * A passionate boy who is best friends with Kobayashi. He is the heir to the rich Hashiba company and detests Akechi for being "cold hearted" at first. He is also against the idea of Kobayashi becoming Akechi's assistant and often looks out for Kobayashi. He is the class rep and is popular with girls. It is implied he has romantic feelings for Kobayashi.


 * Hanabishi (ハナビシ)
 * The new homeroom teacher of Kobayashi and Hashiba. She's very cheerful in class and dresses up in a Lolita/cat-like style. Kobayashi notices cut marks on her wrists.
 * The new homeroom teacher of Kobayashi and Hashiba. She's very cheerful in class and dresses up in a Lolita/cat-like style. Kobayashi notices cut marks on her wrists.


 * Keisuke Kagami (カガミ ケイスケ)
 * An investigator for the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department. He has a strong sense of justice.
 * An investigator for the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department. He has a strong sense of justice.


 * Nakamura (ナカムラ)
 * A perpetually stubbly police officer, friendly with Kagami.
 * A perpetually stubbly police officer, friendly with Kagami.


 * Black Lizard (黒蜥蜴)
 * An underworld figure with a fixation on Akechi.
 * An underworld figure with a fixation on Akechi.


 * Shadow-Man (影男)
 * A master of disguise. He's known as a "gentleman thief" and wanted by the police. He once befriended Kagami's little sister Tokiko. It is eventually revealed that he was stealing money in order to pay for an operation that saved the life of a girl named Sachiko who was terminally ill. Sachiko was later kidnapped, and Shadow-Man asked for Kobayashi's help to investigate her disappearance.
 * A master of disguise. He's known as a "gentleman thief" and wanted by the police. He once befriended Kagami's little sister Tokiko. It is eventually revealed that he was stealing money in order to pay for an operation that saved the life of a girl named Sachiko who was terminally ill. Sachiko was later kidnapped, and Shadow-Man asked for Kobayashi's help to investigate her disappearance.


 * Minami (ミナミ)
 * The medical examiner who delivers the results of autopsies in frantic scenes of exposition. Her personality is revealed to be much more twisted due to an incident where her little brother, who was terminally ill, committed suicide in order to make it less painful for her, but the plan backfired and caused her to become one of the Twenty Faces.
 * The medical examiner who delivers the results of autopsies in frantic scenes of exposition. Her personality is revealed to be much more twisted due to an incident where her little brother, who was terminally ill, committed suicide in order to make it less painful for her, but the plan backfired and caused her to become one of the Twenty Faces.


 * Corpsey (死体君)
 * The demonstration dummy that Minami uses to show causes of death. It is revealed that it was an inspiration from Minami's dead brother.
 * The demonstration dummy that Minami uses to show causes of death. It is revealed that it was an inspiration from Minami's dead brother.


 * Tokiko Kagami (カガミ 時子)
 * Kagami's little sister. Kagami frequently receives calls from her on his cellphone. Later murdered as retaliation for her brother's involvement in her killer's prior arrest.
 * Kagami's little sister. Kagami frequently receives calls from her on his cellphone. Later murdered as retaliation for her brother's involvement in her killer's prior arrest.


 * Nathan Namikoshi (ナミコシ)
 * Akechi's junior high friend and the first Twenty Faces. He created the Dark Star after constant abuse from his father and school bullies.
 * Akechi's junior high friend and the first Twenty Faces. He created the Dark Star after constant abuse from his father and school bullies.

Anime
The anime television series produced by Lerche, directed by Seiji Kishi, and written by Makoto Uezu premiered on Fuji TV's Noitamina programming block on July 2, 2015. The anime is licensed by AnimeLab in Australia and New Zealand and is being simulcast on their website as it airs in Japan. The opening theme is "Speed to Masatsu" (スピードと摩擦) by Amazarashi and the ending theme is "Mikazuki" (ミカヅキ) by Sayuri. The broadcast of the ninth episode was delayed one week due to a scheduling conflict with a sports program.