The Case Book of Arne
| The Case Book of Arne | |
 First tankōbon volume cover of the manga adaptation | |
| アルネの事件簿 (Arune no Jikenbo) | |
|---|---|
| Genre | Mystery[1] |
| Video game | |
| Developer | Harumurasaki |
| Publisher | Vaka Game Magazine |
| Genre | Adventure, Gothic Horror |
| Engine | RPG Maker |
| Platform | Steam |
| Released |
|
| Manga | |
| Written by | Harumurasaki |
| Illustrated by | Soraho Ina |
| Published by | Media Factory |
| Imprint | MF Comics Gene Series |
| Magazine | Monthly Comic Gene |
| Original run | November 15, 2018 – March 15, 2022 |
| Volumes | 4 |
| Anime television series | |
| Directed by | Keisuke Inoue |
| Produced by |
|
| Written by | |
| Music by | Yoshiaki Fujisawa |
| Studio | Silver Link |
| Licensed by | Crunchyroll |
| Original network | Nippon TV, BS NTV, AT-X |
| Original run | January 7, 2026 – present |
| Episodes | 12 |
| Manga | |
| The Case Book of Arne: Memory of Blood | |
| Written by | Harumurasaki |
| Illustrated by | Soraho Ina |
| Published by | Bushiroad |
| Magazine | Comic Growl |
| Original run | January 7, 2026 – present |
The Case Book of Arne (Japanese: アルネの事件簿, Hepburn: Arune no Jikenbo) is a Japanese Gothic horror mystery adventure game by Harumurasaki (Murasaki), with character designs by Harutarō. It was created using RPG Maker and was originally released as a freeware via the Vaka Game Magazine website in November 2017. It is also available on Steam in Japanese, Chinese, and English. A manga adaptation with art by Soraho Ina was serialized in Media Factory's shōjo manga magazine Monthly Comic Gene from November 2018 to March 2022 and was collected in four tankōbon volumes. An anime television series adaptation produced by Silver Link premiered in January 2026.
Plot
Rügenberg is a city where supernatural beings and humans coexist. Arne Neuntöte, a young vampire with supernatural powers, runs a private investigation office specializing in occult cases. Despite his youthful appearance, Arne is an experienced detective who takes on requests involving curses, monsters, and unexplained phenomena that ordinary authorities cannot handle.
Arne works alongside Lynn Reinweiß, the daughter of a human nobleman with a strong interest in vampires, who becomes his assistant after a chance encounter. Together, they investigate a series of interconnected cases involving ghosts, werewolves, witches, and other supernatural entities, many of which are tied to the hidden history of the city.
Characters
- Louis Hartmann (ルイス・ハルトマン, Ruisu Harutoman)
- Voiced by: Mariya Ise[2]
- An original character for the anime, forming a trio with Arne and Lynn to solve cases.
- Arne Neuntöte (アルネ・ノインテーター, Arune Nointētā)
- Voiced by: Koki Uchiyama, Aimi Tanaka (young)[2]
- Lynn Reinweiß (リン・ラインヴァイス, Rin Rainvuaisu)
- Voiced by: Yuka Nukui[2]
- Zisye (ジシェ, Jishe)
- Voiced by: Yuki Sakakihara[3]
- Nachzehrer (ナハツェーラー, Nahatsuērā)
- Voiced by: Yūki Shin[3]
- Amy (エイミー, Eimī)
- Voiced by: Yōko Hikasa[3]
- Gordon (ゴードン, Gōdon)
- Voiced by: Hiroshi Naka[4]
- The loyal, seemingly respectable butler.
- Diana (ディアナ)
- Voiced by: Reo Osanai[4]
- A kind maid, like an older sister to Lynn
- Elise (エリーゼ, Erīze)
- Voiced by: Momoka Terasawa[4]
- Klaus's clumsy personal maid.
- Bernd (ベルント, Berunto)
- Voiced by: Rikuya Yasuda[4]
- The seemingly pleasant but potentially shady security guard.
- Heinz (ハインツ, Haintsu)
- Voiced by: Yūto Uemura[4]
- The manor's skilled chef
- Kai (カイ)
- Voiced by: Kakeru Hatano[4]
- The cheery gardener with feelings for Diana.
- Phantom Thief Red Riding Hood (怪盗赤ずきん, Kaitō Akazukin)
- Voiced by: Yūko Miyamura[5]
Other media
Manga
A manga adaptation illustrated by Soraho Ina was serialized in Media Factory's shōjo manga magazine Monthly Comic Gene from November 15, 2018, to March 15, 2022.[6] The manga's chapters were collected into four tankōbon volumes from April 27, 2019, to March 26, 2022.[7][8]
A second manga adaptation also illustrated by Ina, based on the anime adaptation's episodes, began serialization on Bushiroad's Comic Growl website on January 7, 2026.[4]
| No. | Release date | ISBN |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | April 27, 2019[7] | 978-4-04-065660-1 |
| 2 | December 27, 2019[9] | 978-4-04-064083-9 |
| 3 | February 25, 2021[10] | 978-4-04-064754-8 |
| 4 | March 26, 2022[8] | 978-4-04-680350-4 |
Anime
An anime television series adaptation was announced on November 6, 2024.[1] It is produced by Silver Link and directed by Keisuke Inoue, with Inoue and Harumurasaki handling series composition with episode screenplays by Aya Matsui, Hitomi Ogawa and Akira Nishikubo, Akiko Satō designing the characters based on Harutarō's original designs and also serving as chief animation director, and Yoshiaki Fujisawa composing the music.[11] The series premiered on January 7, 2026, on Nippon TV's AnichU programming block and other networks.[c] The opening theme song is "Q.E.D.", performed by Sou, while the ending theme song is "Ningyō no Machi" (人形の街; 'Doll Town'), performed by Watashi Kobayashi.[2] Crunchyroll is streaming the series.[12] Plus Media Networks Asia licensed the series in Southeast Asia and broadcasts it on Aniplus Asia.[13]
Episodes
| No. | Title [14][15] | Directed by [14] | Written by [14] | Storyboarded by [14] | Original release date [16][c] | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Those Who Dig Pits for Others Will Fall in Themselves Wer anderen eine Grube gräbt, fällt selbst hinein." Transliteration: "Tanin no Haka o Horu Mono wa, Mizukara Soko ni Ochīru" (Japanese: 他人の墓を掘るものは、自らそこに陥る) | Keisuke Inoue | Aya Matsui | Keisuke Inoue | January 7, 2026[d] | |
|
Louis Hartmann's father, a private detective, is murdered while investigating a vampire murderer, Gravedigger. Louis insists the supernatural is not real and spends months investigating alone. He encounters the Arne Detective Agency investigating Gravedigger and is surprised Arne is even younger than him. Lynn agrees the murderer is not a vampire since the victims weren't bitten but squeezed with great strength to extract the blood. Louis shows Arne his mother's handkerchief his father was holding when he died, then has a sudden epiphany when he sees his father used blood to turn the embroidered flowers red. A local man named Odo hangs himself after claiming he was Gravedigger. Louis realises Odo was actually murdered and confronts the real Gravedigger, Adelina, a café owner. Louis finds her watering white flowers with her victims blood to turn the petals red. Adelina reveals she is actually a witch and her accomplice who squeezed the victims was her earth golem. The golem stabs Louis but he is rescued by Arne who swallows a vial of blood and transforms into an adult vampire, the most powerful in the world called Arne Neuntote. Before dying Louis is forced to admit the supernatural really exists. Arne's second assistant, necromancer Amy, reanimates Louis to get his revenge by stabbing Adelina to death. After burying Louis Arne moves on to the next case. | ||||||
| 2 | "There Is Always Sunshine after the Rain Auf jeden Regen folgt auch Sonnenschein." Transliteration: "Subete no Ame no Ato ni Wa, Hizashi ga Zoku" (Japanese: ラインヴァイス家殺人事件) | Junya Koshiba | Hitomi Ogawa | Kazuaki Mōri | January 14, 2026 | |
|
Lynn recalls meeting Arne after the second anniversary of her mother Rose's death. Her servants were her only company since her father Klaus went mad after Rose's death. When murders began occurring in the town butler Gordon forbade Lynn from leaving the mansion. Late one night she saw Klaus leave the mansion and followed him into town. Klaus vanished and she witnessed two men murdered by a monster. She was suddenly teleported away by a necklace Rose gave her. Appearing in an unfamiliar town with a castle she assumed she was dreaming and opened a coffin hoping to meet a handsome vampire, and ended up finding Arne. She also met Zisye, the real "boy who cried wolf" from the fairytale, whose existence is so unstable he only exists in mirrors. Learning he is a detective Lynn hired him to investigate Klaus. At first Arne refused until he saw Lynn's necklace and abruptly agreed. He revealed in the past the nine most powerful vampires sacrificed their hearts to create him, but after an incident he only has one heart remaining. With her help he infiltrated Klaus' room and recognised a portrait of Rose. Lynn feared Klaus' madness has worsened as he talked about Rose coming back from the dead. It is shown Klaus had numerous body parts in his office with plans to stitch them together into one body. | ||||||
| 3 | "Misfortune Never Visits Alone Ein Unglück kommt selten allein." Transliteration: "Sainan wa Mettani Hitotsu de wa Yattekonai" (Japanese: 災難はめったにひとつではやってこない) | Yūri Hagiwara | Hitomi Ogawa | Yūya Horiuchi | January 21, 2026[e] | |
|
Arne informed Lynn Klaus was experimenting with black magic. Klaus summoned Lynn to his room and shortly after the servant Berndt found Lynn unconscious and Klaus dead. Arne concluded the body was a fake. Arne returned to Klaus' lab and confirmed he was close to an actual reanimation spell. He also found the real body of Klaus on the floor, concluding he must have had an accomplice who murdered him. Arne is certain Klaus made the fake so he could escape with Lynn and the resurrected Rose. Arne concluded the accomplice must have been someone small enough to escape through the air vent. He also discovered yet another secret room under the lab containing the tomb of Nachzehrer, one of the vampire lords who created Arne. Arne sensed one of his hearts nearby. Gordon revealed a horrible secret to Lynn; maids Diana and Elise wanted to have relationships with servants Kai and Berndt; but Klaus refused as he was already forcing Diana and Elise to have sex with his houseguests. As all the servants had motives to want Klaus dead Gordon begged Lynn to protect them by not involving the police. Soon all the servants were accusing each other while Lynn couldn't handle the fact no one else cared Klaus was dead, so she gave them until morning to confess or she would call the police. | ||||||
| 4 | "Those Who Never Gamble Never Win Wer nicht wagt, der nicht gewinnt." Transliteration: "Kake o Shinai Mono wa, Nani mo Te ni Irenai" (Japanese: 賭けをしないものは、何も手に入れない) | Takahiro Nakatsugawa | Hitomi Ogawa | Kazuaki Mōri | January 28, 2026[d] | |
|
The servants all provided explanations of where they were during Klaus' murder. Arne, having temporarily lost control of his body to Nachzehrer, caught Kai trying to escape and violently brought him back. Lynne slapped him, returning Arne to normal. Lynne was unsure who to believe, until Zisye told her to stop pretending to be mistress of the household, be herself instead and solve the case. Zisye informed her Elise wasn't in her room like she claimed, so Lynne confronted her and learned Elise had broken a vase, so she was actually fetching a replacement from a storeroom. A note summoned Lynne to the garden where she was almost attacked by the normally loyal guard dogs. Arne returned and sent the dogs away, explaining about Nachzehrer, so Lynne forgave him for hurting Kai. Given the servant's statements and the locations of all the mirrors Zisye was observing from, Arne and Lynne agreed Klaus was not killed by any of them. Arne suspected the dogs attacked because of an unfamiliar scent on Lynne, which she rushed to the bathroom to wash off. There she was attacked by the real killer. Bleeding to death she asked Arne to drink what was left, willing to become his servant under his total control if it gave her time to find Klaus' killer. Amused, Klaus drank her blood then gave her a drop of his own, turning her into a vampire. After gathering all the servants Arne accused Elise of murdering Klaus then challenged Lynne to prove her innocence using all evidence gathered so far. | ||||||
| 5 | "One Swallow Does Not a Summer Make! Eine Schwalbe macht noch keinen Sommer!" Transliteration: "Ichi wa no Tsubame ga Natsu o Motarasu Node wa Nai" (Japanese: 一羽の燕が夏をもたらすのではない) | Masaya Tanabe | Hitomi Ogawa | Kazuaki Mōri | February 4, 2026[f] | |
|
Arne claimed only Elise was small enough to escape Klaus' office by the air vent. Lynne countered that there was a layer of dust proving no one used the vent, so Elise was innocent. Heinz couldn't have left the kitchen without being seen by Berndt or disturbing the dogs. Diana and Kai could have worked together to access Klaus' office balcony but Diana had a phobia of heights, so they were innocent. Berndt had a blood phobia, making it impossible to have removed the head of the fake Klaus. This left only one possibility, backed up by Zisye who reported he did not see Gordon during the time of the murder, or at any other time. Lynne accused Gordon of murdering Klaus and going unseen by Zisye because he was a vampire and didn't appear in mirrors. Gordon admitted he is a vampire and was content serving Lynne's family, until Klaus acquired the missing heart of Nachzehrer to use it to resurrect Rose, but Gordon planned to revive Nachzehrer instead. When Lynne threatened to call the police he tried to murder her in the bathroom, only for Arne to turn her into a vampire. Gordon suddenly sacrificed himself to resurrect Nachzehrer, who challenged Arne to a duel. The duel destroyed the mansion but Arne was victorious and reabsorbed Nachzehrer's heart. Lynne ultimately decided to leave the mansion behind to see more of the world with Arne. | ||||||
| 6 | "Time Will Tell Kommt Zeit, kommt Rat." Transliteration: "Toki ga Kureba, Jogen ga Kuru" (Japanese: 時がくれば、助言がくる) | Masahiko Suzuki | Hitomi Ogawa | Wit Studio & Ryūtarō Awabe | February 11, 2026[f] | |
|
Lynne asked Arne about something Gordon said, that he was not the first monster to attack her. Arne confirmed Lynne is both human and something else, so she was not turned into a vampire by his blood at all. Back in the present, Nachzehrer’s personality is placed into a stuffed doll that works with Arne, Lynne and Amy. They receive a request from mermaid Yurate who wishes to know why her lover Hanna tried to murder her, forcing Yurate to kill her in self-defence. She explains they met when Hanna tried to drown herself and Yurate saved her. They became lovers for a short time until the night Hanna tried to kill her. Arne deduces Hanna selfishly wanted to eat mermaid flesh and become immortal. Lynne is surprised when Yurate claims she only spent 50 years with Hanna. Arne realises because mermaids live thousands of years their view of time is different, so Yurate never noticed Hanna aging into an elderly woman. He instead deduces Hanna was afraid of leaving Yurate alone after she died, so she tried to knock Yurate unconscious and painlessly eat some of her flesh so they could stay together. Yurate is relieved Hanna loved her after all. Meanwhile, Hanna arises from her grave, having swallowed one drop of Yurate’s blood, allowing her to avoid death. | ||||||
| 7 | "Eating Whets The Appetite" | TBA | TBA | TBA | February 18, 2026 | |
|
Little Red Phantom Thief announces she will rob a museum and steal the Blue Heart by master jeweller Yelle. The Director approaches Arne who agrees to protect the Heart as he has dealt with Little Red before. He sends Lynn on a case to find the missing boyfriends of three women. The Director admits Yelle and the Heart actually went missing days ago, so he wants Arne to protect the entire museum as he is afraid Little Red might steal something else instead. Lynn explains to Amy all three missing boyfriends had ties to the museum; a delivery man, a curator and a tour-guide. Arne sends Lynn to find Yelle. Lynn learns from his landlord that Yelle was ill but had been working on his next masterpiece as a gift for someone. Lynn buys a pendant filled with silver paint to supposedly ward off evil spirits. Little Red, an old friend of Zisye’s, is also investigating Yelle’s disappearance. Lynn finds a street artist who painted Yelle’s portrait three weeks previously, but Yelle never collected it. Little Red infiltrates the museum and destroys a fake Heart she found. She then announces she will rescue Yelle before Arne and steal the real Heart. Amy suddenly locates the corpses of the missing boyfriends; coated in cement and displayed as headless statues in the museum. | ||||||
Notes
- ^ a b Series composition
- ^ a b c Screenplay
- ^ a b Nippon TV listed the series premiere on January 6 at 25:29, which is effectively January 7 at 1:29 a.m. JST.
- ^ a b This episode aired at 1:35 a.m. JST, 6 minutes after the regular air time on Nippon TV.[17][18]
- ^ This episode aired at 1:55 a.m. JST, 26 minutes after the regular air time on Nippon TV.[19]
- ^ a b This episode aired at 1:45 a.m. JST, 16 minutes after the regular air time on Nippon TV.[20]
References
- ^ a b Cayanan, Joanna (November 6, 2024). "The Case Book of Arne Mystery Game Gets TV Anime". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on August 6, 2025. Retrieved November 6, 2024.
- ^ a b c d Cayanan, Joanna (October 19, 2025). "The Case Book of Arne Anime's New Video Reveals Cast, Song Artists, January 6 Debut". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on October 19, 2025. Retrieved October 19, 2025.
- ^ a b c Cayanan, Joanna (November 6, 2025). "The Case Book of Arne Anime Reveals 3 More Cast Members". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on November 6, 2025. Retrieved November 6, 2025.
- ^ a b c d e f g Mateo, Alex (December 10, 2025). "The Case Book of Arne Anime Reveals Video, 6 More Cast Members, Manga". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on December 10, 2025. Retrieved December 10, 2025.
- ^ Pineda, Rafael Antonio (February 8, 2026). "The Case Book of Arne Anime Casts Yūko Miyamura as Red Riding Hood". Anime News Network. Retrieved February 9, 2026.
- ^ 吸血鬼探偵＆貴族少女の活躍描く「アルネの事件簿」稲空穂がコミカライズ. Comic Natalie (in Japanese). Natasha, Inc. November 15, 2018. Archived from the original on January 20, 2025. Retrieved November 6, 2024.
- ^ a b アルネの事件簿 １ (in Japanese). Media Factory. Archived from the original on June 25, 2022. Retrieved November 6, 2024.
- ^ a b アルネの事件簿 ４ (in Japanese). Media Factory. Archived from the original on July 1, 2022. Retrieved November 6, 2024.
- ^ アルネの事件簿 ２ (in Japanese). Media Factory. Archived from the original on May 18, 2022. Retrieved November 6, 2024.
- ^ アルネの事件簿 ３ (in Japanese). Media Factory. Archived from the original on June 25, 2022. Retrieved November 6, 2024.
- ^ Pineda, Rafael Antonio (August 6, 2025). "The Case Book of Arne Anime's Teaser Reveals Staff, January Debut". Anime News Network. Retrieved August 6, 2025.
- ^ Mateo, Alex (January 6, 2026). "Crunchyroll Adds Yoroi-Shinden Samurai Troopers, The Case Book of Arne, Fureru., More Anime". Anime News Network. Retrieved January 6, 2026.
- ^ "【𝗦𝗜𝗠𝗨𝗟𝗖𝗔𝗦𝗧 𝗔𝗡𝗡𝗢𝗨𝗡𝗖𝗘𝗠𝗘𝗡𝗧】"The Case Book of Arne" is premiering on ANIPLUS in Winter 2026 ✨Stay tuned for more details 🧛🏻". Aniplus Asia. December 31, 2025. Retrieved December 31, 2025 – via Facebook.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ a b c d "Story | Arune no Jikenbo" STORY | アルネの事件簿 [Story | The Case Book of Arne]. arne.asmik-ace.co.jp. Archived from the original on February 7, 2026. Retrieved January 7, 2026.
- ^ "Watch The Casebook of Arne". Crunchyroll. Retrieved January 7, 2026.
- ^ "On Air | Arune no Jikenbo" ON AIR | アルネの事件簿 [On Air | The Case Book of Arne]. arne.asmik-ace.co.jp. Archived from the original on January 7, 2026. Retrieved January 7, 2026.
- ^ [新]アルネの事件簿 AnichU. Nippon TV (in Japanese). Retrieved January 7, 2026.
- ^ [新]アルネの事件簿 AnichU. Nippon TV (in Japanese). Retrieved January 28, 2026.
- ^ アルネの事件簿 AnichU. Nippon TV (in Japanese). Retrieved January 21, 2026.
- ^ アルネの事件簿 AnichU. Nippon TV (in Japanese). Retrieved February 10, 2026.
External links
- Official game website (in Japanese)
- Official manga website at KadoComi (in Japanese)
- Official anime website (in Japanese)
- The Case Book of Arne (anime) at Anime News Network's encyclopedia
