"Conan" collaboration with "Birdman Rally" faces backlash over 'hellish' timing after fatal accident

A planned collaboration between the popular anime series "Detective Conan" and the "International Birdman Rally" has sparked controversy, with netizens criticizing the timing of the joint project. The anime's special episodes, titled "The Birdman Rally Explosion Case," are scheduled to air on August 29 and September 5.

The controversy stems from a fatal accident that occurred on July 6 during the actual "Birdman Rally" competition. A staff member tragically fell to their death from a roughly 11-meter high platform at the Biwako Lake venue in Shiga Prefecture. While the "Detective Conan" collaboration was decided and produced before this incident, the "explosion case" title has caused discomfort among some viewers, especially given the recent fatality.

This is not the first time "Detective Conan" has used real-life events as inspiration for its storylines. The series has previously adapted events like baseball league openings and Koshien finals into fictional cases involving explosions and threats. While fans often see this as a signature element of the show, the recent "Birdman Rally" incident has made the "explosion case" theme particularly sensitive for a broader audience.

Adding to the unfortunate timing, the "Birdman Rally" itself faced disruptions. The event's opening on July 25 was marred by strong winds, leading to the cancellation of the first day's races and forcing four scheduled teams to postpone their flights. The combination of the fatal accident, weather issues, and the "explosion case" title in the anime has led to online comments questioning the appropriateness of the broadcast, with some calling the timing "hellish" and others lamenting the overlap between animation and reality. However, some "Conan" fans have defended the collaboration, pointing out that the project was planned long before the accident and should not be dismissed because of later events.