The Surprising Charm of Oshiritantei

    I've written before about Oshiritantei, or Butt Detective, specifically asking why such a thing exists. Of course, the second I asked this question my child became obsessed with the rosy-cheeked private eye and since then we have managed to watch every episode available on Japanese Netflix, and those of the first season a number of times each.
    What I found, when I gave it a chance, was surprisingly entertaining. The plots aren't amazing but do entertain, and there are elements that attempt to help kids focus as well. Four scenes out of every episode contain a special colorful butt mark, tagged with the color of the episode, so children are meant to watch closely and pay attention to details in order to catch the butt marks. At the end of each episode, the location of the four marks are revealed so viewers can check for themselves.

    In addition, the episodes contain elements of problem solving and logic applied to the problems that face the butt who knows too much. Sometimes it is a visual puzzle or figuring out which of the witnesses is likely to be lying. 
    I am still pretty surprised that this show is so much less stupid than I had first assumed. Way to go Japan, proving that even a butt-faced detective can make engaging kids programming.

    You can catch Oshiritantei in action on Netflix in Japan where the entirety of season one and the first three episodes of season two are currently available, in addition to new episodes coming out one at a time as the weeks go by.