Shinichi Kudo adopted the alias Conan Edogawa after members of the Black Organization forcibly administered the experimental poison APTX-4869. This caused his body to regress to that of a six-to-seven-year-old child while preserving his original memories, intellect, and personality. Prior to this, Shinichi was a 16-17-year-old high school detective famed as the "Heisei Holmes" or "Detective of the East" for solving complex cases that stumped law enforcement. He is the son of prominent mystery novelist Yusaku Kudo and former actress Yukiko Kudo. His childhood friendship with Ran Mouri developed into mutual romantic feelings, though he found confessing difficult. The transformation occurred during an investigation into suspicious individuals at Tropical Land amusement park. After solving a murder there and being separated from Ran, he was attacked and poisoned. Evading skeptical security, he sought help from his neighbor, Professor Agasa, who confirmed his identity and warned him secrecy was vital to protect himself and others from the Black Organization. To maintain his cover, Shinichi created the alias "Conan Edogawa" by combining the names of mystery authors Arthur Conan Doyle and Edogawa Rampo. Agasa presented him as a distant relative, leading to Conan being placed in the care of Ran and her father, Kogoro Mouri, a struggling private detective. Conan uses Kogoro's detective agency as a base to investigate the Black Organization while anonymously solving cases. He enrolls at Teitan Elementary School to blend in, befriending classmates Ayumi Yoshida, Mitsuhiko Tsuburaya, and Genta Kojima. Together, they form the Detective Boys, with Conan often guiding their investigations while attempting to shield them from danger. The group is later joined by Ai Haibara, the former Black Organization scientist Shiho Miyano, who also shrank after taking APTX-4869. She becomes a key ally in developing temporary antidotes and countering the organization. As Conan, Shinichi initially displays the arrogance and flair for dramatic deductions characteristic of his teenage self. However, his experiences as a child foster humility, leading him to conceal his involvement in cases rather than seek recognition. He adopts childlike speech patterns, referring to Ran as "Ran-neechan" and Kogoro as "Oji-san," but often slips into adult-level reasoning during investigations, excusing it as knowledge from television or his "uncle." He deeply values human life, rejecting any justification for murder and viewing a detective’s role as preventing culprits from suicide, which he equates to murder. His relationship with Ran becomes complex due to his secret; he endures awkward situations like shared baths or hearing her confessions about Shinichi while unable to reveal himself. He eventually confesses his feelings to her in London during a temporary reversion to his original body, and she reciprocates during a school trip to Kyoto. Physically, Shinichi possesses a light complexion, blue eyes, and dark brown/black hair with a distinctive cowlick in front and a tuft at the back, resembling his father. He stands 174 cm tall with an athletic build. As Conan, he appears as a child of approximately 95 cm in height and 18 kg in weight. He typically wears a blue suit jacket, shorts, white socks, and red sneakers. His glasses and red bowtie are gadgets modified by Professor Agasa: the bowtie contains a voice changer to mimic voices (often used to simulate Kogoro’s voice during deductions), while the glasses house tracking and listening devices. His sneakers incorporate technology to amplify kicking force, aiding in subduing suspects or creating diversions. Shinichi demonstrates exceptional deductive abilities, honed through extensive reading of mystery novels and childhood exposure to crime scenes with his father. He exhibits near-photographic memory, acute observational skills, and the capacity to detect inconsistencies in crime scenes or testimonies. He is fluent in English and possesses basic knowledge of German and Italian, alongside the ability to decipher ciphers. As a skilled soccer player, he was scouted professionally in middle school but remained amateur; he uses soccer techniques reflexively, even in non-soccer contexts. His athleticism extends to karate and judo, learned partially from Ran, allowing him to dodge attacks or disarm adversaries. He also handles firearms with precision due to training with his father. Agasa’s gadgets compensate for Conan’s physical limitations: the tranquilizer wristwatch incapacitates targets (often Kogoro), the super-elastic suspenders lift heavy objects, and the solar-powered skateboard enables high-speed pursuits. However, he struggles with singing and popular children’s activities, leading peers to perceive him as inexperienced. Character development centers on his pursuit of the Black Organization and an antidote. Early efforts involve using Kogoro’s reputation to attract organization-related cases, employing gadgets like the tranquilizer dart and voice-changing bowtie to create "Sleeping Kogoro." He forms critical alliances: Osaka detective Heiji Hattori deduces Conan’s identity and becomes a trusted partner; Haibara provides scientific expertise, creating prototype antidotes that allow temporary reversions to Shinichi’s form—used strategically to allay Ran’s suspicions or handle emergencies. These antidotes are unstable, often causing abrupt reversions mid-confession or investigation. Collaborations with external forces, such as FBI agents Jodie Starling and Shuichi Akai, expand his resources against the organization. Notably, he aids in planting CIA agent Kir as a mole within the syndicate. His moral stance solidifies after failing to prevent a culprit’s suicide, reinforcing his belief that detectives must safeguard all life. Over time, he grows protective of the Detective Boys and relies less on pretense around adults familiar with his capabilities, though maintaining his secret remains paramount to protect those he loves.