The series is set in Steam City, where the only fuel source is coal and the only means to produce energy is the steam engine. The city's technology advanced to a point where the steam engine can be substituted for any other form of power in modern technology (which includes large steam-powered robots called Megamatons). Unfortunately, Steam City is a place where thieves and criminals flourish with help from the Megamatons.
Narutaki is the main character in Steam Detectives. He is a young detective, and is considered by some to be a child genius; he has an investigation style that is similar to Sherlock Holmes. Narutaki is a compassionate person, but he can also be naive at times.
Ling Ling is a young nurse who helps Narutaki with his investigations and looks after his health. However, Ling Ling has an overly sentimental nature that tends to put her in harm's way when she throws herself into the middle of a situation. She also owns a Megamaton named Goriki.
Kawabuko is the Narutaki family butler, and he also became Narutaki's primary caretaker after the death of Narutaki's parents. Kawabuko also helps Narutaki with lab work and research, and also has knowledge of older cases that Narutaki's father worked on.
Onigawara is a detective with the Steam City Police Department, who is over the top and tends to be wrong when it comes to solving the cases that arise. Narutaki manages to prove him wrong on many occasions. Onigawara resents Narutaki's involvement with cases, and he also has feelings for Ling Ling (but Ling Ling does not return those feelings).
The main antagonist in Steam Detectives is Night Phantom. He is a mysterious villain who has a grudge against Narutaki and Narutaki's father.
Steam Detectives is a steampunk anime series, but it's not an overly violent series. While there is nothing truly objectionable in the visuals or dialogue of Steam Detectives, the pacing of the storytelling may be a little on the slow side for younger viewers. Personally, I would recommend Steam Detectives to anime viewers who are 13 or 14 years of age and older.
| Steam Detectives | 26 | 1998-1999 | Nobuyoshi Habara | Xebec | ADV Films |
