Detective Conan: One-eyed Flashback

The 28th entry in the venerable anime series, Detective Conan: One-Eyed Flashback, moves the action to Nagano Prefecture's snow-capped Yatsugatake mountains. The main character of the movie is Inspector Yamato Kansuke, who looks into an attack on a researcher at the Nobeyama National Astronomical Observatory 10 months after surviving a near-fatal avalanche that cost him his left eye. With a plot that combines intricate intelligence politics, conspiracy theories, and the franchise's trademark mix of procedural mystery and action, director Katsuya Shigehara makes his feature debut.

Ai Haibara and the three Nagano inspectors play important parts in the movie, and Kogoro Mouri, whose concealed sharpshooting abilities make a stunning return—reminiscent of his appearance in The Fourteenth Target—gets a lot of screen time. He's really serious without the silly antics from the last few films. This film is perfect for him, especially the last scene, which is so cool!! Though some viewers might find the plot too complicated with so many individuals and government agencies, the mystery picks up speed as Conan pulls together information from his little point of view.

Although the film contains exciting action scenes, emotional beats regarding Kogoro's former connection with a character known as "Crocodile," and good animation quality, others critique the artificial stakes, pacing problems, and a villain who lacks a convincing reason or presence. Those looking for the cerebral riddles that characterized previous chapters may be disappointed by the film's strong emphasis on action rather than pure detective work. It serves largely as an "annual spectacle rather than a vital contribution to the overarching mythology," as one critic pointed out, providing devoted fans with adequate entertainment value but falling short of the franchise's cinematic high points. Although the film's 110-minute duration occasionally strains viewers' patience with its convoluted narrative, the film's crisp whodunit hook and fast-paced action make it an appealing starting point for newbies.

Staff:

Directed by: Katsuya Shigehara

Written by: Takeharu Sakurai

Based on: Case Closed by Gosho Aoyama

Starring: Minami Takayama, Wakana Yamazaki, Rikiya Koyama, Megumi Hayashibara, Yūji Takada, Show Hayami, Ami Koshimizu, Yukimasa Kishino, Takeshi Kusao, Nobuo Tobita, Hiroaki Hirata, Mizuki Yamashita, and Takayuki Yamada.

Music by: Yugo Kanno

Production company: TMS/1st Studio

Distributed by: Toho

Release date: April 18, 2025

Running time: 110 minutes