“There is always only one truth.” Conan's classic line is always so inspiring. This genius detective, who is never troubled by any major case, remains calm and composed in front of numerous murderers and mysteries. The Detective Conan movies have accompanied us through more than a decade, seemingly never aging. On January 14, 2010, "Detective Conan: The Darkest Nightmare" appeared on the big screen in Mainland China. This was Conan's first venture into the Mainland film market. For all the Conan fans who had been eagerly waiting, although this movie was a belated greeting, it already fulfilled everyone's long-standing wish to see Conan solving cases on the big screen. Now, let's recall the Detective Conan movies from the beginning and select five of the most visually enjoyable and popular movies for analysis——
【Five Major Cases】
First: The Countdown to Heaven (1997)
Key Characters: Conan, Ran Mouri, Sonoko Suzuki, Dr. Agasa, Kogoro Mouri, etc.
◆ Case Summary: One day, while sorting letters, Conan finds one addressed to him. It turns out that the famous architect Teiji Moriya invited Shinichi Kudo to attend a tea party he was hosting. Conan calls and asks Ran and the others to go in his place, but Ran sets a condition: Shinichi must go to the movies with her at 10 p.m. on May 3. It turns out May 4 is Shinichi's birthday!
On the afternoon of May 3, Ran heads out. With no choice, Conan sees on the news that gunpowder has been stolen from a warehouse, and recently many arson incidents have occurred, seemingly by the same person. The culprit then calls Shinichi, claiming to have a bomb and demands Shinichi visit Tsukawa Riverside Park immediately, or someone will die.
What seems to be the end of the event is not yet over. The culprit says he has placed the largest bomb in a theater in Mihama City. Conan rushes to the building and uses the phone to instruct Ran on how to disarm the bomb. In the end, only two wires remain. Which one should be cut? The one in Shinichi and Ran's lucky color?… By then, it is May 4, midnight, Shinichi's birthday. Could this be Ran's time of death??
◆ Classic Line:
Shinichi: "If you can't escape, I'll stay here with you. If we can't survive, then we'll die together."
Ran: "Happy birthday, Shinichi.I'm afraid I won't have another chance to say it in the future.” ◆ Movie Highlights: 1. This is the first theatrical version of "Detective Conan"; 2. The film features a large number of action scenes; 3. It established the style of the Conan theatrical films; 4. The romantic scenes between Conan and Ran are intensified. Second Installment: The Last Wizard of the Century (1999) Key Characters: Conan, Ran Mouri, Heiji Hattori, Ai Haibara, Kogoro Mouri, Junior Detective League, etc. ◆ Case Review: The royal treasure of the Romanov dynasty—The Egg of Memories—will be displayed at the Osaka Suzuki Foundation Art Museum, while the Phantom Thief Kid sends out a "crime notice" intending to steal this priceless royal artwork! Therefore, Chairman Suzuki asks Kogoro to assist the police in the investigation to prevent the egg from being stolen. Conan and his group arrive in Osaka and meet Heiji Hattori, and they investigate the case together. After reviewing the original manuscript, Conan determines that there are two eggs, and the reflection of the castle built by Natsumi's great-grandfather appears on the glass of the egg. So everyone decides to go to this castle to search for the second egg. On the return ship to Tokyo, photographer Samukawa is killed, and, like Kid, he is shot in the right eye. Inspector Megure arrives with Shiratori to investigate, and Conan discovers that the culprit could be the professional assassin Skull. However, Shiratori repeatedly exposes Conan's hints, causing Ran to suspect Conan's identity; she begins to connect Conan to Shinichi Kudo, putting Conan's identity at serious risk. After Conan's group arrives in Tokyo, they go to the castle. Professor Agasa, in order to deliver enhanced glasses to Conan, sets out for the castle with Ai Haibara. Unexpectedly, the Junior Detective League also hides in the car to follow them. Inside the castle, Conan accidentally discovers a passage to the basement, where jeweler Inui is killed in the secret passage. The others find the second egg in a coffin and understand the true meaning of the Egg of Memories. The professional assassin Skull sets fire to the castle after his plot fails, and Conan escapes the blaze with the help of Officer Shiratori. Upon returning home, Ran again doubts Conan's true identity, but at this moment, Shinichi Kudo mysteriously appears... ◆ Classic Lines: Conan: “Ran-senpai?” Ran: “Thank you for saving my life in the castle. Conan was so cool then, just like Shinichi... really just like Shinichi…” ◆ Movie Highlights: 1. The appearance of the Phantom Thief Kid; 2. Conan's identity is discovered by Kid; 3. Kid disguises himself as Shinichi Kudo.Third Installment: The Ghost of Baker Street (2002)
Key Characters: Conan, Ran Mouri, Yusaku Kudo, Ai Haibara, Dr. Agasa, Detective Boys, etc.
Case Review: Japanese prodigy Hiroki Sawada commits suicide by jumping off a building in the United States, leaving behind the completed artificial intelligence "Noah's Ark" for investor Thomas Sindora. Several years later, in Tokyo, Beika City, Beika City Hall, a presentation is being held for "The Cocoon," a simulation game that has the potential to change the global gaming industry's values in one fell swoop.
Incorporating the most advanced technology, "The Cocoon" allows players to enter a large capsule resembling a cocoon and, through computer operation, immerse themselves in historical events that actually occurred, experiencing and challenging them in a virtual game. Once inside this game, players can explore and solve cases firsthand, a previously unseen game model.
Conan, Ran, Ai, and the Detective Boys also receive invitations to this globally watched presentation. By chance, they blend into a group of children representing politics, finance, and entertainment, and take the opportunity to board "The Cocoon." Meanwhile, Kenmura, the developer and person in charge of "The Cocoon," is murdered at the presentation venue. At the same time as this murder, an artificial intelligence calling itself "Noah's Ark" infiltrates "The Cocoon's" computer system, cutting off all connections to the outside world for the 50 children inside the virtual world, and announces to all attendees in the real world: "In this game of solving historical events, as long as one person survives to the end, you win. But if no one survives to the end, everyone participating will perish here." This begins an out-of-control game.
Conan, Ran, and their friends choose to return to 1930s London, where Conan must solve the mystery of Jack the Ripper. If he cannot complete the game within the time limit, the lives of the 50 players are in jeopardy. Returning to the era of Holmes and Watson, Conan steps into a long-desired period. Will he fight alongside Holmes?
Classic Line: In a critical moment, Ai Haibara says to Conan: "If Holmes doesn't appear, then you are our Holmes. There is no case that Holmes can't solve, right?"◆Movie Highlights: 1. Conan returns to 1930s London, back in Sherlock Holmes' era; 2. Faces Jack the Ripper in a direct confrontation; 3. Emotional scenes between Conan and his father; 4. Thrilling train showdown.
Fourth Movie: Crossroad in the Ancient Capital (2003)
Key Characters: Conan, Ran Mouri, Heiji Hattori, Ai Haibara, Detective Boys, etc.
◆Case Review: At a shrine in Nishi-Kunitachi, Tokyo, three suspicious men are having a secret conversation. Suddenly, a masked black-figure man appears and instantly kills the three with a Japanese sword and bow and arrow. Simultaneously, murders also occur in Osaka and Kyoto. After investigation, police discover that all five victims are members of the theft gang "Genji Firefly," who operate in Tokyo, Osaka, and Kyoto, specializing in stealing famous Buddha statues and art pieces. This gang takes its name from the story of the most famous tragic samurai in Japanese history—Minamoto no Yoshitsune, with the leader codenamed "Yoshitsune" and subordinates using names of his retainers, including "Benkei."
Meanwhile, Kogoro Mouri brings Conan, Ran, and Sonoko to Kyoto. Eight years ago, a national treasure Buddha statue in the ancient temple Sannouji in Kyoto was stolen. The temple's chief priest asks them to interpret a mysterious picture that can indicate the statue's hiding place and requests Kogoro's assistance.
Conan narrowly avoids an attack and is astonished to see a young man who turns out to be Heiji Hattori, a high school detective from the west, often mentioned alongside Shinichi Kudo. He is also one of the few who know Conan's true identity as Shinichi. He came to Kyoto to investigate the killings of gang members in Osaka. Usually rivals, Conan and Heiji decide to join forces to uncover the truth. However, they never expected the masked black-figure man to appear right before their eyes!
◆Classic Line: Ran Mouri: "Shinichi, I finally see you."
◆Movie Highlights: 1. The backdrop of classic Japanese culture; 2. The mystery of Heiji Hattori's first love; 3. Kyoto's charming scenic battlegrounds; 4. Conan temporarily returns to adulthood, albeit briefly; 5. The meeting between Conan and Ran, considered the most touching scene in the movie series.Fifth Installment: The Magician of the Silver Wings (2004)
Key Characters: Conan, Ran Mouri, Detective Boys, etc.
◆ Case Review:
A woman came to Kogoro for help in guarding a jewel. Her name was Shuri Maki, a famous actress representing Japan. She had received a notice that someone would attempt to steal her jewel, the "Jewel of Destiny," and the foreteller was none other than the Phantom Thief Kid. Kogoro asserted that Kid would try to steal the jewel before the final performance of a traditional play in which Shuri starred. The next day, Conan, Kogoro, Ran, and the Detective Boys went to the traditional play's show in Tokyo Shiodome. Conan questioned Kogoro's reasoning and decided to deduce Kid's appearance on his own. However, who appeared there was unexpectedly Shinichi Kudo!
Of course, this Shinichi was definitely not real. But to prove that this Shinichi was fake, Conan would have to reveal his own identity. Kid seemed to understand this, boldly tried to be with Ran, and recklessly deduced that he would not come from the rooftop; meanwhile, a scene of "Queen Josephine" was being performed on the stage starring Shuri. How would Kid, whose true identity was seen by Conan, steal the blue jewel?! And then, what greater challenge awaited Conan and the others?
◆ Classic Lines:
Conan: "Let's end this game, Mr. Thief."
Kid: "You are right, it's too dark to play hide-and-seek now, little detective."
◆ Movie Highlights:
1. An unprecedented aerial heist;
2. Another showdown between Phantom Thief Kid and Conan;
3. Kid and Conan flying a plane together;
4. Ran confessing to Shinichi
【Side Story: Conan vs. Kindaichi】
◆ Characters:
1. Conan/Shinichi Kudo: Known as Japan's Sherlock Holmes, 17-year-old high school student turned into a child by a dark organization, yet his intelligence remains intact. He can operate various vehicles, including flying a plane. Using Kogoro Mouri's detective identity, Conan has solved multiple world-class major cases, making him a rising star in the detective world.
2. Hajime Kindaichi: 17-year-old high school student, average build, with a few strands of hair tied in a ponytail, IQ 180, grandson of the famous Japanese detective Kosuke Kindaichi. His catchphrase is, "I swear on my grandfather's honor..." Though somewhat lecherous, he is a righteous and brave teenager with an extraordinary interest in homicide cases.Kindaichi has a childhood friend, Miyuki, and the two of them have solved many serious murder cases together. ◆ Comparison of the works: For a long time, the question of whether Conan or Kindaichi is better has been a hot topic among anime fans. In terms of audience, Conan is more likely to be favored by children and women because of Conan's cute design and short stories. Kindaichi, on the other hand, is a favorite among many men, as The Kindaichi Case Files has a grittier, more violent style, which many younger readers cannot accept. Detective Conan and The Kindaichi Case Files each have their own merits. Conan solves a case in every episode, whereas Kindaichi takes multiple episodes in a single arc to tell one story, so the two works have significant structural differences. As for why both series have a large fan base, it comes down to different reader tastes. Everyone has their own preferences, and you can't force readers to favor one over the other. The unique charms of the two works allow them to be popular in their respective realms.
