Anime Fantasy

23rd Detective Conan Film Opens in April, Centers on Kaito Kid, Makoto Kyōgoku

The first 2019 issue of Shogakukan's Weekly Shonen Sunday magazine revealed the title, visual, and details of the 23rd film in the Detective Conan franchise on Wednesday. The new film is titled Meitantei Conan: Konshō no Fist (Detective Conan: Fist of Blue Sapphire), and will open on April 12.

The film will be set in Singapore, and will be the first Detective Conan film set outside of Japan. The visual below by original manga creator Gosho Aoyama depicts Singapore's famous Marina Bay Sands, which will be the site of a murder case in the film. The plot will involve a large gem known as the "Blue Sapphire," which sank to the bottom of the ocean at the end of the 19th century.

The film will center on Kaitō Kid, Makoto Kyōgoku, and Conan Edogawa. It marks a return of the Kaitō Kid character to the Detective Conan films since his last appearance in Detective Conan: Sunflowers of Inferno, the franchise's 19th film, in 2015. It is also the first appearance of the character Makoto Kyōgoku in the franchisefilms. In the film, Makoto, an undefeated karate master with 400 wins, confronts Kid as Kid tries to steal the Blue Sapphire. Meanwhile, Kaitō Kid brings Conan to Singapore against his will.

Detective Conan: Zero the Enforcer, the franchise's 22nd film, opened on April 13 in Japan. The movie is the highest-earning film in the franchise. In Japan, the film has earned more than 9.1 billion yen (about US$80.3 million), and is the eighth highest-grossing anime film in Japan of all time, and the 47th highest-grossing film in Japan in general. As of November 16, the film had earned 11 billion yen worldwide.

Aoyama's Magic Kaito manga revolves around a young budding magician named Kaito Kuroba who follows in his late father's footsteps as the legendary thief Kaitō Kid. The character has since appeared in Detective Conanstories, often as a formidable rival.

Sources: Weekly Shonen Sunday first 2019 issue, Comic Natalie