Detective Conan: One-eyed Flashback Review
During the peak of the Saw franchise, its defining slogan—used in trailers since Saw IV—was: “If it’s Halloween, it must be Saw.” In 2025, the UK anime community might finally have its own version of that slogan: If it’s September, it must be Detective Conan.
For the second year running, the annual Detective Conan films have returned to UK cinemas—this time with film 28, Detective Conan: One-eyed Flashback. Over the course of this year, I’ve fallen deeply in love with this franchise. It’s become a full-blown obsession. The wait for Detective Conan: One-eyed Flashback to arrive in the UK was genuinely anxiety-inducing. But now, having finally experienced it, I can confidently say the film surpassed all expectations. It ranks among the strongest entries in the entire franchise.
The film begins ten months earlier, as Nagano PD’s Kansuke Yamato chases a suspect through the snow. Suddenly, he’s shot, injuring his eye and leaving him with his distinctive X-shaped scar. Moments later, he’s caught in an avalanche and barely survives—rescued by an unidentified figure in the aftermath.
In the present day, a researcher at the observatory in the Yatsugatake Mountains is attacked. Yamato and Yui Uehara are dispatched to investigate. While there, Yamato begins to experience strange discomfort in his injured eye.
Meanwhile, Kogoro unexpectedly receives a call from a former colleague, Sametani—whom he affectionately calls “Croco.” Sametani brings up the avalanche incident during the call and suggests a meeting to share his findings. However, just moments before their reunion, Sametani is assassinated in front of both Kogoro and Conan. From there, Conan heads to Nagano to launch his own investigation and uncover how these two events are connected.
For the first time since Strategy Above the Depths, Kogoro Mori takes centre stage—and his arc is nothing short of brilliant. Rikiya Koyama delivers his finest performance as the character to date. The early scenes, where Kogoro is overwhelmed with emotion following his friend’s murder, are utterly gripping, vividly conveying the raw, heartfelt weight of the moment. Kogoro calling out to a friend who will never respond is profoundly powerful.
Detective Conan: One-eyed Flashback finally gives Kogoro the space to evolve from a comedic side character into a serious and pivotal lead. This change is both much needed and refreshing—Kogoro should be more than just a drunken, mediocre investigator.
This shift in Kogoro’s character is paired with a multi-layered murder mystery, expertly constructed and among the rare few that can genuinely be solved through clues provided throughout. While the previous instalment, Million Dollar Pentagram, featured a murder, its focus leaned more toward the mystery of the swords and the treasure they pointed to. In One-eyed Flashback, the murder takes centre stage, with Conan and the rest of the cast actively investigating and uncovering clues. Every narrative beat and revelation pushes the mystery forward, culminating in a final confrontation that borders on perfection.
The supporting cast is equally impressive. Conan Edogawa may well be my favourite anime character of all time, and Minami Takayama continues to deliver a layered and captivating performance. Yūji Takada also shines as Kansuke Yamato, who—alongside Kogoro—takes centre stage in this instalment. Seeing how the incident still haunts Yamato, and how the scar continues to inflame and cause him physical pain, is chilling. The incident’s gradual connection to the unfolding mystery is made all the more compelling thanks to Takada’s nuanced performance.
However, what can make or break a Detective Conan film for me is the score—especially the latest iteration of the theme—and the animation. When the opening theme kicks in and we transition to the immaculate, visually striking opening credits, I felt as though I’d transcended to a new plane of existence. Each opening provides a concise rundown of the franchise’s lore, allowing newcomers to catch up with ease. Yet with every instalment, the presentation of these familiar beats continues to improve, and One-eyed Flashback delivers the most cinematic opening credits the series has ever seen. The rest of the score is equally impressive, heightening the emotional impact of every scene with precision and flair.
What I found somewhat frustrating was the animation. For 90% of the runtime, the digital animation has never looked better. The use of 3D is seamlessly integrated—unlike in some previous instalments—and there were several moments where I was genuinely in awe of the visuals. That said, digital animation will never quite match the beautiful cel-animation of the first six films. The other 10% is where the animation falters, primarily during action sequences; the framing often feels overly cluttered, leading to moments of visual confusion. This occasionally undercuts what could have been truly spectacular action set pieces.
Detective Conan: One-eyed Flashback is one of the strongest entries in the franchise to date. Even after 28 films, this series continues to evolve and elevate itself. Seamlessly blending the intricate mysteries of its early instalments with the intense, high-stakes action of its more recent ones, One-eyed Flashback stands out as a remarkable achievement—destined to be remembered not only as one of the best animated films of the year, but as one of the year’s finest films overall.
★★★★1/2
In Cinemas from September 26 / Minami Takayama, Rikiya Koyama, Yūji Takada, Megumi Hayashibara, Takeshi Kusao / Dir: Katsuya Shigehara / Trinity CineAsia / 15
Discover more from
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
About the Author
