The iconic Japanese franchise "Detective Conan" is set to captivate Chinese audiences with a classic film release nationwide and a 30th-anniversary exhibition in Beijing.

A Detective Conan character actor poses with audience members amid falling artificial cherry blossoms during the Beijing premiere of "Detective Conan: Crossroad in the Ancient Capital," Dec. 20, 2024. [Photo courtesy of Road Pictures]

The 2003 film "Detective Conan: Crossroad in the Ancient Capital," directed by Kenji Kodama, will make its Chinese debut as the seventh theatrical installment of the detective manga series. Road Pictures is importing the Kyoto-set film, which follows Conan and Heiji Hattori investigating a Buddha statue theft and a series of murders while Heiji searches for a childhood friend.

Chinese movie promoters have a history of creating immersive theater experiences. Last year, they recreated snow scenes from "Shining for One Thing." For the premiere of "Crossroad in the Ancient Capital," organizers have arranged for artificial cherry blossoms to shower audiences, recreating the film's romantic scenes to enhance the viewing experience. This practice will extend to other venues during the national release beginning Dec. 27, catering to fans who enjoy event screenings.

The Chinese promotional poster for "Detective Conan: Crossroad in the Ancient Capital." [Image courtesy of Road Pictures]

"Crossroad in the Ancient Capital" was the first "Detective Conan" film presented in full-length traditional digital animation and remains widely regarded by fans as one of the franchise's best. The film earned 8.5 out of 10 from more than 136,000 users on Douban, China's review site. It grossed 3.2 billion Japanese yen during its 2003 Japan release.

The "Detective Conan" series has maintained steady success in the Chinese market. In August 2024, the latest installment, "Detective Conan: The Million-Dollar Pentagram," grossed 286 million yuan ($39 million) in the Chinese mainland, becoming the franchise's highest-grossing film both domestically and worldwide. "Crossroad in the Ancient Capital" arrives as an additional treat for Chinese fans of the series.

An exhibit display at the "30th Anniversary Detective Conan Exhibition" in Beijing, Dec. 20, 2024. [Photo/China.org.cn]

Meanwhile, the "30th Anniversary Detective Conan Exhibition" is running at Beijing's Chaoyang Joy City Shopping Mall from Dec. 21, 2024, to Feb. 23, 2025.

Working with Shanghai Character License Administrative Co., Ltd., the Chinese agent of "Detective Conan," GuGuGuGu, a Road Pictures subsidiary managing major animation franchises, brought the exhibition to the Chinese market. The exhibition maintains its original format from its debut in Ikebukuro. After touring several Japanese cities since January 2024 and completing a successful run in Shanghai from July to October, it now comes to Beijing.

The Beijing exhibition chronicles the series' 30-year history through six themes: words, love, mystery, unsung heroes, justice and magic. The exhibition includes a theater showing a documentary on the series' history and a gallery featuring original artwork by creator Gosho Aoyama. Visitors can also purchase exclusive merchandise and enjoy themed refreshments.

A Detective Conan character actor poses during the "30th Anniversary Detective Conan Exhibition" in Beijing, Dec. 20, 2024. [Photo courtesy of GuGuGuGu]

"Detective Conan," also known as "Case Closed," is a leading Japanese manga and anime series by Gosho Aoyama. Since its 1994 debut in Shogakukan's Weekly Shonen Sunday, it has sold over 250 million copies globally. The series has also been adapted into a TV anime and more than 20 movies.

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