Case Closed: The Fist of Blue Sapphire

Released in 2019 as the twenty-third installment in the long-running Case Closed, or Detective Conan, film series, The Fist of Blue Sapphire marked the first time the franchise set its narrative outside of Japan. Directed by Tomoka Nagaoka, the film centers on a heist involving a legendary sapphire in Singapore. The production aimed to leverage the global appeal of the series by integrating real-world Singaporean landmarks into its animation, providing a fresh backdrop for the iconic deductive puzzles that define the work of creator Gosho Aoyama.

The film was received as a high-stakes entry in the series, notable for its heightened focus on action sequences and the complex romantic dynamics between Kaito Kid, Sonoko Suzuki, and Makoto Kyogoku. Critically, it was praised for its vibrant depiction of the Marina Bay area, which allowed the animation team at TMS Entertainment to experiment with architectural scale and lighting. It achieved significant commercial success within the Japanese box office, continuing the series' trend of blending mystery tropes with the spectacle expected of modern theatrical animation.