Detective Conan: The Million-Dollar Pentagram (2024)

Anyone else think the soundtrack to this reminded them of the BBC "Sherlock" series with Benedict Cumberbatch? Anyway, this one sees our renowned diminutive detective "Conan" brought in to help "Insp. Nakamori" investigate the theft of some priceless Samurai swords. Now they are valuable enough, but somehow our sleuth reckons there is much more to it, and when the legendary "Kaito Kid" - usually noted for his jewel thievery - is seen at the scene, the game is well and truly afoot. We've got a generous (and duplicitous) millionaire vying with our investigators and the white caped-kid as the clues start to suggest that the swords could form a code that will lead the way to a secret weapon that could spell doom for the whole nation. Can our intrepid team thwart this evil intent in time? I like these animated stories. Though this one is a little on the long side, and there's a rather annoying romance cluttering things up from time to time, there are plenty of characters to suspect, we are given an inclusive idiots guide to crime-fighting and are led down plenty of blind alleys and shown loads of red herrings whilst the animators deliver some fast-moving sword fights, flying acrobatics and airborne escapades the length and breadth of Japan. I found the ending to be a bit weak, but I like the idea of us all using our little grey cells to sort out a problem that marries crime with history, mystery and myth.