Case Closed: Sunflowers of Inferno

Natsumi Miyadai was the true mastermind behind the scheme. She wanted to destroy the Sunflowers because she believed they were forgeries. After years of examining art and studying the paintings, she became convinced they were not authentic Vincent van Gogh works, leading her to orchestrate their destruction as part of a larger plan.

Earlier in the film, Natsumi examines one of the Sunflowers but cannot confirm its authenticity, hinting at her doubts.

Konosuke Jii was the man who saved the Sunflowers painting during the U.S. air raid on Japan during World War II. He was entrusted by Azuma's grandfather to keep the painting safe, which he did for decades. His secret-keeping and the truth about the painting's authenticity formed the emotional core of the mystery.

Ai Haibara's conversations with an elderly woman who visited the Sunflowers daily foreshadowed this connection, as the woman was revealed to be connected to Jii.

Koichi Azuma killed his twin brother Koji because of family tensions surrounding the Sunflowers. While the exact family grievance is not detailed in the summary, Koichi confessed to the killing while denying any involvement in the theft itself, suggesting personal animosity between the brothers over the painting's legacy.

The twin brothers' presence in the story and their connection to the Azuma family wealth hinted at underlying family conflicts.

Conan used his explosive football device to create a pressure change that carved a path through the submerged tunnel. He protected himself using the Sunflowers' protective frame as a shield against falling debris. Once he escaped the tunnel, he was rescued by Ginzo Nakamori as he surfaced with the painting.

Conan's earlier use of his gadgetry throughout the film set up his ability to improvise during the final crisis.

Inspector Bowles let Kaito Kid escape because he was moved by the revelation of the true mastermind and the long history behind the Sunflowers. After Kid revealed Natsumi Miyadai's plan to destroy the paintings and explained Konosuke Jii's wartime sacrifice, Bowles chose to let the thief go rather than arrest him, acknowledging the complexity of the case.

Kid's earlier interactions with Bowles throughout the film showed a mutual respect between the detective and the thief.

During the ransom delivery scene, a hidden danger was revealed when water in a bottle began increasing despite the gallery director drinking from it. The room had been turned into a deadly trap, though the specific mechanism is not detailed in the summary. Conan and Inspector Bowles stormed the room just as Kid appeared outside the window.

The tension in the isolated hotel room built as the water level mysteriously rose, signaling imminent danger.

When the cargo plane was sabotaged with a bomb that blew out the cargo door, the Sunflowers paintings spiraled into the sky. Kid descended from the chaos, but the paintings were found abandoned by him. The plane landed safely with no casualties, and Kid's exact escape method during the bombing remained part of his theatrical reputation.

Kid's dramatic entrance at the press conference with a flashing card established his signature escape style.

The elderly woman who visited the Sunflowers daily had a deep personal connection to the painting's history. She was revealed to be connected to Konosuke Jii, who had saved the painting during World War II. Her daily visits were tied to her memories and the trust placed in her by Jii to watch over the artwork.

Ai Haibara's conversations with the elderly woman throughout the film established her mysterious dedication to the painting.

Kaito Kid returned on the exhibition day to not only steal the Sunflowers but also to expose the truth behind the paintings. He impersonated Shinichi briefly to enter the crowd and left a cryptic note for Conan. Ultimately, Kid worked to save at least one of the paintings when the gallery vaults failed during the crisis.

Kid's earlier cryptic notes and theatrical warnings foreshadowed his dramatic return.

The Seven Samurai were evacuated and locked down as a safety measure when a fire broke out at the gallery, triggered by a power failure. This evacuation left the paintings vulnerable and created the opportunity for Kid to act. The Seven Samurai were the seven specialists hired to provide top-tier protection for the Sunflowers.

Earlier discussions about the Seven Samurai's role in protecting the paintings set up their importance to the security plan.

After stealing the second Sunflowers, Kaito Kid issued a ransom demand of ¥10 billion to be delivered within two hours. This demand put immense pressure on Suzuki and the gallery organizers. The ransom scene was part of Kid's theatrical heist, though the true purpose was revealed to be tied to exposing those who wanted the paintings destroyed.

The ticking clock of the two-hour deadline created tension throughout the sequence.