Crayon Shin-chan: Pursuit of the Balls of Darkness
| Company type | Animated film |
|---|---|
| Industry | Animation, Entertainment |
| Founded | April 19, 1997 |
| Founder | Yoshito Usui (original creator) |
| Headquarters | Japan |
| Products | Animated movie |
| Parent | Shin-Ei Animation, TV Asahi, ADK |
, also titled Dark Tamatam Thrilling Chase!, is a 1997 Japanese animated movie and represents the fifth entry in the Crayon Shin-chan franchise. This film marks the debut appearance of Himawari, who was introduced to the series in 1996.
Plot
While near a lake, Shinnosuke and his dog Shiro discover an unconscious man alongside a gleaming sphere. At their residence, Himawari accidentally swallows this sphere. Later that evening, the Nohara family encounters three men—Rose, Lavender, and Lemon—who are descendants of the Tamayura clan, Ainu shamans on a quest to retrieve the sphere. They escort the family to their dance-bar themed around otokonoko culture and share their ancestral background.
In the past, a Tamayumi shaman unleashed a dark force named Jack to obtain power but was ultimately defeated by an ancestor of the Tamayuras. To stop Jack's resurgence, his abilities were divided into two spheres and a statue. One sphere was sold due to financial difficulties; the statue was buried but recently excavated and stolen by Tamayumi descendants seeking to revive Jack. Hexon, a psychic trained in Tibet, possesses the sold sphere but lost it to the Tamayuras at Tokyo airport. The Nohara family consents to collaborate with the Tamayuras to safeguard Himawari, who now holds the swallowed sphere.
At their dance-bar, they face an attack from Tamayumi descendants and the bodybuilder Satake but manage to flee. They find refuge in a bathhouse where Yone Higashimatsuyama, a Chiba police officer investigating disturbances at the airport, joins their mission. Despite repeated assaults by Tamayumis aiming to capture group members, they evade them with Hexon employing psychic powers to track their movements.
Following additional clashes near Mt Osore and Tokyo's Rainbow Bridge, Hexon kidnaps Himawari along with one of the spheres despite resistance from Takeshi (Rose), his mother, and their allies. Satake opposes holding Himawari hostage and returns her to the Noharas. The climax features a battle where Tamao Nakamura and Hexon attempt to reunite Jack's powers through the statue. Shinnosuke counters Hexon's psychic attacks using humor and retrieves the statue.
However, when both spheres are combined, Jack awakens only to reveal he died years ago and no longer wields any dark powers. Hexon tries to harm Himawari but is stopped by Shinnosuke and his companions. Yone arrests the antagonists for kidnapping and attempted murder while Jack and Satake become part of the Tamayuras at their dance-bar.
Cast
- Akiko Yajima as Shinnosuke Nohara
- Miki Narahashi as Misae Nohara
- Keiji Fujiwara as Hiroshi Nohara
- Satomi Kōrogi as Himawari Nohara
- Daisuke Gōri as Rose
- Kaneto Shiozawa as Lavender
- Shinya Ōtaki as Lemon
- Yuriko Yamamoto as Yone Higashimatsuyama
- Suwon Rin as Tamayura's mother
- Keiko Yamamoto as Tamao Nakamura
- Jun Hazumi as Hexon
- Saeko Shimazu as Chimama Maho
- Fumihiko Tachiki as Satake
- Mari Mashiba as Shiro
- Shin Aomori as Jack
- Yoshito Usui as Cartoonist
- Rokurō Naya as Bunta Takakura (principal)
- Yumi Takada as Midori Yoshinaga
- Michie Tomizawa as Ume Matsuzaka
- Tamao Hayashi as Nene Sakurada
- Teiyū Ichiryūsai as Masao Sato
- Chie Satō as Bo Suzuki
Hexon
Exhibits extraordinary physical power alongside telepathic abilities acquired through Tibetan disciplines. He features blonde hair and blue eyes.
Majo
Commander of the Tamayumi Clan forces, proficient in combat-oriented rhythmic gymnastics.
Rose
One of the three cross-dressing siblings from the Tamayura Clan; distinguished by her pink outfit and shaved head. Her true name is Takeshi.
Lavender
Another member of the Tamayura sisters, recognized by lime green attire and a shaved head. She is slender with painted eyes. Her real name is Tsuyoshi.
Lemon
The third Tamayura sister, wearing yellow clothing and sporting a shaved head. She is thin as well. Her given name is Kiyoshi.
Satake
Martial arts champion and son of the Cataplines Clan leader, known for his muscular build. Initially an adversary, he eventually joins forces with the Tamayura clan.
Yone Higashimatsuyama
A police officer from Chiba with a minor role in the story. He is armed with Beretta M92FS and M84 pistols.
Tamao Nakamura
Leader of the Cataplines Clan, proprietor of a hostess club who speaks with a Kyoto dialect and wears a kimono.
Jack
A demon endowed with dark powers that ceased to exist after 31 December 1996.
Yoshito Usui
Makes a cameo appearance as the original creator.
Staff
Principal staff members consist of:
- Original creator: Yoshito Usui
- Director and Screenplay: Keiichi Hara
- Storyboard Artist: Keiichi Hara
- Character Design and Animation Directors: Katsunori Hara, Noriyuki Tsutsumi
- Director of Photography: Toshiyuki Umeda
- Music Composers: Toshiyuki Arakawa, Shinji Miyazaki
- Sound Engineer: Nobuhiro Shibata
- Film Editor: Hajime Okayasu
- Producers: Hitoshi Mogi, Kenji Ōta, Takashi Horiuchi
- Production Studios: Shin-Ei Animation, TV Asahi, ADK
Release
The movie premiered in Japan on 19 April 1997. In India, it was broadcast on Hungama TV under the title Shinchan in Dark Tama Tama Thrilling Chase. Additionally, PMP Entertainment released it on VCD with English subtitles as Crayon Shinchan The Movie: The Dark Ball Chase.