The Crayon Shin-chan series, known for its long history of annual movie releases since 1993, is returning with its 32nd film after taking a surprising break in 2024. Titled Crayon Shin-chan: Ultra-Elegant! Blazing Kasukabe Dancers, this upcoming movie is set to hit Japanese theaters in the summer of 2025. Notably, this will be the first time in the franchise’s history that the story is set in India.
This time, the setting moves to India, a country with over 5,000 years of history and known globally for its vibrant culture, particularly its music and dance. This isn’t just a random pick; the Shin-chan franchise often selects its settings to emphasize unique cultural elements.
Past movies have taken the Nohara family to places like Mexico (Crash! Rakuga Kingdom and Almost Four Heroes, 2020) and Australia (Honeymoon Hurricane The Lost Hiroshi, 2019). But India is a first, and it’s an intriguing choice considering the series’ knack for parodying cultural stereotypes—something that’s not always well-received internationally.
The teaser poster and trailer highlight Bo-chan, one of the quieter members of the Kasukabe Defense Squad, taking center stage. This is notable, as he’s been mostly a side character throughout the franchise’s history.
The teaser’s tagline, “Goodbye, Shin-chan,” hints at a potentially dramatic twist, though the franchise has been known to play up emotional stakes in its marketing while still delivering its signature humor.
Checkout the key visual below:
Production Details
The film is directed by Masakazu Hashimoto, who previously helmed Honeymoon Hurricane and Mononoke Ninja Chinpuden (2022), both of which were well-received for their adventurous tone and humor. Kimiko Ueno, a frequent collaborator with Hashimoto, is handling the screenplay.
Interestingly, the production team traveled to India for location scouting, which Hashimoto noted included sampling local cuisine (ultra-spicy curry, in this case) and experiencing the scorching sun.
According to Hashimoto, “This movie is packed with music, dance, laughter, tears, and everything that makes Crayon Shin-chan what it is—pure entertainment!”
This suggests they’re putting in the effort to make the setting authentic, though the extent to which cultural elements will be respectfully portrayed remains to be seen.
What to Expect
Judging by Yumiko Kobayashi’s comments (the voice actor for Shin-chan), this film will be heavy on musical and dance sequences, presumably inspired by India’s Bollywood industry. She remarked, “This time, Shin-chan is causing chaos in India! He’ll be singing a lot! He’ll be dancing a lot!”
The inclusion of Bo-chan as the protagonist is also intriguing. Kobayashi added, “To all Bo-chan fans out there, your wait is finally over! He’s the main character this time!”
Fans of the series have long debated whether Bo-chan has untapped potential, given his typically deadpan humor and odd quirks. If handled well, this could be a refreshing change of pace from the usual Shin-chan-centric narratives.
Crayon Shin-chan: Ultra-Elegant! Blazing Kasukabe Dancers does not yet have an announced release date for audiences outside Japan. Fans, particularly in India, where the movie is set, will need to wait a bit longer for an official international release update. Stay tuned for more details as they become available.
Source: Comic Natalie
