Jia Lissa
Tokyo, Japan – The Japanese box office continues to be a vibrant landscape for animated features, with the beloved characters of "Chiikawa" leading the charge. "Eiga Chiikawa: Ningyo no Shima no Himitsu" (Chiikawa the Movie: The Secret of Mermaid Island), the first cinematic adaptation of Nagano’s popular manga, has cemented its status as a box office titan, maintaining a formidable presence in its tenth week of release. Meanwhile, established franchises like "Precure" and the visually stunning "Cosmic Princess Kaguya!" are also demonstrating remarkable staying power, capturing significant audience attention.
A Phenomenal Run for "Chiikawa: The Secret of Mermaid Island"
The film adaptation of Nagano’s "Chiikawa" manga, titled "Eiga Chiikawa: Ningyo no Shima no Himitsu," has achieved an extraordinary feat, consistently drawing audiences and accumulating impressive revenue. While it experienced a slight dip from the number one spot to second place in its tenth weekend, its performance remains nothing short of spectacular. From Friday to Sunday of that week, the film sold an impressive 182,000 tickets, generating 280,160,700 yen (approximately US$1.78 million).
These figures contribute to an already staggering cumulative total. To date, "Eiga Chiikawa: Ningyo no Shima no Himitsu" has sold a colossal 11.55 million tickets, raking in a remarkable 16,857,364,400 yen (around US$107 million). This makes the film the biggest earner in Japan for the current year and has propelled it to an impressive 14th position in Japan’s all-time box office rankings.
The film’s journey began on July 24th, and it immediately captured the top spot in its opening weekend. The initial impact was immense, with the film earning a staggering 990 million yen (about US$6.05 million) on its opening day alone. Within its first three days, it had already sold 1,508,500 tickets and grossed a monumental 2,240,333,500 yen (approximately US$13.70 million). By September 23rd, marking the end of Japan’s "Silver Week" holiday period, the film had surpassed 11.33 million tickets sold, with earnings reaching 16.5 billion yen (around US$104.3 million).
To further enhance the audience experience, the film has rolled out special screenings. 4DX screenings commenced on September 5th, offering an immersive, multi-sensory viewing. Additionally, one-day-only "cheering screenings" were held on September 11th, allowing fans to engage with the film in a more interactive manner. More recently, penlight screenings took place on September 23rd, adding another layer of fan participation.
The narrative of "Eiga Chiikawa: Ningyo no Shima no Himitsu" is rooted in the popular "Siren Arc" or "Island Arc" of Nagano’s manga, which captivated readers on X (formerly Twitter) from March to November 2023. Nagano himself has been deeply involved in the film’s creation, credited for the original story and also penning the screenplay. Under Nagano’s meticulous supervision, Kei Oikawa, known for his work on "Uma Musume Pretty Derby" (all three seasons), "Hinamatsuri," and the "My Teen Romantic Comedy SNAFU" series, directed the film at Cygames Pictures. Production was managed by QTORY inc., with TOHO handling the distribution.
"Star Detective Precure!" Continues Its Strong Performance
The enduring "Precure" franchise also boasts a significant presence at the box office with its latest installment, "Eiga Meitantei Precure! Fushigi na Niwa to Futari no Himitsu" (Star Detective Precure! The Movie: The Mysterious Garden and the Secret of 2 People). This film, representing the 23rd main entry in the long-running "Precure" series, secured the third position in its second weekend. From Friday to Sunday, it sold 134,000 tickets, generating 174,435,520 yen (approximately US$1.11 million).
Since its debut, the "Star Detective Precure!" film has achieved a cumulative total of 740,000 tickets sold, with earnings reaching 930,809,150 yen (around US$5.93 million). The film premiered in Japan on September 18th, and its opening weekend was equally impressive. It sold 358,000 tickets, grossing 446 million yen (about US$2.82 million) in its first three days. By September 23rd, within its first six days of release, the film had sold 606,000 tickets, accumulating 746 million yen (approximately US$4.71 million).
The film introduces new characters voiced by a talented cast. Akari Kito lends her voice to Karin, a 14-year-old girl who plays a pivotal role in the narrative. Nobunaga Shimazaki voices Alan, a fairy who watches over Karin, while KÂki Uchiyama portrays Rain, another fairy who enlists the help of the Detective Precures.
The directorial helm for this installment was taken by Hanako Ueda, who has previously worked on "You and Idol Precureâ²™," "Summer Time Rendering," and as an episode director for "My Hero Academia FINAL SEASON." The script was penned by Yoshimi Narita, a veteran of the "Precure" film series, having worked on titles like "Eiga HappinessCharge PreCure! Ningy£ no Kuni no Ballerina" and "Eiga Precure All Stars New Stage 3: Eien no Tomodachi." The musical score was composed by Erika Fukasawa and Misaki Umase, both of whom have contributed to previous "Precure" productions. Emiko Miyamoto, who designed characters for "Eiga Precure All Stars F" and "Precure Super Stars!," served as the film’s character designer and chief animation director.
The film’s musical offerings are also noteworthy. Y«ka Masui and Chihaya Yoshitake perform the ending theme song, "FIRST PRISM," while Ami Ishii delivers the insert song, "First Step."
"Cosmic Princess Kaguya!" Continues Its Multi-Format Re-Release Success
Shingo Yamashita’s "Cosmic Princess Kaguya!" (Ch£ Kaguya-hime!), a captivating anime film, has demonstrated remarkable resilience, maintaining a strong presence in theaters even in its second week of a re-release that began on September 18th. The film, which returned with enhanced viewing options including MX4D, 4DX, SCREENX, ULTRA 4DX, and Dolby Atmos screenings, dropped from sixth to tenth place in its second week. Over the weekend of Friday to Sunday, it earned 88,436,840 yen (approximately US$564,000).
The film’s cumulative earnings now stand at an impressive 3,181,757,980 yen (around US$20.29 million). This remarkable figure is a testament to its initial success and the enthusiastic reception to its re-release. The film’s initial limited theatrical run commenced on February 20th, and tickets sold out so rapidly that several theaters were compelled to increase their screening schedules to over ten times a day. Its subsequent one-week theatrical screening in Japan was extended, and its final run concluded on June 18th.
Adding to its accessibility, "Cosmic Princess Kaguya!" began streaming on Netflix on January 22nd, allowing a wider audience to experience its unique visual and auditory presentation. The film features an eclectic soundtrack composed by renowned Vocaloid producers, including Ryo (supercell), kz (Livetune), 40mP, HoneyWorks, Aqu3ra, and yuigot, further contributing to its widespread appeal.
Other Notable Performers and Trends
Beyond the top contenders, other animated films continue to perform well. "Puella Magi Madoka Magica The Movie: Walpurgisnacht: Rising" (Gekij£ban Mah£ Sh£jo Madoka Magica: Walpurgis no Kaiten) may have dropped out of the top 10 in its fifth weekend, but it still managed to earn 62,114,740 yen (approximately US$396,100) over the weekend, bringing its cumulative total to 2,176,335,280 yen (around US$13.87 million).
Similarly, "Sound! Euphonium, The Final Movie Part 2" (Saish£ Gakush£ Hibike! Euphonium K£hen) remained outside the top 10 in its fourth weekend but still garnered 36,546,320 yen (approximately US$233,000) from Friday to Sunday, accumulating a total of 358,316,660 yen (around US$2.28 million).
In the mini-theater rankings, the first film in the "Re:cycle of Penguindrum" compilation film project secured the third position, indicating continued interest in this acclaimed series.
The live-action film adaptation of Tatsuki Fujimoto’s one-shot manga "Look Back" dropped off the list in its third weekend, showing that while anime films dominate, live-action adaptations face a different trajectory in audience engagement.
Implications and Future Outlook
The sustained success of "Chiikawa: The Secret of Mermaid Island" underscores the immense popularity of Nagano’s characters and the franchise’s ability to translate its charm to the big screen. Its performance as the year’s biggest film in Japan and its high ranking in all-time box office charts signal a significant cultural impact. The film’s narrative, drawn from a popular online arc, highlights the effectiveness of leveraging existing fan engagement for cinematic releases.
The continued strength of the "Precure" franchise, even in its 23rd iteration, demonstrates the enduring appeal of its themes and characters to a dedicated audience. The successful introduction of new characters and the film’s solid box office performance suggest a healthy continuation for the series.
"Cosmic Princess Kaguya!" is a prime example of how innovative release strategies, such as multi-format screenings and strategic re-releases, can revitalize a film’s box office run. Its initial success and subsequent re-engagement with audiences, coupled with its availability on streaming platforms, showcase a multifaceted approach to film distribution.
The Japanese box office continues to be a robust market for animated content, with a diverse range of films capturing audience attention. The success of these titles, from established franchises to newer adaptations, points to a strong and engaged fanbase that actively supports animated storytelling in its cinematic form. As the year progresses, it will be interesting to observe how these films continue to perform and what new animated features will emerge to capture the hearts and wallets of Japanese moviegoers.
Sources: Kōgyō Tsūshin, various news outlets.
Reynand Wu
Asep Darmawan
