The Japanese anime film market remains incredibly dynamic, with established franchises and new sensations continually captivating audiences. This past weekend saw ongoing shifts in the top rankings, but one film consistently proves its monumental drawing power, setting new benchmarks for animated features.
Chiikawa Movie: A Box Office Phenomenon
Eiga Chiikawa: Ningyo no Shima no Himitsu (Chiikawa the Movie: The Secret of Mermaid Island), the highly anticipated first anime film adaptation of Nagano's popular Chiikawa manga, continued its extraordinary run in its tenth weekend. Dropping only one spot from #1 to #2, the film showcased its immense staying power, attracting 182,000 viewers and earning a formidable 280,160,700 yen (about US$1.78 million) from Friday to Sunday. This incredible performance contributes to a staggering cumulative total of 11.55 million tickets sold and 16,857,364,400 yen (about US$107 million) in earnings.
These impressive figures firmly establish Chiikawa the Movie as the biggest film in Japan this year, a remarkable achievement that underscores its widespread appeal. The film now proudly holds the 14th spot in Japan's all-time box office ranking, solidifying its place in cinematic history. Its debut was equally spectacular, opening on July 24 at #1 and earning 990 million yen (about US$6.05 million) on its first day. Within its initial three days, it sold 1,508,500 tickets and amassed 2,240,333,500 yen (about US$13.70 million).
The film's success has been further bolstered by various special screenings, including immersive 4DX showings that began on September 5. Unique one-day-only cheering screenings on September 11 and interactive penlight screenings on September 23 offered fans enhanced viewing experiences. Based on the manga's beloved "Siren Arc" or "Island Arc" originally posted on X (formerly Twitter) from March to November 2023, the film benefited from Nagano's direct involvement, credited for the original story and script. Kei Oikawa, known for his work on Uma Musume Pretty Derby, directed the film at Cygames Pictures, with QTORY inc. managing production and TOHO handling distribution.
Star Detective Precure! The Movie: Holding Strong
Star Detective Precure! The Movie: The Mysterious Garden and the Secret of 2 People, the latest cinematic entry in the long-running Precure franchise, maintained its strong position at #3 in its second weekend. The film sold 134,000 tickets and earned 174,435,520 yen (about US$1.11 million) over the weekend. Its cumulative performance is equally encouraging, with a total of 740,000 tickets sold and earnings reaching 930,809,150 yen (about US$5.93 million).
Opening on September 18, the film quickly made its mark, selling 358,000 tickets and earning 446 million yen (about US$2.82 million) in its first three days. By September 23, its six-day total reached 606,000 tickets and 746 million yen (about US$4.71 million). The film introduces new characters brought to life by a talented voice cast, including Akari Kitō as the pivotal 14-year-old Karin, Nobunaga Shimazaki as the fairy Alan, and Kōki Uchiyama as the fairy Rain. Directed by Hanako Ueda (You and Idol Precure♪) and with a script by Yoshimi Narita, the film's musical landscape is crafted by Erika Fukasawa and Misaki Umase. Emiko Miyamoto contributed as character designer and chief animation director, while Yūka Masui and Chihaya Yoshitake performed the ending theme "FIRST PRISM," and Ami Ishii delivered the insert song "First Step."
Cosmic Princess Kaguya! Returns and Reclaims Top 10 Spot
Shingo Yamashita's Cosmic Princess Kaguya! (Chō Kaguya-hime!) anime film made a triumphant return to the top 10, landing at #10 in its second week after a special re-release featuring MX4D, 4DX, SCREENX, ULTRA 4DX, and Dolby Atmos screenings starting September 18. The film earned 88,436,840 yen (about US$564,000) from Friday to Sunday, pushing its cumulative total to 3,181,757,980 yen (about US$20.29 million).
Cosmic Princess Kaguya! initially enjoyed a limited but incredibly popular theatrical run starting February 20, with tickets selling out rapidly and some theaters expanding screenings significantly before its conclusion on June 18. For those who missed its theatrical debut, Netflix began streaming the film on January 22. The film is also notable for featuring an impressive lineup of songs by renowned Vocaloid producers such as Ryo (supercell), kz (Livetune), 40mP, HoneyWorks, Aqu3ra, and yuigot, contributing to its unique appeal.
Other Noteworthy Anime Film Performances
While Chiikawa and Precure dominated the top spots, other anime films continued to make their presence felt. Puella Magi Madoka Magica The Movie: Walpurgisnacht: Rising, although outside the top 10 in its fifth weekend, still generated 62,114,740 yen (about US$396,100), bringing its cumulative earnings to 2,176,335,280 yen (about US$13.87 million). Sound! Euphonium, The Final Movie Part 2, also off the main top 10 in its fourth weekend, added 36,546,320 yen (about US$233,000) for a cumulative total of 358,316,660 yen (about US$2.28 million).
The first film in the Re:cycle of Penguindrum compilation project found success in the mini-theater rankings, securing the #3 spot. Meanwhile, the live-action film adaptation of Tatsuki Fujimoto's "Look Back" one-shot manga exited the main list in its third weekend.
Japan's anime film industry continues to thrive, delivering a diverse range of stories and experiences that resonate deeply with audiences, from record-breaking blockbusters to beloved franchise entries and niche theatrical returns.
