Chiikawa Anime Film Stays at #1, Live-Action Look Back Opens at #5
Eiga Chiikawa: Ningyo no Shima no Himitsu (Chiikawa the Movie: The Secret of Mermaid Island), the first anime film adaptation of Nagano's Chiikawa manga, stayed at #1 in its eighth weekend in Japan's box office from Friday to Sunday, and sold 271,000 tickets to earn 427,295,700 yen (about US$2.75 million) over the three days.
The film has sold 10.09 million tickets and has earned a cumulative total of 14,666,866,500 yen (about US$94.61 million). The film has surpassed Detective Conan: Highway no Datenshi's (Detective Conan: Fallen Angel of the Highway) 13.7 billion yen (about US$87.8 million) cumulative earning, and is currently the biggest film in Japan this year.
The film now ranks 23rd in Japan's all-time box office ranking.
Eiga Chiikawa: Ningyo no Shima no Himitsu opened on July 24 and ranked at #1 for its opening weekend. The film earned 990 million yen (about US$6.05 million) on its opening day. The film sold 1,508,500 tickets and earned 2,240,333,500 yen (about US$13.70 million) in its first three days.
The film's 4DX screenings began on September 5. One-day-only cheering screenings for the film took place on September 11. Penlight screenings will take place on September 23.
The film is based on the manga's arc posted on X (formerly Twitter) from March to November 2023, nicknamed the "Siren Arc" or "Island Arc."
The film's story begins with Chiik awa and Hachiware relaxing, when a rabbit with a flyer on its face suddenly appears. Hachiware looks at the flyer, which reads, "Invitation to a special island." Lured by tempting promises including great rewards for simple hunts on the island and essentially free sweet and spicy dishes such as limited-edition island ramen and sweets, Chiik awa and friends decide to go to the island. Suspicious with the flyer, Rakko goes with them to the island. What awaits them when they arrive on the island?
Nagano is credited for the original story and also wrote the film's script. Under Nagano's supervision, Kei Oikawa (Uma Musume Pretty Derby 3 seasons, Hinamatsuri, My Teen Romantic Comedy SNAFU TOO!, My Teen Romantic Comedy SNAFU Climax) directed the film at Cygames Pictures. QTORY inc. managed the production, and TOHO is distributing the film.
Puella Magi Madoka Magica The Movie: Walpurgisnacht: Rising (Gekijōban Mahō Shōjo Madoka Magica: Walpurgis no Kaiten), the official sequel to the Puella Magi Madoka Magica The Movie Part 3: Rebellion film, dropped from #3 to #4 in its third weekend. The film earned 169,476,760 yen (about US$1.09 miillion) from Friday to Sunday, and has earned a cumulative total of 1,838,112,960 yen (about US$11.85 million).
The film got IMAX screenings in Japan on August 28, the same day it opened in theaters. The film sold 535,000 tickets and and earned 939,647,100 yen (about US$5.95 million) in its first three days.
Yukihiro Miyamoto (Puella Magi Madoka Magica, Magia Record: Puella Magi Madoka Magica Side Story, Arakawa Under the Bridge) directed the film.
Shion Wakayama voices the new magical girl Shichōka and Tomoyo Kurosawa voices Selma Therese.
The anime film features a returning staff from the original anime series and films, including original creators Magica Quartet, chief director Akiyuki Simbo, scriptwriter Gen Urobuchi of Nitroplus, original character designer Ume Aoki, animation character designer Junichirō Taniguchi, composer Yuki Kajiura, alternate space designer Gekidan Inu Curry, and animation studio SHAFT.
Yuki Kajiura's solo project FictionJunction performs the theme song "Kanata."
The live-action film of Tatsuki Fujimoto's "Look Back" one-shot manga opened at #5. The film earned 144,146,120 yen (about US929,800) in its first three days.
Aju Makita (Child of Kamiari Month, Happiness) plays Kyōmoto, while Natsuki Deguchi (I Have a S/e/c/r/e/t/, Blue Spring Ride) plays Fujino in the film.
Hirokazu Kore-eda (Shoplifters, Our Little Sister, Air Doll) directed and edited the film, and also wrote the screenplay. Yūta Bandō (BELLE, Kaiju No. 8, also known as Taku Matsushiba) composed the music.
Musician Kenshi Yonezu, actress and singer Tōko Miura, and animator and director Yōko Kuno have special guest staff roles in the film. Yonezu performs guitar for the film, credited under the "Shark Kick Guitar" moniker, while Miura performs vocals for an insert song in the film. Kuno directed a rotoscoped animation sequence based on their performance, with Shinei Animation producing the animation.
Sound! Euphonium, The Final Movie Part 2 (Saishū Gakushō Hibike! Euphonium Kōhen), the second and final part in the Sound! Euphonium, The Final Movie project, opened at #7. The film earned 147,719,540 yen (about US$952,900) in its first three days.
Taichi Ogawa directed the anime, and Tatsuya Ishihara was the chief director. Jukki Hanada oversaw and wrote the script. Character designers include Shoko Ikeda and Kazumi Ikeda, and Kazumi Ikeda is also the chief animation director. Akito Matsuda composed the music at Lantis and Heart Company, with music cooperation by Senzoku Gakuen College of Music.
The first film opened on April 24.
Eiga Crayon Shin-chan Kikikaikai! Ora no Yōkai Bake-shon (Crayon Shin-chan The Movie Super Strange! My Yōkai Monster Vacation), the 33rd 2D anime film in the Crayon Shin-chan series, left the top 10 in its seventh weekend.
Kingdom: Tamashii no Kessen (Decisive Battle of the Soul), the fifth live-action film based on Yasuhisa Hara's Kingdom manga, dropped off the list in its ninth weekend.
Sekiro: No Defeat, the new anime based on FromSoftware's Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice game, left the list in its second weekend.
Sources: Kōgyō Tsūshin (link 2), comScore via KOFIC
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