Chiikawa the Movie Is Killing It in Japan’s Cinemas — While Leaving Children Crying in Fear
Chiikawa The Movie: The Secret of Mermaid Island has become a massive success in Japan, grossing 6.77 billion yen (approximately $43 million) in just 17 days. The film ranks as the fourth highest-grossing movie of 2024 in Japan, trailing only Michael, Toy Story 5, and Detective Conan: Fallen Angel of the Highway. The movie achieved the seventh-highest opening day ever for a Japanese film with $6.2 million in earnings.
The Chiikawa franchise began as a Twitter web manga created by artist Nagano, expanding into an eight-volume manga series published by Kodansha with over 3.6 million copies sold as of November 2024. The property has since developed into an anime adaptation that led to the theatrical film.
The movie’s theatrical success extends globally, having earned over $280 million worldwide. Despite its cute aesthetic and broad appeal, the film has reportedly caused distress among some child viewers, as indicated by the article’s reference to children “crying in fear,” suggesting the movie contains darker elements that contrast with the typical Chiikawa presentation.