Anime Films and the Box Office — 2026-09-28

Top developments

Chiikawa film climbs to 14th all-time with 16.85 billion yen

On September 28 it was announced that Chiikawa: The Movie — Secret of the Mermaid Island has passed 16.85 billion yen (approx. ¥168.5 oku-en) in box office revenue with 11.55 million admissions over 66 days of release, overtaking Slam Dunk to rise to 14th place on the all-time domestic earnings chart. A sixth admission bonus was also announced, continuing the film's rewards-driven long-tail strategy.

Earlier in the week (announced September 21–23), the film confirmed 15.84 billion yen and 10.857 million admissions in 59 days, making it the No. 1 release of 2026 in Japan — surpassing Detective Conan: The Million-Dollar Pentagram's 15.8 billion yen record and edging past Toy Story 5.

Weekend ranking: live-action tops, Chiikawa holds at #2

The September 25–27 Japanese weekend chart saw Bayside Shakedown N.E.W. take #1 in its second week with 243,000 admissions and ¥360 million over three days (¥2.1 billion cumulative from 1.49 million admissions), while Chiikawa slipped to #2 — still the dominant anime title on the chart.

PreCure Conan movie hits ¥840 million in nine days

Movie: Detective PreCure! The Mysterious Garden and Two Secrets, released September 18, surpassed 684,358 admissions and ¥848.4 million by September 26, with a thank-you stage-greeting event held and a top ranking on Filmarks' first-day satisfaction list. The mid-tier franchise entry is showing strong legs for a nine-day run.

Studio Ghibli Fest 2026 wraps in October as Spirited Away turns 25

Studio Ghibli Fest 2026 ends in October, closing with Oscar-winner Spirited Away (celebrating its 25th anniversary), with Spirited Away: Live on Stage screening nationwide via Fathom Entertainment on October 1 and 8. The catalog re-release program continues to be a rare reliable gross engine for older anime titles in U.S. theaters.

Local view

Japanese trade and fan media are focused on Chiikawa's march up the all-time table: Anime! Anime! highlighted it as 2026's top-grossing release, Oricon noted it out-grossed the Conan franchise record, KAI-YOU emphasized it passing both Conan and Toy Story 5, and fan blogs are debating where it will land in the all-time anime top 10 (currently anchored by Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle at ¥251.7 billion and Spirited Away territory above ¥20 billion).

Context & numbers

• Chiikawa: 66 days, 11.55 million admissions, ¥16.85 billion — 14th all-time in Japan, #1 of 2026.
• Weekend #1 film gross: ¥360 million (Bayside Shakedown N.E.W.), showing how far ahead Chiikawa's cumulative total is even as it slipped to #2 on the weekend chart.
• PreCure film: ¥848.4 million / 684,358 admissions through September 26.
• Reference for anime records: domestic anime all-time top ranks include Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle (¥251.7 banka-yen tier) and Princess Mononoke (¥21.46 billion) — Chiikawa at ¥16.85 billion is closing on that tier.

On the radar

• Chiikawa TV anime streams an English dub free on YouTube starting October 1 — a marketing push that could sustain the film's tail and build the property overseas.
• A limited-edition 15-film Studio Ghibli steelbook collection releases September 29, 2026.
• Spirited Away: Live on Stage U.S. screenings October 1 and 8 — watch for weekend grosses of Ghibli catalog titles in the U.S.
• L.A.'s Animation Is Film festival (October 16–19) will screen Cherry and Virgin, ghost – end of night, and Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust — a possible awards-season launchpad for anime features.