Popular Character 'Chiikawa' Confirmed for Theatrical Animation Production... Set to Release in Summer 2026

The character 'Chiikawa', which has gained explosive popularity in Japan, is being made into a theatrical animation. Officially announced on November 24, the movie 'Chiikawa: The Secret of the Mermaid's Island' is set to be released in theaters nationwide in the summer of 2026.

Popular Character Surpassing 400 Million Views on TikTok and YouTube

Chiikawa is a comic series illustrated by Nagano, which has been serialized on X (formerly Twitter) since 2020, depicting the daily lives of small and cute characters living in a civil world, attracting attention. It has won the 'Japan Character Grand Prix' three times, and the total views of the short animation broadcast since 2022 have surpassed 400 million, enjoying explosive popularity among Japan's Generation Z.

The Most Popular Episode 'Siren Arc' Adapted into a Movie

This theatrical version will adapt the long episode serialized on X from March to November 2023, known among fans as the 'Siren Arc'. The story follows Chiikawa, Hachiwale, and Usagi receiving an 'invitation to a special island' and embarking on an adventure, making it the most popular episode in the series that garnered attention on social media.

The original creator Nagano is directly in charge of the script and fully supervising, while Kei Oikawa, director of the 'Uma Musume Pretty Derby' series, will take the helm. Production is handled by Cygame Pictures, which produced the theatrical version 'Uma Musume Pretty Derby: The New Era's Gate', ensuring high quality is expected.

The released teaser visual features Chiikawa, Hachiwale, and Usagi on a boat, adorned with flower crowns and sashes, gazing at the full moon and night sky. Nagano expressed, "I would be happy if you look forward to the journey of Chiikawa unfolding on the big screen for the first time."