Chiikawa the Movie: The Secret of Mermaid Island is set to open in the Philippines on September 30, 2026, marking the first theatrical film adaptation of Nagano’s popular Chiikawa manga.
Medialink Entertainment announced the Philippine release, following the film’s Japanese debut on July 24, where it opened at No. 1 at the domestic box office. The film earned approximately ¥990 million (US$6.05 million) on its opening day in Japan. During its first three days, it sold around 1.51 million tickets and grossed ¥2.24 billion (US$13.70 million).
The movie adapts the manga’s storyline commonly known as the “Siren Arc” or “Island Arc,” which was originally published on X between March and November 2023. The story follows Chiikawa and Hachiware as they encounter a mysterious invitation to a special island. However, once they arrive, Chiikawa and the others discover that the island holds something far more mysterious than they expected.
Series creator Nagano serves as the film’s original creator and scriptwriter, with the production carried out under their supervision. Kei Oikawa directs the film at Cygames Pictures, with QTORY inc. overseeing production and TOHO handling distribution.
The voice cast includes Makoto Tanaka as Hachiware, while Nagano wrote the lyrics for the opening theme song, “Kutsuzure” (Shoe Sore), performed by Tanaka. Momoka Terasawa and Sayumi Suzushiro also join the cast as Hitoha and Futaba, two islanders encountered by Chiikawa and friends.
