Japan’s newest anime blockbuster is scaring kids to tears.

A charming little creature is making waves at the Japanese box office. *Chiikawa The Movie: The Secret of Mermaid Island* has quickly become a sensation, raking in 6.77 billion yen (about $43 million) in just 17 days. This impressive feat places it as the fourth highest-grossing film of the year in Japan, trailing only behind *Michael*, *Toy Story 5*, and *Detective Conan: Fallen Angel of the Highway*. The film had a stellar debut, earning over $6.2 million on its opening day, marking it as the seventh-highest opening ever for a film in Japan. So far, it has grossed over $280 million globally.

For those unfamiliar with the *Chiikawa* series, it began as a web manga on Twitter by artist Nagano. It was later compiled into eight volumes by Kodansha, which have sold over 3.6 million copies as of November 2024. The anime adaptation by Doga Kobo has been airing since 2022, with a total of 367 episodes, each lasting one to two minutes. *Chiikawa The Movie* was animated by Cypic, a studio known for works like *The Summer Hikaru Died*, *Umamusume: Cinderella Gray*, and *Apocalypse Hotel*.

The series centers around Chiikawa, a creature that resembles a hamster or mouse, who embarks on adventures with their equally adorable friends Hachiware (who looks like a cat) and Usagi (who resembles a bunny). While it’s primarily a “comedy” and “slice of life” story, it also delves into “dark fantasy” territory.

The manga has been interpreted as a critique of the gig economy, with the main character often thrust into perilous, life-or-death situations involving monsters. Adorable creatures meet grim fates, and Chiikawa narrowly escapes being eaten. There are elements of body horror, with cute animals transforming into monstrous chimeras. These darker moments contrast sharply with the series’ overall cute antics.

*Chiikawa The Movie: The Secret of Mermaid Island* adapts one of the series’ more sinister arcs, featuring themes of murder and folk horror. Reports indicate that children have been moved to tears during the film, and some have taken to social media to share wild reactions, further piquing interest in areas where the film hasn’t yet premiered.

While HIDIVE previously streamed *Chiikawa* in North America, it no longer hosts the anime. Amasian has a few episodes available for free, but it seems the full series lacks an official English-language translation. Perhaps the buzz surrounding *The Secret of Mermaid Island* will lead to a broader release, allowing more fans to experience its pint-sized horrors.