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Manga Anime

Sound! Euphonium: The Final Movie Part 2 Opens 11 September

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Kyoto Animation’s decade-long school band saga plays its final note. Sound! Euphonium: The Final Movie — Part 2 opens in Japanese cinemas on 11 September 2026, closing out one of the studio’s most celebrated franchises with a 127-minute theatrical finale.

One Story, Two Halves — How the Finale Is Structured

The two-part Final Movie adapts the climactic arc of Ayano Takeda’s novel series, following the Kitauji High School concert band into their third and final year. Part 1 landed in Japanese theatres on 24 April 2026, picking up immediately after Season 3. Part 2 arrives 11 September to close out everything — Kumiko Oumae’s long journey from reluctant euphonium player to the heart of a championship-bound band.

The Part 2 story centres on Kumiko and her rival-turned-bandmate Mayu Kuroe as the team makes its final push at the National Competition in Nagoya’s Century Hall. Series writer Jukki Hanada penned an original screenplay that includes performance sequences created specifically for the film and not adapted from the novels — so even readers of the source material can expect new moments.

Kumiko Oumae playing her euphonium in the music room — Sound! Euphonium: The Final Movie
Image courtesy of Kyoto Animation

Kyoto Animation’s Farewell to the Franchise

KyoAni productions set a consistent benchmark for TV animation quality, and Sound! Euphonium has been one of their longest-running showcases — three seasons, two theatrical side stories, and now this two-part curtain call. Chief Director Tatsuya Ishihara, who has guided the franchise since Season 1 in 2015, works alongside Director Taichi Ogawa, who has directed across the Hibike franchise. The theatrical run is distributed in Japan by Shochiku.

The full voice cast returns: Tomoyo Kurosawa as Kumiko, Chika Anzai as Reina Kousaka, Haruka Tomatsu as Mayu Kuroe, and Takahiro Sakurai as conductor Noboru Taki. The score is composed by series regular Akito Matsuda, with the opening theme “ToCoda” performed by TRUE, who has sung for the franchise across multiple entries.

Sound! Euphonium: The Final Movie — Part 2 Official Trailer — via 京アニチャンネル on YouTube

What’s New in Part 2

At 127 minutes, Part 2 runs slightly longer than Part 1 and is designed to stand on its own as the series finale rather than as a direct cliffhanger continuation. The film’s main visual — showing the entire Kitauji band in motion — signals a story that brings the full ensemble into the spotlight for one last performance, not just the lead trio.

The main cast of Sound! Euphonium posing together in their school uniforms
Image courtesy of Kyoto Animation

When and Where Singapore Fans Can Watch

Part 2 opens in Japan on 11 September with no confirmed Singapore theatrical screening date at the time of writing — typical for Japanese theatrical-circuit releases of this kind. What’s more relevant for Singapore fans is the streaming outlook: Crunchyroll has carried all three TV seasons of Sound! Euphonium with English subtitles in Singapore, and has historically licensed the franchise’s theatrical releases for streaming after their theatrical windows close. A Crunchyroll streaming date for Part 2 has not been announced yet — watch their announcements over the coming months.

If you need to catch up before Part 2 lands internationally, all three seasons are on Crunchyroll now. Part 1 of The Final Movie is the essential bridge watch — the story picks up directly from Season 3’s ending, and Part 2 will expect you to know where Kumiko and Mayu left off.

Kumiko Oumae in profile, carrying her euphonium under golden light
Image courtesy of Kyoto Animation

Sound! Euphonium: The Final Movie — Part 2 opens in Japan on 11 September 2026. Visit the official site at anime-eupho.com for the latest updates. For more anime news and upcoming releases, head to our Manga Anime section.

Manga Anime, News

Pokémon: Wild Card Announced — First New Anime Movie in 7 Years Coming in 2027

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Seven years after Pokémon the Movie: Secrets of the Jungle, The Pokémon Company has just dealt its next hand. Pokémon: Wild Card — an all-new anime feature film — was unveiled at the closing ceremony of the 2026 Pokémon World Championships in San Francisco, and it is heading to cinemas starting in 2027.

Pokémon: Wild Card | Official Teaser Trailer — via The Official Pokémon YouTube channel

A Pokémon Movie Like No Other

Wild Card marks a sharp pivot from three decades of creature-catching road trips. Instead of a young trainer battling gym leaders and chasing legendary Pokémon, the story centres on a competitive Pokémon Trading Card Game player striving to become a champion — with the Ghost-type Mimikyu as their mysterious partner. As the official tagline puts it: “When the time comes to put their cards on the table, will they have what it takes to achieve their goals?”

The TCG angle is a first for the main Pokémon film franchise, and the 39-second teaser leans into a notably darker, more urban visual tone than its predecessors. The protagonist wears a Mimikyu-inspired hoodie and is shown hunched over a card table in a neon-lit cityscape, cards fanned in hand — while an ethereal Mimikyu hovers above.

The hooded protagonist of Pokémon: Wild Card leans forward during a tense TCG duel
Image courtesy of The Pokémon Company

CloverWorks Takes on the Challenge

Animation production is handled by CloverWorks — the studio behind Spy x Family, Bocchi the Rock!, and My Dress-Up Darling — under the direction of Katsuhiko Kitada, who previously worked on Attack on Titan. Character designs are by Akemi Hayashi, with Story inc. producing. The combination of CloverWorks’ track record with emotionally grounded, character-driven stories and Kitada’s experience with intense drama makes Wild Card one of the most intriguing Pokémon productions in years.

Mimikyu Steps Into the Spotlight

Mimikyu has long been a fan favourite — the Ghost/Fairy-type who disguises itself as Pikachu out of a desperate wish to be loved is practically a franchise icon at this point. Giving it the starring partner role in a feature film is a choice that will resonate hard with the fandom. The teaser keeps its true form ambiguous, showing only glimpses: a glowing spectral silhouette above the city, and a brief close-up of something distinctly unsettling beneath that familiar costume.

A shadowy, unsettling Pokemon creature in Pokémon: Wild Card
Image courtesy of The Pokémon Company

Big News for Singapore’s Pokémon TCG Scene

For Singapore fans, Wild Card lands at a particularly charged moment. The city-state is already gearing up to host the 2027 Pokémon World Championships at Singapore EXPO in August — the first time the global championship comes to Southeast Asia. A film built around competitive TCG play is perfectly timed to ride that wave.

Singapore also has a thriving Play! Pokémon community, with regional qualifiers running throughout the year as part of the 2026–27 Pokémon Asia Championship Series. Whether Wild Card gets a simultaneous Singapore cinema release alongside its 2027 debut has not been confirmed — but given the franchise’s theatrical track record here (Secrets of the Jungle screened locally in 2021), it is reasonable to expect one. We will update as The Pokémon Company announces specific release markets.

Close-up of the Wild Card protagonist's glowing eye beneath their Mimikyu-style hoodie
Image courtesy of The Pokémon Company

More details — full cast, specific release dates, international distribution — are expected closer to the theatrical premiere. For now, the official teaser is on The Official Pokémon YouTube channel. Follow our Manga & Anime coverage for updates as they come.

Game News

Singapore to Host Pokémon World Championships 2027 — Wild Card Movie Also Revealed

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Singapore has been officially confirmed as the host city for the 2027 Pokémon World Championships — a landmark moment for the local competitive community that brings the world’s biggest Pokémon tournament to Southeast Asia for the first time. The announcement came during the closing ceremony of the 2026 championships at Chase Center in San Francisco on 30 August, delivered by The Pokémon Company International President Tsunekazu Ishihara. The same event also unveiled Pokémon Wild Card, the franchise’s first theatrical anime film in six years.

Singapore Hosts Pokémon Worlds 2027

The 2027 Pokémon World Championships will run 15–17 August 2027 in Singapore — making the city-state the first Southeast Asian nation to host the event. No venue has been announced yet, but given the scale of past championships (the 2026 edition filled Chase Center, a 18,000-seat arena in San Francisco), expect a major convention or indoor stadium footprint here.

For Singapore players, the stakes could not be higher. Local competitors who earn enough Championship Points through the Asia Championship Series will now have the chance to compete at Worlds on home ground in front of friends, family, and the local community. The Asia region typically earns invitation slots through events like the Asia Pacific International Championships and the season-long League Challenge and Cup circuit — so if you’ve been on the fence about entering your local play, this is the year.

Specific venue, ticket, and spectator details are yet to be confirmed by The Pokémon Company. Watch the official Pokémon website for updates as they arrive.

PokémonXP & 2026 Pokémon World Championships | Official Trailer — via The Official Pokémon YouTube channel

Pokémon Wild Card — The First Pokémon Movie in Six Years

Pokémon Wild Card 2027 movie announcement — TCG player protagonist and Mimikyu
Image courtesy of The Pokémon Company

Also announced at the closing ceremony: Pokémon Wild Card, a full-length theatrical anime film arriving in 2027. It marks the return of the Pokémon movie franchise after a six-year gap — the last entry, Pokémon the Movie: Secrets of the Jungle, released in Japanese cinemas in 2020 before a global Netflix premiere in 2021.

The teaser, revealed on Pokémon’s official X account during the ceremony, centres on a Pokémon Trading Card Game player wearing a yellow hoodie and accompanied by Mimikyu, the Ghost/Fairy-type Pokémon that hides beneath a makeshift Pikachu disguise. The protagonist is striving to become a TCG champion — grounding the story firmly in the competitive card game world rather than the main series RPG journey.

According to Variety, the film is directed by Katsuhiko Kitada, whose credits include The First Slam Dunk, Attack on Titan, and Naruto: Shippuden. Character design is handled by Akemi Hayashi (Banana Fish, Lazaris), and animation is being produced by CloverWorks — the studio behind Spy x Family and Bocchi the Rock. A full theatrical release date has not been given beyond the 2027 window.

Whether Wild Card will screen in Singapore cinemas or arrive on a streaming platform locally is yet to be confirmed. Secrets of the Jungle bypassed local theatrical release and landed on Netflix — but the involvement of a director known for theatrical work like The First Slam Dunk suggests this one is aiming for the big screen.

Other Highlights from the Worlds 2026 Closing Ceremony

New Pokémon arriving in Pokémon Unite — Morpeko, Toxtricity, Jolteon, Flareon
Image courtesy of The Pokémon Company

Beyond the Singapore Worlds reveal and the Wild Card announcement, the ceremony packed in updates across the franchise:

  • Pokémon Unite: Morpeko joins the roster on 4 September, followed by Toxtricity on 24 September and both Jolteon and Flareon in October.
  • Pokémon GO: Mega Evolved Pokémon can now compete in GO Battle League with enhanced Charged Attacks. Armored Mewtwo also returns for the Mega Finale event on 5–6 September — the first time many GO players will have a crack at it in years.
  • Pokémon TCG: New Mega Evolution ex cards were revealed, including Mega Lucario ex, alongside a brand-new Special Mega Attack Rare card rarity.
Armored Mewtwo returning to Pokémon GO in September 2026
Image courtesy of The Pokémon Company

The Pokémon TCG Pocket dual-type cards and Mega Mewtwo X and the Pokémon Tales: Sirfetch’d & Pichu Disney+ series were both announced at Worlds and covered separately earlier this week.

Manga Anime

ONE PIECE FILM: GOD VALLEY Officially Announced — Roger, Garp, and Rocks Collide in 2027

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The God Valley Incident is finally getting the big-screen treatment it deserves. At ONE PIECE DAY ’26 this weekend at Makuhari Messe in Japan, Toei Animation and Shueisha officially announced ONE PIECE FILM: GOD VALLEY — the franchise’s 15th anime film — for a 2027 theatrical release. And that wasn’t the only bombshell: a 16th film, ONE PIECE FILM: BAAD, was also confirmed for 2029, giving fans two new One Piece movies to mark on their calendars.

ONE PIECE DAY’26 | YouTube Livestream Trailer — via ONE PIECE Official – ENG on YouTube

Roger, Garp, and Rocks — the Battle ONE PIECE Fans Have Been Waiting Decades For

If you’ve followed One Piece at all, you know the God Valley Incident’s reputation. It was the clash where Gol D. Roger and Monkey D. Garp — bitter enemies on opposite sides of the law — put aside everything to fight together against Rocks D. Xebec and the most fearsome pirate crew the world had ever seen. The fallout from that battle shaped the balance of power that defines the entire series.

The anime flashback arc that covered God Valley in 2025 drew enormous viewership and critical praise for finally animating one of the most talked-about events in the manga’s history. A dedicated theatrical film gives the incident the full scope and budget it always deserved.

Gold Roger and the Roger Pirates charge into battle at God Valley
Image courtesy of Toei Animation

What Is the God Valley Incident?

Set roughly 38 years before the main story, God Valley was an island that mysteriously vanished from the world’s maps — and the reason is that one of the most catastrophic battles in pirate history took place there. The Rocks Pirates, led by Rocks D. Xebec and counting a young Kaido, Big Mom, and Whitebeard among their ranks, descended on the island where Celestial Dragons and their slaves had gathered.

What stopped them was the unlikely alliance of the Pirate King and the future Hero of the Marines. Garp, unable to get World Government authorisation in time, accepted Roger’s help — a collaboration that both men would keep quiet for decades. The battle ended with Rocks dead and God Valley erased from existence.

Young Monkey D. Garp and his crew at God Valley
Image courtesy of Toei Animation

A theatrical film means a bigger canvas for that confrontation — more time for the Rocks crew’s individual fights, the political intrigue around the Celestial Dragons, and the moment the alliance between Roger and Garp was forged. The anime episodes were well-received; a movie can go deeper.

ONE PIECE FILM: BAAD — 2029’s Mystery Entry

The second announcement was short on details. ONE PIECE FILM: BAAD was confirmed for 2029, with no plot information or character reveals attached to the title. “BAAD” doesn’t map to any obvious arc or character name in the current manga, so this one is firmly in speculation territory for now. Given where the manga’s Elbaf arc is heading, there’s plenty of story to draw from — but Oda has kept this one firmly under wraps.

What This Means for Singapore One Piece Fans

ONE PIECE DAY '26 official key visual
Image courtesy of Toei Animation / Shueisha

The last One Piece film, FILM RED, was a theatrical event for Singapore fans — it screened here in late 2022 and pulled huge opening-weekend audiences at local cinemas. GOD VALLEY, covering a story that resonates with long-time fans who have followed Roger and Garp’s histories from the very beginning, should land at least as strongly.

Specific Singapore release dates and local distributor details are to be confirmed — they typically follow Japan’s theatrical window by a few weeks. We’ll update as those details come in. For now, 2027 is the target, and based on today’s announcement the production appears to be well under way.

Creator Eiichiro Oda had teased the film at Jump Festa 2026 last December, telling fans it concerned “something that I’m sure all of you will be very interested in.” He wasn’t wrong. Follow our anime and manga coverage for updates as the full cast and production details roll out.

Manga Anime

Takopi’s Original Sin Movie Opens in Japan on 27 November

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The dark streaming anime that quietly broke hearts across Southeast Asia in 2025 is heading to the big screen. Takopi’s Original Sin –Arigato, Mata Ashita– (lit. “Thank You, See You Tomorrow”) will open in Japanese theatres on 27 November 2026, bringing all six episodes of the original web anime together in a re-edited theatrical cut — with new scenes exclusive to the cinema version.

Shizuka running with Takopi on her shoulder, from Takopi's Original Sin anime
Image courtesy of Takopi’s Original Sin Production Committee

What the Theatrical Version of the Takopi’s Original Sin Movie Adds

Rather than a full original feature, the film is a theatrical compilation re-edit of the six-episode ONA that aired from June to August 2025 on Crunchyroll, Netflix, and Ani-One. The new cut has been reworked specifically for cinemas, and the production committee has confirmed that the film includes newly added scenes not present in the streaming version. Full details of those additions haven’t been revealed yet, so viewers who already binged the series will have reason to return to the theatre.

An international release window has not been announced. The 27 November date is Japan-only at this stage, and no Singapore or Southeast Asian theatrical distribution has been confirmed. If you’re hoping to catch it locally, you’ll want to watch the streaming version first — it remains free to watch with a Crunchyroll subscription and is also available via Ani-One, which serves the Singapore and SEA market.

Takopi’s Original Sin | Official Trailer — via Crunchyroll on YouTube

The Story That Made Takopi’s Original Sin Unmissable

On the surface, Takopi’s Original Sin looks like a cheerful kids’ series: a pink, round alien named Takopi — voiced by Kurumi Mamiya — crash-lands on Earth and decides his mission is to make sad fourth-grader Shizuka (Reina Ueda) smile. Takopi carries a bag of “Happy Gadgets” and is constitutionally incapable of giving up.

What the show actually is: a six-episode gut-punch that deals unflinchingly with school bullying, neglect, and the ways children are failed by the adults around them. Adapted from the manga by TAIZAN 5, the series became one of the most discussed streaming anime of 2025 precisely because it refused to soften the edges. The story also features Konomi Kohara as Marina and Anna Nagase as Naoki, both central to the conflicts that drive the plot.

Shizuka and Marina character art from Takopi's Original Sin
Image courtesy of Takopi’s Original Sin Production Committee

The Team Behind the Anime

Director Shinya Iino — who previously worked as assistant director on Made in Abyss and handled series composition on Dr. STONE — oversaw the original ONA and returns for the theatrical edit. Studio ENISHIYA handled animation production, with character design by Keita Nagahara and music composed by Yoshiaki Fujisawa.

Watch the Streaming Version Before the Movie Hits

If you haven’t seen Takopi’s Original Sin yet, the six-episode run is roughly three hours total and best watched in a single sitting — the structure earns its ending. Singapore viewers can stream it now on Crunchyroll or catch it through Ani-One. Both platforms carried the original simulcast and still have the full series available. Check our anime coverage for more on what’s new in the streaming world this season.

Manga Anime, News

Chiikawa Movie Tops ¥9 Billion in Japan — Opens in Singapore This Thursday

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Just 24 days after its Japan premiere, Chiikawa the Movie: The Secret of Mermaid Island has crossed ¥9.28 billion at the Japanese box office — and Singapore fans have barely any time to catch their breath: the film opens in local cinemas this Thursday, 20 August.

『映画ちいかわ 人魚の島のひみつ』 60秒 official teaser — via 東宝MOVIEチャンネル on YouTube

¥10 Billion Now in Sight

On 17 August, Toho’s official X account (@toho_movie) confirmed the film had cleared 92.8億円 (¥9.28 billion) in revenue with 6.45 million total admissions, covering its first 24 days (24 July to 16 August). That places it at #2 on Japan’s 2026 box office chart, behind only Toy Story 5 at ¥11.67 billion — and with weekend after weekend of strong holds, the ¥10 billion milestone now looks very much within reach.

Chiikawa the Movie: The Secret of Mermaid Island box office milestone — ¥9.28 billion and 6.45 million admissions in 24 days
Image courtesy of Toho / Nagano

The jump comes just two days after the ¥8 billion figure we covered last week. The film adapts the Siren arc from Nagano’s beloved manga, directed by Kei Oikawa (Uma Musume: Pretty Derby the Movie) and animated by CygamesPictures. It follows Chiikawa, Hachiware, and Usagi as they voyage to a mysterious island, only to find something far darker lurking beneath the surface.

Chiikawa Movie Singapore: In Cinemas 20 August

Chiikawa The Movie: The Secret of Mermaid Island — opening at Golden Village Singapore on 20 August 2026
Image courtesy of Golden Village Pictures

Distributed locally by Medialink Entertainment, Chiikawa the Movie opens across Singapore cinemas on Thursday, 20 August. Showtimes are available at Golden Village locations — check the GV app or your preferred cinema’s website now if you want a seat before the weekend crowds descend. Given how the film has performed in Japan, expect strong demand from families and the sizeable local Chiikawa fanbase alike.

GV Suntec Fans Screening — 22 August

Scene from Chiikawa the Movie: The Secret of Mermaid Island — from Toho’s official trailer
Still from Toho’s official trailer

For the full fan experience, Golden Village Suntec City is hosting a dedicated fans screening on Saturday, 22 August, with sessions at 12:00 PM, 12:15 PM, and 12:30 PM. Tickets are priced at $30 (public) and $28 (GVMC members), and each includes an exclusive A3 key visual poster (Japanese edition), a mini character charm blind pack, and a collectible ticket. Full details and booking info are in our earlier coverage.

Chiikawa the Movie: The Secret of Mermaid Island (2026) — via Far East Films on YouTube (official SEA release)

Chiikawa the Movie can also be found listed on Manga Anime news at GameTrader.SG.

Manga Anime

Chiikawa Movie Hits ¥8 Billion at Japanese Box Office — Fans Screening at GV Suntec August 22

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Japan can’t get enough of Chiikawa — and honestly, neither can we.

THE MOVIE CHIIKAWA: THE SECRET OF THE MERMAID ISLAND has officially crossed ¥8.07 billion (roughly S$73 million) at the Japanese box office as of August 14, cementing its place as the top-grossing film in Japan for 2026. That’s a massive number for a movie that only opened on July 18 — just under four weeks of theatrical run.

Chiikawa, Hachiware, and Usagi gazing at a shooting star in THE MOVIE CHIIKAWA: THE SECRET OF THE MERMAID ISLAND
©ナガノ / 2026「映画ちいかわ」製作委員会

If you missed our earlier coverage, this is Chiikawa’s very first full-length theatrical film — check out our original post for the full Singapore release details and what the movie is all about. The short version: creator Nagano’s beloved tiny creature and its pals Hachiware and Usagi head to a mysterious mermaid island, and things get surprisingly emotional along the way.

The ¥8 billion milestone follows an enormous opening weekend and relentless word of mouth that has kept audiences coming back week after week. With the film now hitting Southeast Asia from August 20, those international numbers are only going to climb.

The non-credit opening animation, released officially this week — pure Chiikawa magic.

The production team also dropped the full non-credit OP this week, and it’s a stunning piece of animation. The sequence leans fully into the cosy, watercolour-tinged world Nagano built — and if you weren’t already emotionally compromised by this franchise, this clip will do the job. It’s been making the rounds online and it’s easy to see why.

Close-up of Chiikawa and new characters against a purple background in the Mermaid Island movie
The mermaid island brings new faces into Chiikawa’s world. ©ナガノ / 2026「映画ちいかわ」製作委員会

The movie also introduces a set of armoured antagonists who look wildly out of place in the usually soft and gentle Chiikawa universe — which is precisely what makes them so unsettling. Promotional materials have leaned into the contrast between the cute and the ominous, and fans have clearly responded to it.

Three armoured villain characters holding a bell, a pink bear plushie, and a bowl of ramen in Chiikawa Mermaid Island
The movie’s armoured antagonists — carrying plushies and ramen, because this is still Chiikawa. ©ナガノ / 2026「映画ちいかわ」製作委員会

Fans Screening at GV Suntec — August 22

For Singapore fans, here’s the news you actually came for: Golden Village is running a special Chiikawa Fans Screening at GV Suntec on August 22, and tickets go on sale today (August 14) at 3PM. Prices are $30 for standard seats and $28 for GV members. The wider theatrical release in Singapore begins August 20, but if you want the full fans-screening energy with fellow Chiikawa devotees, August 22 is your date.

With Japan’s box office firmly in its pocket and a dedicated fan community here in Singapore, THE MOVIE CHIIKAWA: THE SECRET OF THE MERMAID ISLAND is shaping up to be one of the anime events of the year locally. Tickets for the fans screening won’t last — set a reminder for 3PM today.

Manga Anime, News

Chiikawa Movie Hits Singapore Cinemas on 20 August

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The wait for Singapore fans is over: Chiikawa The Movie: The Secret of the Mermaid Island has a confirmed local opening date. Medialink Films Singapore says the film lands in Singapore cinemas on 20 August 2026 — the piece of news we were missing when we first wrote about the movie back in July.

Trailer — via 東宝MOVIEチャンネル (Toho MOVIE Channel) on YouTube

The Chiikawa movie Singapore date is finally locked in

The confirmation came straight from the official distributor. Regional distributor Medialink Films Singapore posted the Singapore key visual on its official Instagram (@medialinkfilmssg), marking the film “in cinemas 20 August” and telling fans to get ready to “head to Mermaid Island for a raid.” That lines up with what we expected — Medialink holds the Southeast Asia rights — but until now there was no date attached to it.

Worth flagging: this is a firm cinema release date, not a one-night preview or a festival screening. Singapore gets the film as a proper theatrical run, roughly four weeks after it opens in Japan.

Mermaid Island background art from Chiikawa The Movie: The Secret of the Mermaid Island

Image courtesy of ©2026 Chiikawa the Movie Film Partners

What “The Secret of the Mermaid Island” is about

This is Chiikawa’s first-ever feature film, and it adapts the manga’s beloved long-form “Siren Arc” — the storyline where Chiikawa, Hachiware and Usagi wash up on a strange island and slowly realise not everything about the place is as cute as it looks. Creator Nagano wrote the screenplay and supervised the whole production, so this isn’t a spin-off tangent; it’s the arc fans have wanted on the big screen since it ran in the manga.

Behind the camera, the film is directed by Kei Oikawa with animation by CygamesPictures. In Japan it opened on 24 July 2026, with a simultaneous IMAX release — a first for the franchise, and a sign of how big Chiikawa has become beyond its plush-toy-and-sticker roots.

Chiikawa reading a book in a still from the movie

Still from the official “Chiikawa: The Secret of the Mermaid Island” trailer

How the release rolled out across Asia

Japan got the film first on 24 July 2026. From there it fanned out across the region through the summer — Hong Kong, Macau and Malaysia all landed in early August — with Singapore now slotting in on 20 August. If you’ve been following import chatter or trying to piece together a regional release calendar, the Singapore leg was the last major gap, and it’s now filled.

For local fans, the roughly four-week gap behind Japan is about as good as it gets for a Japanese theatrical title — no long wait, no import-only limbo, just a normal cinema run you can plan a weekend outing around.

Chiikawa, Hachiware and Usagi watching fireworks in a still from the movie

Still from the official “Chiikawa: The Secret of the Mermaid Island” trailer

What we still don’t know

The date is set, but a few details aren’t public yet. There’s no confirmed list of which Singapore cinema chains will carry it, no ticket on-sale date, and no word on whether the IMAX version from the Japanese run makes it here. Japan’s release also came with early-bird gift charms for the first wave of moviegoers — whether Singapore screenings get any equivalent freebie hasn’t been announced.

Here’s what we know so far, then: 20 August, in Singapore cinemas, distributed by Medialink. We’ll update this post as ticketing and cinema details firm up. In the meantime, you can read our original breakdown of the movie for the full backstory, or browse more anime and manga coverage on the blog.

Manga Anime

Darwin’s Game Gets a Live-Action Film — Opening in Japan 12 March 2027

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The deadly smartphone game is making the leap from manga panels to the cinema screen. Toei and Amazon Content Services have announced a live-action Darwin’s Game film, with a Japanese theatrical release set for 12 March 2027 and the full main cast and first teaser dropping simultaneously.

A High-Powered Cast Steps into the Game

Leading the film is Taishi Nakagawa as Kaname, the protagonist who downloads what looks like a normal mobile game and discovers the battles it stages are lethally real. For the film, Kaname has been reimagined as a university student rather than a high-schooler, sharpening the stakes slightly.

Taishi Nakagawa as Kaname in Darwin's Game live-action movie, wielding the Hinokagutchi fire Sigil
Image courtesy of TOEI COMPANY, LTD.

Rounding out the main cast: Koki, as Shuka (the chain-wielding Queen of Thorns), Mei Hata as Rein, Fuju Kamio as Ryuji, and Koji Yamamoto as Hiiragi. The teaser visual gives each character their own panel — a neat echo of the game-lobby format in the source material — and the ensemble looks ready for a fight.

Watch the Official Teaser

Darwin’s Game official teaser trailer — via 東映映画チャンネル (Toei Movie Channel) on YouTube (Japanese)

What Is Darwin’s Game?

Darwin’s Game is a survival-action manga by FLIPFLOPs, serialised in Bessatsu Shonen Champion (Akita Shoten) from 2012 to 2023 across 30 volumes and clocking over 10 million copies in circulation. The premise: a college student downloads a smartphone game and discovers the duels it sets up are real, each player wielding a supernatural ability — a Sigil — that manifests differently for everyone. It sits comfortably alongside Sword Art Online and Kaiji in the deadly-game subgenre that has always had a strong following in Southeast Asia.

A 12-episode anime adaptation aired in early 2020 and is available on Netflix, so fans who missed it then have a clean way to catch up before the movie arrives.

The Team Behind the Camera

Koki as Shuka with her chain Sigil in Darwin's Game live-action movie character poster
Image courtesy of TOEI COMPANY, LTD.

Director Fumihiko Sori is best known internationally for the live-action Fullmetal Alchemist films, and has confirmed the production will rely heavily on VFX — fitting, given the outlandish Sigil powers on display in the teaser. The screenplay is co-written by Sori and Hayato Miura.

The co-production between Amazon Content Services LLC and TOEI COMPANY, LTD. is worth watching from a Singapore perspective. International streaming distribution has not been confirmed yet, but Amazon’s involvement hints that wider availability beyond Japan theatrical could follow. For now the confirmed date is the 12 March 2027 Japanese theatrical release. Follow the film at @darwinsgame_mov on X and check our anime and manga coverage for any streaming news.