{"id":5574,"date":"2026-07-12T12:22:07","date_gmt":"2026-07-12T04:22:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.gametrader.sg\/blog\/chiikawa-movie-mermaid-island-2026\/"},"modified":"2026-07-12T12:22:07","modified_gmt":"2026-07-12T04:22:07","slug":"chiikawa-movie-mermaid-island-2026","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.gametrader.sg\/blog\/chiikawa-movie-mermaid-island-2026\/","title":{"rendered":"Chiikawa\u2019s First Movie Opens 24 July \u2014 Is Singapore Next?"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Japan\u2019s most adorable \u2014 and occasionally most emotionally devastating \u2014 anime franchise is heading to cinemas for the very first time. <strong>\u6620\u753b\u3061\u3044\u304b\u308f \u4eba\u9b5a\u306e\u5cf6\u306e\u3072\u307f\u3064<\/strong> (<em>Chiikawa Movie: The Secret of Mermaid Island<\/em>) opens in Japanese theatres on <strong>24 July 2026<\/strong>, with a simultaneous IMAX release making it the biggest moment in Chiikawa history.<\/p>\n<figure><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.gametrader.sg\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/chiikawa-movie-key-visual.jpg?w=474&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"Chiikawa Movie: The Secret of Mermaid Island \u2014 key visual showing the full cast on the island\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\"><figcaption>Image courtesy of Nagano \/ \u6620\u753b\u3061\u3044\u304b\u308f\u88fd\u4f5c\u59d4\u54e1\u4f1a<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"gt-video\">\n<div style=\"position:relative;padding-bottom:56.25%;height:0;overflow:hidden;\"><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/N5439yrq_l8\" title=\"\u300e\u6620\u753b\u3061\u3044\u304b\u308f \u4eba\u9b5a\u306e\u5cf6\u306e\u3072\u307f\u3064\u300f\u4e88\u544a\u6620\u50cf\u89e3\u7981\u30107\u670824\u65e5\uff08\u91d1\uff09\u516c\u958b\uff01\u3011\" loading=\"lazy\" style=\"position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;border:0;\" allow=\"accelerometer;clipboard-write;encrypted-media;gyroscope;picture-in-picture;web-share\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/div><figcaption>\u300e\u6620\u753b\u3061\u3044\u304b\u308f \u4eba\u9b5a\u306e\u5cf6\u306e\u3072\u307f\u3064\u300f\u4e88\u544a\u6620\u50cf \u2014 Official trailer via \u6771\u5b9dMOVIE\u30c1\u30e3\u30f3\u30cd\u30eb on YouTube<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2>The Siren Arc Finally Gets Its Big-Screen Debut<\/h2>\n<p>If you follow the Chiikawa manga on X, you know exactly what the Siren Arc is \u2014 and why it left so many fans wrecked. Originally posted between March and November 2023, the \u30bb\u30a4\u30ec\u30fc\u30f3 (Siren) storyline is the longest and darkest narrative the series has ever told: a slow-burn island adventure that starts warmly and turns genuinely tense, with Chiikawa, Hachiware, and Usagi facing something far more threatening than the usual monsters they subdue on commission. It trended repeatedly on Japanese social media and drew a huge international following during its original run.<\/p>\n<p>The film adapts this arc faithfully, with the script written by Nagano \u2014 the original creator \u2014 herself. New voice talent joining the cast for the film includes <strong>Suzuki Minori<\/strong> as the Siren, a significant addition for a character who sits at the emotional heart of the story.<\/p>\n<figure><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.gametrader.sg\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/chiikawa-movie-siren-scene.jpg?w=474&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"Chiikawa and friends in a tense night scene with the Siren in Chiikawa Movie\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\"><figcaption>Image courtesy of Nagano \/ \u6620\u753b\u3061\u3044\u304b\u308f\u88fd\u4f5c\u59d4\u54e1\u4f1a<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2>CygamesPictures and Uma Musume\u2019s Director at the Helm<\/h2>\n<p>Animation is handled by <strong>CygamesPictures<\/strong>, the studio that produced <em>Uma Musume: Pretty Derby \u2013 Beginning of a New Era<\/em>, with <strong>Kei Oikawa<\/strong> directing. The film score is composed by <strong>Tokumaru Shugo<\/strong> and <strong>Kamishidataru Chikara<\/strong>. The opening theme \u300c\u304f\u3064\u305a\u308c\u300d (<em>Kutsu-zure<\/em>) is written by Nagano and performed by Hachiware\u2019s voice actor Tanaka Seijin, backed by the Suginami Children\u2019s Choir.<\/p>\n<p>The full main cast returns: <strong>Aoki Haruka<\/strong> as Chiikawa, <strong>Ozawa Ari<\/strong> as Usagi, and <strong>Tanaka Seijin<\/strong> as Hachiware. Fans who have been waiting for Usagi\u2019s full rapper persona to finally get a proper showcase will not be disappointed \u2014 the character\u2019s rap debut in the film is confirmed as a centrepiece moment, and it gets the full IMAX audio treatment.<\/p>\n<h2>IMAX \u2014 Because Small Things Deserve a Big Screen<\/h2>\n<figure><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.gametrader.sg\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/chiikawa-movie-imax-poster.jpg?w=474&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"Chiikawa Movie IMAX triptych poster showing Hachiware MAX, Chiikawa MAX, and Usagi MAX\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\"><figcaption>Image courtesy of Nagano \/ \u6620\u753b\u3061\u3044\u304b\u308f\u88fd\u4f5c\u59d4\u54e1\u4f1a<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>The simultaneous IMAX release was confirmed on 9 July, and the IMAX-exclusive triptych poster \u2014 showing Hachiware, Chiikawa, and Usagi in extreme close-up with \u201cMAX\u201d plastered across each panel \u2014 immediately became a fan favourite. In IMAX, the film\u2019s visuals stretch floor-to-ceiling and wall-to-wall, and the high-precision audio system means Usagi\u2019s rap will be felt as much as heard.<\/p>\n<p>Early viewers at participating Japanese cinemas also receive one of <strong>eight character charm mini-figures<\/strong>, distributed randomly at the door.<\/p>\n<h2>When Can Singapore Fans Watch It?<\/h2>\n<figure><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.gametrader.sg\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/chiikawa-movie-fireworks.jpg?w=474&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"Chiikawa, Hachiware, and Usagi watch fireworks together in a beautiful night scene from the movie\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\"><figcaption>Image courtesy of Nagano \/ \u6620\u753b\u3061\u3044\u304b\u308f\u88fd\u4f5c\u59d4\u54e1\u4f1a<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Japan gets the film first on 24 July. Across Asia, Hong Kong and Macau have confirmed a <strong>6 August<\/strong> theatrical release \u2014 both in Japanese with Chinese subtitles and a Cantonese dub \u2014 making it the closest option for Singapore fans who happen to be travelling in August. The Philippines has also confirmed a theatrical run via Medialink Films.<\/p>\n<p>For Singapore itself, <strong>Medialink Films Singapore<\/strong> is the regional distributor for Southeast Asia and has been signalling interest in the local release \u2014 but no Singapore date is confirmed yet. Follow <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/medialinkfilmssg\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">@medialinkfilmssg on Instagram<\/a> for any announcement. Given that Chiikawa merch practically vanishes the moment it hits Japanese lifestyle stores in Singapore, local demand is not going to be the obstacle. Keep an eye on <a href=\"\/blog\/category\/manga-anime\/\">our manga and anime coverage<\/a> and we\u2019ll report as soon as a date lands.<\/p>\n<p><!--GT-SCOUT source=\"Web (Japanese source) -- not yet covered in English media\" theme=\"Anime\" flags=\"Singapore screening date to be confirmed\"--><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Chiikawa\u2019s first movie opens in Japan 24 July with IMAX \u2014 the beloved Siren Arc gets a theatrical debut. Singapore date TBC via Medialink Films.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":20,"featured_media":5569,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_is_tweetstorm":false,"jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":[]},"categories":[25],"tags":[68,467,745,746,747],"class_list":["post-5574","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-manga-anime","tag-anime","tag-anime-film","tag-chiikawa","tag-cygames-pictures","tag-imax"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.gametrader.sg\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/chiikawa-movie-poster.jpg?fit=640%2C905&ssl=1","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p13AlF-1rU","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":3709,"url":"https:\/\/www.gametrader.sg\/blog\/sgt-frog-keroro-gunsou-movie-2026-new-tv-anime\/","url_meta":{"origin":5574,"position":0},"title":"Sgt. 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