[Edaily Starin Choi Hee-jae Reporter] The popular character Chiikawa (the little bat) is set to meet Korean audiences this September.

Distributor Daewon Media announced on the 22nd that the animated film “Chiikawa: The Secret of the Mermaid Island” (Chiikawa: The Movie) has been confirmed for release in South Korea this September.
“Chiikawa: The Movie” depicts the suspicious mission undertaken by Chiikawa and her friends, who are lured by the sweet temptation of 100 times their usual pay and set off on a retreat to a romantic island.
The teaser poster, released alongside the news of the domestic release, captures attention with the adorable visuals of Chiikawa, Hachiware (Parted Hair), and Usagi (Rabbit) sitting side by side on a boat. The sight of the friends, wearing flower crowns and grass skirts, gazing up at the beautiful full moon foreshadows the excitement of their upcoming new adventure.
An unidentified silhouette emerging from beneath the calm water’s surface piques curiosity about the mysterious incident hidden on the peaceful island.
This film has drawn significant attention as it is based on the full-length episode “The Siren Arc,” which is said to have been written by the original author, Nagano, specifically for the film adaptation. Serialized for approximately eight months from March to November 2023, “The Siren Arc” was the most popular episode at the time, sparking an explosive reaction and various interpretations on social media.
Author Nagano shared his thoughts on the release, saying, “I hope you’ll look forward to seeing Chika and her friends’ journey unfold on the big screen for the first time.”
Furthermore, Director Kei Oikawa—whose directing skills have been recognized through works such as *Umamusume Pretty Derby*—takes the helm, while original author Nagano personally handles the screenplay and supervision to faithfully capture the charm of the original work. Production is handled by Saipik, which has received critical acclaim for its animation and direction in works such as the theatrical film *Umamusume: Pretty Derby – The Gate to a New Era* and the TV series *The Summer Hikaru Died*, promising a well-crafted animated film.
Renowned Japanese illustrator Nagano began serializing “Chiikawa” on X (formerly Twitter) in 2020. “Chiikawa” is an abbreviation for “something small and cute,” and the series has also gained popularity in South Korea.
The short animation series, which began airing in 2022, has surpassed 400 million views on YouTube’s official channel and has proven its popularity in Korea as well, with cumulative views exceeding 19 million.
In Japan, in particular, it won the Grand Prix at the Japan Character Awards for three consecutive years and was inducted into the Hall of Fame, proving its overwhelming popularity. In Korea as well, it is generating buzz as various collaboration merchandise and pop-up stores continue to sell out immediately upon opening.