[Edaily Starin YUN GI BACK Reporter] Despite a string of new releases, the box office momentum of the Japanese animated film *Chiikawa: The Secret of the Mermaid Island* shows no signs of slowing down. It has even surpassed director Yeon Sang-ho’s new film *Paradise Lost* to maintain its top spot at the box office and is on the verge of surpassing 2 million viewers.

According to the Korean Film Council’s integrated computer network on the 22nd, “Chiikawa” drew 28,985 viewers on the 21st alone, securing the No. 1 spot at the box office. Its cumulative audience stands at 1,904,592, leaving it about 95,000 short of the 2 million mark.
In particular, its box office momentum—which remains unshaken despite the onslaught of new releases—is drawing attention. Director Yeon Sang-ho’s “Paradise Lost,” which opened that day, drew 20,628 viewers on its first day, debuting in second place. “Clayface” took third place, while “The Assassin(s)” and “Tazza: The Song of Beelzebub”—both embroiled in controversy over historical distortion—ranked fourth and fifth, respectively.
“Chiikawa” continues to dominate the advance ticket sales rankings as well. As of 8:40 a.m. on the 22nd, the real-time number of advance ticket buyers stood at approximately 70,000, maintaining its No. 1 position overall. While new releases are capitalizing on their opening-week momentum to draw audiences, “Chiikawa” appears to be sustaining its box office success based on the support of its existing fanbase.
“ChiiKawa” is based on a popular Japanese manga and anime series. It depicts the adventures of the small, cute character ChiiKawa and her friends. Despite their cute appearances, the series has secured a devoted fanbase through its unique world where unexpected trials and suspenseful events unfold.
The film’s success is driven by the characters’ high name recognition and the spending power of its fanbase. ChiiKawa is a character intellectual property (IP) that has expanded beyond manga and anime to include a wide range of merchandise, such as plush toys, stationery, and clothing. Not only are fans already familiar with the characters flocking to theaters, but the fan culture—where watching the movie is seen as an extension of character-related consumption—is also believed to be contributing to its box office success.
In particular, unlike live-action films, popular animated characters are notable for their ability to sustain long-term box office success centered around their fanbase. This is because they can steadily attract audiences based on affection for the characters and word-of-mouth, rather than relying solely on initial buzz upon release.
Despite the successive releases of new films, attention is focused on the final box office performance of “Chiikawa,” which has simultaneously held the top spots in both the box office and advance ticket sales rankings.