Aikatsu Stars returns with new film on 22 January 2027

Aikatsu Stars: Stars of Progress (『アイカツスターズ！～星々のProgress～』) will open in Japanese cinemas on 22 January 2027, with Bandai Namco Pictures using a fan meeting to reveal the film's key visual, main trailer and theme-song details. ¹

A new stage for Yume

The film follows Yume Nijino and her fellow idols as they approach graduation. The official synopsis places them on an invitation to Venus Jamboree, a live event bringing top idols together from around the world. It also teases a mysterious ship called Petit Venus Ark, suggesting this is a new adventure rather than a simple anniversary recap. ¹

Aikatsu Stars! began its television run in 2016, and the film is being made for the series' 10th anniversary. Director Teruo Sato, screenwriter Yuko Kakihara and character designer Yukiko Aikyo are returning, giving the project a direct creative link to the original anime while allowing its characters to move into a different stage of their lives. ¹

Trailer, songs and release date

The newly revealed trailer confirms the 22 January 2027 cinema date and gives the first substantial look at the film's tone. It follows Yume and her friends as they prepare for the next step in their idol careers, while previewing the main theme, “Five stars”, performed by Sena, Rie, Miki, Nanase and Kana. ¹

The ending theme is “Anata e” (To You). Miho Karasawa wrote the lyrics for “Five stars”, while Kenichi Nagahashi composed and arranged the song. The returning cast includes Miyu Tomita as Yume Nijino, with the wider ensemble also coming back for the film. ¹

The official Aikatsu! Channel trailer is embedded below.

Tickets for a second Movieticket card go on sale from 23 October, with a random five-card postcard set available as a purchase bonus while supplies last. The official announcement says fans should check the film's website for participating cinemas and ticket information, as availability may vary by venue. ¹

Our opinion

This update makes Stars of Progress feel like a purposeful return rather than a nostalgia exercise. An 11-year gap between the original television series and a new film is already a strong hook, but the graduation-era premise gives the story a reason to look forward instead of simply looking back. Yume and her friends are still performers, yet the announcement is interested in what happens when familiar characters have to choose their next direction.

The Venus Jamboree setting should give the film a larger stage without losing the series' focus on individual idols. The Petit Venus Ark tease is especially useful: it hints at an unusual journey and suggests the film will have more to offer than a sequence of reunion performances. The returning staff also matters, because it gives the project continuity while the new songs and trailer point towards a fresh emotional register.

There is still plenty we do not know about the wider story, including the full cast list and the scale of the film's theatrical run. For now, though, the combination of a clear anniversary purpose, returning creative staff and a genuinely new chapter for Yume makes this one of the more promising long-gap anime film returns.

Aikatsu Stars: Stars of Progress opens in Japan on 22 January 2027. Further cast, ticket and cinema information will be published through the official film website as the release approaches. ¹