Chiikawa film announces seventh cinema bonus for 24 October
Chiikawa: The Secret of Mermaid Island will offer four randomly selected Nagano-designed clear cards as its seventh Japanese cinema bonus from 24 October.
Chiikawa: The Secret of Mermaid Island (『映画ちいかわ 人魚の島のひみつ』) is adding another reason for fans to return to Japanese cinemas, with a seventh admission bonus due to begin distribution on 24 October. The new giveaway is a set of four randomly selected clear cards illustrated by manga creator Nagano. 1
What is the seventh bonus?
The clear cards are being offered as a limited cinema admission bonus for Chiikawa: The Secret of Mermaid Island. Each set is random, with four possible designs, so audiences will not know which illustration they receive until the card is handed out. Oricon reports that distribution begins on 24 October, continuing the film’s run of theatrical bonuses. 1
The film opened in Japan on 24 July and adapts the Mermaid Island story for the first Chiikawa feature film. Its official TOHO website identifies Nagano as the original creator and screenwriter, while the film’s production credits list Sai Picture as the animation studio and TOHO as distributor. 2
The official site’s promotional material places Chiikawa and the rest of the cast on a bright tropical island, matching the film’s story setup. It also confirms that the movie remains in theatres, alongside the seventh-bonus announcement and its promotional artwork. 2
A growing theatrical run
The new card giveaway arrives as the film continues a major Japanese box-office run. Oricon’s report says Chiikawa: The Secret of Mermaid Island had passed ¥18.1 billion in box-office revenue by 19 October, with 12.42 million admissions after 87 days. 1 The same report notes that the film was tracking ahead of ONE PIECE FILM RED’s pace at a comparable point in its run, although that comparison is about momentum rather than a final result.
The film’s seven rounds of admission bonuses show how its theatrical campaign is being sustained beyond opening weekend. Earlier giveaways have already included other limited goods, while the new clear cards give returning viewers a collectible tied directly to Nagano’s characters rather than a general cinema promotion. Availability is likely to depend on the participating cinema’s stock, so fans should check locally before travelling.
Our opinion
A random four-card bonus is a neat fit for Chiikawa. The characters are instantly recognisable, the format is easy to collect and the uncertainty of the random selection gives repeat visitors a small reason to try again. It also feels more personal than a generic branded giveaway because the cards come from Nagano’s illustrations.
The catch is the usual one with cinema bonuses: “available from 24 October” does not mean every theatre will still have cards for the entire campaign. Anyone chasing a particular design may need luck, multiple visits or a trade with another fan. Even so, the seventh bonus underlines how effectively the film has turned its theatrical run into an ongoing event. 1
For international fans, the announcement is also a reminder that the film’s strongest promotional push remains tied to its Japanese cinema release. The official artwork and the film’s continuing box-office performance make the campaign easy to follow from abroad, but the clear cards themselves are a Japan-cinema collectible for now. 2