Film hits milestone on 25th day of release

2nd-highest-grossing animation of 2026

A still from the animated film 'Chiikawa: Secret of the Mermaid Island' [Daewon Media]
A still from the animated film 'Chiikawa: Secret of the Mermaid Island' [Daewon Media]

These tiny, adorable characters have taken a firm hold on South Korea's movie theaters — topping the charts once again and surpassing 2 million admissions.

According to the integrated movie ticketing network, "Chiikawa: Secret of the Mermaid Island" crossed the 2 million admissions mark as of 8:04 a.m. Saturday, its 25th day in release.

The milestone came faster than "The First Slam Dunk," which reached 2 million on its 29th day, and at a pace comparable to "Chainsaw Man: Reze Arc," which hit the mark on its 24th day.

"Chiikawa" has now overtaken "Super Mario Galaxy" to claim second place among animated films released in 2026 at the domestic box office. It has also broken into the all-time top 10 for Japanese animated films in South Korea, trailing only "The Boy and the Heron," which drew about 2.01 million admissions.

The film is the first theatrical feature based on the manga series by illustrator Nagano, adapting the "Siren" arc — a full-length episode from the original comic that ran from March to November 2023. Beneath its surface of cute animal characters on an adventure, the story weaves in a harsh survival competition and ethical dilemmas, a contrast that has resonated with audiences.

The plot kicks off when the small, cute characters come across a flyer promising 100 times the usual reward for a simple extermination job on an island, along with free island-exclusive menu items — and board a ship to find out. The film follows what unfolds once they arrive.

The film is the 10th domestic release this year to reach 2 million admissions, and the second animated film to do so after "Toy Story 5," which drew about 2.949 million viewers. As of Saturday morning, it also led advance ticket sales with a 36.7 percent share — roughly 120,000 tickets sold — well ahead of director Yeon Sang-ho's "Silnakwon" at 6.4 percent and the upcoming "Suneung: Secret of the Exam" at 6.1 percent.


shee@heraldcorp.com