Chiikawa the Movie: The Secret of the Mermaid Island has surpassed ¥5 billion at the Japanese box office just 14 days after opening on July 24. The film’s official account reported more than 3.5 million admissions alongside the milestone, continuing a strong theatrical run that began with ¥2.24 billion earned during its first three days.


The performance makes The Secret of the Mermaid Island the second highest-grossing Japanese film released in 2026 so far, behind Detective Conan: Fallen Angel of the Highway. The speed at which Chiikawa reached ¥5 billion also places its early run in the company of major recent anime hits such as Evangelion: 3.0+1.0 Thrice Upon a Time and HAIKYU!! The Dumpster Battle.


The film is the first theatrical feature based on Nagano’s Chiikawa manga and is distributed in Japan by Toho. No international theatrical or streaming release plans have been announced.

Puella Magi Madoka Magica: Walpurgisnacht: Rising will receive IMAX screenings in Japan when the film opens theatrically on August 28. According to the film’s official website, this will be the first IMAX release in the history of the Madoka Magica franchise, giving the long-awaited sequel an expanded premium-format theatrical run alongside standard screenings.


The announcement also included a new IMAX visual built around Walpurgisnacht, a central element of the film and the wider series. Walpurgisnacht: Rising continues the story of 2013’s Puella Magi Madoka Magica the Movie: Rebellion and arrives after multiple delays to its theatrical release.


The IMAX rollout covers participating theaters across Japan, with the official site publishing a theater list ahead of the August 28 opening. No IMAX screenings or theatrical release plans outside Japan have been announced.

VIZ Media has partnered with The Gotham Group to develop new film and television projects based on VIZ-owned properties, with the RWBY franchise and VIZ Originals graphic novel line at the center of the agreement. Gotham will identify and package potential projects from VIZ’s library, although no specific adaptations, formats, casts, studios, or release dates have been announced.


The partnership gives VIZ another path to expand RWBY after acquiring the franchise in 2024 following the closure of Rooster Teeth. RWBY Volume 10 is already in production, while the property has previously expanded beyond its original animated series through manga, novels, games, RWBY: Ice Queendom, and two Justice League x RWBY animated films.


The Gotham Group brings experience adapting young-adult and genre properties, with credits including Percy Jackson and the Olympians, The Maze Runner films, and The Search for WondLa. VIZ Originals titles are also eligible for development under the deal, potentially bringing some of the publisher’s creator-driven graphic novels to film or television for the first time.

Teki Yatsuda has completed and submitted the final chapter of the sci-fi manga Myther, bringing the series close to its conclusion. Yatsuda reported submitting the manuscript on August 4, although a publication date for the final chapter has not yet been announced.


Myther is set in a near-future Japan shaped by an AI-powered neural device that promises to help users create ideal versions of themselves. The story follows Kyo, an agent investigating a series of violent deaths connected to the technology. Yatsuda is also known for The Yakuza’s Bias.


English-language readers will soon have their first official release of the series. Kodansha announced Myther as part of its Spring 2027 licensing slate, and distributor listings currently place the first English paperback volume on January 19, 2027. The conclusion in Japan means Kodansha will be localizing a series whose complete story is now nearing publication.

Learn more about Myther here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8VVZNZiym0o

Industrial and mechanical designer Katsushi Murakami died on July 20 at the age of 83. Murakami joined Bandai in 1961 and later became a key figure at Popy, where his work helped bridge television character design and mass-produced toys during the rise of Japan’s robot and tokusatsu merchandising industry.


Among his most influential achievements was the original Chogokin Mazinger Z toy, released in 1974. Murakami helped develop the die-cast concept around a combination of detailed styling, substantial weight and play features, establishing an approach that became closely associated with Japanese robot toys. He later contributed mechanical and merchandising designs to numerous productions, including Tetsujin 28-go, God Mars, Golion, Battle Fever J and Kamen Rider Black.


Murakami’s work extended beyond adapting existing designs for merchandise; he also participated directly in planning productions such as Brave Raideen, helping coordinate how on-screen machines could translate into functional toys. His career helped shape the relationship between anime, tokusatsu and character merchandising that remains central to Japan’s entertainment industry.