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Sumikko Gurashi Film Rises to #2, French City Hunter Film Debuts at #8

Eiga Sumikko Gurashi: Tobidasu Ehon to Himitsu no Ko (Sumikko Gurashi The Movie - The Unexpected Picture Book and the Secret Child), the anime film of San-X's "Sumikko Gurashi" (Living in the Corner) characters, jumped back from #4 to #2 in its fourth weekend by selling 121,000 tickets. The film earned 130,778,700 yen (about US$1.19 million) from Friday to Sunday. The film has sold over 700,000 tickets, and has earned a cumulative total of 857,196,900 yen (about US$7.85 million) with 716,224 tickets.

The film ranked #3 in its opening weekend. The film opened in Japan on November 8 in 114 theaters. The film sold 104,000 tickets and earned 121 million yen (about US$1.11 million) over the weekend, but sold 114,280 tickets and earned 132,873,500 yen (about US$1.22 million) from Friday to Sunday of that week. The Eiga.com website estimates that the film will eventually earn 1 billion yen (about US$9.18 million).

Mankyū (Idolm@ster Cinderella Girls Theater, Jaku-San-Sei Million Arthur) directed the film at Fanworks. Takashi Sumita (Europe Kikaku) penned the script. Kaori Hino (Napping Princess, In This Corner of the World) was the art director.

The film's story begins when the Sumikko Gurashi characters find a mysterious picture book in the basement of a cafe they always go to. The film features new locales, items, and characters.

Nicky Larson et le Parfum de Cupidon (Nicky Larson and the Cupid's Purfume), the French live-action film of Tsukasa Hōjō's City Hunter manga, sold 38,676 tickets for 47,883,700 yen (about US$438,500) in its first three days. It ranked #8 in its opening weekend in Japan. While the movie is aimed at those in their 30s and 40s who were familiar with the original manga and anime, the weekend also saw groups of friends and couples in their 20s attending screenings of the film. The film opened in Japan last Friday, November 29 on 102 screens.

The film has the Japanese title City Hunter the Movie: Shijō Saikō no Mission (City Hunter the Movie: The Most Aromatic Mission Ever). Nicky Larson is the French title of the City Hunter franchise, as well as the French localized name of the protagonist Ryō Saeba. Albatros Film is distributing the film in Japan.

The live-action film version stars Philippe Lacheau as Nicky Larson. Tarek Boudali and Élodie Fontan also star in the film. Philippe Lacheau and Pierre Lacheau wrote the film alongside writer and actor Julien Arruti.

Saenai Heroine no Sodate-kata fine, the anime film based on Fumiaki Maruto's Saekano: How to Raise a Boring Girlfriend light novel series, fell from #7 to #9 in its sixth weekend. The film earned 32,780,400 yen (about US$300,200) from Friday to Sunday, and has earned a cumulative total of 604,313,480 yen (about US$5.53 million).

The film opened at #5 in Japan. It earned 136,362,600 yen (about US$1.25 million) on Saturday and Sunday. The film opened on October 26 on 121 screens.

Kanta Kamei served as chief director at CloverWorks, and Akihisa Shibata (episode director for the two previous seasons) was the director. Fumiaki Maruto returned to write the script, and Tomoaki Takase returned to design the characters. Aniplex is distributing the film.

Star Twinkle Precure: Hoshi no Uta ni Omoi wo Komete (Star ☆ Twinkle Precure the Movie: Put Your Feelings into the Song of Stars) dropped out of the top 10 once more in its seventh weekend after returning for one weekend in its sixth weekend.

Re:Zero Hyōketsu no Kizuna (Frozen Bonds), the original video anime (OVA) for the Re:Zero franchise, is out of the top 10, but still earned 13,802,900 yen (about US$126,400) from Friday to Sunday in its fourth weekend, and has earned a cumulative total of 251,860,200 yen (about US$2.30 million).

Gekijōban Gundam G no Reconguista I: Ike! Core Fighter (Go! Core Fighter), the first of the planned five compilation films for the Gundam Reconguista in G anime series, debuted at #1 in the mini-theater rankings in its opening weekend. The film opened in Japan last Friday, November 29.

The anime adaptation of Sato's Fragtime manga dropped from #1 to #2 in the mini-theater ranking in its second weekend.

Sources: The Mainichi Shimbun's Mantan Web, Eiga.com, Kōgyō Tsūshin (link 2), comScore via KOFIC