Netflix Gives 'Cosmic Princess Kaguya' Japan-Only Theatrical Run
The release marks a rare post-streaming theatrical window for a Netflix original anime in Japan, following the company's larger theatrical experiment with "KPop Demon Hunters" last year.
Reporting from 1 sources: Cartoon Brew.
Netflix is sending its anime original feature "Cosmic Princess Kaguya" to Japanese theaters for a limited one-week run starting February 20, despite the film already having debuted globally on the streaming service on January 22. The film, directed by Shingo Yamashita, is a futuristic adaptation of "The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter" that incorporates virtual worlds and idol culture. It is Yamashita's debut feature and the first major project from his new Studio Chromato, produced in partnership with Studio Colorido, which handled animation. The theatrical engagement runs from February 20 through February 26 in select Japanese cinemas, with special events and bonus materials planned. This follows Netflix's previous experiment with a wide theatrical release for "KPop Demon Hunters" last year, which earned an estimated $20 million in its opening U.S. weekend two months after its streaming debut. The "Cosmic Princess Kaguya" run is limited to Japan and is unlikely to signal a broader shift in Netflix's theatrical strategy.
Director Shingo Yamashita's "Cosmic Princess Kaguya" is a pop-fueled reimagining of the classic Japanese folktale, set in a virtual world with idol culture aesthetics. The film is the debut feature from Yamashita and the first major project from his newly established Studio Chromato, which produced the film in partnership with Studio Colorido. Netflix has historically limited theatrical runs for its original films to brief qualifying engagements for awards consideration, but last year's "KPop Demon Hunters" broke that pattern with a wide U.S. release that grossed an estimated $20 million in its opening weekend. The "Cosmic Princess Kaguya" theatrical run is confined to Japan and lasts only one week, from February 20 to February 26, with select theaters hosting special events and offering bonus materials. The film has been available globally on Netflix since January 22.
Synthesized by Yomimono from the 1 cited source below, including Japanese-language reporting where cited, then editorially reviewed before publishing.