News
Japanese Box Office, October 20-21
posted on by Crystalyn Hodgkins
Toei's Space Sheriff Gavan: The Movie tokusatsu (special-effects) film debuted at No. 5 during the October 20-21 weekend. The film marks the 30th anniversary of Toei's original Space Sheriff Gavan television series, which followed a combat-suited hero defending Earth against extraterrestrial threats. Kenji Ohba, who played the hero Retsu Ichijōji in the original series, returns to pass the baton to actor Yuma Ishigaki as the next-generation Gavan hero. In addition, two more Space Sheriffs, Sharivan and Shaider, also appear in updated incarnations. The film earned US$948,201 on 171 screens.
The religious anime film The Mystical Laws fell from No. 6 to No. 7 during its third weekend. The story takes place in the near future, when the newly-formed "Godom Empire" is threatening to take over the world by using advanced technology offered to them by Leika Chan, the mysterious female president of a trading company. The protagonist of the film, Sho Shishimaru, is the one man who has the "mystical technology" that can stop the Godom Empire. After being hunted down by the Empire, Sho is saved by mysterious Indians monks, who tell him about a prophecy about The Rebirth of Buddha. The film earned US$815,764 on 212 screens for a new total of US$6,131,176.
The Puella Magi Madoka Magica the Movie Part 2: Eternal film fell from No. 2 to No. 9 during its second weekend. The film is the second in a two-part compilation of the original Puella Magi Madoka Magica television anime series. Box Office Mojo did not list the film on its chart.
Puella Magi Madoka Magica the Movie Part 1: Beginnings stayed at No. 11 on Box Office Mojo's chart during its third weekend. The film is the first in the two-part compilation of the original Puella Magi Madoka Magica television anime series. The film earned US$528,217 on 43 screens for a gross-to-date of US$5,074,910.
Gekijō-ban Tiger & Bunny -The Beginning-, the first of two anime films based on Sunrise's Tiger & Bunny television anime series, stayed at No. 13 on Box Office Mojo's chart during its fifth weekend. The film focuses on the story from the first television episodes, with new anime shots added. The film earned US$411,926 on 94 screens for a new total of US$5,747,133.
Box Office Mojo listed Shinji Aramaki's Starship Troopers: Invasion CG film as earning US$187 on one screen during its 14th weekend for a new total of US$193,343.
Sources: Kogyo Tsunshinsha, Box Office Mojo
follow-up of Japanese Box Office, October 13-14
