The production team behind the adaptation of Nagano's beloved manga Chiikawa (originally titled Nanka Chiisakute Kawaii Yatsu) has announced a temporary alteration to its television broadcast schedule. Starting immediately, the series will pause its slate of brand-new episodes to broadcast a special "revival" curated run featuring 25 selected classic episodes. This curated rebroadcast will continue through December 25, filling the show's morning timeslot on Fuji TV's Mezamashi Terebi.
Curated Rebroadcast & Movie Ties
The 25 selected episodes during this broadcast window focus heavily on early pivotal moments from the series alongside storylines that directly connect to the monumental theatrical release, Eiga Chiikawa: Ningyo no Shima no Himitsu (Chiikawa the Movie: The Secret of Mermaid Island). The feature film, which opened on July 24, has turned into a massive commercial triumph, collecting over 15.84 billion yen (approximately $100 million USD) and selling 10.86 million tickets to become Japan's highest-grossing film of the year.
Since its premiere in April 2022 with animation production by Doga Kobo, the bite-sized anime has expanded its presence significantly. After shifting to a twice-weekly broadcast pattern (Tuesdays and Fridays) in April 2023, the show continues to feature a central voice cast starring Haruka Aoki as Chiikawa, Makoto Tanaka as Hachiware, and Ari Ozawa as Usagi. International viewers can stream episodes on HIDIVE via Sentai Filmworks, as well as selection blocks on Amasian TV.
