Naoko Yamada’s latest original anime film, Kimi no Iro (The Colors Within), opened to a mixed reception in its debut weekend.
According to Kogyo Tsushinsha, the film ranked 7th at the domestic box office for the weekend of Aug 30 to Sep 1, 2024.
Despite being one of the most anticipated films of the year, the movie struggled to meet expectations in its opening days.
Kimi no Iro was released in 273 theaters across Japan on August 30. The 100-minute film, produced by Science SARU, grossed approximately ¥110 million yen (about $752,000) during its first weekend, with ¥25 million yen (about $155,000) earned on the opening day.
While it managed to secure the third spot in Filmarks’ first-day satisfaction rankings with an average rating of 3.92/5.0 based on 2,023 reviews, the overall box office performance looks underwhelming.
The movie’s debut was notably affected by the ongoing typhoon Shanshan in Japan, which likely deterred audiences from heading to theaters.
This weather-related disruption came at a particularly unfortunate time, as the film’s distribution was more extensive than many other recent anime releases.
For example, Look Back and Bocchi the Rock! compilation movies were initially released in 119 and 132 theaters, respectively, yet both films were seen as significant successes, with Look Back earning ¥70 million yen (about $436,000) on its first day and finishing its opening weekend with ¥245 million yen (about $1.5 million).
Meanwhile, Bocchi the Rock! Re: grossed over ¥218 million yen (about $1.5 million) and drew 141,113 moviegoers within its first three days, securing the top spot at the weekend box office. The compilation movies overall raked in more than 1 billion yen in revenue.
In contrast, Kimi no Iro‘s wider release in 273 theaters did not translate into stronger box office numbers.
The movie, however, has been a hit with the critics. It recently the Best Animation Film Award at the 2024 Shanghai International Film Festival and has also been selected to screen at the 29th Busan International Film Festival (BIFF).
The movie released in Japan on Aug 30, 2024, after facing a delay. It also premiered at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival in June 2024.
Animated by Science Saru, the staff working on the movie included:
- Script/Screenplay: Reiko Ushida
- Music: Kensuke Ushio
- Original Character Designer: Daisuke Richard
- Character Designer/Animation Director: Takashi Kojima
Kimi no Iro tells the story of high school student Totsuko, her schoolmate Kimi, and a music-loving boy named Rui, who meet at a small bookstore in their town. The trio form a band, and through their shared passion for music, they find solace in each other despite grappling with their own personal struggles.