Japanese cinema witnessed a remarkable year in 2024, with domestic anime films leading the charge at the box office. Detective Conan: The Million-dollar Pentagram and HAIKYU!! The Dumpster Battle emerged as the top two highest-grossing films, underscoring the enduring popularity and financial power of anime in Japan.
Detective Conan’s Million-Dollar Triumph
Detective Conan: The Million-dollar Pentagram, the 27th film in the long-running Detective Conan franchise, clinched the top spot, grossing over ¥15.8 billion (approximately $101.8 million). This impressive feat not only made it the highest-grossing domestic film of 2024 but also the highest-grossing film in the entire Case Closed series. The film’s success extends beyond Japan, with international earnings contributing significantly to its overall revenue.
Plot Overview
The film centers around a notice from Kaito Kid declaring his intent to steal two wakizashi swords belonging to Toshizo Hijikata. These swords are stored in a zaibatsu warehouse in Hakodate, Hokkaido. Inspector Nakamori, puzzled by Kid’s interest in swords rather than jewels, investigates. Meanwhile, a kendo tournament in Hakodate brings together Heiji Hattori, Soshi Okita, Conan Edogawa, Mouri Ran, and Kazuha Toyama, intertwining their paths with the unfolding mystery. The storyline evolves into a treasure hunt, with Conan, Heiji, and Kaito Kid racing against mobsters to uncover a hidden treasure linked to the stolen swords.
Marketing Innovation
The film employed a unique marketing strategy, foregoing pre-release screenings and instead hosting midnight premieres in 23 theaters across 10 prefectures on April 12. This approach generated significant buzz, with tickets selling out rapidly. Upon its nationwide release in 515 theaters, the film attracted 2.274 million viewers and earned ¥3.352 billion in its first three days. It maintained its top position for six consecutive weeks, surpassing ¥14 billion by week seven and achieving over 10 million admissions.
HAIKYU!! Serves Up a Box Office Smash
HAIKYU!! The Dumpster Battle, a theatrical sequel to the popular Haikyu!! manga and anime series about high school volleyball, secured the second-highest spot at the Japanese box office in 2024. The film grossed over ¥11.64 billion (approximately $74.05 million), solidifying its place as a major hit.
The Epic Showdown
The film is a direct sequel to Season 4 of the anime. The plot revolves entirely around the highly anticipated match between Karasuno High School and their long-time rivals, Nekoma High School, at the Spring National Tournament. This “Dumpster Battle” is the culmination of years of rivalry between the two underdog teams. The movie explores the intense competition and strategic gameplay between the two volleyball teams.
Character Growth and Emotional Depth
HAIKYU!! The Dumpster Battle delves into the characters’ personal growth, particularly focusing on Kenma Kozume and his relationship with volleyball. The film explores whether he will ever enjoy playing the game. As Kenma gets more invested, he becomes a calculating strategist, using Karasuno’s strengths and weaknesses against them. The film also highlights Tsukishima’s growing passion for volleyball and his deepening friendship with Tadashi.
Anime’s Dominance in 2024
The success of Detective Conan: The Million-dollar Pentagram and HAIKYU!! The Dumpster Battle underscores the strength of the anime industry in Japan. Anime films claimed six of the top 10 spots in Japan’s 2024 domestic box office rankings. This dominance reflects a broader trend of increasing revenues for the anime industry, which reached a record ¥3.3 trillion (nearly $22 billion) in 2023. Over half of this revenue came from outside Japan, highlighting the global appeal of anime.
Factors Contributing to Anime’s Success
Several factors contributed to the success of anime films in 2024:
Strong Franchises: Established franchises like Detective Conan, Haikyu!!, Mobile Suit Gundam, and Doraemon continue to draw large audiences.
Innovative Marketing: Unique marketing strategies, such as the midnight premieres for Detective Conan: The Million-dollar Pentagram, generate excitement and drive ticket sales.
Global Appeal: Anime’s popularity extends beyond Japan, with international markets contributing significantly to box office revenues.
Impact of Hollywood Strikes: The Hollywood strikes in 2023 led to delays in the production and release of foreign films, creating an opportunity for domestic films, particularly anime, to thrive.
Overall Box Office Performance in Japan
While domestic films performed strongly in 2024, the overall box office revenue in Japan decreased by 6.5% to $1.33 billion (¥207 billion). This decline is attributed to a significant drop in takings for US features, despite the success of local titles. Admissions were also down 7.1% to 144.4 million.
Domestic vs. Foreign Films
Japanese films accounted for $1 billion (¥156 billion) at the local box office, up 5.1% year-on-year and comprising 75% of total takings. In contrast, imported features drew $329 million (¥51.1 billion) from 505 titles, down from $472 million (¥73.7 billion) from 556 titles in 2023.
Top-Grossing Foreign Films
The only two non-Japanese features to make the top 10 were Inside Out 2 with $34.8 million (¥5.4 billion) and Despicable Me 4 with $29.2 million (¥4.53 billion). This highlights the challenges faced by Hollywood tentpoles in penetrating the Japanese cinematic market.
The Future of Japanese Cinema
Despite the overall decline in box office revenue, the success of domestic anime films in 2024 is a positive sign for the Japanese film industry. The industry’s focus on strong franchises, innovative marketing, and global appeal positions it for continued success in the years to come. As the anime industry continues to grow and innovate, it is likely to remain a dominant force in the Japanese box office.
