Netflix’s 2026 anime slate started strong with Cosmic Princess Kaguya, and now the film has levelled up from streaming hit to proper cinema success.
According to ComicBook Anime, the Netflix anime film has passed the ¥2 billion mark at the Japanese box office after selling one million tickets. That is a serious milestone for a movie that first exploded on Netflix, where it reportedly crossed one million global views in just three days.
For Malaysian and SEA anime fans, this is the kind of result worth paying attention to. Anime movies usually build hype through Japanese cinema runs first before slowly making their way to our side of the region. But Cosmic Princess Kaguya is doing something slightly different: it already has Netflix visibility, then still managed to pull people into theatres in Japan. That combo is pretty powerful.
From Netflix hit to cinema crowd-puller
The film originally received a special one-week theatrical run in Japan starting February 20, 2026. Because demand stayed strong, that limited run was extended. The official anime account also revealed that the movie stayed in Japan’s box office top 10 for eight straight weeks.
That is not just casual curiosity anymore — that is sustained fan momentum.
The hype was boosted further by support from several huge manga names. Masashi Kishimoto of Naruto, Gege Akutami of Jujutsu Kaisen, and Tatsuki Fujimoto of Chainsaw Man all drew special illustrations for the film. When creators with that much weight show love, anime fans memang akan notice.
Japan screenings also included fan-focused extras like cheer screenings, talk shows, and attendee giveaways featuring photo cards and other items. Sadly, the theatrical run is currently limited to Japan, with no update yet on whether the film will head to US cinemas — and no confirmed Malaysia or SEA cinema release either.
For now, Malaysian viewers will probably have to stick with Netflix unless a regional distributor picks it up later.
What is Cosmic Princess Kaguya about?
Cosmic Princess Kaguya is a supernatural sci-fi reinterpretation of the classic Japanese folktale The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter. Instead of playing it straight as a traditional fantasy, the movie brings in music, virtual worlds, and a more futuristic emotional setup.
The story follows Iroha Sakayori, a 17-year-old student in Tokyo who is balancing school with part-time work. Her escape from daily stress is watching Yachiyo Runami, a popular streamer connected to Tsukuyomi, a virtual space where hopes and dreams gather.
Then things get weird in the most anime way possible: Iroha discovers a baby emerging from a strangely glowing telephone pole. She takes the baby home, only for the child to rapidly grow into a girl her own age — revealed to be Princess Kaguya herself. As Iroha and Kaguya grow closer through music, darker forces begin moving to bring the princess back to the moon.
The movie is also the feature directorial debut of Shingo Yamashita, known for directing opening sequences for anime like Jujutsu Kaisen Season 1 and Chainsaw Man. So yes, the stylish animation praise makes sense.
A manga version has also launched on Comic Walker, Kadokawa Shoten’s Japanese online manga platform. However, there is currently no update on an official English global release.
Bottom line: Cosmic Princess Kaguya is becoming one of Netflix anime’s biggest 2026 wins. If the buzz keeps building, don’t be surprised if SEA fans start asking louder for proper cinema screenings too.
Source: ComicBook Anime