Netflix Is Bringing Another Animated Original To Theaters, But Only In Japan

Netflix is once again flirting with theatrical exhibition for one of its animated originals, so long as you are in Japan. The streamer’s latest anime original feature, Cosmic Princess Kaguya, released on the platform on January 22, is heading to Japanese cinemas for a limited run.

The film, directed by Shingo Yamashita, is a futuristic, pop-fueled adaptation of The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter, filtered through virtual worlds, idol culture, and a vibrant aesthetic that should pop on the big screen. It already debuted globally on Netflix, but from February 20–26, it will also play in select Japanese theaters, complete with special events and bonus materials.

It’s the debut feature from director Shingo Yamashita and the first major project from his new Studio Chromato, produced in partnership with Studio Colorido, which handled animation.

This isn’t entirely new behavior for Netflix and certainly won’t be rare if the company’s proposed acquisition of Warner Bros. assets goes through. For its award-hopeful films, Netflix has always hosted brief, highly limited qualifying runs, but those were rare.

Last year saw the company’s biggest departure from the status quo to date when KPop Demon Hunters got a wide run, two months after it had already debuted on the platform. Despite that temporal disconnect, the film was the highest-grossing in the U.S. for a single weekend, earning an estimated $20 million in just a couple of days.

Cosmic Princess Kaguya‘s Japanese run seems unlikely to have much impact on the streamer’s larger theatrical designs, but every time a Netflix original does get into theaters feels like an occasion worth celebrating. Here’s hoping for more of the same for the rest of the world.