T5W#345-Top 5 Upcoming Anime Films that could do well in the US

This past weekend, Jujutsu Kaisen 0 arrived here in the States.  Seeing as how its popularity is on par with that of Demon Slayer or My Hero Academia, the movie did gang busters, coming in Second Place at the Domestic Box Office behind The Batman (which took it’s third straight weekend win).  It’s crazy to think that we now live in a day and age when Anime films can compete here in the US and score big wins and box office glory.  We’ve seen it with releases of Dragon Ball, My Hero Academia and Demon Slayer Movies within the last three years alone.  Since Jujustu Kaisen seems to be continuing that trend, on todays Top 5 Wednesday I’m counting down the Top 5 Upcoming Anime Films that could do well in the US.  Some of these have release dates set for 2022 while others are still as of now unconfirmed.  Either way, I think these flicks have the best chance of making a splash here with US audiences as they no doubt will in Japan

 
#5-Black Clover: The Movie

This Shonen Anime overcame a lot of hurdles in it’s early days (Asta’s constant screaming) and rose to become a contender for who could replace one of the long gone “Big Three” Shonen Anime.  While I never bothered to continue on with it, Black Clover went on to massive success, both in Japan and in the US.  The show ended in 2021 and could likely continue once more Manga is produced.  Til then, Black Clover is getting its first big movie in 2023.  Plot is scarce through it’s likely it’ll pick up after the end of the series and will hopefully tie fans over til another series begins.  In terms of box office, Black Clover might have a good chance of taking in a sizeable haul if it gets the right release window.  Shonen Anime tend to do pretty well in the US markets…as you’ll see in this Top 5, at least 3/5 are Shonen continuations or spin offs.

 
#4-Dragon Ball Super: The Movie-Super Hero

This ones easy.  It’s Dragon Ball Super.  Ever since Z reached our shoes, Dragon Ball has remained a title that gets everyone excited instantly.  Dragon Ball Z has long since ended but two iterations later, we’re now on Dragon Ball Super and everyone is still talking about the new adventures of Goku and Vegeta.  In 2019, Super’s first movie, Broly, came in #4 in it’s opening weekend (it even held the top spot domestically on the day it came out before being dethroned by M. Night Shamylan’s Glass).  While the release of Super Hero has been delayed a bit, I doubt we’ll have to wait long for it to show up in the US.  Dragon Ball Super has been over for a couple of years now and everyones just waiting for the next adventure to arrive.  Trust me, this is a box office win just on brand name alone.

 
#3-Yuri on Ice: The Movie-Ice Adolescence

I still cant believe it’s been three years (give or take) since this movie was supposed to be released…I think.  You know, I don’t think they ever gave a target release date for this Yuri on Ice Prequel but the wait has been unbearable.  Late 2016 saw Yuri on Ice on top of the world thanks to gorgeous visuals and a powerful romance between it’s two leads.  The iron was hot for striking after a great first season.  Much like Attack on Titan, however, a Season Two is still illusive.  The announced prequel film would focus on a young Victor during his Ice Skating heyday.  I don’t know if Yuri on Ice would still carry the same impact it did upon release but I think if everyones waited long enough, both in Japan and in the US, people would still flock to the theaters because it’d be about damn time…let’s just hope it’s good.

 
#2- One Piece Film: Red

I’m not the biggest One Piece fan but I’m not ignorant to it’s legacy and impact on the Anime community.  It’s the last of the original “Big Three” Shonen Anime and not too long ago, finally crossed that 1000^th episode landmark.  In 2022, the franchise will celebrate another milestone with it’s 15^th theatrical film, simply titled “Red”.  Plot has been kept under wraps but apparently it’s supposed to show off One Piece in a way never seen before and has the potential to blow minds.  One Piece has never had a true chance to show it’s stuff beyond single night theatrical showings in the US.  With it’s fellow Shonen Dragon Ball Z, My Hero Academia, Demon Slayer and Jujutsu Kaisen winning big and One Piece’s big celebrations this year, maybe 2022 will be the year One Piece makes its mark in the US Theatrical Market.
 

#1-‘Suzume no Tojimari’ (Suzume's Locking-Up)

Makoto Shinkai has gone from “guy who makes pretty but ok Anime films” to being hailed as “THE NEXT MIYAZAKI” thanks to Your Name and Weathering With You.  Much like Weathering, I don’t envy the project Shinkai has come up with because the bar keeps being raised higher and higher.  A synopsis has been released for Suzume no Tojimari, indicating it’ll be about the titular Suzume needing to track down and close a series of doors she accidentally opened, which have brought disasters across Japan.  Both Weathering with You and Your Name destroyed the Japanese Box Office upon release and there’s no doubt Suzume no Tojimari could do the same.  Stateside, for smaller releases Shinkai’s films have done well and their names have been built up big time.  I think the time is right for Suzume no Tojimari to get a wide theatrical release.  Late 2022 cant get here fast enough (though we probably wont see it in the US til Early 2023 if we’re lucky).