A new clip has been posted for the fourth “Sumikko Gurashi” anime film, titled Eiga Sumikko Gurashi: Sora no Ōkoku to Futari no Ko (Sumikko Gurashi The Movie: The Sky Kingdom and the Two Children), offering fans a glimpse into the upcoming adventure. The film is set to open in Japan on October 31, 2025.
The recently released clip showcases the adorable Sumikko characters playing music on “sacred flowers,” hinting at the whimsical and heartwarming journey awaiting audiences.
Journey to the Sky Kingdom
The fourth installment of the beloved Sumikko Gurashi series takes the characters to a “Sky Kingdom.” The official synopsis reveals that after a period of continuous rain in Sumikko’s town, something falls from the sky – an “Ouji” (prince) from the Sky Kingdom. The Sky Kingdom is facing a severe water shortage, prompting the Sumikkos to embark on an adventure above the clouds to help save it from crisis.
Returning Cast and Crew
Yoshihiko Inohara and Manami Honjo are confirmed to return as narrators for the film, continuing their roles from previous installments. Fanworks, the studio behind the previous films and TV anime series, is producing the fourth movie. Naomi Iwata is directing the film, with Takashi Sumita returning as the scriptwriter from the first and third films, and Kaori Hino also returning as art director. Asmik Ace, Inc. is handling the distribution of the film.
The Enduring Popularity of Sumikko Gurashi
The Sumikko Gurashi franchise, created by San-X in 2012, features a charming cast of shy and slightly negative characters who feel most comfortable in corners. The main characters include Shirokuma the polar bear, Penguin? (who is unsure if it’s a penguin), Tonkatsu the leftover pork cutlet, Neko the timid cat, and Tokage the dinosaur who pretends to be a lizard.
The film series has garnered significant popularity, with cumulative audience numbers for the first three films exceeding 3 million. The first film, Sumikko Gurashi the Movie: The Pop-up Picture Book and the Secret Child, was released in 2019, followed by Sumikko Gurashi the Movie: The Magical Child of a Blue Moonlit Night in 2021, and Sumikko Gurashi the Movie: The Mysterious Child of the Patchwork Factory in 2023. Beyond films, the franchise boasts a wealth of merchandise, books, mobile apps, and video games. The success of the characters led to Sumikko Gurashi winning the Grand Prize at the Japan Character Awards in 2019.
The upcoming fourth film, Eiga Sumikko Gurashi: Sora no Ōkoku to Futari no Ko, continues this beloved tradition, promising another heartwarming and imaginative story for fans when it premieres on October 31, 2025.
