The latest anime feature film, “The Colors Within” (Kimi no Iro), directed by Naoko Yamada and produced by Science SARU, has made its debut in the United States, earning $373,811 during its opening weekend. The film opened in U.S. theaters on January 24th, 2025, and was shown with both Japanese with English subtitles and an English dub.
Opening Weekend Performance
“The Colors Within” secured the 16th position at the U.S. box office during its opening weekend, which spanned from January 24th to January 26th. The film was screened in 570 theaters across the country. According to Box Office Mojo, the film’s earnings were distributed as follows: $150,545 on Friday, $127,144 on Saturday, and $100,333 on Sunday. While this figure might not place it among the top blockbusters, it’s worth noting that the film’s opening performance exceeds that of director Yamada’s previous works.
Comparison to Previous Films
To provide context, Yamada’s earlier film, “A Silent Voice” (2016), had an opening gross of $121,732 in the U.S. across 51 theaters. Meanwhile, “Liz and the Blue Bird” (2018) earned a total gross of $63,204 in the U.S. The higher opening weekend earnings of “The Colors Within” suggest growing interest in the director’s work and anime films in general.
Global Performance and Reception
While the U.S. opening is noteworthy, “The Colors Within” has already seen success in other regions. The film first premiered in Japan on August 30, 2024, after being delayed from its originally planned release in fall 2023. The movie achieved the #7 spot at the Japanese box office during its opening weekend, competing with other well established anime franchises. Furthermore, it has been screened in Southeast Asia and various film festivals.
Festival Recognition
“The Colors Within” has garnered critical acclaim, including being part of the official selection at Annecy 2024. It also won the Animation Golden Goblet Award at the Shanghai International Film Festival in 2024, further solidifying its quality and appeal.
The Story Behind “The Colors Within”
The film revolves around Totsuko, a high school student who can perceive the “colors” of people’s hearts, each representing emotions. She is particularly captivated by the beautiful color emitted by her classmate Kimi. Despite not playing any instruments, Totsuko joins a band with Kimi and Rui, a quiet music lover. Their story unfolds as they practice at an old church on a remote island, where music brings them together, building friendships, and igniting affections. The film explores themes of self-discovery, connection, and the power of music.
Creative Team
“The Colors Within” is a collaboration between several talented individuals. The script was penned by Reiko Yoshida, known for her work on “K-ON!,” “Girls und Panzer,” “Ride Your Wave,” and “Violet Evergarden.” The music was composed by Kensuke Ushio, who also worked on “Space Dandy,” “A Silent Voice,” “Liz and the Blue Bird,” and “Chainsaw Man”. The original character designs were created by DaisukeRichard, with Takashi Kojima handling the character designs and animation direction.
Distribution and Availability
GKIDS has acquired the rights for distribution in North America, Latin America, Australia, and New Zealand. Anime Ltd. is handling the distribution in Europe, and PLAION PICTURES will manage Italian- and German-speaking territories. CHARADES is managing sales for the rest of Europe, Latin America, Australia, and New Zealand, making the film widely accessible to audiences worldwide. The film had its North American premiere screening on the opening day of the Animation Is Film festival in Los Angeles, hosted by GKIDS, Annecy, and Variety magazine.
Movie’s key details
The movie is rated PG for mild thematic elements and has a running time of 1 hour and 41 minutes. The movie was released in Japan on August 30th, 2024, and in the United States on January 24th, 2025.
Box Office Analysis and Performance
“The Colors Within’s” domestic opening weekend resulted in an opening of $373,811, which represents the entire domestic gross. The movie was shown in 570 theaters across the United States, earning a per-theater average of $655.81. The total worldwide gross currently sits at $2,138,132. The film’s domestic share is 55.7% of the worldwide box office.
Box Office Ranking
As of January 26th, 2025, the movie ranked 10,640 in the All Time Domestic Box Office, and 2,858 in the All Time Domestic Highest Grossing Limited Release Movies.
Future Outlook
With several weeks left in its international run, Naoko Yamada has expressed her hopes that audiences will find the film comforting and relatable, especially for those experiencing anxiety. The film’s unique animation style, coupled with its heartwarming narrative, could continue to attract viewers in the coming weeks.
Other Notable Anime Box Office News
In other anime-related box office news, “The Boy and the Heron” has become the third-highest-grossing anime film in North America, surpassing “Pokémon the Movie 2000”. Hayao Miyazaki’s film has grossed approximately $44.24 million in the United States. The film earned $1,817,762 in its opening weekend in the U.S.
Also, “Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX -Beginning-“ has taken the top spot in its opening weekend in Japan, earning 598,832,300 yen (3.85 million USD).
