Anime
Sanrio announces first own anime cinema film for Kuromi
Sanrio's character will receive her first own cinema film in 2027. GAGA takes over distribution in Japan.
Sanrio announces the first anime cinema film starring Kuromi in the lead role for 2027. The Japanese release is planned for next year; GAGA is taking over distribution. The company unveils the project on October 31, 2026, the birthday of the Sanrio character.
Announcement visual and video message released
To mark the announcement, Sanrio is showing a first image of Kuromi against a violet background. It explicitly announces her first own cinema film. At the same time, a short video appears in which Kuromi reacts to her new lead role. Her companion Baku can also be heard in it. The video is a message about the film announcement and not yet a trailer with scenes from the finished work.
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The official film website confirms the Japanese cinema release in 2027. A specific release date has not yet been set. Sanrio has so far not published details about the plot, direction, animation studio or further cast. A date for Germany or other countries outside Japan has also not yet been announced. According to the film website, international release information will follow once corresponding decisions have been made.
Kuromi's path from anime side character to cinema film
Kuromi first appeared in 2005 in the anime series Onegai My Melody. The character with a black hood and pink skull describes herself as My Melody's rival. In the following years, Sanrio expanded her independent appearances. In 2023, the short anime Kuromi's Pretty Journey started, which continued in 2024.
In July 2025, the stop-motion series My Melody & Kuromi, in which both Sanrio characters are at the centre, also appeared on Netflix. In October of the same year, Kuromi began a music career under her own name with the label TOY'S FACTORY. The now announced cinema film is thus her first independent appearance as the main character of a feature-length cinema project, but not her first lead role in an anime.
Sanrio is also expanding its character world in other media. For January 2027, the rhythm game Sanrio Kawaii Me Live! has been announced, for example. A further collaboration with a manga property is shown by the Tomie x Hello Kitty figure. For the new Kuromi film, however, production and the precise cinema release remain open for now.