SAMG Entertainment’s “Heartsping: Teenieping of Love” Sets March 19, 2027 Japan Release

SAMG Entertainment’s animated feature “Heartsping: Teenieping of Love” will open nationwide in Japan on March 19, 2027.

The film will be released in Japan as “愛のハチュピン” and distributed by TOHO-TOWA, part of Japan’s TOHO Group. Tracing its history back to 1928, TOHO-TOWA is a long-established Japanese distributor specializing in the import and distribution of international films, including titles from Universal Pictures and other major Hollywood studios.

SAMG Entertainment will release the official Japanese trailer and begin advance ticket sales on September 18. The film is the first theatrical feature based on the global animation franchise Catch! Teenieping. It was released in South Korea in 2024 and attracted more than 1.24 million moviegoers. Produced by SAMG Entertainment and directed by Kim Soo-hoon, the film’s Japan operations are supported by SAMG JAPAN.

“Catch! Teenieping” entered the Japanese market in 2022 and has since expanded across television and streaming platforms. The series is available on Kids Station, Animax and TV Tokyo-affiliated channels, as well as streaming platforms including Amazon Prime Video and U-NEXT. The current fourth season, “Dessert Catch! Teenieping”, also features a Japanese-language ending theme performed by K-pop group Hearts2Hearts.

The franchise has also established a growing presence in the Japanese toy and licensing market. More than 100 related products have been launched through local partners and are available through major retailers including Toys“R”Us Japan and Yodobashi Camera. At Tokyo Toy Show 2026 in August, new Season 4 toys were unveiled alongside a character meet-and-greet featuring Hachuping.

Japan has a strong domestic film market, while animation continues to perform strongly at the box office. According to the Motion Picture Producers Association of Japan (Eiren), Japanese films accounted for 75.6% of the country’s total box office revenue in 2025. Three of the four films that surpassed ¥10 billion in annual box office revenue were animated features. Building on its existing television and toy business in Japan, SAMG Entertainment plans to expand “Catch! Teenieping” into theatrical distribution as part of its broader IP business in the market.

“We’re pleased to introduce characters and a story that have been loved in Korea to Japanese audiences,” said a representative of TOHO-TOWA. “We hope “Heartsping: Teenieping of Love” will give children and families an opportunity to enjoy a warm story about love together.”

“After building “Catch! Teenieping” in Japan through content and toys, we’re pleased to bring the franchise’s first theatrical film to Japanese audiences in partnership with TOHO-TOWA,” said a SAMG Entertainment spokesperson. “With the theatrical release, we plan to continue expanding SAMG Entertainment’s IP business in Japan across content, toys and other areas.”

SAMG JAPAN will continue local promotional activities ahead of the March release, beginning with the Japanese trailer launch in September and followed by announcements on the Japanese voice cast, ambassador and other key campaign details.