Japanese animated fantasy film ‘Your Name’ dominates Chinese theaters

Reporting from Beijing —  A Japanese film about inhabiting other bodies far outstripped competitors in Chinese theaters last week, with American fantasies trailing behind.

The animated fantasy “Your Name,” roped in $41.6 million in ticket sales in its first three days, according to film industry consulting firm Artisan Gateway.

The Toho International Co. film follows a high school boy and girl who find themselves transported into the other’s body. The movie has been a hit in Japan, racking up more than $174 million in ticket sales.

Another foray into fantasy, “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them,” grossed $31.4 million in its first full week. The Warner Bros. production, written by Harry Potter creator J.K. Rowling, serves as a prequel to the series about the young wizard’s self-discovery.

Since its debut last month, the film has generated $607.5 million in ticket sales worldwide, with $424.4 million coming from foreign markets including China, according to Box Office Mojo.

“Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children,” a darker fantasy film produced by 20th Century Fox, drew $9.5 million in its opening weekend in China. It is another Tim Burton-directed adaption of a novel about a boy who goes in search of the quirky orphanage where his grandfather once lived.

Walt Disney’s “Moana,” an animated musical adventure, pulled in $9.3 million during its second weekend in theaters. The 3-D film tells the story of a young woman who leaves her Polynesian tribe when the ocean requests her assistance.

Only one Chinese film made last week’s top-grossing list — and it was not a fantasy. “Sword Master,” a 3-D martial arts film, grossed $7.7 million.