On March 20, the first-ever 4DX上映 (4DX jouei, 4DX screening) in the history of That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime will begin at 58 theaters across Japan. And starting March 13, fans will receive a new 入場者特典 (nyuujousha tokuten, admission bonus)—a limited-edition metallic illustration card with a serial code.

Let’s take a closer look at what’s happening with 「劇場版 転生したらスライムだった件 蒼海の涙編」 (Gekijouban Tensei Shitara Slime Datta Ken: Soukai no Namida-hen, That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime the Movie: Tears of the Blue Sea Arc).

First 4DX Screening in “TenSura” History

The film’s 4DX version will begin on March 20 at 58 participating theaters. In Japanese, 上映 (jouei) refers to a film screening in a theater. So 4DX上映 simply means “4DX screening.”

This is the first time the TenSura series has received the 4DX treatment.

Since its release on February 27, the film has already achieved impressive results. In just 11 days, it surpassed:

• 400,000 moviegoers
• 540 million yen in box office revenue

In Japanese, this is expressed using the pattern 〜を突破する (~o toppa suru), meaning “to surpass” or “to break through.” The article states that the film recorded:

• 観客動員数40万人を突破 (kankyaku douin-suu yonjuu-man nin o toppa) — surpassed 400,000 attendees
• 興行収入5.4億円を突破 (kougyou shuunyuu go-ten-yon oku en o toppa) — surpassed 540 million yen in revenue

The word 突破 (toppa) literally means “to break through,” and you’ll often see it in news about sales, attendance, or records.

Water, Storms, and Immersive Effects

The subtitle 蒼海の涙編 (Soukai no Namida-hen) includes the word 〜編 (~hen), meaning “arc” or “chapter” of a story. So this is the “Tears of the Blue Sea Arc.”

Because of the ocean theme suggested by 蒼海 (sou kai, blue sea), the 4DX version emphasizes effects like:

• Rain
• Storms
• Waves
• Water splashes
• Even the scent of the sea

These effects are designed to heighten the 臨場感 (rinjoukan), meaning a sense of realism or immersion. During action scenes featuring Rimuru, Gobta, and a water dragon, viewers can feel as if they’re riding a board over huge waves.

4DX theaters in Japan are known for motion seats, wind, mist, scents, and other physical effects. For anime fans, this adds a theme-park-like dimension to the movie experience.

Admission Bonus: Limited Metallic Card

Starting March 13, theaters will distribute the third round of 入場者特典（入プレ） (nyuujousha tokuten (nyuupure)).

In Japan, it’s common for anime films to offer special gifts to moviegoers. Fans often attend multiple times to collect different bonuses. The abbreviation 入プレ (nyuupure) comes from nyuujou present—a uniquely Japanese shortening style.

This third bonus is a 数量限定 (suuryou gentei, limited quantity) “metallic illustration card.”

• The front features the movie’s key visual.
• The back includes a serial code.

That serial code can be used in the smartphone game:

「転生したらスライムだった件 魔王と竜の建国譚」 (Tensei Shitara Slime Datta Ken: Maou to Ryuu no Kenkokutan)

Players can exchange it for the character:

★4［閑日ノ魔王］リムル＝テンペスト (★4 [Kanjitsu no Maou] Rimuru Tempest)

Notice how the film and the game work together. Anime in Japan often connects movies, games, merchandise, and bonus items into one big ecosystem.

Special Features and Behind-the-Scenes Coverage

Natalie is also currently running special features across its comic, film, and music sections.

One article reports on red-pen commentator Akapen Takigawa’s 潜入 (sennyuu, infiltration) into the animation studio Eight Bit, which produced the film. The word 潜入 literally means “to sneak in” or “to infiltrate,” but here it’s used in a journalistic sense—going behind the scenes to explore the creators’ efforts and techniques.

Cultural Context: Why Admission Bonuses Matter

In Japan, anime films often release multiple waves of 入場者特典.

• First week: Bonus #1
• Second phase: Bonus #2
• Third phase: Bonus #3

Each is usually 数量限定 (limited), encouraging fans to watch early—and sometimes repeatedly. This strategy helps boost attendance numbers quickly, which is why phrases like 〜を突破する appear so often in entertainment news.

It’s a fascinating example of how marketing, fandom, and storytelling are deeply interconnected in Japan’s anime industry.

Learn Japanese from This Article

Key Vocabulary

Grammar Spotlight

1️⃣ 〜を突破する — To Surpass (a Number)

Pattern: Noun + を突破する

Used when talking about exceeding records, numbers, or limits.

Example from the article:

• 観客動員数40万人を突破した。 Kankyaku douin-suu yonjuu-man nin o toppa shita. The number of moviegoers surpassed 400,000.

• 興行収入5.4億円を突破した。 Kougyou shuunyuu go-ten-yon oku en o toppa shita. Box office revenue surpassed 540 million yen.

You’ll see this constantly in Japanese news reports.

2️⃣ 〜として — As; In the Role/Capacity of

Pattern: Noun + として

Used to describe a role or position.

Example:

• 入場者特典第3弾として配布される。 Nyuujousha tokuten dai-san-dan to shite haifu sareru. It will be distributed as the third admission bonus.

This is a very common structure in both news and daily conversation.

Useful Expression

• 数量限定です。 Suuryou gentei desu. It’s limited quantity.

You’ll hear this everywhere in Japan—movies, cafes, seasonal snacks, collaboration goods.

Continue Learning

• Working on your reading skills? Our Introduction to Kanji: Pictorial Foundations of Japanese Script lesson is a great next step.
• Working on your reading skills? Our Katakana Essentials: Adapting Global Words to Japanese lesson is a great next step.
• Want to learn more about entertainment? Check out our lesson on Basic Vocabulary Building: Embracing Words Without Latin Ties.

The world of TenSura keeps expanding—on the big screen, in 4DX theaters, and even inside your smartphone game. Each news article like this isn’t just entertainment—it’s a chance to see how Japanese media language really works.

これからもよろしくお願いします。 Kore kara mo yoroshiku onegaishimasu.