Since its anime adaptation that aired last year, Demon Slayer has risen to instant popularity and has become one of the most prominent modern anime to date. It even caused a stir on Twitter when its 19th episode trended worldwide, with many crediting the series' impressive animation and solid storytelling for its success. But raving fans aside, it went as far as to win Funimation's Animation of the Decade award, beating other beloved titles such as Attack on Titan and One-Punch Man. With its massive success and a film announced shortly after its first season's conclusion, it was clear from the jump that the series was here to stay.
Now Demon Slayer: Mugen Train, after its initial release date was delayed, has arrived in Japanese theaters and is seeing unprecedented success. The film has grossed $44M in its opening weekend -- the biggest in the country's history. This feat has been achieved despite current restrictions on cinema capacity, and while the government has lessened the severity of its implementation, some theaters have still limited the number of tickets sold. Having pulled off such a huge accomplishment even in the current world climate, Demon Slayer has truly proved itself as a franchise that is more than just a flavor-of-the-month series.
This extends beyond just the animated versions of Demon Slayer, as even the manga has had incredible sales. While it's not uncommon for an anime's success to bolster the sales of its source material, Shonen Jump Editor-in-Chief Hiroyuki Nakano noted earlier this year that Demon Slayer presented an unusual case for the industry. "Normally, a manga gradually sells more copies throughout the anime's run, but Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba's sales shot up straight after the anime ended," he told Nikkei Entertainment. "The way people interact with anime has changed, and I feel like we've entered a new phase."
With the film set for a 2021 release date in North America and Europe, fans still have a few months to wait before they can see it for themselves. With varied regulations across countries, it's unknown how much they'll impact overall box office performance. However, if the film's performance in Asia is any indicator, it's sure to be a massive success even with theater restrictions.
While its source material concluded earlier this year, Demon Slayer has a bright future ahead of it, as its manga left behind more than enough arcs for multiple seasons of anime. Even beyond the mainline series, multiple spinoffs in the form of manga and light novels have sprung up, offering opportunities for future films or OVAs. In the past, Shonen Jump properties have even produced films that present original material, like Dragon Ball Super: Broly and My Hero Academia: Heroes Rising. So while the lifespan of the franchise might seem limited, given its incredible success up to this point, Demon Slayer has the potential to offer fans much more than its concluded manga indicates.
