“Demon Slayer: Mugen Train” is a Japanese animated film based on the “Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba” manga series written and illustrated by Koyoharu Gotōge. It is the first film in the “Demon Slayer” franchise and was released in Japan in October 2020.
The film is set after the events of the first season of the “Demon Slayer” anime. It follows the story of the main character, Tanjirō Kamado, as he and his fellow demon slayers travel on the Mugen Train to investigate the strange occurrences that have been taking place on board. As they journey through the demon realm, they encounter powerful demons and must use their skills and abilities to protect themselves and those around them.
Demon Slayer: Mugen Train” was a commercial and critical success, breaking box office records and receiving praise for its animation, storytelling, and character development. It is widely considered one of the best anime films of all time and has gained a large and dedicated fanbase worldwide.
When Demon Slayer (Kimetsu no Yaiba) debuted on the anime scene in 2019, it was undoubtedly the clear rookie champion. The popularity of the tale of a young boy attempting to exact revenge on his family and heal his sister of her demon affliction increased both in Japan and the United States. In a short time, it has grown to be as famous and influential as My Hero Academia, and Studio Ufotable doesn’t waste any time striking while the iron is hot. Of course, they might have given us Season 2. Instead, they have chosen to extend the story of Tanjiro and Nezuko by adapting a relatively brief plot arc into a feature-length work. It takes a little while to get going, but once it does, Demon Slayer’s big-screen premiere will capture your attention and keep it until the very end.
The conflict between the two Humans-Demons factions is still a recurring theme. The movie, however, is not dull and does not create the impression that the spectator “knows what’s going on.” After viewing the film, I was shocked to see that I had been entirely absorbed and had watched without pausing from the beginning to the end as if I had fully submerged myself in the movie’s flow.
The anime stays faithful to the source material, maintaining a smooth storyline and constant tempo. Each character’s story is like a stream carrying all emotions, melting into that glorious flow, and the cinema circuit can be compared to a grand river.
Every character has a fascinating past. Happiness abounds, along with despair, regret, and joy.
When you first see the movie, you feel at ease and laugh at the characters’ cuteness. You gradually become more anxious as you pay attention each time a demon emerges.
Your subsequent fantasies of melancholy happiness caused you to sob in private. The director’s skill at manipulating emotions caused you to chuckle once more before you could dry your tears. Before you could stop grinning, you started crying again because you had just seen a legendary match—the match that also marked the film’s conclusion.
Because there is little of a refresher course or a beginner’s guide for newcomers, Mugen Train assumes that you have watched everything from the beginning of the TV series’ Season One. This is a double-edged sword because the first movie in the My Hero Academia series, Two Heroes, spent too much time on the TV series’ past rather than attempting to stand on its own as its eventual sequel did. You gain a rudimentary grasp of the brave and compassionate Tanjiro, the perpetual chronic worrier Zenitsu, the ferocious and rage-filled Inosuke, and the overly theatrical newcomer Rengoku, one of the top Hashira warriors who are far more skilled than Tanjiro’s squad. Still, the series needs to adequately explain why the characters are on this train, why they are even on this mission, or even how Nezuko came to be in her demon state. I recommend watching Season One first but trust me; you’ll watch the first season of Demon Slayer rather quickly because it’s so good. The movie’s beginning has some pace issues, and I thought Mugen Train could be shorter (an hour and a half, maybe but not two). Sometimes it feels padding, but as the good stuff started, I stopped focusing on the bad and concentrating only on the good.
The fact that Studio Ufotable handled the animation for The Demon Slayer TV Series was already a benefit. It, therefore, already had a movie-level quality to it. If their work on the Fate/Stay Night: Heaven’s Feel Trilogy has proved anything, it is that if Ufotable can make TV programs look like feature films, they can also make feature films look like a development of the genre. It is much better than many attempts in Anime that either look half-assed or inconsistent with how 2D characters and 3D environments are combined. I found the title character, the Mugen Train, to be reminiscent of the fabled Galaxy Express 999. It was entertaining to see Tanjiro and his gang navigate its demon-infested content (sword fights on trains in Anime hardly ever disappoint). The Mugen Train receives a scary update in the middle of the film, which drives home how beautifully the horror/monster part of Demon Slayer is handled. There are further surprises related to the Mugen Train that I won’t spoil. Ufotable has produced more than enough Fate/Stay Night adaptations to demonstrate their superiority in everything involving quick movements, swords, and Dragon Ball Z-calibre explosions. Mugen Train’s fight sequences completely awed me, giving me stars in my eyes. One of the greatest anime duels of all time may be the ultimate conflict between Rengoku and an unexpected visitor, which is well worth the admission fee. One additional villain is added, presumably at the last minute. Still, given that his fight with the fire-wielding Rengoku dwarfs every other action sequence, I’m ready to ignore that.
Beyond the stunning action scenes, Rengoku shines. His interactions with Tanjiro and the lads remind me of a mentorship I wished had begun much earlier in the TV show. But he adds a lot of heart, humour, and seriousness to a film (the dude can’t speak on any level lower than dramatic, with many pauses every five or so words). He gets along well with Tanjiro, who keeps proving why he’s one of the most endearing protagonists in modern Anime. Tanjiro can still find ways, not just outright, to kill Enmu’s human supporters, even when confronted with them. The journey into Tanjiro’s dream and witnessing him reunite with his long-dead family is painful. It serves as a reminder of the level of suffering that first led Tanjiro to choose the career of a Demon Slayer. With good reason, Tanjiro remains the narrative’s focus, and he has much to offer in Mugen Train. Nezuko, a fan favourite, doesn’t have as much screen time as I had thought, but there are a few moments when she dominates the show. Zenitsu is still Zenitsu; at this point, your feelings towards him are either love or hate (I lean towards the latter with all his screams). Surprisingly, Inosuke has some of the best character moments in the film, overcoming his tendency toward bluster in response to the dramatic scenario he and the others find themselves. You can be sure that everyone gets a chance to demonstrate why they’ve become such a well-liked group in Anime, and nobody falls short.
Despite the possibility that novices will need a lot of time to catch up, Demon Slayer (Kimetsu no Yaiba): The Movie-Mugen Train is a genuinely epic story that deserves to be seen on the big screen. The likeable leads keep proving they are deserving of the public’s affection. The new mentor character is the most unique and badass in the Demon Slayer story. And Studio Ufotable demonstrates why it ought to animate every single Anime project from here till the end of time. Okay, that’s a bit much, but I adore their work, and they have never let me down. While the plot takes some time to get going, the sheer spectacle, action, and character development make up for this and help you forget about it, especially when the time comes for the decisive battle. It’s been a while since a fight rendered me speechless. Mugen Train is an excellent example of why Demon Slayer has earned its reputation: it’s stunning, thrilling, filled with solid familial feelings, and a jaw-dropping spectacle when it wants to be. No wonder Demon Slayer ended up being the highest-grossing movie of 2020 despite specific problems; if any anime was going to accomplish that accomplishment, I’m glad it was Demon Slayer.
As the first non-Hollywood, non-American picture to do so, the critically acclaimed Demon Slayer -Kimetsu no Yaiba- The Movie: Mugen Train grossed over $470 million worldwide at the box office. The movie debuted on April 23 in the United States and Canada as the best foreign language picture debut in American box office history. It quickly rose to the top of the charts during its second week of release, grossing more than $49 million. Only Funimation subscribers in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, Mexico, Brazil, Peru, Chile, and Columbia can access the movie’s streaming service.
The TV series The Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba debuted in 2019 and is based on the manga by Koyoharu Gotoge, which has sold over 150 million copies in Japan. Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba is an exciting, action-packed story about a young guy looking for a cure for his sister, who has been transformed into a demon as a result of the brutal demon massacre of their family.
