Can Japan's 'Demon Slayer' Franchise repeat his record -breaking success? | News

At Japan's box office this weekend, all eyes will be on the performance of a title – Demon Slayer: Kimetsu No Yaiba – The film: Infinity Castle.

The animated feature not only starts a highly expected trilogy of films, but will also follow Japan's highest film of all time. Demon Slayer: Kimetsu No Yaiba – The film: Mugen Zug.

Published on July 18 by Aniplex and Toho and produced by Studio Ufotable, there are little doubt Infinity Castle Will be among the first-class films from 2025 in Japan, where anime rule the box office based on the popular franchise franchise. But how will it arise against its record -breaking predecessor?

Mugen Zug Benefited from a special circumstances when it was published in October 2020. Apart from the popularity of the Demon Slayer Manga and a associated television series that was broadcast in 2019, the success of the cash register was partially attributed to the ascended demand for cinemas for pandem-related restrictions, which were lifted shortly before the film was published.

It took 274 million US dollars (40.43 billion yen) on site and fell the record of Hayao Miyazaki's Spiritedly awaywhich in 2001 $ 214 million ¥ ¥ 31.68 billion earned. Worldwide, Mugen Zug made $ 507 million, of which almost $ 50 million came from the United States, where it was classified as the second highest Japanese anime film ever.

After several seasons of the follow-up TV anime, Infinity Castle is opened in a normal film environment and compete with summer sparkling poles like the latest publication SuperhumanPresent Jurassic World Rebirth (Opened on August 8th) and domestic hit Cokuho.

Under the direction of Haruo Sotozaki and based on the original manga of Koyoharu Gotoge, the upcoming film follows the ongoing adventures of Tanjiro Kamado, a young man who devoted himself to monster as part of the Demon Slayer Corps after his younger sister was converted into one.

The trilogy will complete the adaptation of the manga published from 2016 to 2020 and follows Tanjiro and its fellow jokers to the stronghold of demons – the Infinity Castle.

Screen thrust

Despite the competitive environment, Infinity Castle opens on more screens than its predecessor: 443 screens around 403. Of these, 51 imax will be a heir from Mugen ZugAccording to Richardson Handjaja, founder of the animetter Annenomic Anime Business Newsletter, success in a large screen format.

“Imax was still relatively new for Japan [in 2020]”, Says Handjaja,” Imax has really made a big investment in Japanese films in recent years, and I think I think Mugen Zug Halfed that. “

Four new IMAX laser screens are to be opened in Japan on July 18 and falls with the opening of together Infinity Castle.

Another potential difference between Mugen Zug And Infinity Castle is the popularity of Gotoges original manga, which was completed in May 2020.

“When Mugen Zug At first it came out that all manga sales cards themselves cited in the USA, “says Handjaja.” But last year in the USA, Demon Slayer Not even in the top 10. “

International introduction

Infinity Castle It will be published on September 12 on Crunchyroll and Sony Pictures Entertainment in important markets such as North America and Great Britain Ireland. The two -month gap between the Japanese and western publications is significantly shorter than Mugen Zugthat was published by Aniplex of America in North America and six months after his local debut.

“Back when Mugen Zug Sony has been released and has not yet acquired Crunchyroll, “says Handjaja.” Now the difference is the marketing engine behind Crunchyroll, the fact that all Demon -Slayer -Slayer has content as a brand can lead the traffic to demonstrations. In all markets in which crunchyroll such as India and Brazil grows, they probably see a lot more traffic. “

Sony, which belongs to Aniplex and bought us the US animer -Distributor in 2017, concluded its deal for streaming service crunchyroll in 2021 and then consolidated the two companies.

Mitchel Berger, EPP of Global Commerce at Crunchyroll, tells Screen The “since the success of Mugen ZugWe only saw how the worldwide demand for anime and the love of love of fans continue to grow massively. Our partnership with Sony Pictures has unlocked us many new opportunities for us to provide anime in an even larger theatrical. “

Anime growth

While Mugen Zug the second highest anime film remains in the USA after the 2000s Pokemon: The first film – Subsequent publications such as Dragon Ball great: Super heroWhat lasted 28 million dollars in 2022 and The boy and the HeronThe $ 46 million recorded in 2023 showed a growing appetite for anime films outside of Japan.

At the beginning of this month, Netflix announced that the anime viewers on its platform had tripled over the past five years and has now been observed by more than 50% of the subscribers.

Also last year of last year Demon Slayer: Kimetsu No Yaiba – For Hashira trainingA cinematic compilation of demons -Slayer -TV episodes earned 17.6 million US dollars in the USA and proves that the franchise still has legs in this market.

“We may not see that much income from Japan for Infinity Castle“, Says Handjaja,” But you will definitely see that international income is increasing because Demon Slayer is now much more global property. “

Crunchyroll will be organized Infinity Castle Panel on the San Diego Comic Con on July 26 with a special presentation with film guests, surprises and exclusive footage from the film – the first time that the international audience sees it outside of Japan. The guests include the director Sotozaki and the lead speaker Natsuki Hanae.