THE latest iteration of anime blockbuster Demon Slayer has become Japan’s second highest-grossing film ever, data showed, meaning the mega-franchise now dominates the top two spots in the country’s all-time box office rankings.
Demon Slayer – the tale of adolescent swordsman Tanjiro Kamado and his comrades on a quest to kill human-devouring demons – is wildly popular both at home and abroad for its breathtaking animation and relatable themes such as friendship and family bonds.
Within 60 days of its release, the movie hauled in ¥33bil (RM940mil) in ticket sales domestically, distributors said yesterday.
This means it has now overtaken Studio Ghibli’s 2001 masterpiece Spirited Away – which grossed ¥31.6bil – as the second biggest box-office hit, according to movie sales tracker Kogyo Tsushinsha.
The feat came after the 155-minute film took first place in the North American box office this weekend with a genre-record US$70mil (RM294mil) debut.
“We hope that the Demon Slayer fandom will expand more,” distributor Aniplex said.
With the latest milestone, the series now has only itself to outrank, after its first film in 2020 bagged ¥40.7bil.
The latest movie – the first of a series-capping trilogy – is hyped everywhere in Japan, from giant train station adverts to endless TV commercials and even rice paddy art starring Tanjiro.
“I cry each time,” Yuri Kamada, 22, said at Grand Cinema Sunshine in Tokyo’s anime hub Ikebukuro, after her third viewing of the film.
Not only humans but their enemies are depicted so thoughtfully that “I can easily sympathise with demons too”, she said.
Originally penned by comic book artist Koyoharu Gotouge and then animated by studio Ufotable, Demon Slayer is often lauded for setting a new standard for anime cinematography.
Dazzling visual effects permeate the latest movie featuring acrobatic, lightning-fast battles with demons at a kaleidoscopic castle with an infinite array of floors. — AFP
