The animated movie based on the Kimetsu no Yaiba (Demon Slayer) manga series has become the most successful film in Japanese history, reaching 32.47 billion yen at the box office, Toho Co. and Aniplex Inc. announced Monday.
"Demon Slayer -- Kimetsu no Yaiba -- The Movie: Mugen Train" was directed by Haruo Sotozaki. It was released in movie theaters on Oct. 16, and reached 32.47 billion yen in 73 days.
It was the first time in 19 years for a new box office record to be set. The previous high was the 31.68 billion yen earned by "Sen to Chihiro no Kamikakushi" (Spirited Away) in 2001.
Box office receipts for the Demon Slayer movie surpassed 30 billion yen just two months after its release, a surprisingly quick pace. "Spirited Away" needed more than eight months to surpass 30 billion yen.
Special gifts have been given to theatergoers, and the MX4D/4DX viewing experience was introduced to movie theaters. This new form added physical elements to watching the film, such as seats that move.
The movie is based on the popular manga series "Kimetsu no Yaiba" (Demon Slayer) by Koyoharu Gotoge, which was serialized in the Shukan Shonen Jump weekly manga magazine.
In 2019, a TV anime series was aired with 26 episodes. The final episode ended with the lead character, Tanjiro Kamado, his younger sister Nezuko and fellow slayers riding on the Mugen Train, on which they would begin a new mission. The movie depicts their new battle inside the Mugen Train.
The movie has been embraced by a wide range of people, including families, young couples and individual fans both male and female.
There are no explanations provided for first-timers to the series, such as story lines from the TV anime series or the original manga. However, many fans read the original manga or saw the TV series via video-streaming services during the time when people were asked to refrain from going out due to the novel coronavirus.
The movie became a hit partly because it was released at time when such people's expectations had risen.
A key character in the movie, Kyojuro Rengoku, is also highly popular, prompting many people to see the movie more than once.
Another helpful factor has been the relative lack of competition -- major foreign movies have been postponed one after another due to the novel coronavirus crisis.
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