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After the first season of the anime drew to a close, fans were clamoring for news surrounding the next chapter in the Demon Slayer series. This has finally arrived on western shores in the form of Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba the Movie: Mugen Train. The title might be a mouthful, but the movie has broken records in the East and is poised to do the same once it releases in North America as well.
For fans of the series who are eagerly waiting for this movie, here are ten things they need to know about Mugen Train to get ready for what is bound to be a cinematic masterpiece.
10 It’s Slated To Release On April 23, 2021 In North America
Western fans of Demon Slayer who were eagerly awaiting a continuation of this anime series won’t have to wait too long for the same.
After all, Demon Slayer: Mugen Train is slated for a release in North America on April 23, 2021, meaning that fans don’t really have to wait too long to witness this brilliant movie firsthand.
9 The Original Title Of The Movie Was Meant To Be “Infinite Train”
A rather interesting piece of trivia that most people might not know about the Demon Slayer movie was that it was meant to have a completely different title.
The original name of the movie was going to be Demon Slayer: Infinite Train — the actual name of the arc in the manga as well. However, in a bid to avoid any issues with the similarly-named Cartoon Network show Infinity Train, the name of the movie was changed to Mugen Train.
8 It’s The Highest-Grossing Anime Film Of All Time
Perhaps the greatest feat that this film has accomplished is that it’s the highest-grossing anime film of all time in Japan!
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To put this into context, the only other movie to have earned ¥30 Billion during its theater runtime is Spirited Away, a classic movie that was released all the way back in 2001.
7 The Record-Breaking Release Is Even More Impressive Since The Movie Was Released During The Pandemic
What makes Demon Slayer’s record-breaking numbers all the more impressive is related to the time period when the film was originally released in Japan.
A theatrical release on October 16, 2020 should’ve ideally crippled the film’s finances from the get-go due to this time period being smack dab in the middle of a pandemic. However, during a time when theaters were struggling all over the world, this Japanese release ended up going against the grain and cemented itself as a massive and unprecedented success.
6 People Feel Like The Voice Actors Weren’t Paid Fairly, Given The Film’s Massive Release
Given the record-breaking success of the film’s release, people expected the highly talented voice actors to be paid the royalties they were very much due.
However, that wasn’t even remotely the case — in the case of most animated films, voice actors are paid a fixed amount and aren’t privy to receiving any royalties from the box office.
It’s a fact that ruffled quite a few members of the anime community, which is made even worse when people realize that…
5 The Payout To The Creator Of Demon Slayer Was Also Fairly Abysmal
The creator of Demon Slayer is Koyoharu Gotouge, a mangaka who achieved worldwide success after her first-ever serialized manga ended up becoming one of the most popular series of all time.
However, given her hand in pretty much creating the foundation for this brilliant success, it’s rather odd that she only received a measly payout of ¥2 million for her efforts.
4 There’s A Novel Edition Of This Movie
On the same day that the movie was released, Shueisha released a novel version of the movie as well, aptly titled Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba the Movie: Mugen Train: Novel Edition.
Aside from this, there was another volume that’s a bit more exclusive in nature…
3 An Exclusive Volume Was Given To Attendants Of The Movie’s Screenings
Any person who attended the screening of Demon Slayer: Mugen Train in Japan also received an exclusive volume called Rengoku Volume 0. This 84-page novel includes a one-shot story detailing the first mission that Kyojuro Rengoku accomplished as a demon slayer, along with interviews with the cast of the movie and a bunch of other goodies.
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It goes without saying that any person awfully fond of rare Demon Slayer collectibles would be hankering for just one of the 4.5 million copies printed out during its limited release.
2 It Apparently Has A Rather Divisive Opening Sequence
People who are expecting Demon Slayer: Mugen Train to be an entertaining romp from start to end should be wary of the fact that the movie isn’t a smooth ride from start to end — it has a problem that most review houses have pointed out.
While the movie certainly picks up in the second half — in incredible fashion, no less — it has a fairly slow opening sequence that can perplex certain fans. However, people who are patient enough to bear through these first few moments will be able to enjoy a cinematic masterpiece that deserves all the plaudits it has received since release.
1 The Movie Was Submitted To Be Nominated For The 93rd Academy Awards
In fact, Demon Slayer: Mugen Train was such a massive success in Japan that the country even submitted it for nomination under the Best Animated Feature category in the 93rd Academy Awards.
While it’s unfortunate that the movie ultimately didn’t make these nominations, the fact that it was even submitted in the first place is a massive achievement in its own right.
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