Demon Slayer – Kimetsu no Yaiba – The Movie: Mugen Train – Kimetsu no Yaiba: Mugen Ressha-Hen (2020)

Directed by: Haruo Sotozaki | 117 minutes | animation, action | Original voice cast: Natsuki Hanae, Akari Kitô, Hiro Shimono, Yoshitsugu Matsuoka, Satoshi Hino, Takahiro Sakurai, Katsuyuki Konishi, Saori Hayami, Kenichi Suzumura, Tomokazu Seki, Tomokazu Sugita, Toshiyuki Morikawa, Rina Satô Miki

“Demon Slayer – Kimetsu no Yaiba – The Movie: Mugen Train” made headlines in 2020 and made history when it premiered in Japan. The first full-length film, based on the popular manga and anime series, amassed more than $350 million at the Japanese box office during its shooting period, surpassing the record of Hayao Miyazaki’s “Spirited Away” (2001) as the best-selling Japanese film of all time. . In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, the film is now also premiering in other countries, much to the delight of many anime enthusiasts. Still, the question remains: is all the commotion surrounding this film justified?

Directed by Haruo Sotozaki, who also directs the anime series, ‘Mugen Train’ begins immediately after the events at the end of the first season. Series protagonist Tanjiro Kamado, his comrades Zenitsu and Inosuke, and his demon-possessed sister Nezuko set out to help veteran demon-slayer Kyojuro Rengoku investigate the disappearance of dozens of people aboard the mysterious Mugen train. What follows is a thrilling adventure, both on the train and in various dream worlds, as the company does everything they can to survive.

‘Demon Slayer: Mugen Train’ works best for viewers who have read the manga or seen the anime series. If you can’t say that about yourself, it is advisable to first thoroughly delve into the background of the material. Watching the film requires a certain amount of prior knowledge, because surprisingly little is explained and the story moves without much fuss. There is also no recap, as is the case with many other anime films. ‘Demon Slayer: Mugen Train’ is a direct continuation of the anime series’ story and fits in seamlessly with it. If you are not familiar with the subject matter, that can be annoying, but for fans the lack of pre-chewing is extremely nice. This is the target audience for whom the film is actually intended, and they will undoubtedly enjoy it.

The greatest asset of ‘Demon Slayer: Mugen Train’ is the stunning animation provided by Studio Ufotable. Just like in the anime series, the animation is of a continuously high level. The battle scenes are colorful and smooth, with a great eye for detail. Although characters sometimes literally fly across the screen, it’s no problem to follow the action. But also manage to convince the quiet moments. The backgrounds in particular make the difference in that respect, with sometimes soothing snowscapes, and then again dark visualizations of the ominous Mugen train. In the case of that last point, the film sometimes creeps surprisingly far into the horror genre. The animation has many moments of beauty, but certainly does not shy away from wallowing in the macabre. Young viewers: pay attention!

‘Demon Slayer: Mugen Train’ is an entertaining and energetic film, with a lot of humor and absurdity. Fans of manga and anime series will surely appreciate the film. Newcomers probably less so. But who knows, maybe the film will still be able to recruit future fans.