Demon Slayer: Mugen Train Breathtaking visuals and a soul-stirring story

After the release of the action-packed, megahit series "Demon Slayer" in 2019, the slayers have returned with a vengeance in the feature film "Demon Slayer: Mugen Train". 

The heart-pounding story of a boy named Tanziro, who enters a world full of demons and fights them alongside his demon sister Nezuko, successfully struck a chord with mainstream audiences worldwide. 

Watch the trailer of "Demon Slayer: Mugen Train" here 

The movie has earned almost USD 477 million worldwide - making it the first Japanese anime film to reach the milestone of USD 400 million. 

Naturally, the overwhelming triumph at the box office begs the question: Is it worth the hype? 

After watching it, I must say that the gripping storyline was a total banger and the breathtaking artwork was cherry on the top. Also, was someone cutting onions? Because you might tear up a little while watching the film.

The story revolves around a train where the epic battles between the demon slayers and the invincible demons take place. The plot remained true to the manga, which is fantastic news for anime lovers. 

Furthermore, there was noticeable consistency in the details - from the first season of Demon Slayer with Tanjiro, the protagonist who goes to the train station with his team for an unforgettable journey. 

At the station, Tanjiro meets Hashira Kyojuro Rengoku - one of the most powerful combatants in the Demon Slayer Corps. He was seen in the last episode of the series with other pillars. Nobody expected Rengoku to be such a riveting character, capable of taking your breath away.

Rengoku's development as a character was one of the significant highlights of the script. He became a strong flame Hashira with a strong personality, even though he had a rueful past consisting of a complex relationship with his father. 

The weaknesses did not overwhelm him due to his fiery subconscious mind and the restless ambition to bring peace to the world.

Enmu, the antagonist introduced in the last episode, with his devilish activity, has claimed many lives travelling by the train and wreaking havoc. To destroy him, the strategic fighting sequences of Rengoku, with the assistance of Tanjiro, Inosuke, Zenitsu and the angelic demon Nezuko, was a treat for the eyes. Rengoku and Inosuke's fire breathing and beast techniques were meticulously choreographed.
 
By Enmu's spell, we have seen the demon slayers travelling to their past traumas where some mysteriously weak individuals tried to perish their souls. However, their inner battle with the antagonists was a captivating and emotive experience. 

On the other hand, we have also seen some humorous punches from Zenitsu and Insuke. Sadly, the dreadful past of the demons was absent in this series; hence we could not learn about Enmu's background, unlike the other demons.
 
SPOILER ALERT - After the glorious victory when everyone took a sigh of relief, Akaza - a demon holding the position of upper moon three - with his destructive death techniques appeared in front of Rengoku. 

He aimed to transform the vigorous Hashira into a powerful demon like him. But Rengoku's willpower is undefeatable and he tries to conquer the savage monsters with all his power till the last scene.

With a heartbreaking conclusion and revengeful snippets of other Hashiras, the brisk saga ends - pushing everyone to the edge because we want more! 

Background score

The melancholic piano and violins tunes used with the different scenes will give anyone the chills. 

The original score of Demon Slayer is a wonderful song that must be admired by any anime fan. 

The towering performance of the voice actors indeed breathe life into the characters and the sound effects went perfectly with the mood. Moreover, the spotlight of appreciation should be shed on Ufotable - the animation studio which created Demon Slayer - for creating such breathtaking animation with incredible effects. 

From the fast and furious movements to the intricate details of the characters, Ufotable has executed mind-blowing work on the animation.

Will the film live up to your expectations? Without a doubt. The deftly written plot featured eloquently developed characters, well-orchestrated battle scenes and a slew of heartbreaking moments that will tear you apart along with trademark anime comic-relief elements to lighten the mood. 
The film contains a few violent scenes which may not be appropriate for children, so parental advisory is required for children watching the film. 

Overall, Demon Slayer: Mugen Train can be dubbed as a masterpiece of an anime film which will make you crave a second season.  

Fact Box 

What is the "Demon Slayer"?

"Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba" is originally a manga series by Koyoharu Gotouge. The "Demon Slayer" manga was serialized in the weekly manga magazine "Shonen Jump" from February 2016 to May 2020. The full series has been collected into 23 volumes.

How did "Demon Slayer" get so popular?

What really propelled Demon Slayer's popularity is the TV adaptation. The first season of the "Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba" anime series originally aired in Japan from April to September in 2019. The anime's popularity led to an increased interest in the manga series. Books from the "Demon Slayer" manga series topped Japanese sales charts in 2020. 

What's special about the movie?

It has grossed over US$477 million worldwide; being the first non-American film and one of the few non-Disney animated films to reach the yearly box office where it became the highest-grossing film of 2020, as well as being the first Japanese and anime film to reach the milestone of more than US$400 million worldwide box office proceeds. 

What's next for the franchise?

A second season of the "Demon Slayer" anime series, which picks up the story after the events of the movie "Mugen Train," was announced in February and is set to premiere in October 2021, with the staff and voice cast from the first season and film returning.