The film’s popularity harks back to 2016, when the manga Demon Slayer: Kimetsu No Yaiba, written and illustrated by Koyoharu Gotoge, was first released. One of the best-selling titles in Japan, in 2019 the manga was adapted into a 26-episode anime television series produced by Ufotable. Where the series left off, Mugen Train kicks in, as we follow a few of the main characters on a new mission to fight a demon.
For the uninitiated who have yet to watch the anime series but can’t resist the hype, here’s what you need to know about the Demon Slayer universe before hitting the cinema.
Simply put, it’s the story of an orphan boy, Tanjiro Kamado, on a quest to find a cure for the demon curse afflicting his younger sister, Nezuko. Soon after discovering that his family was slaughtered by a demon, Tanjiro meets an icy and skilled demon slayer named Giyu Tomioka. From him, Tanjiro learns of the existence of the Demon Slayer Corps, a non-governmental organisation devoted to protecting humanity from these hellish creatures.
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Despite being set in Taishō-era Japan (1912-1926), the story of Demon Slayer feels quite contemporary and incorporates tropes of the shonen genre (action-heavy manga aimed at tween and teenage boys). Like other anime characters such as Eren Yeager (of Attack on Titan), Izuku Midoriya (My Hero Academia) and Naruto Uzumaki (Naruto), Tanjiro sets his own goal but does not yet have the necessary physical prowess to be successful.
Enter Sakonji Urokodaki, a retired member of the Demon Slayer Corps who always wears a tengu mask and exudes a reverential aura. Urokodaki was Tomioka’s teacher and the principal cultivator of Water Breathing, one of the main Breathing Styles of swordsmanship practised by the demon slayers.
Nearly two years of intensive training serves to prepare Tanjiro for the Final Selection, the trial by fire to be accepted into the Demon Slayer Corps. The candidates have to survive seven days on Mount Fujikasane, a mountain where various demons live.
Those who endure this ordeal are enrolled in the Demon Slayer Corps and endowed with a Kasugai crow used for communication and a special katana-like sword, called a Nichirin Blade, that has the power to decapitate demons. Each blade has a special colour that changes depending on its user. Tanjiro wields a black one, which is said to be quite rare.
Once enlisted in the Demon Slayer Corps, each slayer is subjected to the organisation’s strict ranking system, which goes from Mizunoto, the lowest rank, to Kinue, the highest. In between there are eight other ranks that can be attained by completing assigned missions.
Above all of the ranks there’s a special unit of elite demon slayers, called the Hashira, of which Giyu Tomioka is a member. Another member is Kyojuro Rengoku, the Flame Hashira, who is relevant to Mugen Train.
The demons have their own hierarchy, which resembles an undisputed tyranny. At the helm is Kibutsuji Muzan, the progenitor of all demons and the one responsible for slaughtering Tanjiro’s family and cursing his sister. Under Kibutsuji’s direct command are 12 exceptionally powerful demons called the Twelve Kizuki, divided into two groups of six, the Upper and Lower Ranks.
With a well articulated story that blends tragedy with comedy, Demon Slayer has won the most praise for its spectacularly kinetic fight scenes. These are flawlessly animated by Ufotable, integrating smooth digital effects into hand-drawn animation.
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Traditional Japanese elements are scattered throughout, from the haori jacket worn by most of the demon slayers to the Kagura dance performed by Tanjiro’s father in a flashback. The characters seem to be more codified than usual, with strong and exuberant men always a step ahead of the more demure, sophisticated women.
Above all, Tanjiro’s resilience and gentleness are captivating and draw the viewer into another fierce battle between good and evil.
The 26-episode Demon Slayer TV series is streaming on Viu. Demon Slayer the Movie: Mugen Train is in cinemas now.
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