There’s no arguing that Demon Slayer is one of the best modern day shōnen series around. It’s a series that has taken the world by storm, showcasing Tanjiro, Inosuke, Zenitsu, and more as they take on some of the most vicious and gruesome villains in anime.
There are a few key factors that have contributed to Demon Slayer’s massive success. The story is incredibly straightforward, the characters are almost too easy to love, and the premise itself is gripping from the very first episode.
Demon Slayer is a franchise that has become synonymous with succesful anime movies, but that might not be a good thing. The latest film, Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle Part One: Akaza Returns, has broken box office records left and right, but it shouldn’t have ever reached the box office in the first place.
Demon Slayer Is an Amazing Franchise
It’s One of the Best Modern Shōnen Series Around
Demon Slayer has cemented itself as one of the best modern shōnen series of all time. It’s a refreshing series that’s willing to go all out, telling one of the most brutal narratives in the genre without pulling any punches. It’s a gripping series with phenomenal animation and almost no low points whatsoever.
The series has made anime more popular in the West, walking the same path as One Piece and Dragon Ball before it. Tanjiro’s story of drive, determination, and an unbreakable will resonate across the world, as fans everywhere are captivated by his character.
Demon Slayer has also produced some of the best fights in anime history. These fights stand out because of Ufotable’s amazing animation, the stakes involved, and the unique Breathing Techniques that really bring the series to life.
The Anime is Unbelievably Good
Demon Slayer Has Cemented Itself as an All-Time Great
Demon Slayer’s anime series is about as good as it gets. The pacing is easily one of the best parts, as it makes series like One Piece look amateur. There isn’t a single moment that could be cut from Demon Slayer, and if Ufotable ever decided to remaster it, the series would basically be the same as it is now.
There are too many high points in Demon Slayer to count. It’s a franchise filled with action, and it’s brimming with some of the most hype moments around. There are few moments where fans aren’t completely glued to their screen with this shonen.
Infinity Castle Shouldn’t Have Been a Movie
There Were Way Too Many Negatives to Justify Making a Film
Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle is undoubtedly a solid movie. It has a lot of great qualities, and it’s so good that it recently became the highest-grossing Japanese film of all time. There’s no denying how hugely popular this franchise has become, but the movies themselves might not be a great thing.
Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle has too many negatives to justify becoming a film. This is a pretty counterintuitive point to make considering how much money the film grossed, but that’s the point. This film felt like more of a cash grab than a celebration of the manga the series is based on.
Everyone knew that Demon Slayer’s movies were going to be hits, but that’s more of a testament to the source material than the movie itself. The movie itself feels forced, like it was never supposed to exist in a movie theater.
There are a few reasons why it should, however: Zenitsu’s Flaming Thunder God, Akaza’s attacks, and the scale of the Infinity Castle itself were all great to see on the big screen. That’s about it though, and there were even more moments that really made the movie feel forced.
Infinity Castle’s Pacing is Rough
It Would Have Been Much Better as an Anime Series
The pacing of the movie is horrific, but it wouldn’t have been if it was a normal series of anime. The movie does a great job of spending a lot of time explaining several key characters’ backstories, but that didn’t fit the flow of the movie whatsoever.
The movie is also over two-and-a-half hours long, a pretty long runtime for any movie, especially a movie that is bobbing and weaving its way between the present and the past. If the Infinity Castle arc was a normal season, it would never have had this problem, as fans could have watched the arc one episode at a time.
It’s a good thing that the movies does spend so much time with side characters, especially one of the best villains in the series, Akaza, but it felt like too much for a single movie.
Now, Every Shōnen Wants a Movie
Demon Slayer Infinity Castle Changed the Course of Anime Forever
Demon Slayer’s movies are going to ruin anime for the foreseeable future. Because of their massive success, every anime/manga franchise wants a big-budget box office blowout. Series like Haikyu!!, Chainsaw Man, Jujutsu Kaisen, and more are taking their arcs to the movies instead of streaming services.
This is going to make watching some of the best animes series around fairly frustrating for a number of reasons. Fans are going to have to purchase exorbitantly high-priced movie tickets when most already subscribe to a streaming service (or several) just to catch up with their latest franchises.
Watching an anime film in a movie theater can be a great experience, but it can also be frustrating. There’s nothing like watching a solid series in the comfort of one’s own home, and seeing it in an environment like a movie theater can take away from the fun.