Copyright Screen Rant
There's never been a better time to be a shōnen fan. Anime, especially for Western audiences, has never peaked like it is currently, and shōnen is undoubtedly leading the charge. While there are several great shōnen series at the moment, two specifically are leading the way. Demon Slayer is becoming one of the most influential anime series of all time. It's unbelievable box office records are taking the franchise, and anime as a whole, to the mainstream, letting American fans know that anime is no longer a niche form of entertainment. While Demon Slayer is doing a lot for the art form by bringing it into popular culture, Chainsaw Man is the true representation of success for anime lovers. Chainsaw Man the Movie: Reze Arc is what an anime movie should be. It's succinct, clean, and makes the most out of the fact that it's in movie theaters. It's an amazing movie (and a better movie than Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle Part One: Akaza Returns) that acts as a milestone for anime, proving that the art form isn't just having a moment: it's here to stay. Shōnen Is at an All-Time High Jujutsu Kaisen, My Hero Academia, and So Many More Shōnen is currently at an all-time high. There's never been a better time for shōnen lovers, as it seems like there is an endless stream of top-tier series available to watch. Series like Haikyu!!, Jujutsu Kaisen, and My Hero Academia are cementing themselves as some of the best anime series of all time through amazing stories, lovable characters, and heart-pounding moments. It's not just the relatively old guard that are doing well: the newest shōnen series are continuing the trend in style, showcasing some of the best art direction and set pieces of any genre. Series like Lord of Mysteries are redefining anime through sheer ambition, while Gachiakuta proves that there is still a place for gory, dark shōnen franchises. Shōnen is better than ever, and this moment doesn't feel temporary. Several shōnen series have lasted for years, and the latest crop within the genre isn't going anywhere any time soon. Demon Slayer's Movies Bring Anime to the Mainstream Even Non-Anime Fans Love Demon Slayer In ten years, when anime fans look back at the 2020s, they're going to see one series in particular: Demon Slayer. There hasn't been a series this big in the history of anime. While series like One Piece, Dragon Ball Z, and Naruto are loved the world over, there has never been a series that captured the mainstream quite like Demon Slayer. Demon Slayer's movies have consistently been some of the best anime movies of all time, and their success at the box office only shows just how deeply fans connect with the series. No other anime franchise has been able to dominate at the box office quite like Demon Slayer, and that's not an accident. Demon Slayer's story is remarkably simple. There's no filler, no wasted moments, and absolutely no twists or turns. It's a straightforward path driven by a character's desire to avenge his family, save his sister, and stop Demons from harming anyone else again. Chainsaw Man the Movie: Reze Arc Is a Better Movie Reze Arc Works Better as a Film than Infinity Castle: Akaza Returns While Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle Part One: Akaza's Return had a ton of great moments, it wasn't as good of a movie as Chainsaw Man the Movie: Reze Arc. Demon Slayer's movie felt like a cash grab. The studios and companies behind Demon Slayer knew that the movie was going to make a ton of money, so they didn't prioritize the story the movie was telling. The Demon Slayer movie is well over two-and-a-half hours long, a huge runtime for any movie. Plus, the pacing in the movie didn't make any sense. Some of the most important aspects of the Infinity Castle Arc are the main Demons' backstories. While the film did a great job highlighting why Akaza and Doma became Demons, it didn't flow within the limited confines of the film. Chainsaw Man the Movie: Reze Arc, on the other hand, was an exceptional movie. There's a reason it's currently ranked as the second-best anime on MyAnimeList.com. The run time was a much smoother hour-and-forty minutes, the movie made full use of the fact that it was in a theater, and adapting a single arc makes way more sense than adapting part of one. Chainsaw Man's Success Means More to Hardcore Anime Fans Demon Slayer Works Well for the Mainstream, but It Doesn't Touch Chainsaw Man There's no questioning that Demon Slayer's success at the box office is good overall for anime fans. With more eyes on anime than ever, anime studios will (hopefully) be getting bigger budgets to reflect the profits they're able to bring in, leading to higher quality anime series for everyone to enjoy. Demon Slayer's success is derived from the mainstream, however (which isn't a bad thing). Even people who don't watch anime flocked to the theaters to check out Demon Slayer, and the same can't be said about Chainsaw Man. At its core, Chainsaw Man is a grittier, darker anime series perfect for anime veterans. Chainsaw Man's success is more reflective of hardcore anime fans. It's a sign that anime series that still exist within the niche of anime will have their chance to shine as well, and hopefully, they'll be appreciated just as much as Denji and Pochita are. Demon Slayer Represents the Mainstream While Chainsaw Man Represents True Anime Fans Demon Slayer's Success Is Great, But Chainsaw Man's Is More Representative of Hardcore Anime Lovers When Demon Slayer and Chainsaw Man do well, everyone wins. Anime lovers get to see two amazing franchises show off at the movie theaters, while those not familiar with Japanese animation also get a chance to check out two of the best modern-day shōnen series at the top of their respective games. Demon Slayer's success will ripple throughout all of media for some time. It's a sign that anime is breaching the mainstream, and it's only going to get more popular from here. Chainsaw Man, on the other hand, is a sign that hardcore, brutal anime series will also have their chance to shine, and both should be welcome by anime lovers.
