@Courtesy of Crunchyroll
It was the #1 global box-office champion the year it first released in Japan, beating out Will Smith and Sonic the Hedgehog. Admittedly, that was 2020, a difficult year, but over $500 million still represents some serious ticket sales. Nevertheless, many fans never had the opportunity to see the Demon Slayer franchise’s first feature film in theaters. However, Crunchyroll will give them another chance when they re-release Haruo Sotozaki’s Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba—The Movie: Mugen Train in theaters nationwide this Wednesday.
Produced by the Ufotable animation house, the Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba anime series and films (adapted from Koyoharu Gotouge’s manga) follow the Demon Slayer Corps, as they defend Taisho Era Japan (1912-1926) from infernal monsters. The demons are indeed demonic, yet the vibe of Mugen Train better approximates the super-heroics of Doctor Strange than the demonic horror of The Exorcist or The Conjuring.
Nevertheless, a junior Slayer like Tanjiro Kamado always faces dire life-and-death stakes. By now, Kamado has developed great camaraderie with his slayer-friends, the nervous Zenitsu Agatsuma, and the brash, bare-chested Inosuke Hashibira, whose boar-head mask (a tribute to his wild upbringing) makes him standout quite dramatically. Like Kamado, they all experienced early childhood trauma, which led them to the Demon Slayer Corps. However, for this assignment, they accompany one of the Corps’ most powerful and prestigious Slayers, Kyojuro Rengoku, the “Flame Hashira,” one of their nine Hashira paragons of combat techniques.
@Courtesy of Crunchyroll
Mugen Train immediately picks up after the events of the first anime season, so many fans already know of the reported demonic activity aboard the titular train. Unfortunately, all four demon slayers soon succumb to the demon Enmu’s supernatural powers, which send all the Mugen train passengers into a deep, uncanny sleep.
Kamado and his colleagues appear vulnerable to Enmu’s mortal accomplices, but they have a few surprise defenses. The most notable being Kamado’s little sister, Nezuko, who remains pure of heart, despite her demonic transformation. (Sharing her fellow demons’ aversion to sunlight, she was kept hidden in her brother’s carry-on, presumably also saving them the cost of another ticket.)
Plenty of fighting eventually ensues. In fact, there are some spectacular, super-naturally charged battle sequences, featuring Kamado, Hashibira, Rengoku, Enmu, and a surprise demonic guest-star. Arguably, these sequence are much better served by animation than the current state of live-action CGI. Whenever the two major superhero universes try to produce a scene like this, it simply looks like a whirling blur of lightning bolts. In contrast, Ufotable clearly has an aptitude for cleanly animating this kind of fantastical mayhem.
@Courtesy of Crunchyroll
The adaptation of Gotouge’s “Mugen Train” story arc, anonymously credited to Ufotable staff, also rather stirringly celebrates virtue and sacrifice. Not everyone survives, but the fallen hero gets a death scene worthy of Greta Garbo. Frankly, fans of Agatsuma might feel somewhat left out, but the film nicely showcases the rest of the returning characters.
Indeed, despite the R-rating in the U.S., Mugen Train evokes quite a bit of heartfelt emotion. When Kamado revisits his late family via Enmu’s fever dream, it is poignant stuff. As a result, even newcomers to the franchise quickly invest in the central characters.
The Mugen Train storyline also stands alone relatively easily. A brief prologue establishes the idea of the Corps and from there, Kamado and company are off and running. The particulars of their powers and martial arts styles are never fully explained, but the audience will glean the gist of them from watching the Demon Slayers in action.
Consequently, it is easy to understand why Mugen Train resonated with fans (to the tune of $500 million). The demons are nasty and powerful, while the heroes are especially heroic. It is an accessible entry point, as well as a massive payoff following season one. Highly recommended for the loyal fanbase and any viewer who enjoys supernatural martial arts anime, Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba—The Movie: Mugen Train re-releases in theaters this Wednesday (5/14).
@Courtesy of Crunchyroll
Grade: B+
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Here’s the trailer of the film.