Demon Slayer -Kimetsu no Yaiba- The Movie: Mugen Train

Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba the Movie: Mugen Train came out in Japanese theaters on October 16, 2020. It was made by studio ufotable and directed by Haruo Sotozaki. The film picks up right where the first TV season of Demon Slayer ends, so it works best for people who have already watched that season. It became a giant hit. It earned more than 500 million US dollars around the world and was the highest-earning film of 2020. In Japan it passed Spirited Away to become the highest-earning film of all time there.

The story is set in Japan in the early 1900s, a time of trains, cities, and old country roads. Demons hunt people at night, and a secret group called the Demon Slayer Corps fights them with swords and special breathing skills. Tanjiro Kamado is a kind young swordsman. His little sister Nezuko was turned into a demon, but she still protects people instead of hurting them. Tanjiro travels with her, and with two friends: Zenitsu Agatsuma, who is scared of almost everything but very fast when it counts, and Inosuke Hashibira, a wild fighter who wears a boar's head as a mask.

In this film, the group is sent to a train called the Mugen Train. Many passengers have gone missing on it, and the Corps thinks a demon is the cause. On board they meet Kyojuro Rengoku, the Flame Hashira. The Hashira are the strongest swordsmen in the Corps. Rengoku is loud, warm, and very sure of himself, and he quickly becomes a big brother figure to the younger fighters. His bright and honest way of speaking makes him one of the most loved characters in the whole series.

The enemy is Enmu, a demon whose power works through sleep and dreams. Soon after the trip begins, the slayers fall into a deep sleep. Each of them sees a happy dream built from what they wish for most. For Tanjiro, that means seeing his lost family again. The dreams are gentle, and that is what makes them so dangerous, because waking up means leaving something you love. Much of the first half is about the heroes finding the strength to break out of these dreams, with help from Nezuko.

The film mixes this quiet, sad dream world with very fast and bright sword fights. Critics praised the visuals, the action, and the strong feelings in the story. Some reviewers felt that a few scenes looked less polished than the best moments of the TV show, but most reviews were very positive. The movie won Animation of the Year at the Japan Academy Film Prize and Best Film at the Crunchyroll Anime Awards.

Mugen Train is about duty, loss, and keeping your heart strong when things are hard. It turns a single train ride into one of the most emotional chapters of Demon Slayer, and it was later also shown as a short TV arc. Bring tissues: many viewers say the ending stays with them for a long time.