Demon Slayer is one of the most popular anime series in the world, having amassed a huge fan base after an incredible first season. The success of the first season made Demon Slayer among the most-watched anime series as it shattered numerous records.
One of the main reasons behind its success was the high level of animation. It was animated by Ufotable, and because of their hard work, Demon Slayer became one of the watched anime series. After an incredible first season, it was pretty apparent that the show would get another season, but before the second season was released, Demon Slayer continued its narrative with a movie.
Demon Slayer: Mugen Train
Demon Slayer's first animated movie is Demon Slayer: Mugen Train. The movie is the sequel to the anime's first season and it covers the events of the manga's Mugen Train arc. It stands as one of the highest-rated anime movies of all time. The movie proved to be very successful and it managed to break several records. It was released in Japan on October 16th, 2020 and it was released internationally after that.
Demon Slayer: Mugen Train's earnings were remarkable. The movie managed to earn over $500 million at the worldwide box office, which made it the highest-grossing movie of 2020. It also managed to become the highest-grossing anime movie of all time, breaking the record held by Hayao Miyazaki's Spirited Away.
What Is The Movie About
The movie focuses on the team of Tanjiro, Inosuke, Zenitsu, and Nezuko, who are led by the Flame Pillar, Kyojuro Rengoku. The four youngsters try to assist Rengoku in his investigation regarding a particular demon, who has been responsible for the killing of several Demon Slayers. They are soon put to sleep by the demon Enmu, who is actually a lower-ranked Kizuki.
After struggling for a while, the Demon Slayers manage to break free from Enmu's spell. As the last resort, Enmu fuses with the train and tries to kill the group. However, Inosuke and Tanjiro find the backbone of the demon and manage to kill him. But, their woes are far from over as Akaza, one of the Upper Three turns up. He confronts Rengoku, and the two begin to fight. During their fight, Rengoku is gravely injured and when Akaza sees that the sun is coming up, decides to run away. Tanjiro tries to stop the demon, but he manages to get away. Before dying, Rengoku gives an outstanding speech to the young Demon Slayers, who had accompanied him.
Why The Movie Is Better Than The Anime
For many fans, the movie is the better way of getting learn about the arc because the movie is shorter and to the point. The duration of the movie plays an important role in making it better for those fans, who don't have enough time on their hands to expend it on several episodes.
There are of course some scenes in the movie that were deleted from the anime, so there is some content that is missing from the anime. Fans who are immensely passionate about the series must watch the movie. The quality of animation in the movie was outstanding as the staff working on the film did a quality job. A huge drawback of the anime is that since it is a weekly release, the fans have to wait longer to see what the arc is about. On the other hand, watching the movie ensured that the viewers would be able to enjoy the story in just one sitting.
What Makes The Anime Better
The second season of Demon Slayer dedicated its first seven episodes to the Mugen Train arc. The anime added some new characters, but that didn't change the story in a drastic way. The anime did put in extra content, which was a good decision.
The added scenes helped with the transition from the first season to the second season; it made it seem more natural. The additional content made the anime more enjoyable than the movie as it expanded on the story. This made the anime less confusing and the fans were able to understand the story better than the movie. Additionally, there was an entire episode dedicated to the fight between Rengoku and Akaza so that the fans could completely focus on it.
Is It Fine To Skip Either?
This is arguably the most important question as both the anime and the movie have their advantages. Fans who don't have enough time on their hands should watch the movie as there is no major difference between the anime and the movie.
However, if there is no shortage of free time, the anime is clearly the better option as there are added scenes, which are responsible for making the story more riveting. It is fine to skip the movie you have watched the anime and vice versa. Ideally, it is better to watch both the anime and the movie as they are enjoyable in their own ways.