{"id":149927,"date":"2025-09-17T07:46:08","date_gmt":"2025-09-17T07:46:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/149927\/"},"modified":"2025-09-17T07:46:08","modified_gmt":"2025-09-17T07:46:08","slug":"japans-box-office-belongs-to-demon-slayer-franchise-as-latest-film-ranks-second-of-all-time","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/149927\/","title":{"rendered":"Japan\u2019s box office belongs to Demon Slayer franchise as latest film ranks second of all time"},"content":{"rendered":"

TOKYO \u2013 The latest iteration of anime blockbuster Demon Slayer has become Japan\u2019s second highest-grossing film, data showed on Sept 16, meaning the mega-franchise now dominates the top two spots in the country\u2019s all-time box-office rankings.<\/p>\n

Demon Slayer \u2013 the tale of adolescent swordsman Tanjiro Kamado and his comrades on a quest to kill human-devouring demons \u2013 is wildly popular both at home and abroad for its breathtaking animation and relatable themes such as friendship and family bonds.<\/p>\n

Within 60 days of its release, Demon Slayer: Kimetsu No Yaiba \u2013 Infinity Castle hauled in 33 billion yen (S$287 million) in ticket sales domestically, distributors said.<\/p>\n

This means it has now overtaken Studio Ghibli\u2019s 2001 masterpiece Spirited Away \u2013 which grossed 31.6 billion yen \u2013 as the second-biggest box-office hit, according to movie sales tracker Kogyo Tsushinsha.<\/p>\n

The feat came after the 155-minute Infinity Castle took first place in the North American box office over the weekend with a genre-record US$70 million (S$89 million) debut.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe hope that the Demon Slayer fandom will expand more,\u201d distributor Aniplex said.<\/p>\n

With the latest milestone, the series now has only itself to outrank, after its first film in 2020, Demon Slayer: Kimetsu No Yaiba \u2013 Mugen Train, bagged a whopping 40.7 billion yen.<\/p>\n

Infinity Castle \u2013 the first of a series-capping trilogy \u2013 is hyped everywhere in Japan, from giant train station advertisements to endless TV commercials to even rice paddy art starring Tanjiro.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

A statue of swordsman Tanjiro Kamado on display at a cinema in Tokyo\u2019s Ikebukuro district on Sept 9. <\/p>\n

PHOTO: AFP<\/p>\n

\u201cI cry each time,\u201d Ms Yuri Kamada, 22, told AFP at Grand Cinema Sunshine in Tokyo\u2019s anime hub Ikebukuro after her third viewing of the film.<\/p>\n

Not only humans but their enemies are also depicted so thoughtfully that \u201cI can easily sympathise with demons too\u201d, she said, describing \u201cnothing but pride\u201d in the movie as a Japanese citizen.<\/p>\n

Originally penned by comic book artist Koyoharu Gotouge in 2016 and then animated by studio Ufotable in 2019, Demon Slayer is often lauded for setting a new standard for anime cinematography.<\/p>\n

Dazzling visual effects permeate the latest movie featuring acrobatic, lightning-fast battles with demons at a kaleidoscopic castle with an infinite array of floors.<\/p>\n

Demon Slayer\u2019s relative accessibility also sets it apart from other manga juggernauts like One Piece (1997 to present), which spans over 100 volumes.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

A lift at a cinema in Tokyo is decorated to promote Demon Slayer: Kimetsu No Yaiba \u2013 Infinity Castle. <\/p>\n

PHOTO: AFP<\/p>\n

\u201cUnlike One Piece or Dragon Ball, it\u2019s a rather short series of around 20 volumes, and I appreciate its simple, easy-to-understand plot,\u201d Mr Reo Takagi, a 19-year-old Tokyo student, said after his second viewing. <\/p>\n

Anime dominates in Japan, where only two of the 10 highest-grossing films are live-action \u2013 namely Titanic (1997) and the first of the Harry Potter series (2001 to 2011).<\/p>\n

Partly buoyed by the indoor entertainment boom during the Covid-19 pandemic, anime\u2019s popularity has exploded globally in recent years, with streaming giants like Netflix rushing to capitalise. AFP<\/p>\n

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