Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba | |
鬼滅の刃 (Kimetsu no Yaiba) | |
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Genre | |
Anime television series | |
Directed by | Haruo Sotozaki |
Produced by |
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Written by | Ufotable |
Music by | |
Studio | Ufotable |
Licensed by | |
Original network | |
English network |
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Original run | April 6, 2019 – present |
Episodes | 55 |
Films | |
Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba (鬼滅の刃, Kimetsu no Yaiba, rgh. "Blade of Demon Destruction") [3] is a Japanese anime television series produced by Ufotable, based on the manga series of the same name by Koyoharu Gotouge. The series follows teenage Tanjiro Kamado, who strives to become a Demon Slayer after his family was slaughtered and his younger sister, Nezuko, is turned into a demon.
It premiered on April 6, 2019. It has aired on Tokyo MX, GTV, GYT, BS11 (first season only) and Fuji TV (second season onwards). In North America, the series has been licensed by Aniplex of America and is streamed on Crunchyroll, Hulu, and Funimation. The English dub of Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba was aired on Adult Swim's Toonami programming block in the United States.
A sequel film set after the events of the first season, Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – The Movie: Mugen Train, was released in October 2020 while the compilation films, Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – To the Swordsmith Village and Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – To the Hashira Training, were released in February 2023 and February 2024, respectively.
Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba received critical acclaim for its storyline, animation, action sequences, characters and voice acting (original and dubbed). The series has received numerous awards and is considered one of the best anime of the 2010s.
Season | Episodes | Originally aired | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
First aired | Last aired | Network | |||
1 | 26 | April 6, 2019 | September 28, 2019 | Tokyo MX [b] | |
2 | 18 | 7 | October 10, 2021 | November 28, 2021 | Fuji Television |
11 | December 5, 2021 | February 13, 2022 | |||
3 | 11 | April 9, 2023 | June 18, 2023 | ||
4 | TBA | May 12, 2024 | TBA |
Character | Japanese | English |
---|---|---|
Main characters | ||
Tanjiro Kamado (竈門 炭治郎, Kamado Tanjirō) |
Natsuki Hanae Satomi Satō (child) |
Zach Aguilar Allegra Clark (child) |
Nezuko Kamado (竈門 禰豆子, Kamado Nezuko) | Akari Kitō | Abby Trott |
Zenitsu Agatsuma (我妻 善逸, Agatsuma Zen'itsu) | Hiro Shimono | Aleks Le |
Inosuke Hashibira (嘴平 伊之助, Hashibira Inosuke) | Yoshitsugu Matsuoka | Bryce Papenbrook |
Kanao Tsuyuri (栗花落 カナヲ, Tsuyuri Kanao) | Reina Ueda | Brianna Knickerbocker |
Genya Shinazugawa (不死川 玄弥, Shinazugawa Gen'ya) | Nobuhiko Okamoto | Zeno Robinson |
Secondary characters | ||
Giyu Tomioka (冨岡 義勇, Tomioka Giyū) | Takahiro Sakurai | Johnny Yong Bosch |
Shinobu Kocho (胡蝶 しのぶ, Kochō Shinobu) | Saori Hayami | Erika Harlacher |
Kyojuro Rengoku (煉獄 杏寿郎, Rengoku Kyōjurō) |
Satoshi Hino Mariya Ise (child) |
Mark Whitten Ryan Bartley (child) |
Tengen Uzui (宇髄 天元, Uzui Tengen) | Katsuyuki Konishi | Ray Chase |
Mitsuri Kanroji (甘露寺 蜜璃, Kanroji Mitsuri) | Kana Hanazawa | Kira Buckland |
Muichiro Tokito (時透 無一郎, Tokitō Muichirō) | Kengo Kawanishi | Griffin Burns |
Sanemi Shinazugawa (不死川 実弥, Shinazugawa Sanemi) | Tomokazu Seki | Kaiji Tang |
Obanai Iguro (伊黒 小芭内, Iguro Obanai) | Kenichi Suzumura | Erik Scott Kimerer |
Gyomei Himejima (悲鳴嶼 行冥, Himejima Gyōmei) | Tomokazu Sugita | Crispin Freeman |
Supporting characters | ||
Kagaya Ubuyashiki (産屋敷 耀哉, Ubuyashiki Kagaya) | Toshiyuki Morikawa | Matthew Mercer |
Amane Ubuyashiki (産屋敷 あまね, Ubuyashiki Amane) | Rina Satō | Suzie Yeung |
Hinaki Ubuyashiki (産屋敷 ひなき, Ubuyashiki Hinaki) | Yumiri Hanamori | Kimberly Woods |
Nichika Ubuyashiki (産屋敷 にちか, Ubuyashiki Nichika) | Ari Ozawa | Brianna Knickerbocker |
Kiriya Ubuyashiki (産屋敷 輝利哉, Ubuyashiki Kiriya) | Aoi Yūki | Christine Marie Cabanos |
Kanata Ubuyashiki (産屋敷 かなた, Ubuyashiki Kanata) | Shiori Izawa | Mela Lee |
Muzan Kibutsuji (鬼舞辻 無惨, Kibutsuji Muzan) | Toshihiko Seki | Greg Chun |
Nakime (鳴女, Nakime) | Marina Inoue | Amber Lee Connors |
Kaigaku (獪岳, Kaigaku) | Yoshimasa Hosoya | Alejandro Saab |
Kokushibo / Upper Rank 1 (黒死牟, Kokushibō) | Ryōtarō Okiayu | Jonah Scott |
Doma / Upper Rank 2 (童磨, Dōma) | Mamoru Miyano | Stephen Fu |
Akaza / Upper Rank 3 (猗窩座) | Akira Ishida | Lucien Dodge |
Hantengu / Upper Rank 4 (半天狗) |
Toshio Furukawa (Hantengu and Urami) Yūichirō Umehara (Sekido) Kaito Ishikawa (Karaku) Shunsuke Takeuchi (Urogi) Soma Saito (Aizetsu) Koichi Yamadera (Zohakuten) |
Christopher Corey Smith (Hantengu and Urami) Yong Yea (Sekido) Caleb Yen (Karaku) Chris Hackney (Urogi) Brian Timothy Anderson (Aizetsu) Ben Balmaceda (Zohakuten) |
Gyokko / Upper Rank 5 (玉壼, Gyokko) | Kohsuke Toriumi | Brent Mukai |
Daki / Upper Rank 6 (堕姫, Daki) | Miyuki Sawashiro | Erica Lindbeck |
Gyutaro / Upper Rank 6 (妓夫太郎, Gyūtarō) | Ryōta Ōsaka | Brandon McInnis |
Enmu / Lower Rank 1 (魘夢, Enmu) | Daisuke Hirakawa | Landon McDonald |
Rokuro / Lower Rank 2 (轆轤, Rokuro) | Taiten Kusunoki | Ray Chase |
Wakuraba / Lower Rank 3 (病葉, Wakuraba) | Sōichirō Hoshi | Stefan Martello |
Mukago / Lower Rank 4 (零余子, Mukago) | Kana Ueda | Kira Buckland |
Rui / Lower Rank 5 (累, Rui) | Koki Uchiyama | Billy Kametz |
Kamanue / Lower Rank 6 (釜鵺, Kamanue) | KENN | Alan Lee |
Kyogai (響凱, Kyōgai) | Junichi Suwabe | Steve Blum |
Minor characters | ||
Spider Demon (Mother) (蜘蛛鬼「母」, Kumo Oni: Haha) | Ami Koshimizu | Allegra Clark |
Spider Demon (Father) (蜘蛛鬼「父」, Kumo Oni: Chichi) | Tetsu Inada | Kellen Goff |
Spider Demon (Brother) (蜘蛛鬼「兄」, Kumo Oni: Ani) | Showtaro Morikubo | Derek Stephen Prince |
Spider Demon (Sister) (蜘蛛鬼「姉」, Kumo Oni: Ane) | Ryoko Shiraishi | Erica Lindbeck |
Yahaba (矢琶羽, Yahaba) | Jun Fukuyama | Xander Mobus |
Susamaru (朱紗丸, Susamaru) | Mikako Komatsu | Sarah Anne Williams |
Sakonji Urokodaki (鱗滝 左近次, Urokodaki Sakonji) | Hōchū Ōtsuka | Brook Chalmers |
Sabito (錆兎, Sabito) | Yuki Kaji | Max Mittelman |
Makomo (真菰, Makomo) | Ai Kakuma | Ryan Bartley |
Kasugai Crows (鎹鴉, Kasugai Garasu) |
Takumi Yamazaki (Tanjiro's) Rie Kugimiya (Muichiro's) |
Doug Erholtz |
Tamayo (珠世, Tamayo) | Maaya Sakamoto | Laura Post |
Yushiro (愈史郎, Yushirō) | Daiki Yamashita | Kyle McCarley |
Makio (まきを, Makio) | Shizuka Ishigami | Erica Mendez |
Suma (須磨, Suma) | Nao Tōyama | Emi Lo |
Hinatsuru (雛鶴, Hinatsuru) | Atsumi Tanezaki | Anairis Quiñones |
Aoi Kanzaki (神崎 アオイ, Kanzaki Aoi) | Yuri Ehara | Reba Buhr |
Goto (後藤, Gotō) | Makoto Furukawa | Derek Stephen Prince |
Sumi Nakahara (中原 すみ, Nakahara Sumi) | Ayumi Mano | Michelle Marie |
Naho Takada (高田 なほ, Takada Naho) | Yūki Kuwahara | Kimberly Woods |
Kiyo Terauchi (寺内 きよ, Terauchi Kiyo) | Nanami Yamashita | Jackie Lastra |
Hotaru Haganezuka (鋼鐵塚 螢, Haganezuka Hotaru) | Daisuke Namikawa | Robbie Daymond |
Kozo Kanamori (鉄穴森 鋼蔵, Kanamori Kōzō) | Eiji Takemoto | Kyle Hebert |
Kotetsu (小鉄, Kotetsu) | Ayumu Murase | Jeannie Tirado |
Murata (村田, Murata) | Kōki Miyata | Khoi Dao |
Jigoro Kuwajima (桑島 慈悟郎, Kuwajima Jigorō) | Shigeru Chiba | John DeMita |
Kanae Kocho (胡蝶 カナエ, Kochō Kanae) | Ai Kayano | Bridget Hoffman |
Tanjuro Kamado (竈門 炭十郎, Kamado Tanjūrō) | Shin-ichiro Miki | Kirk Thornton |
Kie Kamado (竈門 葵枝, Kamado Kie) | Houko Kuwashima | Dorothy Elias-Fahn |
Takeo Kamado (竈門 竹雄, Kamado Takeo) | Yō Taichi | Michelle Ruff |
Hanako Kamado (竈門 花子, Kamado Hanako) | Konomi Kohara | Ryan Bartley |
Shigeru Kamado (竈門 茂, Kamado Shigeru) | Kaede Hondo | Jessica DiCicco |
Rokuta Kamado (竈門 六太, Kamado Rokuta) | Aoi Koga | Philece Sampler |
Sumiyoshi (炭吉, Sumiyoshi) | Hirofumi Nojima | Howard Wang |
Shinjuro Rengoku (煉獄 槇寿郎, Rengoku Shinjurō) | Rikiya Koyama | Imari Williams |
Ruka Rengoku (煉獄 瑠火, Rengoku Ruka) | Megumi Toyoguchi | Suzie Yeung |
Senjuro Rengoku (煉獄 千寿郎, Rengoku Senjurō) | Junya Enoki | Cedric Williams |
Yoriichi Tsugikuni (継国 縁壱, Tsugikuni Yoriichi) | Kazuhiko Inoue | Mick Lauer |
An anime television series adaptation by studio Ufotable was announced by Weekly Shōnen Jump in June 2018. [4] The anime was directed by Haruo Sotozaki and produced by Hikaru Kondo. Akira Matsushima served as the character designer. The series ran for 26 episodes, broadcast from April 6 to September 28, 2019, on Tokyo MX, GTV, GYT, BS11, and other channels. [5] [6] [7] [8]
It was released on two limited editions Blu-ray volumes: the first on June 30, 2020, and the second on November 24, 2020. [9] [10] The company also partnered with Funimation to release standard-edition Blu-ray volumes. [11] Two volumes were released on September 29, 2020, and January 19, 2021. [12] [13]
Aniplex of America licensed the series and streamed it on Crunchyroll, Hulu, and Funimation. [14] [15] Madman Entertainment acquired the series in Australia and New Zealand and simultaneously streamed the series on AnimeLab. [16] In the United Kingdom and Ireland, Anime Limited acquired the series. [17] The first season ran for 26 episodes. [18] Netflix also started streaming the series starting January 22, 2021, in the United States. [19] An English dub produced by Aniplex of America and Bang Zoom! Entertainment, [20] aired on Adult Swim's Toonami programming block from October 13, 2019, to May 3, 2020. [21] [22] [c] Funimation began streaming the English dub on December 8, 2020. [24] [20]
The second season ran for two consecutive cours, beginning with a seven-episode television series adaptation of the "Mugen Train" story arc, broadcast from October 10 to November 28, 2021. [25] [26] It included an original first episode, as well as new animation cuts and background music that differ from the film adaptation. [27] [28] Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – Entertainment District Arc (鬼滅の刃 遊郭編, Kimetsu no Yaiba – Yūkaku-hen) premiered on December 5, 2021, with a one-hour special, [29] [27] and finished with its 11th episode on February 13, 2022. [30] The main staff and cast members from the first season returned to reprise their roles. [31] [32] The series was broadcast on 30 stations and channels, including Fuji TV and Tokyo MX, covering most of Japan. [33]
According to Jason DeMarco, Adult Swim executive producer who oversees the block, the success of the Mugen Train film initially made further seasons of the series too expensive to acquire for broadcast. [34] Two years later in October 2023, Adult Swim announced that the English dub for Mugen Train Arc would broadcast on its Toonami block beginning on November 12 of the same year. [35] A month later, it was confirmed that Entertainment District Arc would also air beginning on January 14, 2024. [36]
Funimation streams Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – Entertainment District Arc. [37] Muse Communication licensed the second season in Southeast Asia and South Asia; [38] they streamed it on iQIYI, [39] Bilibili, [40] WeTV, [41] Viu, [42] Netflix, [43] and Disney+. [44]
Four Valentine's Day-themed anime shorts, titled Kimetsu Gakuen Valentine-hen (キメツ学園 バレンタイン編), debuted on the Aniplex YouTube channel on February 14, 2021. [45]
At the end of the second-season finale, a third season covering the "Swordsmith Village" arc from the manga was announced. [30] It premiered on April 9, 2023, with a one-hour special. [46] [47] It ended with a 70-minute episode on June 18 of the same year. [48]
Crunchyroll streams Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – Swordsmith Village Arc, [49] along with the English dub which began on May 28, 2023. [50]
A fourth season covering the "Hashira Training" arc was announced following the end of the third season finale. [51] It is set to premiere on May 12, 2024, with a one-hour episode. [52] [53]
Crunchyroll will stream Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – Hashira Training Arc as it airs in Japan. [54]
Prior to airing, the first five episodes screened theatrically in Japan for two weeks from March 29, 2019, under the title Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba: Sibling's Bond (鬼滅の刃 兄妹の絆, Kimetsu no Yaiba: Kyōdai no Kizuna). [55] [56] Aniplex of America screened the film at the Aratani Theatre in Los Angeles on March 31, 2019. [57] Madman Entertainment screened the film in select theaters in Australia on April 2, 2019. [58] The film was broadcast on Fuji TV's Saturday Premium block on October 10, 2020, followed by Kimetsu no Yaiba: Natagumo Yama-hen (鬼滅の刃 那田蜘蛛山編, "Kimetsu no Yaiba: Mount Natagumo Arc"), which compiled episodes 15–21, on October 17, 2020. Fuji TV also rebroadcast the series in the Kanto area, under the title Kimetsu no Yaiba Zenshūchū! Ikkyo Hōsō (鬼滅の刃全集中!一挙放送, "Kimetsu no Yaiba: Concentration! 一 All-at-once Broadcast"): episodes 6–10 aired from October 12–16, episodes 11–14 on October 17, and episodes 22–26 on October 24, 2020. [59] [60] Episodes 22–26 were recompiled into a special edition episode, titled Hashira Gō Kaigi/Chōyashiki-hen (柱合会議・蝶屋敷編, The Hashira Meeting Arc/Chōyashiki Arc), which adds some new footage and special ending credits roll, and aired on Fuji TV on December 20, 2020. [61] [62]
A compilation film, Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – To the Swordsmith Village, which includes the 10th and 11th episodes of Entertainment District Arc and an advanced screening of the first Swordsmith Village Arc episode, premiered in Japan on February 3, 2023. [46] The film premiered in the United Kingdom on March 1, 2023, [63] and in North America on March 3 of the same year. [64]
Another compilation film, Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – To the Hashira Training, which includes the final episode of Swordsmith Village Arc and advanced screening of first Hashira Training Arc episode, premiered in Japan on February 2, 2024, with a theatrical release on February 23 of the same year. [52]
On September 28, 2019, immediately following the airing of episode 26, an anime film, titled Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – The Movie: Mugen Train, was announced, with the staff and cast reprising their roles. [65] The film is a direct sequel to the anime series and covers the events of the "Mugen Train" story arc. [66] The film is distributed in Japan by Aniplex and Toho and premiered in Japan on October 16, 2020. [67]
The film has grossed over US$500 million worldwide, making it the highest-grossing film of 2020, and broke several box office records, including the highest-grossing Japanese film and anime film of all time. [68] The film was released worldwide digitally on June 22, 2021. [69]
Yuki Kajiura and Go Shiina composed the anime's music. [70] Lisa performed the opening theme " Gurenge" (紅蓮華, "Red Lotus"), [71] while the ending theme is "from the edge" by FictionJunction and Lisa. [72] The ending theme for episode 19 is "Kamado Tanjirō no Uta" (竈門炭治郎のうた, "Tanjiro Kamado's Song") by Go Shiina featuring Nami Nakagawa. [73] For the second season's Mugen Train Arc, Lisa performed the opening theme " Akeboshi" (明け星, lit. 'Morning Star'), as well as the ending theme "Shirogane" (白銀, lit. 'Silver'). For the Entertainment District Arc, Aimer performed the opening theme "Zankyō Sanka" (残響散歌, lit. 'Song of Reverberation'), as well as the ending theme "Asa ga Kuru" (朝が来る, lit. 'Daybreak'). [27] For the third season's Swordsmith Village Arc, Man with a Mission and Milet performed the opening theme " Kizuna no Kiseki" (絆ノ奇跡, lit. 'Bonds of Miracle'), as well as the ending theme " Koi Kogare" (コイコガレ, lit. 'Yearning'). [74] [75] The last episode of the season features the song "Kamado Nezuko no Uta" (竈門襧豆子のうた, "Nezuko Kamado's Song") by Go Shiina featuring Nami Nakagawa. [76] For the fourth season's Hashira Training Arc, My First Story and Hyde will perform the opening theme "Mugen" (無限, lit. 'Infinite'). [77]
Soundtracks of the Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba anime were accompanied with the DVD and Blu-ray volume releases of the anime. A soundtrack album for first season of the anime series, titled Kimetsu no Yaiba: Kamado Tanjiro Risshi-hen Original Soundtrack (竈門炭治郎 立志編 オリジナルサウンドトラック, Kamado Tanjirō Risshi-hen Orijinaru Saundotorakku), published by Aniplex, was released on May 26, 2021. [78] [79] A second soundtrack album containing 50 tracks used in the film and Mugen Train Arc titled, Kimetsu no Yaiba: Mugen Resshahen Original Soundtrack (鬼滅の刃 無限列車編 オリジナルサウンドトラック, Kimetsu no Yaiba Mugen Resshahen Orijinaru Saundotorakku) was released on December 14, 2022. [80] The soundtrack albums include the opening and ending themes as well as the instrumental score by Kajiura and Shiina.
All music is composed by Go Shiina and Yuki Kajiura, except where noted
No. | Title | Music | Length |
---|---|---|---|
1. | "Gurenge" (紅蓮華; TV version) | Lisa (vocals and lyrics); Kayoko Kusano (composer) | 1:32 |
2. | "Family" (家族; OST version) | 3:23 | |
3. | "Brace Up and Run!" | Chiaki Ishikawa (vocals) | 2:32 |
4. | "Survive and Get the Blade, Boy" | Chiaki Ishikawa (vocals) | 3:59 |
5. | "Demon Slayer Corps" (鬼殺隊; OST version) | 3:24 | |
6. | "Training" (訓練) | 1:18 | |
7. | "The Appearance of Sabito" (錆兎 出現) | 1:58 | |
8. | "Makomo" (真菰; OST version) | 1:39 | |
9. | "Purification" (浄) | 1:02 | |
10. | "Water Breathing: Hand Demon" (水の呼吸~手鬼) | 2:31 | |
11. | "Mystery: Tanjiro Kamado: With the Kasugai Crows" (不思議~竈門炭治郎~鎹鴉と共に) | 1:29 | |
12. | "Demon" (鬼) | 2:51 | |
13. | "Muzan Kibutsuji" (鬼舞辻無惨; OST version) | 2:13 | |
14. | "Tamayo" (珠世; OST version) | 2:11 | |
15. | "Battle Between Susamaru and Yahaba" (朱紗丸と矢琶羽との戦闘) | 2:59 | |
16. | "Nezuko: Always Together" (禰豆子~ずっと一緒) | 1:17 | |
17. | "Zenitsu Agatsuma" (我妻善逸) | 1:52 | |
18. | "Inosuke Hashibira" (嘴平伊之助) | 3:05 | |
19. | "Water Breathing" (水の呼吸) | 3:07 | |
Total length: | 44:22 |
No. | Title | Music | Length |
---|---|---|---|
1. | "Natagumo Mountain" (那田蜘蛛山; OST version) | 0:53 | |
2. | "Water Breathing: Blessed Rain After the Drought's Welcome" (水の呼吸~干天の慈雨へ; OST version) | 2:25 | |
3. | "Thunderclap and Flash Six Fold: As the Demon Slayer Corps" (霹靂一閃 六連~鬼殺隊として) | 2:06 | |
4. | "Activate Water Breathing" (水の呼吸発動; OST version) | 2:44 | |
5. | "The Bond of Brother and Sister" (兄妹の絆; OST version) | 0:49 | |
6. | "Confrontation with Rui" (累と対峙) | 1:43 | |
7. | "The Appearance of Shinobu Kocho" (胡蝶しのぶ 出現; OST version) | 0:36 | |
8. | "Giyu Tomioka's Theme: Tanjiro's Battle: Demon Slayer Corps" (冨岡義勇のテーマ~炭治郎の戦い~鬼殺隊) | 1:35 | |
9. | "Constant Flux" (生生流転; OST version) | 2:33 | |
10. | "Kamado Tanjiro no Uta" (竈門炭治郎のうた; OST version) | Nami Nakagawa (featured vocals) | 5:30 |
11. | "Dead Calm" (凪; OST version) | 1:19 | |
12. | "The Insect Hashira's Theme" (蟲柱のテーマ; OST version) | 1:46 | |
13. | "Family Memories" (家族の思い出; OST version) | 0:49 | |
14. | "Hashira: Confrontation" (柱~対峙) | 1:01 | |
15. | "The Messenger of the Kasugai Crows" (鎹鴉の伝令; OST version) | 1:34 | |
16. | "Natagumo Mountain: Dawn" (那田蜘蛛山~夜明け) | 1:19 | |
17. | "The Hashira's Theme" (柱のテーマ; OST version) | 2:14 | |
18. | "Confrontation with Sanemi Shinazugawa" (不死川実弥との対峙) | 1:47 | |
19. | "Gratitude" (感謝) | 0:53 | |
20. | "Showdown with Kanao Tsuyuri" (粟花落カナヲと対決) | 1:11 | |
21. | "Lower Rank Demon" (下弦の鬼) | 1:05 | |
22. | "New Mission: Toward the Mugen Train" (新たなる任務~無限列車に向かって) | 2:50 | |
23. | "From the Edge" (TV version) | 1:30 | |
Total length: | 40:12 |
The anime had received high TV rating percentage and has consistently ranked among the top ten animated shows in Japan, since the release of second season's Mugen Train and Entertainment District story arcs. [81] According to Video Research, Entertainment District Arc averaged 18.43 million viewers, with 25.5 million for episode 10 and 25.97 million for episode 11. [82] The Swordsmith Village Arc's final episode averaged 22.87 million viewers, while the double feature special of the anime's Entertainment District Arc drew 22.51 million after their broadcast. [83] The Swordsmith Village Arc also became the most-watched anime in 2023, garnering 15.4 million viewers in Japan. [84]
Gadget Tsūshin listed both the breathing techniques suffix and "Ah! The era, the era changed again!" on their 2019 anime buzzwords list. [85] On Tumblr's Year in Review, which highlights the largest communities, fandoms, and trends on the platform throughout the year, Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba ranked seventh on the Top Anime & Manga Shows category in 2019 and 2020. [86] [87] The second season's Mugen Train placed third on the annual Twitter Japan's Trend Awards in 2021, based on the social network's top trending topics of the year. [88] According to a 2020 poll conducted by education and publishing company Benesse, which asked 7,661 third to sixth-grade Japanese children (5,170 girls and 2,491 boys), Tanjiro Kamado ranked first on the top 10 most admired people, which placed the children's mothers, fathers, and teachers on second, fourth and fifth place, respectively, with the remaining spots occupied by other Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba characters. [89] The series helped to increase internal tourism, with many tourists traveling to similar spots to the ones featured in the series. [90] [91] [92] [93]
According to Yuma Takahashi, Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba anime series producer, the series had three main factors for its success: "The power of the original work, the attitude towards adapting it to anime, and the environment". Takahashi explained that although many people learned about the manga through the anime, that in itself is not enough to generate a hit, stating that the original manga itself is interesting and they tried to adapt it earnestly without losing any of its appeal. The earnest attitude towards the adaptation and techniques from the staff at Ufotable were other key factors. Takahashi pointed out the changes in the anime-viewing landscape within the past few years and the increasing popularity of the streaming platforms. Takahashi said that by airing the series for two cours, it had the time to build up an audience. Takahashi added: "While the anime was airing, the story being serialized in the manga was heating up, so the timing was also ideal. It wasn't as if it suddenly became the center of attention; I feel that it steadily picked up fans and expanded its audience". [94] In 2021, in Tokushima, the Red Cross featured characters from the series on blood drive posters, which helped to increase the number of donors. [95] [96]
In January 2021, Gundam franchise's creator Yoshiyuki Tomino discussed his thoughts on the series in an interview, where he said that he initially felt jealous of how the series attracted "such a dedicated and talented staff", and said: "The voice actors are great, the composer of the song that everyone knows is great. So many talented people showed up! In that sense, what I felt surpassed envy, and I started thinking, 'Man, those guys sure are something!'". Nevertheless, Tomino called the series cultural success a coincidence, explaining: "I don't think that Demon Slayer is a calculated or contrived work. I think that its assemblage was quite a coincidence", adding that in the anime industry people often get chosen for a job because they "just happened to be there" or their schedules "happened to align at the right time" and that it is rare for people with exactly the ideal talents or innate qualities to get chosen. [97]
Former prime minister of Japan Yoshihide Suga quoted the series at a House of Representatives Budget Committee in the National Diet in November 2020. [98] [99] The incumbent, Fumio Kishida, has remarked that he was a fan of the series, pledging that he would improve the conditions in the anime and manga industry. [100] [101] Several politicians even used motifs and patterns from the series in their campaigns in 2021. [102] [103]
On review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, the first season of Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba holds an approval rating of 100% based on six reviews. [104] Writing for Monsters and Critics, Patrick Frye wrote that the anime adaptation is "praised [for] the animation quality and flowing battle scenes that integrate digital effects seamlessly" while noting that "some fans have complained about weird story pacing issues thanks to flashbacks and some slow moments, but everyone agrees that once the action picks up, it's amazing." [105] Writing for Anime News Network, James Beckett highlighted the 19th episode by noting it was "a thrilling showstopper of an episode, showing off ufotable's considerable skills as producers of nearly unrivaled action spectacle." [106]
The anime series has been considered as one of the best anime of the 2010s. Polygon's Austen Goslin wrote that "Few shows over the last 10 years have so clearly or unabashedly made fights their focus, and absolutely none of them have done it as well as Demon Slayer". [107] Crunchyroll listed it in their "Top 25 best anime of the 2010s", with reviewer Daniel Dockery commenting, "From the top-notch action choreography to the understated (and sometimes not so understated) emotional moments, to the infinitely meme-able Inosuke, Demon Slayer can be a wonder to behold". [108] [109] Writing for Comic Book Resources, Sage Ashford ranked it second on his list, praising its animation and protagonists, whom he called "the most likable male and female leads of the decade". [110] IGN also listed Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba among the best anime series of the 2010s. [111] Japan Web Magazine ranked the series first on its list of "30 Best Anime of All Time". [112]
In 2019, Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba won in the anime category of the Yahoo! Japan Search Awards, based on the number of searches for a particular term compared to the year before; [113] the series won the award for the second consecutive year in 2020; [114] it was third in 2021, [115] and its Swordsmith Village Arc was fifth in 2023. [116] Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba won "Animation of the Decade" at the Funimation's Decade of Anime poll, where the fans voted for their favorite anime across multiple categories. [117] In the other fan poll, Tanjiro and Nezuko Kamado were chosen as one of the "Best Boys" and "Best Girls" honorees, respectively. [118] In the February 2020 issue of Animedia magazine, it was revealed that the series received eleven awards for its characters at the "Animedia Character Awards 2019". Having won the most awards in a single year in animedia history. [119] [120]
In a poll conducted by Kadokawa Game Linkage of the most satisfying series of 2019, Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba ranked in the first place, and it was also reported that between its debut episode and last episode the viewership numbers increased by 1.4 million. [121] [122] In April 2020, the anime series won the Grand Prix award and the New Face Award at the Japan Character Awards by Japan's Character Brand Licensing Association (CBLA). [123] In 2020, the series became one of five recipients of the Special Achievement Award at the 62nd Japan Record Awards. [124] In 2021, the series won "Most Retweeted" for its announcement of the Entertainment District Arc on the annual Twitter Japan's Trend Awards. [125]
Year | Award | Category | Recipient | Result | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
2019 | 9th Newtype Anime Awards | Best Work (TV) | Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba | Won | [126] |
Best Character (Male) | Tanjiro Kamado | Won | |||
Best Character (Female) | Nezuko Kamado | Won | |||
Best Voice Actor | Natsuki Hanae | Won | |||
Hiro Shimono | 5th place | ||||
Best Voice Actress | Akari Kitō | Won | |||
Mikako Komatsu | 2nd place | ||||
Saori Hayami | 4th place | ||||
Kana Hanazawa | 5th place | ||||
Best Theme Song | " Gurenge" by LiSA | Won | |||
Best Director | Haruo Sotozaki | Won | |||
Best Character Design | Akira Matsushima, Miyuki Satō, Yōko Kajiyama, Mika Kikuchi | Won | |||
Best Mascot Character | Chuntaro | 2nd place | |||
Best Screenplay | Ufotable | 2nd place | |||
Best Soundtrack | Yuki Kajiura, Go Shiina | 2nd place | |||
Yahoo! Japan Search Awards | Anime Category | Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba | Won | [113] | |
Billboard Japan Music Awards | Hot Animation | "Gurenge" by LiSA | 3rd place | [127] | |
Reiwa Anisong Awards | Best Anime Song Award | "Gurenge" by LiSA | Won | [128] | |
User Voting Award | "Gurenge" by LiSA | Won | |||
IGN Awards | Best Anime Series | Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba | Nominated | [129] | |
Best Anime Series - People's Choice | Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba | Runner-up | |||
Best Animation | Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba | Nominated | [130] | ||
Best Animation - People's Choice | Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba | Won | |||
Funimation | Animation of the Decade | Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba | Won | [117] | |
Best Boys of the Decade | Tanjiro Kamado | Won | [118] | ||
Best Girls of the Decade | Nezuko Kamado | Won | |||
AT-X | Top Anime Ranking | Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba | Won | [131] | |
2020 | Animedia Character Awards | Most Valuable Player | Tanjiro Kamado | Won | [119] |
bright | Won | ||||
courageous | Won | ||||
Strong | Giyu Tomioka | Won | |||
Cool | Won | ||||
Mysterious | Won | ||||
Hot | Kyojuro Rengoku | Won | |||
Cute | Nezuko Kamado | Won | |||
Beautiful | Shinobu Kocho | Won | |||
Sexy | Mitsuri Kanroji | Won | |||
Cute and bratty | Zenitsu Agatsuma | Won | |||
Tokyo Anime Awards | Animation of the Year | Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba | Won | [132] | |
Best Script & Original Story | Koyoharu Gotouge | Won | |||
Best Animator | Akira Matsushima | Won | [133] | ||
Sound and Performance Award | Yuki Kajiura | Won | |||
TAAF 2020 with Bilibili | Anime of the Year | Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba | Won | [134] | |
D-Anime awards | Recommended Anime | Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba | Won | [135] | |
Best Story | Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba | Won | |||
Hottest Anime | Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba | Won | |||
4th Crunchyroll Anime Awards | Anime of the Year | Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba | Won | [136] [137] | |
Best Protagonist | Tanjiro Kamado | Nominated | |||
Best Boy | Tanjiro Kamado | Won | |||
Best Girl | Nezuko Kamado | Nominated | |||
Best Animation | Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba | Nominated | |||
Best Fantasy | Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba | Nominated | |||
Best Score | Go Shiina and Yuki Kajiura | Nominated | |||
Best Fight Scene | Tanjiro & Nezuko vs. Rui | Won | |||
Best VA Performance (Japanese) | Saori Hayami as Shinobu Kocho | Nominated | |||
14th Seiyu Awards | Best Actor in a Leading Role | Natsuki Hanae as Tanjiro Kamado | Won | [138] | |
Synergy Award | Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba | Won | |||
Japan Character Awards | Grand Prize | Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba | Won | [123] | |
New Face Award | Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba | Won | |||
15th AnimaniA Awards | Best Online Series | Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba | Won | [139] | |
42nd Anime Grand Prix | Grand Prize | Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba | Won | [140] | |
Best Character (Male) | Tanjiro Kamado | Won | |||
Giyu Tomioka | 2nd place | ||||
Best Character (Female) | Nezuko Kamado | 2nd place | |||
Shinobu Kocho | 3rd place | ||||
Best Voice Actor | Natsuki Hanae | Won | |||
Best Theme Song | "Gurenge" by LiSA | Won | |||
Magnolia Award | Best Animation | Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba | Nominated | [141] | |
25th AMD Awards | Excellence Award | Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba | Won | [142] | |
Internet Buzzword Awards | Grand Prize | Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba | Won | [143] | |
Anime Buzzword Awards | Grand Prize | Breathing | Won | ||
Silver Prize | Total Concentration | Won | |||
Bronze Prize | Mr.Kyojuro Rengoku, the 20 billion man. | Won | |||
Billboard Japan Music Awards | Hot 100 | "Gurenge" by LiSA | 3rd place | [144] | |
Most Downloaded Songs | "Gurenge" by LiSA | Won | |||
Hot Animation | "Gurenge" by LiSA | Won | |||
Yahoo! Japan Search Awards | Anime Category | Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba | Won | [114] | |
Movie Category | Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba | Won | |||
Voice Actor Category | Natsuki Hanae | Won | |||
62nd Japan Record Awards | Grand Prize | " Homura" by LiSA | Won | [145] | |
Excellent Work Awards | "Homura" by LiSA | Won | |||
Special Achievement Award | Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba | Won | |||
AT-X | Top Anime Ranking | Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba | Won | [146] | |
2021 | Tokyo Anime Awards | Best Animator | Akira Matsushima | Won | [147] |
Best Director | Haruo Sotozaki | Won | |||
Sound and Performance Award | Yuki Kajiura | Won | |||
15th Seiyu Awards | Special Honor Award | Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba | Won | [148] | |
39th JASRAC Awards | Gold Award | "Gurenge" by LiSA | Won | [149] | |
16th AnimaniA Awards | Best TV Series | Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba | Won | [150] | |
Best Director | Haruo Sotozaki | Won | |||
Best Character Design | Akira Matsushima | Won | |||
Best Studio | Ufotable | Won | |||
Best Anime Score | Go Shiina and Yuki Kajiura | Won | |||
Best Anime Song | "Gurenge" by LiSA | Won | |||
43rd Anime Grand Prix | Best Character (Male) | Kyojuro Rengoku | Won | [151] | |
Best Theme Song | "Homura" by LiSA | Won | |||
Yahoo! Japan Search Awards | Anime Category | Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba | 3rd place | [115] | |
Reiwa Anisong Awards | Artist Song Award | " Akeboshi" by LiSA | Nominated | [152] | |
Twitter Japan's Trend Awards | Most Retweeted | Entertainment District Arc | Won | [125] | |
63rd Japan Record Awards | Song of the Year | "Akeboshi" by LiSA | Won | [153] | |
2022 | 6th Crunchyroll Anime Awards | Best Action | Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Mugen Train Arc | Nominated | [154] [155] |
Best Ending Sequence | "Shirogane" by LiSA | Won | |||
Best Animation | Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Mugen Train Arc | Won | |||
Best VA Performance (Castilian) | Marcel Navarro as Tanjiro Kamado | Won | |||
Best VA Performance (French) | Enzo Ratsito as Tanjiro Kamado | Won | |||
Best VA Performance (Spanish) | Irwin Daayán as Kyojuro Rengoku | Won | |||
Best Score | Yuki Kajiura and Go Shiina | Won | |||
36th Japan Gold Disc Award | Animation Album of the Year | Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba | Won | [156] | |
40th JASRAC Awards | Gold Award | "Gurenge" by LiSA | Won | [157] | |
Silver Award | "Homura" by LiSA | Won | |||
44th Anime Grand Prix | Grand Prize | Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Mugen Train Arc Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Entertainment District Arc |
2nd place | [158] | |
Best Character (Male) | Tengen Uzui | Won | |||
Zenitsu Agatsuma | 4th place | ||||
Gyutaro | 7th place | ||||
Best Character (Female) | Nezuko Kamado | Won | |||
Daki | 2nd place | ||||
Best Voice Actor | Miyuki Sawashiro | 4th place | |||
Best Theme Song | "Zankyō Sanka" by Aimer | Won | |||
"Akeboshi" by LiSA | 3rd place | ||||
MTV Video Music Awards Japan | Best Solo Artist Video (Japan) | "Zankyō Sanka" by Aimer | Won | [159] | |
12th Newtype Anime Awards | Best Work (TV) | Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Entertainment District Arc | Won | [160] | |
Best Character (Male) | Tengen Uzui | 5th place | |||
Best Character (Female) | Nezuko Kamado | 5th place | |||
Best Voice Actor | Yoshitsugu Matsuoka | Won | |||
Natsuki Hanae | 3rd place | ||||
Best Theme Song | "Zankyō Sanka" by Aimer | 4th place | |||
Best Director | Haruo Sotozaki | Won | |||
Best Character Design | Akira Matsushima | 5th place | |||
Best Mascot Character | Muscular Mice | 5th place | |||
Best Screenplay | Ufotable | 4th place | |||
Best Soundtrack | Yuki Kajiura, Go Shiina | 2nd place | |||
Best Studio | Ufotable | 2nd place | |||
Billboard Japan Music Awards | Hot 100 | "Zankyō Sanka" by Aimer | Won | [161] | |
Most Downloaded Songs | "Zankyō Sanka" by Aimer | Won | |||
Hot Animation | "Zankyō Sanka" by Aimer | Won | |||
Reiwa Anisong Awards | Arrangement Award | Kenji Tamai and Masahiro Tobinai for "Zankyō Sanka" by Aimer | Nominated | [162] | |
2023 | 5th Global Demand Awards | Most In-Demand Anime Series of 2022 | Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba | Nominated | [163] |
7th Crunchyroll Anime Awards | Anime of the Year | Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Entertainment District Arc | Nominated | [164] | |
Best Director | Haruo Sotozaki | Won | |||
Best Supporting Character | Tengen Uzui | Nominated | |||
Best Animation | Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Entertainment District Arc | Won | |||
Best Character Design | Akira Matsushima | Won | |||
Best Continuing Series | Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Entertainment District Arc | Nominated | |||
Best Action | Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Entertainment District Arc | Won | |||
Best Fantasy | Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Entertainment District Arc | Won | |||
Best Score | Go Shiina and Yuki Kajiura | Nominated | |||
Best Opening Sequence | "Zankyō Sanka" by Aimer | Nominated | |||
Best VA Performance (Japanese) | Natsuki Hanae as Tanjiro Kamado | Nominated | |||
Best VA Performance (Italian) | Andrea La Greca as Kyojuro Rengoku | Nominated | |||
Best VA Performance (Spanish) | Alejandro Orozco as Gyutaro | Won | |||
41st JASRAC Awards | Bronze Award | "Zankyō Sanka" by Aimer | Won | [165] | |
13th Newtype Anime Awards | Best Work (TV) | Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Swordsmith Village Arc | 3rd place | [166] | |
Best Character (Male) | Muichiro Tokito | 3rd place | |||
Tanjiro Kamado | 4th place | ||||
Akaza | 5th place | ||||
Best Character (Female) | Mitsuri Kanroji | 7th place | |||
Best Theme Song | " Kizuna no Kiseki" by Man with a Mission and Milet | 8th place | |||
Best Studio | Ufotable | 3rd place | |||
Yahoo! Japan Search Awards | Anime Category | Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Swordsmith Village Arc | 5th place | [116] | |
2024 | 6th Global Demand Awards | Most In-Demand Anime Series of 2023 | Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba | Nominated | [167] |
8th Crunchyroll Anime Awards | Anime of the Year | Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Swordsmith Village Arc | Nominated | [168] | |
Best Action | Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Swordsmith Village Arc | Nominated | |||
Best Fantasy | Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Swordsmith Village Arc | Won | |||
Best Animation | Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Swordsmith Village Arc | Won | |||
Best Continuing Series | Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Swordsmith Village Arc | Nominated | |||
Best Character Design | Akira Matsushima | Nominated | |||
Best Cinematography | Yuichi Terao | Nominated | |||
Best Art Direction | Koji Eto | Won | |||
Best Score | Yuki Kajiura and Go Shiina | Nominated | |||
Best Ending Sequence | " Koi Kogare" by Man with a Mission and Milet | Nominated | |||
Best VA Performance (English) | Abby Trott as Nezuko Kamado | Nominated | |||
Best VA Performance (Spanish) | Armando Corona Ibarrola as Muichiro Tokito | Nominated | |||
38th Japan Gold Disc Award | Best 3 Songs by Download | "Kizuna no Kiseki" by Man with a Mission and Milet | Won | [169] |
第26話 新たなる任務 (in Japanese). Tokyo MX. Archived from the original on November 2, 2020. Retrieved October 31, 2020.
Be among the first in Australia to feast on a smorgasbord of Demon Slayer episodes, before it heads to AnimeLab for its weekly simulcast season.
Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba | |
鬼滅の刃 (Kimetsu no Yaiba) | |
---|---|
Genre | |
Anime television series | |
Directed by | Haruo Sotozaki |
Produced by |
|
Written by | Ufotable |
Music by | |
Studio | Ufotable |
Licensed by | |
Original network | |
English network |
|
Original run | April 6, 2019 – present |
Episodes | 55 |
Films | |
Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba (鬼滅の刃, Kimetsu no Yaiba, rgh. "Blade of Demon Destruction") [3] is a Japanese anime television series produced by Ufotable, based on the manga series of the same name by Koyoharu Gotouge. The series follows teenage Tanjiro Kamado, who strives to become a Demon Slayer after his family was slaughtered and his younger sister, Nezuko, is turned into a demon.
It premiered on April 6, 2019. It has aired on Tokyo MX, GTV, GYT, BS11 (first season only) and Fuji TV (second season onwards). In North America, the series has been licensed by Aniplex of America and is streamed on Crunchyroll, Hulu, and Funimation. The English dub of Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba was aired on Adult Swim's Toonami programming block in the United States.
A sequel film set after the events of the first season, Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – The Movie: Mugen Train, was released in October 2020 while the compilation films, Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – To the Swordsmith Village and Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – To the Hashira Training, were released in February 2023 and February 2024, respectively.
Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba received critical acclaim for its storyline, animation, action sequences, characters and voice acting (original and dubbed). The series has received numerous awards and is considered one of the best anime of the 2010s.
Season | Episodes | Originally aired | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
First aired | Last aired | Network | |||
1 | 26 | April 6, 2019 | September 28, 2019 | Tokyo MX [b] | |
2 | 18 | 7 | October 10, 2021 | November 28, 2021 | Fuji Television |
11 | December 5, 2021 | February 13, 2022 | |||
3 | 11 | April 9, 2023 | June 18, 2023 | ||
4 | TBA | May 12, 2024 | TBA |
Character | Japanese | English |
---|---|---|
Main characters | ||
Tanjiro Kamado (竈門 炭治郎, Kamado Tanjirō) |
Natsuki Hanae Satomi Satō (child) |
Zach Aguilar Allegra Clark (child) |
Nezuko Kamado (竈門 禰豆子, Kamado Nezuko) | Akari Kitō | Abby Trott |
Zenitsu Agatsuma (我妻 善逸, Agatsuma Zen'itsu) | Hiro Shimono | Aleks Le |
Inosuke Hashibira (嘴平 伊之助, Hashibira Inosuke) | Yoshitsugu Matsuoka | Bryce Papenbrook |
Kanao Tsuyuri (栗花落 カナヲ, Tsuyuri Kanao) | Reina Ueda | Brianna Knickerbocker |
Genya Shinazugawa (不死川 玄弥, Shinazugawa Gen'ya) | Nobuhiko Okamoto | Zeno Robinson |
Secondary characters | ||
Giyu Tomioka (冨岡 義勇, Tomioka Giyū) | Takahiro Sakurai | Johnny Yong Bosch |
Shinobu Kocho (胡蝶 しのぶ, Kochō Shinobu) | Saori Hayami | Erika Harlacher |
Kyojuro Rengoku (煉獄 杏寿郎, Rengoku Kyōjurō) |
Satoshi Hino Mariya Ise (child) |
Mark Whitten Ryan Bartley (child) |
Tengen Uzui (宇髄 天元, Uzui Tengen) | Katsuyuki Konishi | Ray Chase |
Mitsuri Kanroji (甘露寺 蜜璃, Kanroji Mitsuri) | Kana Hanazawa | Kira Buckland |
Muichiro Tokito (時透 無一郎, Tokitō Muichirō) | Kengo Kawanishi | Griffin Burns |
Sanemi Shinazugawa (不死川 実弥, Shinazugawa Sanemi) | Tomokazu Seki | Kaiji Tang |
Obanai Iguro (伊黒 小芭内, Iguro Obanai) | Kenichi Suzumura | Erik Scott Kimerer |
Gyomei Himejima (悲鳴嶼 行冥, Himejima Gyōmei) | Tomokazu Sugita | Crispin Freeman |
Supporting characters | ||
Kagaya Ubuyashiki (産屋敷 耀哉, Ubuyashiki Kagaya) | Toshiyuki Morikawa | Matthew Mercer |
Amane Ubuyashiki (産屋敷 あまね, Ubuyashiki Amane) | Rina Satō | Suzie Yeung |
Hinaki Ubuyashiki (産屋敷 ひなき, Ubuyashiki Hinaki) | Yumiri Hanamori | Kimberly Woods |
Nichika Ubuyashiki (産屋敷 にちか, Ubuyashiki Nichika) | Ari Ozawa | Brianna Knickerbocker |
Kiriya Ubuyashiki (産屋敷 輝利哉, Ubuyashiki Kiriya) | Aoi Yūki | Christine Marie Cabanos |
Kanata Ubuyashiki (産屋敷 かなた, Ubuyashiki Kanata) | Shiori Izawa | Mela Lee |
Muzan Kibutsuji (鬼舞辻 無惨, Kibutsuji Muzan) | Toshihiko Seki | Greg Chun |
Nakime (鳴女, Nakime) | Marina Inoue | Amber Lee Connors |
Kaigaku (獪岳, Kaigaku) | Yoshimasa Hosoya | Alejandro Saab |
Kokushibo / Upper Rank 1 (黒死牟, Kokushibō) | Ryōtarō Okiayu | Jonah Scott |
Doma / Upper Rank 2 (童磨, Dōma) | Mamoru Miyano | Stephen Fu |
Akaza / Upper Rank 3 (猗窩座) | Akira Ishida | Lucien Dodge |
Hantengu / Upper Rank 4 (半天狗) |
Toshio Furukawa (Hantengu and Urami) Yūichirō Umehara (Sekido) Kaito Ishikawa (Karaku) Shunsuke Takeuchi (Urogi) Soma Saito (Aizetsu) Koichi Yamadera (Zohakuten) |
Christopher Corey Smith (Hantengu and Urami) Yong Yea (Sekido) Caleb Yen (Karaku) Chris Hackney (Urogi) Brian Timothy Anderson (Aizetsu) Ben Balmaceda (Zohakuten) |
Gyokko / Upper Rank 5 (玉壼, Gyokko) | Kohsuke Toriumi | Brent Mukai |
Daki / Upper Rank 6 (堕姫, Daki) | Miyuki Sawashiro | Erica Lindbeck |
Gyutaro / Upper Rank 6 (妓夫太郎, Gyūtarō) | Ryōta Ōsaka | Brandon McInnis |
Enmu / Lower Rank 1 (魘夢, Enmu) | Daisuke Hirakawa | Landon McDonald |
Rokuro / Lower Rank 2 (轆轤, Rokuro) | Taiten Kusunoki | Ray Chase |
Wakuraba / Lower Rank 3 (病葉, Wakuraba) | Sōichirō Hoshi | Stefan Martello |
Mukago / Lower Rank 4 (零余子, Mukago) | Kana Ueda | Kira Buckland |
Rui / Lower Rank 5 (累, Rui) | Koki Uchiyama | Billy Kametz |
Kamanue / Lower Rank 6 (釜鵺, Kamanue) | KENN | Alan Lee |
Kyogai (響凱, Kyōgai) | Junichi Suwabe | Steve Blum |
Minor characters | ||
Spider Demon (Mother) (蜘蛛鬼「母」, Kumo Oni: Haha) | Ami Koshimizu | Allegra Clark |
Spider Demon (Father) (蜘蛛鬼「父」, Kumo Oni: Chichi) | Tetsu Inada | Kellen Goff |
Spider Demon (Brother) (蜘蛛鬼「兄」, Kumo Oni: Ani) | Showtaro Morikubo | Derek Stephen Prince |
Spider Demon (Sister) (蜘蛛鬼「姉」, Kumo Oni: Ane) | Ryoko Shiraishi | Erica Lindbeck |
Yahaba (矢琶羽, Yahaba) | Jun Fukuyama | Xander Mobus |
Susamaru (朱紗丸, Susamaru) | Mikako Komatsu | Sarah Anne Williams |
Sakonji Urokodaki (鱗滝 左近次, Urokodaki Sakonji) | Hōchū Ōtsuka | Brook Chalmers |
Sabito (錆兎, Sabito) | Yuki Kaji | Max Mittelman |
Makomo (真菰, Makomo) | Ai Kakuma | Ryan Bartley |
Kasugai Crows (鎹鴉, Kasugai Garasu) |
Takumi Yamazaki (Tanjiro's) Rie Kugimiya (Muichiro's) |
Doug Erholtz |
Tamayo (珠世, Tamayo) | Maaya Sakamoto | Laura Post |
Yushiro (愈史郎, Yushirō) | Daiki Yamashita | Kyle McCarley |
Makio (まきを, Makio) | Shizuka Ishigami | Erica Mendez |
Suma (須磨, Suma) | Nao Tōyama | Emi Lo |
Hinatsuru (雛鶴, Hinatsuru) | Atsumi Tanezaki | Anairis Quiñones |
Aoi Kanzaki (神崎 アオイ, Kanzaki Aoi) | Yuri Ehara | Reba Buhr |
Goto (後藤, Gotō) | Makoto Furukawa | Derek Stephen Prince |
Sumi Nakahara (中原 すみ, Nakahara Sumi) | Ayumi Mano | Michelle Marie |
Naho Takada (高田 なほ, Takada Naho) | Yūki Kuwahara | Kimberly Woods |
Kiyo Terauchi (寺内 きよ, Terauchi Kiyo) | Nanami Yamashita | Jackie Lastra |
Hotaru Haganezuka (鋼鐵塚 螢, Haganezuka Hotaru) | Daisuke Namikawa | Robbie Daymond |
Kozo Kanamori (鉄穴森 鋼蔵, Kanamori Kōzō) | Eiji Takemoto | Kyle Hebert |
Kotetsu (小鉄, Kotetsu) | Ayumu Murase | Jeannie Tirado |
Murata (村田, Murata) | Kōki Miyata | Khoi Dao |
Jigoro Kuwajima (桑島 慈悟郎, Kuwajima Jigorō) | Shigeru Chiba | John DeMita |
Kanae Kocho (胡蝶 カナエ, Kochō Kanae) | Ai Kayano | Bridget Hoffman |
Tanjuro Kamado (竈門 炭十郎, Kamado Tanjūrō) | Shin-ichiro Miki | Kirk Thornton |
Kie Kamado (竈門 葵枝, Kamado Kie) | Houko Kuwashima | Dorothy Elias-Fahn |
Takeo Kamado (竈門 竹雄, Kamado Takeo) | Yō Taichi | Michelle Ruff |
Hanako Kamado (竈門 花子, Kamado Hanako) | Konomi Kohara | Ryan Bartley |
Shigeru Kamado (竈門 茂, Kamado Shigeru) | Kaede Hondo | Jessica DiCicco |
Rokuta Kamado (竈門 六太, Kamado Rokuta) | Aoi Koga | Philece Sampler |
Sumiyoshi (炭吉, Sumiyoshi) | Hirofumi Nojima | Howard Wang |
Shinjuro Rengoku (煉獄 槇寿郎, Rengoku Shinjurō) | Rikiya Koyama | Imari Williams |
Ruka Rengoku (煉獄 瑠火, Rengoku Ruka) | Megumi Toyoguchi | Suzie Yeung |
Senjuro Rengoku (煉獄 千寿郎, Rengoku Senjurō) | Junya Enoki | Cedric Williams |
Yoriichi Tsugikuni (継国 縁壱, Tsugikuni Yoriichi) | Kazuhiko Inoue | Mick Lauer |
An anime television series adaptation by studio Ufotable was announced by Weekly Shōnen Jump in June 2018. [4] The anime was directed by Haruo Sotozaki and produced by Hikaru Kondo. Akira Matsushima served as the character designer. The series ran for 26 episodes, broadcast from April 6 to September 28, 2019, on Tokyo MX, GTV, GYT, BS11, and other channels. [5] [6] [7] [8]
It was released on two limited editions Blu-ray volumes: the first on June 30, 2020, and the second on November 24, 2020. [9] [10] The company also partnered with Funimation to release standard-edition Blu-ray volumes. [11] Two volumes were released on September 29, 2020, and January 19, 2021. [12] [13]
Aniplex of America licensed the series and streamed it on Crunchyroll, Hulu, and Funimation. [14] [15] Madman Entertainment acquired the series in Australia and New Zealand and simultaneously streamed the series on AnimeLab. [16] In the United Kingdom and Ireland, Anime Limited acquired the series. [17] The first season ran for 26 episodes. [18] Netflix also started streaming the series starting January 22, 2021, in the United States. [19] An English dub produced by Aniplex of America and Bang Zoom! Entertainment, [20] aired on Adult Swim's Toonami programming block from October 13, 2019, to May 3, 2020. [21] [22] [c] Funimation began streaming the English dub on December 8, 2020. [24] [20]
The second season ran for two consecutive cours, beginning with a seven-episode television series adaptation of the "Mugen Train" story arc, broadcast from October 10 to November 28, 2021. [25] [26] It included an original first episode, as well as new animation cuts and background music that differ from the film adaptation. [27] [28] Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – Entertainment District Arc (鬼滅の刃 遊郭編, Kimetsu no Yaiba – Yūkaku-hen) premiered on December 5, 2021, with a one-hour special, [29] [27] and finished with its 11th episode on February 13, 2022. [30] The main staff and cast members from the first season returned to reprise their roles. [31] [32] The series was broadcast on 30 stations and channels, including Fuji TV and Tokyo MX, covering most of Japan. [33]
According to Jason DeMarco, Adult Swim executive producer who oversees the block, the success of the Mugen Train film initially made further seasons of the series too expensive to acquire for broadcast. [34] Two years later in October 2023, Adult Swim announced that the English dub for Mugen Train Arc would broadcast on its Toonami block beginning on November 12 of the same year. [35] A month later, it was confirmed that Entertainment District Arc would also air beginning on January 14, 2024. [36]
Funimation streams Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – Entertainment District Arc. [37] Muse Communication licensed the second season in Southeast Asia and South Asia; [38] they streamed it on iQIYI, [39] Bilibili, [40] WeTV, [41] Viu, [42] Netflix, [43] and Disney+. [44]
Four Valentine's Day-themed anime shorts, titled Kimetsu Gakuen Valentine-hen (キメツ学園 バレンタイン編), debuted on the Aniplex YouTube channel on February 14, 2021. [45]
At the end of the second-season finale, a third season covering the "Swordsmith Village" arc from the manga was announced. [30] It premiered on April 9, 2023, with a one-hour special. [46] [47] It ended with a 70-minute episode on June 18 of the same year. [48]
Crunchyroll streams Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – Swordsmith Village Arc, [49] along with the English dub which began on May 28, 2023. [50]
A fourth season covering the "Hashira Training" arc was announced following the end of the third season finale. [51] It is set to premiere on May 12, 2024, with a one-hour episode. [52] [53]
Crunchyroll will stream Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – Hashira Training Arc as it airs in Japan. [54]
Prior to airing, the first five episodes screened theatrically in Japan for two weeks from March 29, 2019, under the title Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba: Sibling's Bond (鬼滅の刃 兄妹の絆, Kimetsu no Yaiba: Kyōdai no Kizuna). [55] [56] Aniplex of America screened the film at the Aratani Theatre in Los Angeles on March 31, 2019. [57] Madman Entertainment screened the film in select theaters in Australia on April 2, 2019. [58] The film was broadcast on Fuji TV's Saturday Premium block on October 10, 2020, followed by Kimetsu no Yaiba: Natagumo Yama-hen (鬼滅の刃 那田蜘蛛山編, "Kimetsu no Yaiba: Mount Natagumo Arc"), which compiled episodes 15–21, on October 17, 2020. Fuji TV also rebroadcast the series in the Kanto area, under the title Kimetsu no Yaiba Zenshūchū! Ikkyo Hōsō (鬼滅の刃全集中!一挙放送, "Kimetsu no Yaiba: Concentration! 一 All-at-once Broadcast"): episodes 6–10 aired from October 12–16, episodes 11–14 on October 17, and episodes 22–26 on October 24, 2020. [59] [60] Episodes 22–26 were recompiled into a special edition episode, titled Hashira Gō Kaigi/Chōyashiki-hen (柱合会議・蝶屋敷編, The Hashira Meeting Arc/Chōyashiki Arc), which adds some new footage and special ending credits roll, and aired on Fuji TV on December 20, 2020. [61] [62]
A compilation film, Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – To the Swordsmith Village, which includes the 10th and 11th episodes of Entertainment District Arc and an advanced screening of the first Swordsmith Village Arc episode, premiered in Japan on February 3, 2023. [46] The film premiered in the United Kingdom on March 1, 2023, [63] and in North America on March 3 of the same year. [64]
Another compilation film, Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – To the Hashira Training, which includes the final episode of Swordsmith Village Arc and advanced screening of first Hashira Training Arc episode, premiered in Japan on February 2, 2024, with a theatrical release on February 23 of the same year. [52]
On September 28, 2019, immediately following the airing of episode 26, an anime film, titled Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – The Movie: Mugen Train, was announced, with the staff and cast reprising their roles. [65] The film is a direct sequel to the anime series and covers the events of the "Mugen Train" story arc. [66] The film is distributed in Japan by Aniplex and Toho and premiered in Japan on October 16, 2020. [67]
The film has grossed over US$500 million worldwide, making it the highest-grossing film of 2020, and broke several box office records, including the highest-grossing Japanese film and anime film of all time. [68] The film was released worldwide digitally on June 22, 2021. [69]
Yuki Kajiura and Go Shiina composed the anime's music. [70] Lisa performed the opening theme " Gurenge" (紅蓮華, "Red Lotus"), [71] while the ending theme is "from the edge" by FictionJunction and Lisa. [72] The ending theme for episode 19 is "Kamado Tanjirō no Uta" (竈門炭治郎のうた, "Tanjiro Kamado's Song") by Go Shiina featuring Nami Nakagawa. [73] For the second season's Mugen Train Arc, Lisa performed the opening theme " Akeboshi" (明け星, lit. 'Morning Star'), as well as the ending theme "Shirogane" (白銀, lit. 'Silver'). For the Entertainment District Arc, Aimer performed the opening theme "Zankyō Sanka" (残響散歌, lit. 'Song of Reverberation'), as well as the ending theme "Asa ga Kuru" (朝が来る, lit. 'Daybreak'). [27] For the third season's Swordsmith Village Arc, Man with a Mission and Milet performed the opening theme " Kizuna no Kiseki" (絆ノ奇跡, lit. 'Bonds of Miracle'), as well as the ending theme " Koi Kogare" (コイコガレ, lit. 'Yearning'). [74] [75] The last episode of the season features the song "Kamado Nezuko no Uta" (竈門襧豆子のうた, "Nezuko Kamado's Song") by Go Shiina featuring Nami Nakagawa. [76] For the fourth season's Hashira Training Arc, My First Story and Hyde will perform the opening theme "Mugen" (無限, lit. 'Infinite'). [77]
Soundtracks of the Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba anime were accompanied with the DVD and Blu-ray volume releases of the anime. A soundtrack album for first season of the anime series, titled Kimetsu no Yaiba: Kamado Tanjiro Risshi-hen Original Soundtrack (竈門炭治郎 立志編 オリジナルサウンドトラック, Kamado Tanjirō Risshi-hen Orijinaru Saundotorakku), published by Aniplex, was released on May 26, 2021. [78] [79] A second soundtrack album containing 50 tracks used in the film and Mugen Train Arc titled, Kimetsu no Yaiba: Mugen Resshahen Original Soundtrack (鬼滅の刃 無限列車編 オリジナルサウンドトラック, Kimetsu no Yaiba Mugen Resshahen Orijinaru Saundotorakku) was released on December 14, 2022. [80] The soundtrack albums include the opening and ending themes as well as the instrumental score by Kajiura and Shiina.
All music is composed by Go Shiina and Yuki Kajiura, except where noted
No. | Title | Music | Length |
---|---|---|---|
1. | "Gurenge" (紅蓮華; TV version) | Lisa (vocals and lyrics); Kayoko Kusano (composer) | 1:32 |
2. | "Family" (家族; OST version) | 3:23 | |
3. | "Brace Up and Run!" | Chiaki Ishikawa (vocals) | 2:32 |
4. | "Survive and Get the Blade, Boy" | Chiaki Ishikawa (vocals) | 3:59 |
5. | "Demon Slayer Corps" (鬼殺隊; OST version) | 3:24 | |
6. | "Training" (訓練) | 1:18 | |
7. | "The Appearance of Sabito" (錆兎 出現) | 1:58 | |
8. | "Makomo" (真菰; OST version) | 1:39 | |
9. | "Purification" (浄) | 1:02 | |
10. | "Water Breathing: Hand Demon" (水の呼吸~手鬼) | 2:31 | |
11. | "Mystery: Tanjiro Kamado: With the Kasugai Crows" (不思議~竈門炭治郎~鎹鴉と共に) | 1:29 | |
12. | "Demon" (鬼) | 2:51 | |
13. | "Muzan Kibutsuji" (鬼舞辻無惨; OST version) | 2:13 | |
14. | "Tamayo" (珠世; OST version) | 2:11 | |
15. | "Battle Between Susamaru and Yahaba" (朱紗丸と矢琶羽との戦闘) | 2:59 | |
16. | "Nezuko: Always Together" (禰豆子~ずっと一緒) | 1:17 | |
17. | "Zenitsu Agatsuma" (我妻善逸) | 1:52 | |
18. | "Inosuke Hashibira" (嘴平伊之助) | 3:05 | |
19. | "Water Breathing" (水の呼吸) | 3:07 | |
Total length: | 44:22 |
No. | Title | Music | Length |
---|---|---|---|
1. | "Natagumo Mountain" (那田蜘蛛山; OST version) | 0:53 | |
2. | "Water Breathing: Blessed Rain After the Drought's Welcome" (水の呼吸~干天の慈雨へ; OST version) | 2:25 | |
3. | "Thunderclap and Flash Six Fold: As the Demon Slayer Corps" (霹靂一閃 六連~鬼殺隊として) | 2:06 | |
4. | "Activate Water Breathing" (水の呼吸発動; OST version) | 2:44 | |
5. | "The Bond of Brother and Sister" (兄妹の絆; OST version) | 0:49 | |
6. | "Confrontation with Rui" (累と対峙) | 1:43 | |
7. | "The Appearance of Shinobu Kocho" (胡蝶しのぶ 出現; OST version) | 0:36 | |
8. | "Giyu Tomioka's Theme: Tanjiro's Battle: Demon Slayer Corps" (冨岡義勇のテーマ~炭治郎の戦い~鬼殺隊) | 1:35 | |
9. | "Constant Flux" (生生流転; OST version) | 2:33 | |
10. | "Kamado Tanjiro no Uta" (竈門炭治郎のうた; OST version) | Nami Nakagawa (featured vocals) | 5:30 |
11. | "Dead Calm" (凪; OST version) | 1:19 | |
12. | "The Insect Hashira's Theme" (蟲柱のテーマ; OST version) | 1:46 | |
13. | "Family Memories" (家族の思い出; OST version) | 0:49 | |
14. | "Hashira: Confrontation" (柱~対峙) | 1:01 | |
15. | "The Messenger of the Kasugai Crows" (鎹鴉の伝令; OST version) | 1:34 | |
16. | "Natagumo Mountain: Dawn" (那田蜘蛛山~夜明け) | 1:19 | |
17. | "The Hashira's Theme" (柱のテーマ; OST version) | 2:14 | |
18. | "Confrontation with Sanemi Shinazugawa" (不死川実弥との対峙) | 1:47 | |
19. | "Gratitude" (感謝) | 0:53 | |
20. | "Showdown with Kanao Tsuyuri" (粟花落カナヲと対決) | 1:11 | |
21. | "Lower Rank Demon" (下弦の鬼) | 1:05 | |
22. | "New Mission: Toward the Mugen Train" (新たなる任務~無限列車に向かって) | 2:50 | |
23. | "From the Edge" (TV version) | 1:30 | |
Total length: | 40:12 |
The anime had received high TV rating percentage and has consistently ranked among the top ten animated shows in Japan, since the release of second season's Mugen Train and Entertainment District story arcs. [81] According to Video Research, Entertainment District Arc averaged 18.43 million viewers, with 25.5 million for episode 10 and 25.97 million for episode 11. [82] The Swordsmith Village Arc's final episode averaged 22.87 million viewers, while the double feature special of the anime's Entertainment District Arc drew 22.51 million after their broadcast. [83] The Swordsmith Village Arc also became the most-watched anime in 2023, garnering 15.4 million viewers in Japan. [84]
Gadget Tsūshin listed both the breathing techniques suffix and "Ah! The era, the era changed again!" on their 2019 anime buzzwords list. [85] On Tumblr's Year in Review, which highlights the largest communities, fandoms, and trends on the platform throughout the year, Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba ranked seventh on the Top Anime & Manga Shows category in 2019 and 2020. [86] [87] The second season's Mugen Train placed third on the annual Twitter Japan's Trend Awards in 2021, based on the social network's top trending topics of the year. [88] According to a 2020 poll conducted by education and publishing company Benesse, which asked 7,661 third to sixth-grade Japanese children (5,170 girls and 2,491 boys), Tanjiro Kamado ranked first on the top 10 most admired people, which placed the children's mothers, fathers, and teachers on second, fourth and fifth place, respectively, with the remaining spots occupied by other Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba characters. [89] The series helped to increase internal tourism, with many tourists traveling to similar spots to the ones featured in the series. [90] [91] [92] [93]
According to Yuma Takahashi, Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba anime series producer, the series had three main factors for its success: "The power of the original work, the attitude towards adapting it to anime, and the environment". Takahashi explained that although many people learned about the manga through the anime, that in itself is not enough to generate a hit, stating that the original manga itself is interesting and they tried to adapt it earnestly without losing any of its appeal. The earnest attitude towards the adaptation and techniques from the staff at Ufotable were other key factors. Takahashi pointed out the changes in the anime-viewing landscape within the past few years and the increasing popularity of the streaming platforms. Takahashi said that by airing the series for two cours, it had the time to build up an audience. Takahashi added: "While the anime was airing, the story being serialized in the manga was heating up, so the timing was also ideal. It wasn't as if it suddenly became the center of attention; I feel that it steadily picked up fans and expanded its audience". [94] In 2021, in Tokushima, the Red Cross featured characters from the series on blood drive posters, which helped to increase the number of donors. [95] [96]
In January 2021, Gundam franchise's creator Yoshiyuki Tomino discussed his thoughts on the series in an interview, where he said that he initially felt jealous of how the series attracted "such a dedicated and talented staff", and said: "The voice actors are great, the composer of the song that everyone knows is great. So many talented people showed up! In that sense, what I felt surpassed envy, and I started thinking, 'Man, those guys sure are something!'". Nevertheless, Tomino called the series cultural success a coincidence, explaining: "I don't think that Demon Slayer is a calculated or contrived work. I think that its assemblage was quite a coincidence", adding that in the anime industry people often get chosen for a job because they "just happened to be there" or their schedules "happened to align at the right time" and that it is rare for people with exactly the ideal talents or innate qualities to get chosen. [97]
Former prime minister of Japan Yoshihide Suga quoted the series at a House of Representatives Budget Committee in the National Diet in November 2020. [98] [99] The incumbent, Fumio Kishida, has remarked that he was a fan of the series, pledging that he would improve the conditions in the anime and manga industry. [100] [101] Several politicians even used motifs and patterns from the series in their campaigns in 2021. [102] [103]
On review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, the first season of Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba holds an approval rating of 100% based on six reviews. [104] Writing for Monsters and Critics, Patrick Frye wrote that the anime adaptation is "praised [for] the animation quality and flowing battle scenes that integrate digital effects seamlessly" while noting that "some fans have complained about weird story pacing issues thanks to flashbacks and some slow moments, but everyone agrees that once the action picks up, it's amazing." [105] Writing for Anime News Network, James Beckett highlighted the 19th episode by noting it was "a thrilling showstopper of an episode, showing off ufotable's considerable skills as producers of nearly unrivaled action spectacle." [106]
The anime series has been considered as one of the best anime of the 2010s. Polygon's Austen Goslin wrote that "Few shows over the last 10 years have so clearly or unabashedly made fights their focus, and absolutely none of them have done it as well as Demon Slayer". [107] Crunchyroll listed it in their "Top 25 best anime of the 2010s", with reviewer Daniel Dockery commenting, "From the top-notch action choreography to the understated (and sometimes not so understated) emotional moments, to the infinitely meme-able Inosuke, Demon Slayer can be a wonder to behold". [108] [109] Writing for Comic Book Resources, Sage Ashford ranked it second on his list, praising its animation and protagonists, whom he called "the most likable male and female leads of the decade". [110] IGN also listed Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba among the best anime series of the 2010s. [111] Japan Web Magazine ranked the series first on its list of "30 Best Anime of All Time". [112]
In 2019, Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba won in the anime category of the Yahoo! Japan Search Awards, based on the number of searches for a particular term compared to the year before; [113] the series won the award for the second consecutive year in 2020; [114] it was third in 2021, [115] and its Swordsmith Village Arc was fifth in 2023. [116] Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba won "Animation of the Decade" at the Funimation's Decade of Anime poll, where the fans voted for their favorite anime across multiple categories. [117] In the other fan poll, Tanjiro and Nezuko Kamado were chosen as one of the "Best Boys" and "Best Girls" honorees, respectively. [118] In the February 2020 issue of Animedia magazine, it was revealed that the series received eleven awards for its characters at the "Animedia Character Awards 2019". Having won the most awards in a single year in animedia history. [119] [120]
In a poll conducted by Kadokawa Game Linkage of the most satisfying series of 2019, Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba ranked in the first place, and it was also reported that between its debut episode and last episode the viewership numbers increased by 1.4 million. [121] [122] In April 2020, the anime series won the Grand Prix award and the New Face Award at the Japan Character Awards by Japan's Character Brand Licensing Association (CBLA). [123] In 2020, the series became one of five recipients of the Special Achievement Award at the 62nd Japan Record Awards. [124] In 2021, the series won "Most Retweeted" for its announcement of the Entertainment District Arc on the annual Twitter Japan's Trend Awards. [125]
Year | Award | Category | Recipient | Result | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
2019 | 9th Newtype Anime Awards | Best Work (TV) | Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba | Won | [126] |
Best Character (Male) | Tanjiro Kamado | Won | |||
Best Character (Female) | Nezuko Kamado | Won | |||
Best Voice Actor | Natsuki Hanae | Won | |||
Hiro Shimono | 5th place | ||||
Best Voice Actress | Akari Kitō | Won | |||
Mikako Komatsu | 2nd place | ||||
Saori Hayami | 4th place | ||||
Kana Hanazawa | 5th place | ||||
Best Theme Song | " Gurenge" by LiSA | Won | |||
Best Director | Haruo Sotozaki | Won | |||
Best Character Design | Akira Matsushima, Miyuki Satō, Yōko Kajiyama, Mika Kikuchi | Won | |||
Best Mascot Character | Chuntaro | 2nd place | |||
Best Screenplay | Ufotable | 2nd place | |||
Best Soundtrack | Yuki Kajiura, Go Shiina | 2nd place | |||
Yahoo! Japan Search Awards | Anime Category | Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba | Won | [113] | |
Billboard Japan Music Awards | Hot Animation | "Gurenge" by LiSA | 3rd place | [127] | |
Reiwa Anisong Awards | Best Anime Song Award | "Gurenge" by LiSA | Won | [128] | |
User Voting Award | "Gurenge" by LiSA | Won | |||
IGN Awards | Best Anime Series | Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba | Nominated | [129] | |
Best Anime Series - People's Choice | Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba | Runner-up | |||
Best Animation | Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba | Nominated | [130] | ||
Best Animation - People's Choice | Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba | Won | |||
Funimation | Animation of the Decade | Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba | Won | [117] | |
Best Boys of the Decade | Tanjiro Kamado | Won | [118] | ||
Best Girls of the Decade | Nezuko Kamado | Won | |||
AT-X | Top Anime Ranking | Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba | Won | [131] | |
2020 | Animedia Character Awards | Most Valuable Player | Tanjiro Kamado | Won | [119] |
bright | Won | ||||
courageous | Won | ||||
Strong | Giyu Tomioka | Won | |||
Cool | Won | ||||
Mysterious | Won | ||||
Hot | Kyojuro Rengoku | Won | |||
Cute | Nezuko Kamado | Won | |||
Beautiful | Shinobu Kocho | Won | |||
Sexy | Mitsuri Kanroji | Won | |||
Cute and bratty | Zenitsu Agatsuma | Won | |||
Tokyo Anime Awards | Animation of the Year | Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba | Won | [132] | |
Best Script & Original Story | Koyoharu Gotouge | Won | |||
Best Animator | Akira Matsushima | Won | [133] | ||
Sound and Performance Award | Yuki Kajiura | Won | |||
TAAF 2020 with Bilibili | Anime of the Year | Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba | Won | [134] | |
D-Anime awards | Recommended Anime | Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba | Won | [135] | |
Best Story | Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba | Won | |||
Hottest Anime | Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba | Won | |||
4th Crunchyroll Anime Awards | Anime of the Year | Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba | Won | [136] [137] | |
Best Protagonist | Tanjiro Kamado | Nominated | |||
Best Boy | Tanjiro Kamado | Won | |||
Best Girl | Nezuko Kamado | Nominated | |||
Best Animation | Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba | Nominated | |||
Best Fantasy | Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba | Nominated | |||
Best Score | Go Shiina and Yuki Kajiura | Nominated | |||
Best Fight Scene | Tanjiro & Nezuko vs. Rui | Won | |||
Best VA Performance (Japanese) | Saori Hayami as Shinobu Kocho | Nominated | |||
14th Seiyu Awards | Best Actor in a Leading Role | Natsuki Hanae as Tanjiro Kamado | Won | [138] | |
Synergy Award | Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba | Won | |||
Japan Character Awards | Grand Prize | Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba | Won | [123] | |
New Face Award | Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba | Won | |||
15th AnimaniA Awards | Best Online Series | Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba | Won | [139] | |
42nd Anime Grand Prix | Grand Prize | Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba | Won | [140] | |
Best Character (Male) | Tanjiro Kamado | Won | |||
Giyu Tomioka | 2nd place | ||||
Best Character (Female) | Nezuko Kamado | 2nd place | |||
Shinobu Kocho | 3rd place | ||||
Best Voice Actor | Natsuki Hanae | Won | |||
Best Theme Song | "Gurenge" by LiSA | Won | |||
Magnolia Award | Best Animation | Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba | Nominated | [141] | |
25th AMD Awards | Excellence Award | Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba | Won | [142] | |
Internet Buzzword Awards | Grand Prize | Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba | Won | [143] | |
Anime Buzzword Awards | Grand Prize | Breathing | Won | ||
Silver Prize | Total Concentration | Won | |||
Bronze Prize | Mr.Kyojuro Rengoku, the 20 billion man. | Won | |||
Billboard Japan Music Awards | Hot 100 | "Gurenge" by LiSA | 3rd place | [144] | |
Most Downloaded Songs | "Gurenge" by LiSA | Won | |||
Hot Animation | "Gurenge" by LiSA | Won | |||
Yahoo! Japan Search Awards | Anime Category | Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba | Won | [114] | |
Movie Category | Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba | Won | |||
Voice Actor Category | Natsuki Hanae | Won | |||
62nd Japan Record Awards | Grand Prize | " Homura" by LiSA | Won | [145] | |
Excellent Work Awards | "Homura" by LiSA | Won | |||
Special Achievement Award | Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba | Won | |||
AT-X | Top Anime Ranking | Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba | Won | [146] | |
2021 | Tokyo Anime Awards | Best Animator | Akira Matsushima | Won | [147] |
Best Director | Haruo Sotozaki | Won | |||
Sound and Performance Award | Yuki Kajiura | Won | |||
15th Seiyu Awards | Special Honor Award | Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba | Won | [148] | |
39th JASRAC Awards | Gold Award | "Gurenge" by LiSA | Won | [149] | |
16th AnimaniA Awards | Best TV Series | Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba | Won | [150] | |
Best Director | Haruo Sotozaki | Won | |||
Best Character Design | Akira Matsushima | Won | |||
Best Studio | Ufotable | Won | |||
Best Anime Score | Go Shiina and Yuki Kajiura | Won | |||
Best Anime Song | "Gurenge" by LiSA | Won | |||
43rd Anime Grand Prix | Best Character (Male) | Kyojuro Rengoku | Won | [151] | |
Best Theme Song | "Homura" by LiSA | Won | |||
Yahoo! Japan Search Awards | Anime Category | Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba | 3rd place | [115] | |
Reiwa Anisong Awards | Artist Song Award | " Akeboshi" by LiSA | Nominated | [152] | |
Twitter Japan's Trend Awards | Most Retweeted | Entertainment District Arc | Won | [125] | |
63rd Japan Record Awards | Song of the Year | "Akeboshi" by LiSA | Won | [153] | |
2022 | 6th Crunchyroll Anime Awards | Best Action | Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Mugen Train Arc | Nominated | [154] [155] |
Best Ending Sequence | "Shirogane" by LiSA | Won | |||
Best Animation | Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Mugen Train Arc | Won | |||
Best VA Performance (Castilian) | Marcel Navarro as Tanjiro Kamado | Won | |||
Best VA Performance (French) | Enzo Ratsito as Tanjiro Kamado | Won | |||
Best VA Performance (Spanish) | Irwin Daayán as Kyojuro Rengoku | Won | |||
Best Score | Yuki Kajiura and Go Shiina | Won | |||
36th Japan Gold Disc Award | Animation Album of the Year | Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba | Won | [156] | |
40th JASRAC Awards | Gold Award | "Gurenge" by LiSA | Won | [157] | |
Silver Award | "Homura" by LiSA | Won | |||
44th Anime Grand Prix | Grand Prize | Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Mugen Train Arc Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Entertainment District Arc |
2nd place | [158] | |
Best Character (Male) | Tengen Uzui | Won | |||
Zenitsu Agatsuma | 4th place | ||||
Gyutaro | 7th place | ||||
Best Character (Female) | Nezuko Kamado | Won | |||
Daki | 2nd place | ||||
Best Voice Actor | Miyuki Sawashiro | 4th place | |||
Best Theme Song | "Zankyō Sanka" by Aimer | Won | |||
"Akeboshi" by LiSA | 3rd place | ||||
MTV Video Music Awards Japan | Best Solo Artist Video (Japan) | "Zankyō Sanka" by Aimer | Won | [159] | |
12th Newtype Anime Awards | Best Work (TV) | Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Entertainment District Arc | Won | [160] | |
Best Character (Male) | Tengen Uzui | 5th place | |||
Best Character (Female) | Nezuko Kamado | 5th place | |||
Best Voice Actor | Yoshitsugu Matsuoka | Won | |||
Natsuki Hanae | 3rd place | ||||
Best Theme Song | "Zankyō Sanka" by Aimer | 4th place | |||
Best Director | Haruo Sotozaki | Won | |||
Best Character Design | Akira Matsushima | 5th place | |||
Best Mascot Character | Muscular Mice | 5th place | |||
Best Screenplay | Ufotable | 4th place | |||
Best Soundtrack | Yuki Kajiura, Go Shiina | 2nd place | |||
Best Studio | Ufotable | 2nd place | |||
Billboard Japan Music Awards | Hot 100 | "Zankyō Sanka" by Aimer | Won | [161] | |
Most Downloaded Songs | "Zankyō Sanka" by Aimer | Won | |||
Hot Animation | "Zankyō Sanka" by Aimer | Won | |||
Reiwa Anisong Awards | Arrangement Award | Kenji Tamai and Masahiro Tobinai for "Zankyō Sanka" by Aimer | Nominated | [162] | |
2023 | 5th Global Demand Awards | Most In-Demand Anime Series of 2022 | Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba | Nominated | [163] |
7th Crunchyroll Anime Awards | Anime of the Year | Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Entertainment District Arc | Nominated | [164] | |
Best Director | Haruo Sotozaki | Won | |||
Best Supporting Character | Tengen Uzui | Nominated | |||
Best Animation | Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Entertainment District Arc | Won | |||
Best Character Design | Akira Matsushima | Won | |||
Best Continuing Series | Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Entertainment District Arc | Nominated | |||
Best Action | Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Entertainment District Arc | Won | |||
Best Fantasy | Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Entertainment District Arc | Won | |||
Best Score | Go Shiina and Yuki Kajiura | Nominated | |||
Best Opening Sequence | "Zankyō Sanka" by Aimer | Nominated | |||
Best VA Performance (Japanese) | Natsuki Hanae as Tanjiro Kamado | Nominated | |||
Best VA Performance (Italian) | Andrea La Greca as Kyojuro Rengoku | Nominated | |||
Best VA Performance (Spanish) | Alejandro Orozco as Gyutaro | Won | |||
41st JASRAC Awards | Bronze Award | "Zankyō Sanka" by Aimer | Won | [165] | |
13th Newtype Anime Awards | Best Work (TV) | Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Swordsmith Village Arc | 3rd place | [166] | |
Best Character (Male) | Muichiro Tokito | 3rd place | |||
Tanjiro Kamado | 4th place | ||||
Akaza | 5th place | ||||
Best Character (Female) | Mitsuri Kanroji | 7th place | |||
Best Theme Song | " Kizuna no Kiseki" by Man with a Mission and Milet | 8th place | |||
Best Studio | Ufotable | 3rd place | |||
Yahoo! Japan Search Awards | Anime Category | Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Swordsmith Village Arc | 5th place | [116] | |
2024 | 6th Global Demand Awards | Most In-Demand Anime Series of 2023 | Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba | Nominated | [167] |
8th Crunchyroll Anime Awards | Anime of the Year | Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Swordsmith Village Arc | Nominated | [168] | |
Best Action | Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Swordsmith Village Arc | Nominated | |||
Best Fantasy | Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Swordsmith Village Arc | Won | |||
Best Animation | Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Swordsmith Village Arc | Won | |||
Best Continuing Series | Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Swordsmith Village Arc | Nominated | |||
Best Character Design | Akira Matsushima | Nominated | |||
Best Cinematography | Yuichi Terao | Nominated | |||
Best Art Direction | Koji Eto | Won | |||
Best Score | Yuki Kajiura and Go Shiina | Nominated | |||
Best Ending Sequence | " Koi Kogare" by Man with a Mission and Milet | Nominated | |||
Best VA Performance (English) | Abby Trott as Nezuko Kamado | Nominated | |||
Best VA Performance (Spanish) | Armando Corona Ibarrola as Muichiro Tokito | Nominated | |||
38th Japan Gold Disc Award | Best 3 Songs by Download | "Kizuna no Kiseki" by Man with a Mission and Milet | Won | [169] |
第26話 新たなる任務 (in Japanese). Tokyo MX. Archived from the original on November 2, 2020. Retrieved October 31, 2020.
Be among the first in Australia to feast on a smorgasbord of Demon Slayer episodes, before it heads to AnimeLab for its weekly simulcast season.