GtPGKogPYT4p61R1biicqBXsUzo" /> Google+ Movie Review: Demon Slayer - Kimetsu No Yaiba - The Movie: Mugen Train | I Smell Sheep

Friday, May 14, 2021

Movie Review: Demon Slayer - Kimetsu No Yaiba - The Movie: Mugen Train

Demon Slayer - Kimetsu No Yaiba - The Movie: Mugen Train
Apr 23, 2021 
Director: Haruo Sotozaki
Writer: Koyoharu Gotoge, studio ufotable
Cast: Zach Aguilar (Tanjiro Kamado), Abby Trott (Nezuko Kamado), Aleks Le (Zenitsu Agatsuma), Bryce Papenbrook (Inosuke Hashibira), Mark Whitten (Kyojuro Rengoku)
Runtime: 1h 57m
Rating: R (Violence and Bloody Images)
Genre: Fantasy, Anime, Adventure, shonen
Original Language: Japanese
https://demonslayer-anime.com/
Falling forever into an endless dream... Tanjiro and the group have completed their rehabilitation training at the Butterfly Mansion, and they arrive to their next mission on the Mugen Train, where over 40 people have disappeared in a very short period of time. Tanjiro and Nezuko, along with Zenitsu and Inosuke, join one of the most powerful swordsmen within the Demon Slayer Corps, Flame Hashira Kyojuro Rengoku, to face the demon aboard the Mugen Train on track to despair.

There is a lot to unpack with Demon Slayer - Kimetsu No Yaiba - The Movie: Mugen Train. I'm gonna try to keep it short and to the point. 

I saw it with my 20-year-old daughter (she'd already seen it once) and she's seen the TV series. I hadn't heard much about it before seeing the movie. Some people say you need to see the TV series first, but that's not the case. I still loved the movie...it rocked!

Here is a little background about Demon Slayer:
-Feb 2016-May 2020 the Demon Slayer manga* created by Koyoharu Gotouge appeared in the manga magazine Weekly Shōnen Jump.
*Set during Taishō-era Japan (1912-1926), it follows a young boy named Tanjiro in his quest to join the secret society known as the Demon Slayer Corps in order to find a cure for his sister, who has been turned into a demon.

-April-Sept 2019 it was a 26-episode anime television series adaptation produced by Ufotable

-Oct 2020 Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba the Movie: Mugen Train was released in Japan. The events Mugen Train happen between season 1 of the TV series and season 2.

-2021: The TV series second season will air.

Okay, now I can talk about the movie.
The Demon Slayer movie is the highest-grossing film EVER in Japan! What makes it different from other shonen* anime is addition of a horror element. It is rated R.
*Manga marketed to a teen male audience ages of 12-18

If you enjoy animated action movies then this is a must-see. The action scenes are insane! The final battle lasted like 30 minutes (I might be exaggerating but it seemed like it) and it was epic. 
Not only do you get lots of action, you get character development. The "good guys" are so pure of heart and wholesome you can't help but love them. The "bad guys" demons are done in true anime style. I've always loved they way Japanese animators portray demons...mouths everywhere! lol.
The movie centers around two heroes. They young Tanjiro Kamado wants to become a hashira in the Demon Slayer Corps and he wants to be trained by the best Flame Hashira Kyojuro Rengoku. Rengoku only had a small part in the TV series so this is kind of his backstory.

The movie will also touch your heart...I shed a tear at one point. They balance a good amount of humor with the heavier moments.
The artists didn't use normal animation. They combined hand-drawn animation and digital effects to create 3D sequences. It took a few for me to adjust to the style but once you do you will be hooked.
Oh, it's subtitled if that is something you don't like. There is a great use of music with the action too.

Holly and I give it 4 1/2 "Hashira" Sheep





SharonS


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