Mugen Train is Still The Highest-Grossing Anime Film of All Time

Summary Mugen Train delivers stunning visuals, emotional depth, and epic battles, making it a must-watch for both new and veteran fans.

The film covers a full canon arc in a single, easily rewatchable experience, appealing to a larger target audience.

Rengoku steals the show with impactful moments, adding depth to his character and providing fans with a powerful and unforgettable experience.

With a debut of $21 million domestically on opening weekend and a worldwide gross of over $450 million, the 2020 anime film, Demon Slayer: Mugen Train, currently holds the title of the biggest anime film of all time. Despite the uncertainty of the COVID-19 pandemic, the animated feature film found an unprecedented amount of success thanks to its voice actors, animators, composers, directors, and more.

Based on the manga series by Koyoharu Gotouge, the Demon Slayer franchise is primarily known for its unique character designs and gorgeous fighting techniques, such as Tanjiro’s Water Breathing. Mugen Train delivers on each of these expectations and more, carrying on the anime’s legacy. There are many reasons why Ufotable’s film was such a worldwide phenomenon, and they explain why it is still the highest-grossing anime film of all time.

Related Demon Slayer: Mugen Train Was a Bold Risk That Represents the Future of Shonen Anime Movies The incredibly successful and risk-taking Demon Slayer: Mugen Train movie dramatically changed the future of anime movies for the better.

10 Mugen Train is Enjoyable for Both New and Veteran Demon Slayer Fans

Mugen Train perfectly balances exposition and exploration.

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The story of Demon Slayer: Mugen Train takes place after Season 1 of the anime (chapters 1-53 in the manga). While the arc takes place after crucial plot points like the Final Selection and Rehabilitation Training Arcs, it has the capacity to be a stand-alone film. Some anime films may confuse those who haven’t seen the complete series or read the manga, which can ostracize a large demographic. However, Mugen Train provides the perfect amount of exposition to include new fans of Demon Slayer.

The four protagonists board the train to assist Rengoku, who awaits them. This storyline is initiated and completed within a single film, eliminating the need for an overwhelming amount of context. Furthermore, via dream sequences, the audience learns more about the main characters: Tanjiro’s warm heart, Zenitsu’s crush on Nezuko, and Inosuke’s untamed spirit. Finally, Mugen Train exemplifies the core-four's abilities. Inosuke exemplifies a new form of Beast Breathing, Nezuko frees her friends from bondage utilizing her fire-based Blood Demon Art, Tanjiro inquires about his father’s Hinokama Kagura dance, and Zenitsu steals the show with his iconic sleep combat technique.

9 A Full Canon Arc is Covered in the Film, Making it Worthwhile and Rewatchable

Capturing an entire arc in a single film allows for a larger target audience.

One of the most exciting experiences for an anime fan is watching a canon film on the big screen, and Mugen Train provides just that. While non-canon films like One Piece: Stampede and My Hero Academia: World Heroes’ Mission are fun adventures that extend their anime’s universe, a movie experience that enhances the manga’s canon storyline is unbeatable. In addition to the film’s canonized plot, an entire arc is covered in just under two hours, making it an easily rewatchable, satisfying film.

8 3. The Flame Hashira Steals the Show with a Variety of Monumental Moments

Rengoku’s significant impact in a short amount of time.

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Although Rengoku’s role in Demon Slayer was fleeting, his impact on viewers was extraordinary, placing 7th in multiple popularity polls on Weekly Shōnen Jump’s official Twitter account. In addition to the main protagonists’, Mugen Train explores Rengoku’s character traits and backstory.

“Set your heart ablaze.” -Rengoku Kyojuro, Demon Slayer: Mugen Train

While initially hesitant to accept Nezuko as an official Demon Slayer, he finally realizes her true intentions after the battle. Mugen Train also covers a bit of Rengoku’s backstory, showing the relationship with his father and younger brother. Finally, the most iconic quote from the Demon Slayer franchise emerged from Mugen Train, thanks to the Flame Hashira:

Related Demon Slayer: Why [SPOILER] Had To Die In Mugen Train Demon Slayer the Movie: Mugen Train features a heartbreaking death. Here's why this death had to happen for the series and the character.

7 Mugen Train’s Eye-Catching Animation Keeps Viewers Enticed

Demon Slayer is known for its stunning visuals, and Mugen Train upholds its reputation.

At the 2022 Crunchyroll Anime Awards, Ufotable’s 2020 Demon Slayer film took home the achievement for Best Film. The story, characters, and voice acting in Mugen Train earned this film recognition, but one of the most critical aspects of the motion picture is its animation.

Demon Slayer became famous for its stunning fight scenes, passionate expressions of emotion, and a vibrant display of colors, and all these elements are present in Mugen Train. Ufotable has been praised far and wide for its rendition of Demon Slayer, and it's safe to say that this movie played an important role in bringing exposure to the quality of the product.

6 Awe-Inspiring Performances from New Faces: Akaza, Enmu, and Rengoku

A new cast of voice actors brings Koyoharu Gotouge’s characters to life.

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The subbed and dubbed versions of Mugen Train are stacked with undeniably talented voice actors. Aside from the core cast from the anime series, newer characters such as Akaza, Enmu, and Rengoku made this story truly shine. The Japanese voice actors for these characters are Akira Ishida, Daisuke Hirakawa, and Satoshi Hino, while the English dub is voiced by Lucien Dodge, Landon McDonald, and Mark Whitten. Each voice actor gave an all-out performance, capturing the heart and soul of the film by bringing beloved characters to life.

Fun Fact: Mark Whitten, the English dub voice of Rengoku, appeared at a special screening of Demon Slayer: Mugen Train in San Antonio, Texas, back in 2023. He discussed his journey in the entertainment industry, voice acting techniques, and his favorite lines from the film with fans.

5 The Epic Musical Score and Original Theme Song Became a Defining Trait of Mugen Train

Go Shiina and Yuki Kajiura’s contribution enhanced the film-watching experience

In addition to the stunning animations, Mugen Train is full of new themes and compositions. Go Shiina and Yuki Kajiura, composers of the Mugen Train Original Soundtrack, crafted an array of original pieces.

The Demon Slayer film received its own original theme song titled, Homura, sung by LiSA. However, the most iconic song to emerge from the OST is Akaza vs. Rengoku’s Theme. Shiina and Kajiura’s composition can be heard during the duo’s legendary battle near the film's end.

4 Demon Slayer Introduces Two New Kizuki Members: Enmu and Akaza

This anime film doesn’t present only one challenge to its heroes.

No Demon Slayer film would be complete without introducing a new villain. However, Mugen Train doesn’t only introduce Enmu, the Lower Rank 1 demon. Near the end of the film, when the battle is seemingly concluded, Akaza, an Upper Rank 3, appears out of the blue. The Upper Rank Kizuki are the strongest demons in the series' and having one suddenly appear at the end of the movie added some precious shock value.

Akaza’s character quickly became an internet sensation after the film’s release. Fans enjoyed the unique dynamic between Akaza and Rengoku. However, Azaka soon became one of the most feared antagonists in the Demon Slayer series after killing the beloved Flame Hashira.

3 Mugen Train’s Deceivingly Happy Ending Leads to an Unexpected Death

Once the viewers think all is well, a shocking new problem appears.

Considering the film’s title, viewers are led to believe that after Enmu and his train are defeated, the heroes have won the battle. However, a new villain appears unexpectedly after the main plot is seemingly concluded. Akaza, the Upper Rank 3 demon, challenges Rengoku to a battle. Not only is their fight sequence and accompanying soundtrack incredibly memorable, but Akaza begs Rengoku to become a demon so the two can test their strength till the end of time.

Finally, the most well-known, heart-wrenching scene in this film is the death of Rengoku. After a long and grueling battle, Rengoku is defeated, as he cannot regenerate like his counterpart. Akaza narrowly escapes death, fleeing the battlefield as the sun peaks over the horizon, but Tanjiro chases after him, protesting the unfairness of the battle between mortals and demons. Before Rengoku leaves the small group of Demon Slayers, he provides them one last bit of encouragement:

“Go ahead and live with your head held high! No matter how devastated you may be by your own weakness or uselessness…set your heart ablaze. Grit your teeth and look straight ahead.” -Rengoku Kyojuro, Demon Slayer Mugen Train

2 Emotional Moments That Tugged at Audiences’ Heart Strings

Mugen Train is filled to the brim with moving scenes that display the alternative side of Demon Slayer.

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Countless moments in Mugen Train were brilliantly executed, but a few notable scenes exemplified how poignant the anime can be. For example, Enmu enlists a group of children to destroy the Demon Slayers’ spiritual core. The child assigned to infiltrate Tanjiro’s subconscious is a young boy with Tuberculosis. However, as the boy enters Tanjiro’s subconscious, he is overwhelmed by the beauty and warmth of his spiritual core. Glowing sprites not only welcome the boy, but, despite his ill-intentions, lead him directly to the core. This moment perfectly captures Tanjiro’s heart of gold and exemplifies his willingness to continually see the best in others.

During the battle with Enmu, Tanjiro struggles to stay awake, constantly slipping into a dreamland where his family awaits. For a moment, the protagonist embraces this illusion, having dinner with his loved ones and enjoying some long-awaited quality time with his sister, Nezuko, who is back to her normal self. However, this façade doesn’t last long. Soon enough, Tanjiro recognizes the severity of the situation and must escape his fantasy. As he runs from his home into the forest, his family follows, calling after him. Tanjiro faces his most brutal battle, saying goodbye, once again, to those he could not save.

Related Demon Slayer's Rengoku is Deeper in the Anime Than in The Mugen Train Movie The serialized adaptation of Demon Slayer's Mugen Train movie expands on Rengoku significantly, giving him a whole episode's worth of focus.

1 Demon Slayer: Mugen Train Isn’t Just Good, It Leaves Viewers Wanting More

This anime film was the perfect segue into its next seasons.

One of the hardest things to accomplish in a film is crafting a satisfying and open-ended conclusion to allow for a continuation of the series. These endings risk either leaving audiences completely robbed of a satisfactory resolution or a rigid conclusion with no room for future exploration. However, the audience feels a sense of accomplishment by completing Rengoku’s character arc and defeating Enmu, the poster villain for this film. On the other hand, Azaka escapes, and Rengoku sends Tanjiro on a quest to meet his little brother, both of which are massive plot points that will require closure in future seasons.

From the animation to the voice acting to the masterful storytelling, Ufotable and the rest of the cast and crew have crafted a film that fans will remember for years to come. Not only is this film enjoyable for veteran anime fans, but for newcomers as well. These points, and so many more, are why Demon Slayer: Mugen Train is still the highest-grossing anime film of all time.