Demon Slayer the Movie: Mugen Train (2021)

In 2019, Demon Slayer's anime release united fans of it's manga and of the Shonen anime genre to experience what's become a phenomenon throughout the world. Garnishing plenty of attention and awards amidst anime loyalists and newcomers as well. In 2020, Demon Slayer the Movie became Japan's highest grossing film ever... shattering every box office record. Finally, in 2021 the continuation of Tanjiro and Nezuko's story has released in the USA. I will first say that this film is a direct sequel to season 1 and it does not work as a standalone film. This is a new type of anime film, whereas most anime films are not canon. So the intention of Mugen Train is to continue developing the shows plot which will then pick up in season 2. As fans of the show, my wife and I were ecstatic to watch this epic adventure. The animation quality is  superior to anything we've seen before and the soundtrack heightens each fight scene to extraordinary levels. There are several breathtaking moments of emotional character-building breakthroughs - that would go over your head if you didn't watch the show. My only complaints with this story are the lack of development towards the second half, which still manages to be the best part of the film. The Lower First has one of the coolest demonic abilities but she isn't fleshed out as a character at all. I would have liked more emotional pull from her, which would have kept in-line with the anime's fantastic development of the villains. If they'd have added an extra thirty minutes of development I think this would have been a five star film. Still though, it's a grand experience that encapsulates all the different elements that make the show great; the theme of family, the pursuit of your best self, learning to move on, all this and more wrapped into an epic two hours that you won't forget.

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