"An animated drama featuring hordes of carnivorous fiends might not sound like classic box office fodder, but that's exactly what Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle proved to be in September. The film set new records for anime Japanese animated films and series making more than $70m (52m) on its opening weekend in the US and 535m so far globally. To put that in context, Ghost in the Shell an anime classic released in 1995 made about 2m worldwide. In that 30-year period, anime has gone from an underground phenomena to a saviour during one of the worst autumn box office slumps in recent memory."
"Mitchel Berger, an executive vice-president and the head of theatrical at Crunchyroll the specialist anime streaming service was pleasantly surprised by the Demon Slayer mania. Demon Slayer the Movie: Mugen Train (2020) is part of the globally popular franchise. He says one of the keys to its success has been the slow building of a worldwide fanbase for franchises such as Demon Slayer, which also has a TV series and had already secured one box office success with 2020's Demon Slayer the Movie: Mugen Train (that time, the fiends were trying to eat passengers on a train). Crunchyroll, which is owned by Sony and co-distributed Demon Slayer with its parent company, passed 17 million subscribers this year, and has 50,000 hours of anime on its service."
"Anime first emerged from Japan during the 1950s but its world breakthrough moment came in 1988 with Akira, the dystopian tale of a near-future Tokyo ravaged by biker gangs. Its influence can be clearly seen in everything from cyberpunk to Stranger Things, and ushered in a more grown-up, darker brand of animation. Katsuhiro Otomo's Akira became a breakout anime hit in the west in 1988."
Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle achieved major box-office success, earning more than $70m on its US opening weekend and $535m globally. The film's performance contrasts sharply with past anime releases such as Ghost in the Shell, which earned about $2m worldwide in 1995. Long-term fandom growth and established franchises, supported by streaming services, contributed to the film's success. Crunchyroll reported 17 million subscribers and a library of 50,000 hours of anime, reflecting expanding global demand. Anime's international breakthrough traces back to the 1950s and was amplified by Akira in 1988, which influenced wider popular culture and adult animation.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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