Demon Slayer Relies Too Heavily on Movies to Succeed

Demon Slayer has proven to excel in the realm of movies, with some of its best story arcs being presented as feature films rather than traditional anime seasons. While iconic shonen series like Naruto and Bleach boast lengthy storylines, Demon Slayer's concise yet impactful narrative allows for the exploration of self-contained arcs that are perfect for the cinematic format. This innovative approach has given Demon Slayer's anime a unique and experimental quality, but striking the right balance is crucial for its long-term success.

The Mugen Train movie, which served as a tie-in to the anime series, achieved remarkable success in Japan and beyond. However, relying too heavily on movies may not be the optimal strategy for Demon Slayer to maintain its engagement with anime fans. While movies like Mugen Train have their rightful place and serve as inspiration for other anime series, an excessive reliance on Demon Slayer movies could send a negative message about the core anime itself.

Demon Slayer should continue to embrace its ability to deliver captivating story arcs through movies, but it should also consider diversifying its approach to keep the core anime engaging and fresh. By striking a balance between movies and traditional episodic releases, Demon Slayer can continue to captivate its audience while evolving its storytelling techniques. Ultimately, it's crucial for Demon Slayer to find the right blend of cinematic experiences and traditional anime episodes to ensure its long-term success and appeal to a wide range of viewers.

Demon Slayer Shouldn't Use Movies As A Crutch

The successful integration of tie-in movies into a broadcasted, episodic shonen anime like Demon Slayer has undeniably yielded impressive results. The Mugen Train story arc, which was relatively self-contained and too brief for a conventional anime season, served as the perfect foundation for a standalone movie. However, it's important to approach this approach as an exception rather than the norm moving forward. While there have been suggestions that other arcs, such as the epic conclusion of the Swordsmith Village arc, should also have been made into movies, the increasing number of tie-in theatrical releases for Demon Slayer may not be the most flattering direction for the franchise.

The abundance of tie-in movies, coupled with the notion that even more arcs should have been movies, raises concerns about the core anime's ability to engage and captivate fans. It could be perceived as though Demon Slayer is relying on movies as a crutch to impress audiences in theaters with spectacle, using loud sounds and flashy visuals. However, this approach should be exercised with moderation and restraint. In retrospect, Mugen Train stands out as a unique and exceptional success, rather than a precedent for a continuous stream of tie-in movies.

Proposing additional tie-in movies, such as starting Season 3 with one and hypothetically concluding Season 3 with another, may be viewed as a desperate move. The core Demon Slayer anime should not heavily rely on multiple integrated movies to maintain excitement among fans and generate buzz. Mugen Train should be regarded as an extraordinary and era-defining achievement, rather than a blueprint to continuously inundate anime fans with theatrical releases to sustain the anime's popularity.

Finding a delicate balance between the core anime and occasional tie-in movies will be crucial for Demon Slayer's long-term success and reputation. While movies can undoubtedly offer unique storytelling opportunities, it's imperative to preserve the integrity of the core anime and ensure that it remains strong enough to engage audiences on its own merits.

Demon Slayer's Anime Should Stand On Its Own

To some extent, the Demon Slayer anime sets a commendable example for integrated anime movies that bridge the gaps between seasons, with Mugen Train serving as a prime illustration. The Chainsaw Man anime could follow suit by incorporating its Reze arc between Seasons 1 and 2, and Jujutsu Kaisen might adopt a similar approach in the future. However, for the most part, the original concept of standalone anime movies proves to be the superior approach. These supplementary films serve as enjoyable bonus adventures for dedicated fans, operating independently from the essential storyline of the original anime. Relying on movies more than once, at most, can hinder the success of the core anime series.

The primary anime series should be able to stand on its own merits, as demonstrated by Jujutsu Kaisen, My Hero Academia, and That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime. Although these franchises have released one or more tie-in movies in recent years, these films did not serve as crutches for the original broadcasted series. The anime series confidently held their ground, with the movies offering fans an extra treat—a celebratory adventure, so to speak. While it is true that these anime series may not have had story arcs concise enough to emulate Mugen Train, which explains their lack of integrated movies, they still handled the movie format effectively. Demon Slayer would do well to emulate their example moving forward.