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On Tuesday morning, Aniplex USA and Funimation have announced that the highly anticipated Demon Slayer feature film, Mugen Train will be making its theatrical debut in the United States and Canada on April 23, 2021.
Viewers will have the option of seeing the film either subbed or dubbed, and the release will include 4DX theaters and IMAX locations. Tickets will be available for preorder on Funimation’s website beginning April 9.
With the COVID-19 pandemic expected to continue through the summer, capacities during these showings will be limited due to mask requirements and social distancing guidelines. For those who might not be able to go to the theaters, Funimation and Aniplex will be releasing the film on digital platforms beginning on June 22. A Blu-ray release is still to be determined.
http://twitter.com/DemonSlayerUSA/status/1371838848276254724
Aniplex and Funimation describe Demon Slayer: Mugen Train as follows:
“Set after the events of the television anime series, Demon Slayer -Kimetsu no Yaiba- The Movie: Mugen Train has Tanjiro, Nezuko, Zenitsu, and Inosuke embark on a new mission. Together with one of the most powerful swordsmen of the Demon Slayer Corps, Flame Hashira Kyojuro Rengoku, they investigate the mysterious disappearance of over 40 people aboard the Mugen Train.”
Demon Slayer: Mugen Train premiered in Japan last October, grossing over $350 million (¥38.61 billion) domestically and $417 million worldwide so far. Despite the pandemic, the film’s success is enough to become the highest-grossing film in the Japanese box office, surpassing Hayao Miyazaki’s Spirited Away.
Last month, Aniplex had announced that a second season of Demon Slayer will be in the works, which will be covering the Entertainment District Arc, the arc that follows Mugen Train in the manga. The new season is scheduled to premiere on Japanese television and streaming later this year.
It is unknown if Toonami plans on airing Mugen Train at some point as well. Although Toonami co-creator Jason DeMarco has been adamant since the 2014 Month of Movies that they can’t air movies nowadays due to financial reasons (although he has made exceptions), because the upcoming second season will skip ahead to the Entertainment District Arc, the film will be essential canon viewing for anime viewers. This could lead to a scenario where Aniplex and Toonami risks alienating viewers by skipping over Mugen Train for the Toonami audience. Such a controversial move would not be without precedent, as when Toonami deferred from airing Sword Art Online: Ordinal Scale when the show returned to the block for Project Alicization back in 2018. Although Ordinal Scale was not in the original light novels, fans have noticed that the author has integrated elements and plot lines from that movie into the anime and light novels going forward.
If you want to see Demon Slayer return to the block for Mugen Train and the Entertainment District Arc, send your show requests to Toonami’s Facebook page or by directly messaging Jason DeMarco on Twitter (@Clarknova1). We also recommend letting Aniplex know through their social media accounts.
A press release from Funimation can be viewed below:
GLOBAL BOX OFFICE SENSATION “DEMON SLAYER -KIMETSU NO YAIBA- THE MOVIE: MUGEN TRAIN” THEATRICAL FILM COMES TO NORTH AMERICA DISTRIBUTED BY ANIPLEX OF AMERICA AND FUNIMATION
Record-Killing Demon Slayer -Kimetsu no Yaiba- The Movie: Mugen Train Set for an April 23, 2021 Theatrical Release in English Dub and Subtitled
Culver City and Santa Monica, California (March 16, 2021) – Young Tanjiro of the Demon Slayer Corps is on a mission to figure out a way to turn his sister back into a human. And his emotional journey continues, as the new film that has slayed box office records in the Asia-Pacific region heads to the big screens in North America.
Aniplex of America and Funimation are bringing the cinematically praised, emotionally charged, and action-packed anime film Demon Slayer -Kimetsu no Yaiba- The Movie: Mugen Train to theaters nationwide in the U.S. and Canada on Friday, April 23, 2021, including in 4DX and on IMAX screens. The film will be available in both English dub as well as subtitled. Tickets are available beginning April 9 at funimation.com/demonslayermovie.
In addition to theaters, it was also announced that fans can enjoy the film on EST (Electronic Sell-Through) beginning June 22, 2021 on Apple TV, Microsoft Store, Vudu, Google Play*, PlayStation Store, and Amazon. Pre-orders for the film will begin on April 26, 2021 on Apple TV, Microsoft Store, and PlayStation Store.
Demon Slayer -Kimetsu no Yaiba- The Movie: Mugen Train is directed by Haruo Sotozaki featuring the original story by Koyoharu Gotoge (JUMP COMICS/SHUEISHA) with screenplay and animation production by studio ufotable. The running time for the film is one one hour and 57 minutes and is rated R.
The Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba anime series, streaming on Funimation both subtitled and dubbed, premiered in 2019 and is based on Koyoharu Gotoge’s manga, which boasts over 150 million copies in circulation in Japan. Since bursting on the scene, Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba is an action-packed, thrilling tale of a young man in search of a cure for his sister, who has been turned into a demon after their family is viciously slaughtered by demons. Together with a captivating story and distinct visual aesthetic by studio ufotable, Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba offers a glimpse into Japan in the early 1900s, which is inhabited by demons and those that vow to slay them.
Set after the events of the television series, Demon Slayer -Kimetsu no Yaiba- The Movie: Mugen Train has Tanjiro, Nezuko, Zenitsu, and Inosuke embark on a new mission. Together with one of the most powerful swordsmen of the Demon Slayer Corps, Flame Hashira Kyojuro Rengoku, they investigate the mysterious disappearance of over 40 people aboard the Mugen Train.
“We are thrilled to be bringing Demon Slayer -Kimetsu no Yaiba- The Movie: Mugen Train to theaters in North America,” said Shu Nishimoto, president of Aniplex of America. “The support from fans worldwide has truly been the driving force behind the series, and we can’t wait for everyone to experience the next chapter in Tanjiro’s journey as a Demon Slayer.”
“Demon Slayer’s record-breaking box office sales in Japan have elevated the series—and anime itself— to a new level,” said Colin Decker, CEO of Funimation Global Group. “It is a truly global-scale franchise, and we’re honored to be the home and distributor of the film in many territories worldwide.”
Demon Slayer -Kimetsu no Yaiba- The Movie: Mugen Train opened in Japan on October 16, 2020 and is now the highest grossing anime and Japanese film (animated or live action) of all time. The film opened on 403 screens (including 38 IMAX theaters), is the fastest film to achieve over $100 million at the box offices in Japan after only 10 days in theaters, and is the most successful IMAX release of all time in the market. The film opened at #1 in Australia and New Zealand last month.
For more information on Demon Slayer -Kimetsu no Yaiba- The Movie: Mugen Train, visit demonslayer-anime.com and follow the official Facebook and Twitter.
About Aniplex of America Inc.
Aniplex of America, Inc. (Santa Monica, California) is a subsidiary of Aniplex, Inc. (headquartered in Tokyo, Japan), a division of Sony Music Entertainment (Japan), Inc., and a leading provider of anime content and music production and distribution in Japan. The company’s ever-growing lineup of shows includes: Sword Art Online, FULLMETAL ALCHEMIST: BROTHERHOOD, Fate/stay night [Unlimited Blade Works], Fate/Zero, KILL la KILL, Gurren Lagann, Monogatari series, Anohana -The Flower We Saw That Day-, Cells at Work!, The Promised Neverland, Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba, The Millionaire Detective – Balance: UNLIMITED, and many more. In 2017, the company released the English version of the popular mobile game, Fate/Grand Order.
About Funimation
Funimation distributes the best anime to a passionate global community of fans. For over 25 years, Funimation has been delivering anime to fans and is pioneering an omnichannel approach to engaging and entertaining millions where they want it most—streaming, home entertainment, theatrical, e-commerce, merchandising, live events, and more.
Funimation’s streaming services offer a growing catalog of over 700 anime series and 13,000+ hours of content available on 15 platforms and in 49 countries. Funimation’s in-house team designs must-have, exclusive collectibles distributed through major retailers and on its e-commerce site. Funimation’s theatrical division has distributed and marketed 6 of the top 20 anime films in the U.S. As pioneers of the SimulDub™, Funimation is the gold standard for foreign language dubbing of Japanese anime with the highest quality standards and fidelity to the original artists. With a fan-centric approach, Funimation has built a social community of tens of millions of followers and earned the trust of Japan’s most iconic creators.
Funimation has nine 9 offices in six 6 countries and hundreds of employees worldwide. As an independently operated joint venture between U.S.-based Sony Pictures Entertainment and Japan’s Aniplex, a subsidiary of Sony Music Entertainment (Japan) Inc., Funimation benefits from deep entertainment expertise across cultures, territories, and languages.
To learn more about Funimation, visit funimation.com and follow Funimation on Facebook , Twitter and Instagram.
