Demon Slayer Anime Now Fits Cartoon Network's Toonami Budget

Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Mugen Train is set to make its long-awaited debut on Cartoon Network's Toonami programming block.

Adult Swim recently unveiled on X (formerly Twitter) that the "Mugen Train" arc of Demon Slayer will be premiering on Toonami at midnight EST on Nov. 11. This exciting news arrives nearly two years after Toonami co-creator Jason DeMarco revealed that the movie's immense success resulted in a steep licensing price that was initially unfeasible for Toonami to acquire.

The "Mugen Train" arc of Demon Slayer, originally released as a film in 2020, made headlines for its impressive achievements. It holds the record for being the highest grossing anime film of all time, as well as the highest grossing Japanese film and the highest grossing film of 2020. The film was widely praised for its outstanding animation, captivating soundtrack, and faithful adaptation of the original manga storyline.

Following its success, the "Mugen Train" story arc was later adapted into a seven-episode TV series. Streaming rights for this version were acquired by Hulu and Netflix, while other platforms such as Crunchyroll and Amazon Prime Video continue to offer the movie version.

Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba, created by author Koyoharu Gotouge, initially gained acclaim and popularity as a manga in 2016. With the release of its anime adaptation by Ufotable in 2018, it quickly became an international sensation. The story revolves around Tanjiro Kamado, a teenager living during the Japanese Taishō period. After his family becomes victims of a brutal demon attack, his sister Nezuko is the only survivor, albeit transformed into a demon herself. Determined to find a cure for Nezuko and seek revenge for his family, Tanjiro becomes a demon slayer.

The series, although classified as a shonen title, has captivated audiences worldwide with its breathtaking animation and in-depth character development. Despite his daily task of slaying demons with his Nichirin sword, Tanjiro remains perpetually kind and exhibits empathy even towards the man-eating demons, making him a beloved protagonist admired by fans of all ages. Alongside his distinctive checkered haori, Tanjiro has become the iconic symbol of one of the most financially successful media franchises in history, surpassing the profits of Pirates of the Caribbean and Sesame Street in just a few years.

Toonami had been eagerly attempting to secure the streaming rights for Demon Slayer, knowing that the cost involved would be substantial. Fans of Toonami expressed a mixture of excitement and apprehension on X, with one user humorously remarking, "And all it took was depriving us of any new shows for an entire year!"

Toonami's lineup on November 11 will feature One Piece at 1:30 a.m. EST and Naruto Shippūden at 2:00 a.m. The streaming rights to Demon Slayer's latest season, the "Swordsmith Arc," have not been publicly released yet, and it is unknown if Toonami will try to acquire them.

Meanwhile, fans can watch all seasons of Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba on Hulu, Crunchyroll, Netflix, and Prime Video.

Source: X (formerly Twitter)

Editor's P/S

As a Gen Z netizen, I am thrilled to hear that Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba's highly-anticipated Mugen Train arc will finally be making its way to Cartoon Network's Toonami programming block. The fact that Toonami was able to overcome the initial concerns about the cost involved in licensing the movie is a testament to the immense popularity and demand for this anime series among fans.

The Mugen Train arc, which was originally released as a film in 2020, made headlines for its impressive achievements, becoming the highest-grossing anime film of all time, as well as the highest-grossing Japanese film and the highest-grossing film of 2020. Its outstanding animation, captivating soundtrack, and faithful adaptation of the original manga storyline were widely praised by critics and audiences alike.

The fact that Demon Slayer has captivated audiences worldwide, surpassing the profits of established franchises like Pirates of the Caribbean and Sesame Street in just a few years, is a testament to its exceptional storytelling and character development. Tanjiro Kamado, the kind-hearted and empathetic protagonist, has become an iconic symbol of the series, admired by fans of all ages.

I believe that the addition of Demon Slayer to Toonami's lineup will be a huge success and will attract even more viewers to the programming block. The series' thrilling action sequences, stunning visuals, and compelling characters are sure to resonate with Toonami's audience, and I can't wait to see how the Mugen Train arc unfolds on this platform.