'Demon Slayer' takes Indian theatres by storm, ignites a Gen Z revolution

A film, which released on September 12 across 1,700 screens in India, in five languages, is quietly scripting history. Within just 26 days, it has raked in Rs 65 crore, with advance bookings alone crossing Rs 15 crore in India. In Kerala too, the movie collected over Rs.1 crore on its opening day. Yet, despite these impressive figures, a large section of Indian moviegoers may not even have heard about it. That’s because it’s a Gen Z revolution on the big screen.

The film in question is a Japanese anime movie, ‘Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – Infinity Castle,’ which is setting new trends in India, driven largely by a young audience. In Kerala alone, it has seen 300 screenings across 110 theatres. Globally, it is Japan’s biggest box office hit this year and stands at fourth place among the highest-grossing Japanese films of all time.

Anime is not ‘cartoon’
In Japanese, the word anime means animation. But unlike the casual use of the word ‘cartoon’, anime refers to a distinct art form encompassing films and series for both children and adults. Anime that once reached audiences in the 1990s through television has now made a powerful comeback, thanks to OTT platforms.

What makes anime stand apart is its storytelling depth. Most anime explore complex human relationships. Characters never lose their identity and even antagonists or seemingly minor roles are given layered backstories. This world-building makes anime far richer than conventional cinema, winning devoted fans across countries. A few other elements add to its charm such as stories rooted in friendship, philosophy, breathtaking action sequences, unexpected twists and emotionally intense moments of joy, grief, anger or tears. Much of anime’s visual setting revolves around Tokyo cityscapes, its towering buildings and iconic cherry blossoms.

Where the magic begins
Most anime, including Demon Slayer, draw their life from manga—Japanese comic books that are read from right to left. These black-and-white pages, with intricately drawn characters and gripping narratives, have their own loyal fan base. For readers, seeing beloved characters come alive on screen is an irresistible pull.
Sometimes the anime follows the manga storyline faithfully, while at other times, there are creative deviations. ‘Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba’ is based on the manga of the same name by ‘Koyoharu Gotouge,’ first published in 2016. The series ran for 205 chapters across 23 volumes. The manga was first adapted into an anime series, with the first of its four seasons released in 2019. The current film is based on the ‘Infinity Castle’ arc of the story. For many who flocked to watch it, the excitement lay in seeing scenes they once imagined while reading the manga now brought to life on the big screen.

The true anime devotees
Anime fans are called Otakus. For them, the length of a series is never a hurdle. They follow their favourite shows with absolute dedication, whether it’s Naruto, which stretches across 500 episodes and 22 seasons, or One Piece, which has already crossed 1,000 episodes. What makes anime resonate so deeply is that its stories are rooted in youth, weaving in themes of friendship and love. For young viewers, anime becomes a mirror of their own lives, while they also enjoy the offering of an escape into fantasy worlds. The ninja world in Naruto, with its supernatural powers and life-or-death battles and the fight against man-eating demons in Demon Slayer have all opened up thrilling new worlds for them.

For Otakus, the significance of anime lies in the life lessons it imparts. Aspects like the courage to face challenges, the power of love and the spirit to move forward without giving up all keep them deeply inspired and excited.

In Demon Slayer, it is the love for his sister that drives Tanjiro Kamado, the protagonist, to join the Demon Slayer Corps. The series portrays his relentless battles against demons and highlights his determination to fight on without ever conceding defeat.