Demon Slayer: What is the Mugen Train effect? Explained

Arguably one of the most influential anime series in recent years, both domestically within Japan and abroad internationally, is none other than Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba. Often shortened to just the former part of the title, the television anime adaptation of author and illustrator Koyoharu Gotouge’s original manga series has undoubtedly earned its spot in anime history.

Since its premiere in April 2019, the Demon Slayer anime has been credited with sparking a revival of interest in anime outside of Japan, especially in Western regions of the world. This was only furthered by the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, which saw viewers from around the world opening up to the anime medium as a result of lockdowns.

However, the Demon Slayer anime series has also been influential in terms of revolutionizing certain parts of the anime industry. This specifically relates to the production and release of its canonical Mugen Train film in 2020, which sparked a new approach to anime franchise films fans now colloquially call the “Mugen Train effect.”

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Demon Slayer’s approach to the Mugen Train arc has forever changed the industry, for better or for worse

The Mugen Train effect, explained

In short, the Mugen Train effect asserts that the Demon Slayer franchise’s first film successfully proved that a new approach to anime films for a series could be financially successful. Generally speaking, films prior to Mugen Train, which adapted canonical storyline material, were almost nonexistent.

Those that did exist were typically not as commercially successful as films which told brand new stories existing outside of the mainline narrative.

While this meant fans were paying for an experience which wasn’t part of the mainline story, it also gave them the opportunity to not view the film if they so desired. However, the Mugen Train film’s bold decision to adapt canonical material meant that viewers who chose not to pay for the film would be missing key parts of the main storyline.

Although forcing viewers into such a choice may seem disastrous on paper, the gamble paid off. The Demon Slayer film was the highest-grossing film of 2020, and became the highest-grossing Japanese film of all time by surpassing Studio Ghibli’s Spirited Away. The film surpassed the half-a-billion USD mark in the worldwide box office en route to setting these records.

Unsurprisingly, other franchises and animation studios took notice, with one of the first to follow suit being Jujutsu Kaisen and MAPPA Studios in December 2021. The Jujutsu Kaisen 0 film adapted the prequel volume to the mainline series, which is canonical, and proved that Mugen Train’s success was the furthest thing from a fluke.

Flashforward to January 2024, and several franchises such as Blue Lock, One Piece, and Chainsaw Man have announced or released canonical films for their respective stories. Thus, the Mugen Train effect was born, further cementing Demon Slayer’s spot in history books. However, some fans argue that the Mugen Train effect results in a negative impact in the industry by removing the aforementioned choice viewers had at theaters.

Similarly, the international releases and localizations of anime series are typically much quicker than films. By producing mainline story content in film-form, international fans are forced to wait potentially up to a year to continue a series. Furthermore, even after waiting, international fans will be forced to pay to go see the film itself. By the time a canonical anime film is available for free on streaming platforms, close to two years may have passed since its initial release.

Others who support the direction in which the Demon Slayer anime has spurred the industry to move in, argue that it better rewards animation studios and creators for their final product. Likewise, since anime films are typically given bigger budgets than television anime productions, the overall quality is higher and merits the price of admission.

Regardless of opinion, it’s universally agreed by anime fans that the Mugen Train effect is a real phenomenon which has revolutionized the anime industry overall. Although such practices may depart greatly from the industry’s roots, it’s clear that an en masse movement has begun amongst the movers and shakers of the medium’s production.

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