Demon Slayer – Kimetsu No Yaiba – The Movie: Mugen Train

Demon Slayer: Mugen Train, the feature-length sequel to the rapturously popular anime series of the same name, delivers powerful emotional highs and an impressive visual style that will engage both longtime fans and newcomers alike.

Picking up right where the 2019 series left off, the film follows the exploits of teenage demon slayers Tanjiro, Zenitsu, and Inosuke – as well as Tanjiro’s sister Nezuko – aboard a train.

Tasked with assisting master swordsman Kyojuro Rengoku in hunting an elusive demon that has taken the lives of many fellow slayers, their investigation spans both the train’s eerie setting and the depths of their own dreams.

Demon Slayer is quick to lay on the exposition, delving deep into characters’ pasts and emotional states which, although beneficial for viewers not previously acquainted with the series, comes at the cost of some subtlety with respect to the film’s narrative and characterisation.

The visual work of animation studio Ufotable is perhaps Demon Slayer’s strongest quality, with bold colours and detailed character designs ensuring that the film’s intricate fight scenes and frequent comedic moments are rendered with maximum impact, ultimately making for an exciting prelude to a second series.

★★★

Reviewed by Patrick McKenzie