Anime’s ‘Demon Slayer’ hit is a watershed for Japan

COMMENTARY / Japan

Anime’s ‘Demon Slayer’ hit is a watershed for Japan

The nation’s animation finally has a global box-office smash. Can it capitalize on it?

Channing Tatum, one of the English-language voice actors, and others attend the premiere of “Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – Infinity Castle” at the TCL Chinese 6 Theater in Los Angeles on Sept. 9. Japanese anime has surged from niche fandom to global box-office powerhouse with the latest “Demon Slayer” installment. | REUTERS

By Gearoid Reidy
Bloomberg

Sep 19, 2025

Japanese animation has dominated streaming for years. Now, it’s slaying on the silver screen, too.

“Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – Infinity Castle,” the first part of three movies that will conclude the hottest anime property in years, last weekend opened to $70.6 million in North America. That goes further than simply a record for a Japanese animation or the most for a foreign-language film. It’s the sort of figure you’d expect to see from a mainstream Hollywood hit — a “James Bond,” say, or “Fast & Furious.”

This is a watershed moment for an industry that has been on a parabolic growth path — and a model to follow to ensure it realizes the fruits of its success.