Although “Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba” is completed in 23 volumes, it has become a huge hit, with over 150 million copies in circulation as of February 2021.
In 2021, one year after the serialization ended, the Entertainment District Arc of the anime began, and the popularity of the work continues to grow.
So, this time we have summarized the following points about the popularity of “Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba”.
- Why is Demon Slayer so popular?
- What is the overseas reaction to the popularity of Demon Slayer?
We will be delivering this article titled “Why is Demon Slayer so popular? What are the reactions overseas?”
Why is Demon Slayer so popular?
The reasons for the popularity of Demon Slayer are as follows.
- Anime adaptation
- Wide range of ages
- Addictive setting
- Lack of supply
This is said to be the reason behind Demon Slayer’s popularity.
Let me explain each one.
Anime adaptation
It is well known that adapting a manga into a TV anime series can greatly increase its popularity, and “Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba” is a particularly notable example of this.
In the past, many works, such as “Attack on Titan,” have seen an increase in sales of their comic books after being made into anime.
In the case of “Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba,” the cumulative number of copies published before the broadcast reached nearly 10 times the original number in less than a year, setting it apart from other works.
When Demon Slayer first began serialization, it was only modestly popular within Weekly Shonen Jump.
The detailed illustrations, brutal depictions, and a storyline in which main characters die one after another meant that it wasn’t necessarily for everyone, and it was a work that was supported by only a small portion of fans.
The TV anime lowered the barrier to entry for this work and made it more accessible to a large audience.
In the anime version, the characters’ movements are more dynamic and the drawings are simpler than in the manga, which was one of the reasons that the work’s popularity exploded.
Wide range of ages
One of the reasons for the growing hit of “Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba” is its large fan base.
It has been pointed out that elementary school students are a particularly large part of the readership.
It has also been said that the huge success of the paperback edition is being driven by children who do not have the means to purchase digital comics.
The series is also popular among young adult women (ages 13-19).
Unique characters such as Agatsuma Zenitsu, a contemporary of Tanjiro who is timid but sometimes shows strength, and Tomioka Giyuu, who is cool but has trouble reading the mood, are gaining popularity.
The series is also popular with a wide range of people, including young adult men and both men and women of older generations.
The diverse characters and wide range of age groups that make “Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba” such a big hit are what make it so popular.
Addictive setting
The success of “Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba” is also largely due to its appeal as a story.
The story has elements that everyone loves and can easily get lost in. The conflict between demons and the Demon Slayer Corps is simple, making it easy for viewers to get sucked into the story.
The Demon Slayer Corps is also divided into several units, and each unit has a hierarchical structure with a leader called a “Hashira,” which gives rise to a variety of dramas involving friendships, rivalries, and relationships between seniors and juniors.
This system makes it possible to create a wide variety of character settings.
This structure is also shared by the classic smash hit “Saint Seiya” and, although in a different genre, the Takarazuka Revue.
At Takarazuka, the popularity of each performer has supported its long history.
It can be said that one of the reasons for the success of “Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba” is that it followed a system that enhances the appeal of such stories.
Lack of supply
The birth of a big hit can sometimes be influenced by a series of coincidences.
One of the coincidences in the case of “Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba” is the shortage of manga volumes since the fall of 2019.
Unable to keep up with the sudden increase in sales, at its peak it was difficult to find the book in stores or even online.
People tend to have a stronger desire to own something when it is difficult to get hold of it.
As a result, the shortage caused even more buzz, and interest in “Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba” spread beyond just fans.
Because it was hard to get hold of, people became interested in the work, and once they started reading it, they were drawn in by its fun.
In this way, its popularity grew in a spiral.
This coincidence of a supply shortage is believed to have been one of the factors behind the huge success of “Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba.”
What is the overseas reaction to the popularity of Demon Slayer?
“Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba” is extremely popular overseas, and has achieved impressive box office success.
The reasons for this include its unique worldview, compelling characters, and detailed story development, which have been well received.
The production techniques for the anime and movies are also recognized as being of the same quality as those in Japan.
What are the reviews and reactions of overseas anime fans?
“Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba” has received high praise and support from anime fans overseas, and its popularity is spreading.
This is thought to be due to the fact that the appeal and message of the work resonates across borders.
On video sites such as YouTube, there are many explanatory videos and fan art posted, and the large number of comments and shares on social media further confirms the spread of its popularity.
summary
Thank you for reading “Why is Demon Slayer so popular? What are the reactions overseas?” to the end.
This time, we have summarized the reasons for the popularity of Demon Slayer.
The reasons for Demon Slayer’s popularity have been
- its anime adaptation
- a wide range of ages
- an addictive setting
- lack of supply
These have been mentioned as some of the reasons. What do you think?
The manga has ended, but the final battle is still to come for the anime adaptation.
I think the Infinity Castle arc will set new records again.
comment