‘Demon Slayer’ Film Wins 3 Awards, Including Best Animation, At Japan Academy Film Prize

Following its roaring box-office success, Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba the Movie: Mugen Train has been steadily accumulating awards in Japan. It has just won its most prestigious accolade yet: the animation of the year award at the 44th Japan Academy Film Prize, the country’s equivalent of the Oscars.

The film, which is the highest-grossing in Japanese history, also won best sound and the popularity award. In the animation category, it beat Violet Evergarden: The Movie, Poupelle of Chimney Town, Stand by Me Doraemon 2, and Josee, The Tiger and the Fish.

A follow-up to the Demon Slayer anime series, which is based in turn on the manga series of the same name, Mugen Train has grossed over $400 million worldwide. Aniplex of America and Funimation will release the feature theatrically in the U.S. and Canada on April 23; a new subtitled trailer was released last week (watch it at this link). The film qualified for this year’s Oscars but was not nominated.

The Japan Academy Film Prize established an animation category in 2006. Of the 15 winners to date, nine have come from either Studio Ghibli or director Mamoru Hosoda. Mugen Train is the first franchise film to take home the prize.