Demon Slayer: Mugen Train Coming to UK Cinemas This May

Hayao Miyazaki's Spirited Away finally lost its crown as Japan's all-time box-office champ last year. The unlikely candidate that took its place? Demon Slayer Kimetsu No Yaiba The Movie: Mugen Train, the first original movie in the popular Demon Slayer franchise. The fact that the film achieved this during a global pandemic was even more impressive.

Funimation are preparing to release the film in US cinemas this month, and now they're getting ready to bring it to the big screen in the UK and Ireland too. Funimation UK- the freshly rebranded Manga Entertainment- have announced a release in the United Kingdom from May 26, with a release in Ireland set to follow shortly after. This is, of course, assuming that cinema reopenings go ahead as scheduled and lockdown restrictions ease.

The movie is set after the events of the 2019 TV anime (which can be found streaming on Funimation and Netflix) and reunites the key creative talent from the series. Based on Koyoharu Gotoge's manga, Demon Slayer takes place in early 1900's Japan and follows Tanjiro as he joins the Demon Slayer corp, in an effort to find the demon who killed his family and to find a way to turn his beloved sister back into a human. The film follows the heroes as they investigate the mysterious disappearance of 40 passengers aboard the Mugen Train. The title translates as 'infinity train'- not to be confused with Owen Dennis's ace Cartoon Network series of the same name. A second season has also been confirmed for later this year.

The film will be released in both original language and English-dubbed versions and will include some IMAX venues. Tickets will go on sale in the coming weeks. Register now at the film's website to receive updates.

Copyright for all images: ©Koyoharu Gotoge / SHUEISHA, Aniplex, ufotable