In this day and age, apparently you cannot underestimate the sheer power of Japanese pop culture anymore. From merchandise to city jumbotrons, you see examples of it anywhere now, typically anime, the term to refer to Japanese animated series and movies. An example of this is Demon Slayer.
Also known in its Japanese title, Kimetsu no Yaiba, Demon Slayer is an anime produced by Ufotable Studios under the direction of Haruo Sotozaki. As an adaptation of a manga (comic) of the same title written by Koyoharu Gotoge, Demon Slayer has become a hit in Japan and other countries.
Warning: subtle spoilers ahead!
Demon Slayer’s Viewer Statistics
Demon Slayer has captured the hearts of many since its pilot episode was released in 2019. According to the Anime Marketing Paper 2020 by entertainment company Kadokawa, Demon Slayer was dubbed “the most satisfying anime of 2019”, gaining over 1.4 million views during the run of its first season. In Japan alone, 48.9% respondents in the survey gave the anime a favorable score, beating legendary staples such as Attack on Titan.
Rating Graph also shows that positive perceptions towards the first to third seasons of the anime have been pretty consistent. Some episodes garner ratings as high as 9.7. The seasons trendline is also quite constant, signaling that Demon Slayer is a much-awaited option to binge-watch.
Demon Slayer isn't just a trend in Japan, though. It even made it to the Top 10 Non-English TV Shows list in Netflix, lasting for 6 weeks in mid-2024. In the UK, Demon Slayer garnered 11 times more viewers than the average TV series – Parrot Analytics reveals that only 2.7% of all shows in the market have this level of demand, marking the anime “outstanding”.
Why Do People Love Demon Slayer?
Demon Slayer is loved for countless reasons. Ufotable's killer animation, especially in scenes like the epic Tanjiro Kamado vs. Rui fight in Season 1, Episode 19: "Hinokami", has made viewers unable to take their eyes off the screen. The animation in the Infinity Train movie has also made it the highest-grossing Japanese movie of all time as of July 2025, topping legends like Hayao Miyazaki's Spirited Away.
Ufotable has successfully portrayed the atmosphere of different locations in the anime well. From snowy mountains to the bright, confusing layouts of the demons’ fortress, Infinity Castle, Ufotable has managed to keep viewers on the edge of their seats.
Yet, perhaps the most determining factor is the storyline itself. Demon Slayer tells the tale of Tanjiro Kamado, whose family was slaughtered by a mysterious demon one fateful winter night, killing everyone but his younger sister, Nezuko. While learning more about demons and killing them in missions, Tanjiro encounters new peers, mentors, and life lessons, with one objective in mind: returning Nezuko back to human.
Sad OSTs (original soundtracks) also add a nice kick to the plot. Some music from the series, such as Kamado Tanjiro no Uta and Homura, have even become much-listened tracks, earning them numerous self-made renditions and covers in YouTube.
A Sentimental Storyline
People love to feel, and Demon Slayer's sentimental plot gives viewers exactly that. The sorrowful backstories of characters – like the traumatic loss suffered by Wind Pillar Sanemi Shinazugawa and his brother, Genya – add some spice to the storyline, without being over-dramatic.
Another reason is that Demon Slayer never fails to humanize characters, even the “demons” that most would see as evil and heartless. Watching Demon Slayer may even make you stop and think who the real demons are.
The demon Akaza, for example, was hated by viewers because he killed off Fire Pillar Rengoku Kyojuro in the Infinity Train movie. However, many end up sympathizing with him when it’s revealed he used to be a human too, who apparently lost his wife-to-be, his only hope after a life of poverty and hopelessness, to human greed and envy.
Many fans are now awaiting the anime adaptation of Akaza's backstory. Most fans note that the anime adaptation stays loyal to the manga version, which means the sad scenes from manga won't be missed out.
All these factors combined have resulted in an amazing anime. IMDb user MoNsaiNt in 2019 left a review saying, “when you have a good story combined with great animation, this is what you get”. Overall, the movie rating site shows the series has a rating of 8.6 in the United States, with some countries like India scoring as high as 9.
Demon Slayer in Southeast Asia
Southeast Asia isn't immune from the Japanese pop culture craze. While older anime, like Doraemon, Crayon Shinchan, and Chibi Maruko-chan, are widely loved by the people, recently the region has also turned to more recent options, such as Demon Slayer.
The euphoria is real, considering the first movie of the Infinity Castle trilogy will be released in Southeast Asia soon. Crunchyroll, Sony, and Aniplex have announced dates as follows: August 14 for Malaysia and Singapore, August 15 for Cambodia, Indonesia, and Viet Nam, and August 20 for the Philippines.
In Singapore, Demon Slayer will even take the stage in the form of a 120-minute theatrical concert featuring OSTs from the anime. It is set on October 18, 2025 at Esplanade Theater.
Perhaps it is right to say that Demon Slayer has taken the world by storm. Demon Slayer shows that many people adore heart-stopping action scenes, sweet-sounding music, and top-notch animation with a touch of sentimental, family-centered narratives.
References
- Bakshi, Prayaja. “‘Demon Slayer’ To Take The Stage In Singapore With Orchestra Concert.” Travel and Leisure Southeast Asia. Published on June 19, 2025. Accessed on July 24, 2025. https://www.travelandleisureasia.com/sea/news/demon-slayer-live-concert-singapore-tickets-location/.
- IMDb. “Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba.” IMDb. Accessed on July 24, 2025. https://m.imdb.com/title/tt9335498/.
- Morrissy, Kim. “Anime Marketing White Paper 2020: Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Gained 1.4 Million Viewers During Anime’s Run.” Anime News Network. Published on February 29, 2020. Accessed on July 24, 2025. https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/interest/2020-02-28/anime-marketing-white-paper-2020-demon-slayer-kimetsu-no-yaiba-gained-1.4-million-viewers-during-/.156915.
- Parrot Analytics. “United Kingdom entertainment analytics for Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba (鬼滅の刃).” Parrot Analytics. Accessed on July 24, 2025. https://tv.parrotanalytics.com/UK/demon-slayer-kimetsu-no-yaiba-gui-mie-noren-tokyo-mx.
- Pineda, Rafael Antonio. “1st Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle Film Screens in S.E. Asia in August.” Anime News Network. Published on March 6, 2025. Accessed on July 24, 2025. https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2025-03-06/1st-demon-slayer-kimetsu-no-yaiba-infinity-castle-film-screens-in-s.e-asia-in-august/.222021.
- Rating Graph. Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba ratings (TV show, 2019-2024). Rating Graph. Accessed on July 24, 2025. https://www.ratingraph.com/tv-shows/demon-slayer-kimetsu-no-yaiba-ratings-72651/.
