Demon Slayer: The Mugen Train wins Japan Academy Film Prize’s Animation of the Year Award

It may have gotten snubbed at the Academy Awards, but Demon Slayer- Kimetsu no Yaiba: The Mugen Train won the Animation of the Year Award at the 44th Annual Japan Academy Film Prizes on Friday.

The other nominees for the award were films such as Violet Evergarden: The Movie, Poupelle of Chimney Town, Stand By Me Doraemon 2, and Josee, The Tiger and the Fish. According to Crunchyroll’s Japan Correspondent Daryl Harding, this marked the first franchise film to win this prestigious award and making it also the first anime that was adapted from a Weekly Shonen Jump property to win.

Meanwhile, Aniplex’s Atsuhiro Iwakami collected the award and expressed his “heartfelt gratitude to the anime staff and everyone who brought the characters to life.” Yuki Kajiura and Gō Shiina also won an award at the Japan Film Prizes Ceremony for Outstanding Achievement in Music for their work on Demon Slayer Kimetsu no Yaiba: The Mugen Train.

And Finally, the film also won an award for the Most Popular Film. It was a monumental night for Weekly Shonen Jump, Ufotable, and Aniplex. The movie is set to be released on Blu-Ray and DVD in Japan on June 16th, while it will be released in the US Digitally on June 22nd. The movie is set to debut in US Theaters on April 23rd, 2021 (Tickets on sale on April 9th!)

As a reminder for Demon Slayer fans, the Second Season will pick right up after the film with the story arc “The Entertainment District” which will premiere later this year.

“Tanjiro, Nezuko, Zenitsu, and Inosuke embark on a new mission. Together with one of the most powerful swordsmen of the Demon Slayer Corps, Flame Hashira Kyojuro Rengoku, they investigate the mysterious disappearance of over 40 people aboard the Mugen Train.“