Wednesday, 9 September 2026
Anime, manga, and games, with a take · A Yukimedia publication

← all stories

Yaiba

Season 2 of the TV anime Shin: Yasoden YAIBA is in production, adapting the Kaguya Arc, with the comedy duo Haraiichi as promotional ambassadors. Season 1 is rebroadcasting on Japanese networks.

Synthesized from 30 Yomimono stories · updated 3d ago

The TV anime Shin: Yasoden YAIBA is moving toward its second season. Production on Season 2, which adapts the Kaguya Arc, is confirmed. The arc brings a three-way battle between Yaiba, Kaguya, and Onimaru. Season 1 is currently rebroadcasting on Japanese networks.

The comedy duo Haraiichi, made up of Yuki Iwai and Tasuku Sawabe, has been named promotional ambassadors. The announcement came on August 8, designated YAIBA Day. An official interview with the pair appears in Shonen Sunday issue 39, and a commemorative quiz video was released on YouTube. Both members describe themselves as childhood fans of the original manga.

Merchandising around the series has expanded. Graniph released a 12-item apparel collaboration on July 7, 2026, featuring T-shirts, caps, and bags with Yaiba, his rival Onimaru, and a crossover design with Conan Edogawa from Detective Conan. Both Yaiba and Detective Conan are works by the same creator, Gosho Aoyama.

Key facts

Season 2 status
In production, adapting the Kaguya Arc ↗
Promotional ambassadors
Comedy duo Haraiichi (Yuki Iwai and Tasuku Sawabe) ↗
Ambassador announcement date
August 8, designated YAIBA Day ↗
Interview placement
Shonen Sunday issue 39 ↗
Season 1 rebroadcast
Currently rebroadcasting on Japanese networks ↗
Apparel collaboration
Graniph released 12 items on July 7, 2026 ↗
Crossover design
Features Conan Edogawa from Detective Conan ↗

Timeline

Synthesized by Yomimono from the cited Yomimono stories below, each itself sourced, then editorially reviewed. Every fact links the story it came from.

Facts

Announced
the program 'Rewind the VHS! Our OVA Special' airing the OVA work 'Yaiba' from September and October 2026 (Satellite Theater) · 2026-08-29
Announced
Season 2 in production, adapting the Kaguya Arc · 2026-08-28
Noted
Season 1 is currently rebroadcasting on Japanese networks. · 2026-08-28
Release
tv · July 7, 2026 · 2026-07-04
Release
tv · July 2026 · Japan · 2026-06-10

Connections

Writes of
gosho aoyama

Structured graph also available as JSON at /public/entities/yaiba. CC BY 4.0.

All coverage

1d ago

MAYLA Launches Demon Slayer Nichirin Sword Tsuba Loafers

Fashion brand MAYLA, known for its "body temperature rises 2 degrees" tagline, is selling platform loafers decorated with motifs of the nichirin sword tsuba from Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba. Six character models are available for pre-order: Tanjiro Kamado, Giyu Tomioka, Kyojuro Rengoku, Tengen Uzui, Muichiro Tokito, and Sanemi Shinazugawa. Each pair costs 30,800 yen including tax, plus 600 yen shipping. The metal fittings use antique gold tones, and the insoles carry patterns tied to each character.

Sep 1

Demon Slayer Nezuko Kamado Returns in FIGURIZMα Demon Progression Form

Sega's prize figure brand FIGURIZMα is bringing Nezuko Kamado back in her demon progression form. The figure arrives as a crane game prize on September 4, 2026, at amusement facilities across Japan. It depicts Nezuko during the Entertainment District arc, when her body grew to adult size and horns appeared on her forehead. The design is described as terrifying yet beautiful, with blood vessels visible on her face and body patterns rendered in detailed paintwork. The figure is one type, about 8 by 21 centimeters, and is manufactured by Sega Fave. The photos released with the announcement are development samples and may differ from the final product. The release timing could also change, and Sega points buyers to its Sega Plaza site for updates. The figure is part of the FIGURIZMα line, Sega's higher-detail prize figure brand. The copyright line credits Koyoharu Gotouge, Shueisha, Aniplex, and ufotable.

Aug 29

Satellite Theater Airs Nine Rare OVA Works From 1985 to 1999

CS broadcaster Satellite Theater announced the program "Rewind the VHS! Our OVA Special," airing nine OVA works from September and October 2026. September includes the Gosho Aoyama short film collections animated by the Detective Conan staff and cast, plus Magic Knight Rayearth, Vampire Princess Miyu, and Tokyo Vice. October brings LedA, Virgust, Puttun Make Love, and Plastic Little.

Aug 20

Demon Slayer Golf Balls Featuring Tanjiro, Akaza, Shinobu, Doma Launch September 4

Dunlop Sports Marketing will release Srixon TRI-STAR golf balls printed with four Demon Slayer characters on September 4, 2026. The limited-quantity product features Tanjiro Kamado as No.1, Akaza as No.2, Shinobu Kocho as No.3, and Doma as No.5. The balls use the base TRI-STAR model with a FastLayer D.G. Core and Strong Trajectory 338 Speed Dimple. Packaging shows all four characters. Price is open, with a reference price of 4,950 yen on Amazon.

Aug 20

Demon Slayer Fragrance Diffusers Cover All 13 Characters

SHOLAYERED's THE FRAME series released 13 fragrance diffusers based on Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba characters, from Tanjiro to Obanai, on August 19. Each diffuser uses a wisteria floral scent and character-specific visuals, designed for daily use and collectibility.

Aug 19

Demon Slayer Rengoku and Zenitsu Noodle Stopper Figures Set for ROUND1 Prizes

ROUND1 Amusement announced the second wave of Demon Slayer x CRAFTHOLIC prize figures. Kyojuro Rengoku's Noodle Stopper Figure is scheduled for December 2026, and Zenitsu Agatsuma's for January 2027. Silhouettes for Shinobu Kocho and Giyu Tomioka were also revealed, with the figures appearing sequentially starting December 2026.

Aug 18

TheOASG Podcast Episode 250 Covers Manga Hiatuses, Deaths, and MANGA MILLION

TheOASG Podcast Episode 250 covers a distressing investigation into Shogakukan's Manga ONE editorial department, a Kumamoto earthquake, and multiple manga hiatuses due to creator health issues. It also reports the deaths of voice actor Michael Donovan and manga artist Yoko Umezu, plus Shueisha's new digital platform MANGA MILLION.

Aug 15

Awa Odori Collab Merch Sells for Demon Slayer and Witch on the Holy Night

To mark the 2026 Awa Odori, collaboration merchandise featuring Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba and Witch on the Holy Night will be sold from August 11 to 15 at ufotable Cafe Tokushima, Machi★Asobi CAFE Bizan, ufotable Cafe TOGO, and other locations. A stamp rally with ufotable's past Awa Odori illustrations runs concurrently, with a postcard reward for collecting all stamps.

Aug 14

Demon Slayer Café Opens in Chicago

The Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba franchise opened a café in Chicago on August 8. The Demon Slayer Café US offers exclusive menu items and merchandise, with a menu of four appetizers, five entrees, four original drinks, and two desserts. Prices range from US$1.99 to US$22.99 for food and US$12.99 to US$64.99 for merchandise. The café is located at 1422 N Milwaukee Ave and is open daily.

Aug 12

Haraiti Duo Named Promotional Ambassadors for True Samurai Legend YAIBA

The comedy duo Haraiti, made up of Yuki Iwai and Tasuku Sawabe, has been appointed promotional ambassadors for the TV anime True Samurai Legend YAIBA. The announcement came on August 8, designated YAIBA Day. An official interview with the pair and a commemorative quiz video on YouTube accompanied the news.

Aug 11

Demon Slayer Demons Take Over Namjatown With New ufotable Art

The indoor theme park NAMJATOWN will host the Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba event Demon Dwelling Town from August 21 to October 4, 2026. ufotable drew new illustrations of eight characters, including Akaza, Rui, Daki, and Gyutaro. The venue will sell original goods, offer mini-games and a rally, and serve themed food.

Aug 6

Shueisha Launches Manga Million Digital Platform Worldwide With Titles in 100+ Languages

Shueisha announced on Thursday the launch of Manga Million, a global digital manga platform offering over one million pages of translated manga from approximately 400 titles in more than 100 languages. The service is available worldwide for a limited time, free of charge and without registration. The launch lineup includes One Piece, Naruto, Bleach, Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba, Jujutsu Kaisen, Kingdom, Oshi no Ko, Spy x Family, Chainsaw Man, Nana, and Kimi ni Todoke: From Me to You, among others. More than 150 of the titles are shojo manga. According to Shueisha, nearly 300 titles are receiving their first-ever translations, and 50 works have been translated into multiple languages. The platform also includes special chapters and one-shots, such as Tatsuki Fujimoto's Look Back. Shueisha confirmed to Anime News Network that AI translation was not used for the project. The initiative is part of Shueisha's 100th anniversary celebration. Shuhei Hosono, Editor-in-Chief of Manga Plus by Shueisha, initiated the project, which was developed across Shueisha's editorial divisions with support from international licensing partners.

Aug 5

CEDEC 2026 Session Maps Cultural Appropriation Risks for Game Developers

At CEDEC 2026, held July 22 to 24 at Pacifico Yokohama North, lawyer Arata Nomoto of City Yuwa Law Office delivered a lecture titled "Considering the Management of Cultural Appropriation Risks: What You Can Do to Avoid Unexpected Trouble." Nomoto defined cultural appropriation as the use of something related to one culture by a person belonging to another, noting it is not a legal term. He cited examples including Kim Kardashian's underwear brand "Kimono," which drew protests and was renamed, and the anime "Demon Slayer" (Kimetsu no Yaiba), where the Islamic call to prayer in background music led to shipping suspensions and a product recall. He also mentioned "Ghost of Tsushima" and Atlus's "Shin Megami Tensei V," the latter criticized by Hindu communities for depicting deities as evil. Nomoto explained that Japan has no general law prohibiting imitation of cultural expressions not covered by intellectual property, while countries like Mexico, Panama, Kenya, Indonesia, Ghana, Taiwan, Australia, and the United States have protective laws. He urged developers to confirm inspirations, self-check understanding of referenced cultures, and seek specialist opinions.

Aug 4

Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle I Now Streaming on Crunchyroll

Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba - Infinity Castle Arc Chapter 1: Akaza Return (Movie 1) is now streaming on Crunchyroll, following its record-breaking theatrical run. The film became available on the platform at 8:00 a.m. PT on July 28, 2026, with Japanese audio and English subtitles, plus an English dub. Additional dubbed audio options include Latin American Spanish, Brazilian Portuguese, French, German, Italian, Castilian Spanish, Catalan, Russian, Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Thai, and Polish voiceover. Subtitles are offered in a wide range of languages, including Arabic, Chinese, Vietnamese, and Indonesian. The streaming release coincides with the film's Blu-ray and DVD release in Japan, which was scheduled for July 29. Viewers in select regions, including North America, can also purchase the movie digitally through the Apple TV app, Prime Video, Google Play, YouTube, and Fandango. The film premiered in Japan on July 18, 2025, earning over 25 billion yen (approximately 174 million USD) in its first 31 days. It launched internationally on August 14, hitting North American theaters on September 12. The film is the first chapter of the Infinity Castle trilogy, directed by Haruo Sotozaki and animated by ufotable.

Jul 27

Demon Slayer and Witch on the Holy Night Join 2026 Awa Odori With ufotable Posters

The anime Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba and the theatrical film Witch on the Holy Night will participate in the 2026 Awa Odori festival in Tokushima Prefecture, running from August 11 to 15. Animation studio ufotable, which produces both works, released newly drawn commemorative posters for the event. During the festival, a stamp rally will feature illustrations from ufotable's past collaborations with TYPE-MOON, including The Garden of Sinners, alongside Demon Slayer art. Collectors who gather all stamps will receive a card with the 2026 illustration. On August 14, the Demon Slayer Corps dance performance returns for a second year. Voice actors Hiro Shimono, who voices Zenitsu Agatsuma, and Yoshitsugu Matsuoka, who voices Inosuke Hashibira, will join mini corps members in the dance at the Kon'ya-cho stage. The festival also includes sales of themed drinks with novelties and goods featuring the new illustrations. Witch on the Holy Night, based on TYPE-MOON's 2012 visual novel, is scheduled for theatrical release on November 20. Demon Slayer is currently rebroadcasting its TV series, and the Blu-ray and DVD for Infinity Castle Arc Chapter 1: Akaza's Return releases on July 29.

Jul 19

Jujutsu Kaisen Leads Bookscan's June Adult Graphic Novel List With 17 Manga Volumes

The 30th volume of Gege Akutami's Jujutsu Kaisen manga ranked #1 on Circana BookScan's Top 20 adult graphic novels list for June. The chart featured 17 manga volumes, including multiple Jujutsu Kaisen entries, Chainsaw Man volume 21 at #2, Gachiakuta volume 1 at #6, and The Summer Hikaru Died volume 1 at #8. Other titles include Witch Hat Atelier, One Piece, Demon Slayer, Dandadan, Blue Lock, and The Apothecary Diaries.

Jul 16

Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle and Exit 8 Films Nominated for Critics Choice Awards

The Critics Choice Awards announced nominees for its sixth annual event on Wednesday. The first Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle film and the live-action Exit 8 film were both nominated for Best Superhero Movie. Kazunari Ninomiya, star of the Exit 8 film, received a nomination for Best Actor in a Superhero Movie. Winners will be announced on August 6.

Jul 9

Demon Slayer Infinity Castle Arc Chapter 1 DVD/Blu-ray Gets Lawson-Exclusive Sticker Bonus

The standard edition DVD and Blu-ray for Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle Arc Chapter 1: Akaza Returns will be released at Lawson stores on July 29, 2026, with a Lawson-exclusive bonus set of three smartphone stickers featuring Tanjiro Kamado, Giyu Tomioka, and Akaza. The film was the only Japanese work nominated for Best Animated Feature Film at the 83rd Golden Globe Awards. The animation is produced by ufotable.

Jul 8

Anime And Manga Worlds Share Tanabata 2026 Wishes

Anime News Network published a five-part roundup of Tanabata greetings from across the anime, manga, and video game industries on July 7, 2026. The collection includes wishes and illustrations from official accounts for series such as Bungo Stray Dogs, Detective Conan, My Hero Academia, Sakamoto Days, Doraemon, Chibi Maruko-chan, Hell's Paradise, and Dragon Quest. Video game franchises like Final Fantasy, Monster Hunter, and Like a Dragon also participated, alongside creators including Hideo Kojima, Yuki Kaji, and Shoko Nakagawa. Several series tied their posts to new releases: the second season of Yoroi Shin Den Samurai Troopers premiered on July 7, My Happy Marriage released a special Tanabata illustration and announced a three-episode special for 2026, and My Stepmother and Stepsisters Aren't Wicked began airing on July 8. The roundup also features greetings from manga titles like Chiikawa, MARRIAGETOXIN, and Smoking Behind the Supermarket with You, as well as from studios Tatsunoko Production and Square Enix.

Jul 8

Harvey Awards Nominate Five Anime and Manga Adaptations for 2026

The Harvey Awards announced nominees for the 2026 ceremony, with five anime and manga-related projects nominated for Best Adaptation from Comic Book/Graphic Novel. The Best Manga category includes seven titles. The winners will be announced at New York Comic Con on October 9.

Jul 5

Demon Slayer Tanjiro and Nezuko Return to Sega Xross Link Series

Sega announced new prize figures of Tanjiro Kamado and Nezuko Kamado for its Xross Link series, available as crane game prizes starting July 10, 2026. The figures are designed to be displayed together to show the siblings' bond, with Tanjiro in a combat pose and Nezuko in an aerial action pose.

Jul 4

Graniph Launches True Samurai Legend Yaiba Collaboration Apparel Line

Graniph will release 12 collaboration items with the TV anime True Samurai Legend Yaiba on July 7, 2026. The lineup includes T-shirts, caps, and bags featuring Yaiba, his rival Onimaru, and a special design crossing over with Conan Edogawa from Detective Conan. Pre-orders are open until July 6.

Jul 4

Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle Movie 1 Streams on Crunchyroll July 28

Crunchyroll announced at Anime Expo on July 3 that the first film in the Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle trilogy will begin streaming on its service on July 28. The film, titled Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle - Akaza Sairai, will be available worldwide outside Japan and Mainland China. It will also be released for digital purchase on the same day through platforms including Apple TV, Prime Video, Google Play, YouTube, and Fandango. Crunchyroll will stream the film under the title Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle I, with options for Japanese with English subtitles and an English dub. Additional dub languages include Latin American Spanish, Brazilian Portuguese, French, German, Italian, Castilian Spanish, Catalan, Russian, Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Thai, and Polish. Subtitled languages include Latin American Spanish, Brazilian Portuguese, European Portuguese, French, German, Italian, Castilian Spanish, Arabic, Russian, Polish, Thai, Chinese, Vietnamese, Indonesian, and Melayu. The film opened in Japan on July 18, 2025, and ended its theatrical run on April 9 after 266 days. It sold 27,455,968 tickets in Japan, earning 40.2 billion yen (about $252.5 million). Worldwide, the film sold 98,520,310 tickets and earned 117.9 billion yen (about $740.5 million). The film won Best Animated Film at the 49th Japan Academy Film Prizes and Animation of the Year-Film at the Tokyo Anime Award Festival.

Jun 29

Japanese Government Grants Subsidies to Aniplex, Wit Studio, Mappa for Overseas Expansion

Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry selected 19 companies for the first round of the IP360 Subsidy program, including eight anime studios. Aniplex, Wit Studio, Mappa, Trigger, Production I.G, CoMix Wave Films, Twin Engine, and K2 Pictures will receive funds for projects ranging from new theatrical works to sustainable production systems, with a maximum subsidy of 1.5 billion yen per company.

Jun 29

Demon Slayer Hinokami Chronicles 2 Switch 2 Edition Launches October 29

Aniplex announced on June 29 that the Switch 2 edition of "Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba - The Hinokami Chronicles 2" will launch on October 29, priced at 7,810 yen. The edition bundles the base game with the "Infinity Castle Arc Chapter 1" Character Pass, which adds seven characters including Tanjiro Kamado (Infinity Castle Arc), Zenitsu Agatsuma (Infinity Castle Arc), Giyu Tomioka (Infinity Castle Arc), Shinobu Kocho (Infinity Castle Arc), Doma, Akaza (Infinity Castle Arc), and Kaigaku. The Switch 2 version supports high-resolution display and 60 FPS, with clearer character expressions and skill effects. It supports offline two-player versus battles, online versus battles with the existing Switch version (though those matches run at 30 FPS), and local wireless battles between Switch 2 consoles. A separate upgrade pass for Switch version owners will also be available on the same day for 550 yen, allowing save data transfer but not including the character pass. Store-specific purchase bonuses include a CyberConnect2-produced sticker and a ufotable reproduction art.

Jun 28

Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle Gets Crunchyroll Streaming Date

A press release from Amazon Prime Video Canada inadvertently revealed that Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle will be available on Crunchyroll starting July 29, 2026. The reference was later removed, and Crunchyroll has not officially confirmed the date. The film, which debuted in Japanese theaters on July 18, 2025, became the highest-grossing anime movie ever with over $793 million worldwide and won Film of the Year at the 2026 Crunchyroll Anime Awards.

Jun 23

CyberConnect2 Opens Second Scenario Designer Training School for Anime Game Writers

CyberConnect2 launched the Scenario Designer Training School 2026 audition project on June 23 to find scenario designers for anime-licensed games. The first-round online test is available on a special website, with questions covering series the studio has adapted, including Naruto, Demon Slayer, JoJo's Bizarre Adventure, and Dragon Ball. The deadline is August 2.

Jun 22

Kirito Tops Anime Anime's Dual-Wielding Character Poll

Anime Anime's reader survey on the most iconic dual-wielding characters placed Sword Art Online's Kirito first, followed by Demon Slayer's Inosuke Hashibira and One Piece's Roronoa Zoro. The poll ran from June 2 to June 9, 2026, and received 440 responses.

Jun 21

Jujutsu Kaisen Volume 30 Tops Bookscan's May Adult Graphic Novel List

Circana BookScan's Top 20 adult graphic novels list for May 2026 features 15 manga volumes, with Gege Akutami's Jujutsu Kaisen volume 30 at #1. Other ranked titles include Witch Hat Atelier, Gachiakuta, Kagurabachi, One Piece, Steel Ball Run, The Summer Hikaru Died, and Demon Slayer.

Jun 17

Threezero Opens Pre-Orders for FigZero 1/6 Zenitsu Agatsuma Figure

Threezero has opened pre-orders for a FigZero 1/6 scale Zenitsu Agatsuma action figure from Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba. The figure stands 27.5 cm tall, features 37 points of articulation, a fabric uniform, and Thunder Breathing effect parts. A limited edition with a human-faced spider accessory is also available.

Jun 15

Demon Slayer and Heart Bread ANTIQUE Collaboration Launches July 1

GK Marketing will run a collaboration between the Demon Slayer anime and the Heart Bread ANTIQUE bakery chain from July 1 to August 31. Newly drawn ufotable illustrations show the Demon Slayer Corps relaxing with bread. Products include can badges, acrylic keychains, clear bottles, and store-exclusive coasters.

Jun 14

Sazae-san Leads Japanese Animation TV Rankings for June 1-7

Anime News Network published the Japanese animation TV household ratings for June 1-7, 2026. Sazae-san led with 7.7%, followed by Detective Conan at 6.1% and Chibi Maruko-chan at 6.0%. The list includes ten regular programs and the premiere of a live-action Mr. Osomatsu film, which earned 0.8%.

Jun 14

Demon Slayer Infinity Castle Arc Blu-Ray Store Bonuses Reveal Ufotable Art

Ufotable has released the store-specific purchase bonuses for the Blu-ray and DVD release of Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle Arc Chapter 1, set for July 29, 2026. Animate, Amazon, and Rakuten Books each get exclusive newly drawn illustrations featuring Tanjiro and Giyu, Shinobu, and Zenitsu respectively.

Jun 12

Demon Slayer Animate Fair Announced for Infinity Castle Arc Blu-ray Release

Animate stores nationwide will hold a two-phase commemorative fair for the Blu-ray and DVD release of "Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle Arc Chapter 1: Akaza's Return," starting July 28, 2026. Bonuses include photo cards and clear bookmarks featuring ufotable's newly drawn mini characters. A lottery-based group photo session event will also be held in seven cities.

Jun 10

BS12 Twelli's Anime 26 Slot Adds Captain Tsubasa and Shin Samurai-den YAIBA in July

BS12 Twelli's late-night anime block Anime 26 will broadcast two series starting July 2026: Captain Tsubasa (Elementary School Arc) on Mondays and Shin Samurai-den YAIBA on Fridays. The Captain Tsubasa arc covers Tsubasa Ozora's elementary school years, while Shin Samurai-den YAIBA is the second season of the Gosho Aoyama adaptation.

Jun 3

Crunchyroll Reveals Anime Expo 2026 Lineup With Demon Slayer, Apothecary Diaries and More

Crunchyroll announced its Anime Expo lineup for July 3-4 at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles, featuring over 20 programming blocks. Highlights include a Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle event with the voice cast and ufotable footage, panels for The Apothecary Diaries Season 3, Gachiakuta Season 2, and new acquisitions like Goodbye, Lara and Tomb Raider King.

Jun 1

Rakuten Panda Joins the Demon Slayer Corps in New Collaboration Campaign

Rakuten Group has launched a second collaboration campaign with Demon Slayer to promote the Blu-ray and DVD release of Infinity Castle Arc - Chapter 1: Akaza's Return. Participants across Rakuten services can win an original drawstring bag featuring a newly drawn illustration of the Shopping Panda with Demon Slayer characters. The campaign runs until August 31.

May 31

Demon Slayer Infinity Castle Set to Become Biggest Anime Film in US History

Crunchyroll is releasing Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle on over 3,300 screens in North America, six times the average for an anime release over the past decade. According to Anime By The Numbers, even the most conservative estimates project the film will become the highest-grossing anime movie in US history by box office receipts. The previous record holder among anime films in the US is Pokémon: The First Movie - Mewtwo Strikes Back, which earned $85 million in 1999. The prior Demon Slayer film, Mugen Train, earned just under $50 million in 2021, helped by its timing as the first wide anime release after COVID lockdowns. Infinity Castle has already broken records internationally: it is the second-highest grossing film in Japanese box office history, the best-performing animated film ever in Taiwan, and the third best-performing animated film in South Korea. The newsletter notes that Crunchyroll and GKIDS have recently pushed for longer theatrical runs for anime, with Dan Da Dan: Evil Eye nearly doubling its box office after opening weekend. Deadline is cited reporting that anime moviegoers buy tickets upfront and attend early, with little walk-up business.

May 31

Demon Slayer Rerun Episode 9 Brings Back Handball Demon and Arrow Demon

The full-series rerun of the anime Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba aired episode 9, titled Handball Demon and Arrow Demon, on May 31, 2026. In the episode, the demon Kibutsuji Muzan sends the Handball Demon Susamaru and the Arrow Demon Yahaba to attack the house of the demon doctor Tamayo. The Handball Demon's ball strikes Yushiro's head, blowing it off, and Nezuko's foot is severed by an attack. Both demons are members of the Twelve Kizuki, the direct subordinates of Muzan. Yushiro, also a demon, regenerates his head and lends his Blood Demon Art to Tanjiro, allowing him to see arrows that indicate the direction of attacks. The Handball Demon is voiced by Mikako Komatsu, known for roles in Jujutsu Kaisen and Star Twinkle PreCure. The Arrow Demon is voiced by Jun Fukuyama, known for Code Geass and Osomatsu-san. Fukuyama commented that the animation layout made him question how it would move. The rerun began on April 5, 2026, and airs weekly on Fuji TV.

May 30

Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle Producer Discusses Trilogy, Budget, and Studio Growth

Hikaru Kondo, founder and producer of ufotable, spoke with The Hollywood Reporter about the production of Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle, the first film in a planned trilogy adapting the final arc of Koyoharu Gotouge's manga. The film has grossed $722 million worldwide, including $134.5 million in North America, making it the highest-grossing Japanese film of all time. Kondo described his role as sending creative prompts to the studio's roughly 300 in-house staff, with storyboards serving as a launch pad for animators to experiment with action sequences and camera motion. When asked about a reported $20 million budget, Kondo declined to confirm the figure but noted that a Hollywood sequel with similar box office performance would justify a budget of $100 million to $150 million. Aniplex producer Yuma Takahashi, who joined the conversation, said he would "sincerely try my best" regarding budget for future installments. Kondo also addressed ufotable's history of receiving offers from Hollywood studios, stating the company evaluates each project individually without changing its fundamental production approach. He emphasized that the studio's strength comes from long-term staff retention and a trial-and-error process blending 2D and 3D animation.