Demon Slayer facts for kids
Demon Slayer is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Koyoharu Gotouge. It follows teenage Tanjiro Kamado, who joins the Demon Slayer Corps after his family is slaughtered and the sole survivor, his younger sister Nezuko, is turned into a demon, in the hopes of turning her human again and defeating the demon king Muzan Kibutsuji.
A 26-episode anime television series adaptation produced by Ufotable aired from April to September 2019, with a sequel film, Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – The Movie: Mugen Train, released in October 2020 and became the highest-grossing anime film and Japanese film of all time. An 18-episode second season of the anime series aired from October 2021 to February 2022 while a compilation film, Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – To the Swordsmith Village, was released in February 2023. An 11-episode third season aired from April to June 2023 while another compilation film, Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – To the Hashira Training, was released in February 2024. A fourth season aired from May to June 2024. A film trilogy sequel adapting the "Infinity Castle" story arc is set to premiere in July 2025.
By February 2021, the manga had over 150 million copies in circulation, including digital versions, making it one of the best-selling manga series of all time. Also, it was the best-selling manga in 2019 and 2020. The manga has received critical acclaim for its art, storyline, action scenes and characters. The Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba franchise is one of the highest-grossing media franchises of all time.
Contents
Story
Setting
The story takes place in Taishō-era Japan, where a secret society has been waging a secret war against demons for centuries. The demons are former humans who were turned into demons by Muzan Kibutsuji. They possess supernatural abilities such as super strength and regeneration. Demons can only be defeated with weapons crafted from an alloy known as Sun Steel, injected with poison extracted from Wisteria flowers, or exposed to sunlight. The Demon Slayers, on the other hand, are entirely human; however, they employ special breathing techniques, known as "Breathing Styles", which grant them superhuman strength and increased resistance. This helps them fight against demons.
Plot
Tanjiro Kamado is a kind-hearted and intelligent boy who lives with his family in the mountains. He became his family's breadwinner after his father's death, making trips to the nearby village to sell charcoal. Everything changed when he came home one day to discover that his family was attacked by a demon. Tanjiro and his sister Nezuko were the sole survivors of the incident, with Nezuko being transformed into a demon, but still surprisingly showing signs of human emotion and thought. After an encounter with Giyū Tomioka, a demon slayer, Tanjiro is recruited by Giyū and sent to his retired master Sakonji Urokodaki for training to also become a demon slayer, beginning his quest to help his sister turn into human again and avenge the death of his family.
Media
Manga
Written and illustrated by Koyoharu Gotouge, Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba was serialized in Shueisha's shōnen manga magazine Weekly Shōnen Jump from February 15, 2016, to May 18, 2020. Shueisha collected its chapters in 23 individual tankōbon volumes, released from June 3, 2016, to December 4, 2020.
Shueisha simultaneously published the series in English on the Manga Plus service starting January 2019. Viz Media published the first three chapters in its digital magazine Weekly Shonen Jump as part of the "Jump Start" program. During their panel at San Diego Comic-Con on July 20, 2017, Viz announced that they had licensed the manga for the North American market. The first volume was released on July 3, 2018.
Spin-offs
Giyu Tomioka Gaiden (冨岡義勇 外伝, Tomioka Giyū Gaiden), a two-chapter manga spin-off centered on Giyu, was published in Shueisha's Weekly Shōnen Jump on April 1 and 8, 2019. Gotouge is credited with the original work and Ryōji Hirano drew the manga. A side-story for the manga was published in the first issue of Jump Giga on July 20, 2016.
Kimetsu no Aima! (きめつのあいま!), a colored 4-koma spin-off by Ryōji Hirano, was serialized between April 7 and September 29, 2019, on Shueisha's Shonen Jump+ app and website. The manga featured chibi versions of the characters from the main series.
In May 2020, after the main series finished, a spin-off titled Kyojuro Rengoku Gaiden (煉獄外伝, Rengoku Kyōjurō Gaiden), illustrated by Ryōji Hirano and centered on Kyojuro was announced to be released. The two chapters of Rengoku Gaiden were published in Weekly Shōnen Jump on October 12 and 17, 2020. A collected gaiden tankōbon volume, which includes Giyu Tomioka Gaiden, Kyojuro Rengoku Gaiden, and Kimetsu no Aima!, was released on December 4, 2020. Viz Media released the volume, under the title Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba ― Stories of Water and Flame, on January 4, 2022.
A 19-page special one-shot chapter written and illustrated by Gotouge, centered on Kyojuro's first mission, was published in Weekly Shōnen Jump on October 5, 2020. An 84-page booklet, titled Rengoku Volume 0, which includes the 19-page one-shot chapter and interviews with the staff and cast of the film, was given to the Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba the Movie: Mugen Train theatergoers on October 16, 2020. The booklet had a limited print run of 4.5 million copies.
A spin-off manga series written and illustrated by Natsuki Hokami, titled Demon Slayer: Kimetsu Academy (キメツ学園!, Kimetsu Gakuen!), related to the Kimetsu Gakuen Valentine-hen anime shorts, was serialized in Shueisha's Saikyō Jump magazine from August 4, 2021, to March 4, 2024. Shueisha released six volumes from January 4, 2022, to April 4, 2024. Viz Media has also licensed the manga.
Light novels
A light novel, titled Demon Slayer: The Flower of Happiness (鬼滅の刃 しあわせの花, Kimetsu no Yaiba Shiawase no Hana), by Gotouge and Aya Yajima, was published in Japan on February 4, 2019. It chronicles the lives of Tanjiro and Zenitsu before the start of the main series, as well as glimpses into the lives of Aoi and Kanao. It also features a single chapter of an alternate universe where the characters attend an ordinary high school. A second light novel, titled Demon Slayer: One-Winged Butterfly (鬼滅の刃 片羽の蝶, Kimetsu no Yaiba Katahane no Chō), by Gotouge and Yajima, was published in Japan on October 4, 2019. It details the lives of Shinobu and her sister Kanae before and soon after they joined the Demon Slayers after Gyomei saved their lives. A third light novel, titled Demon Slayer: Signs from the Wind (鬼滅の刃 風の道しるべ, Kimetsu no Yaiba: Kaze no Michishirube), centered on Sanemi, was published on July 3, 2020. In February 2022, Viz Media announced that they would publish the three light novels in 2022.
Other print media
A fanbook, Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Official Fanbook: Demon Slaying Corps Memorandum (鬼滅の刃公式ファンブック 鬼殺隊見聞録, Kimetsu no Yaiba Kōshiki Fanbukku Kisatsutai Kenbunroku), was released on July 4, 2019. It features background information on several characters from the series. It also includes the complete three chapters of the initial draft of the series, titled Kisatsu no Nagare (鬼殺の流れ, "Flow of Killing Demons").
A second fanbook, Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Official Fanbook: Demon Slaying Corps Memorandum 2 (鬼滅の刃公式ファンブック 鬼殺隊見聞録・弐, Kimetsu no Yaiba Kōshiki Fanbukku Kisatsutai Kenbunroku Ni), was released on February 4, 2021. It includes three one-shot chapters: "Tanjirō no Kinkyō Hōkokusho" (炭治郎の近況報告書, "Report on Tanjiro's Present Condition"), which is about Tanjiro and other characters after the manga's conclusion; "Totsugeki!! Jigoku no Onishuzai ~Sanzunokawa o Koete~" (突撃!! 地獄の鬼取材～三途の川を越えて～, Breaking! Hell Demon Report ~Crossing the Far Shore~), which shows some of the demons from "that time"; and "Kimetsu no Dodai" (鬼滅の土台, "The Foundation of Kimetsu"), which shows some of Gotouge's real stories from drawing the manga during its serialization. It also includes the previously published one-shot chapter "Rengoku Volume 0", previously given out as a bonus for theatergoers for Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba the Movie: Mugen Train in 2020, and the "Nenshi Bangai-hen" (年始番外編, "New Year extra edition") and "Nenmatsu Bangai-hen" (年末番外編, "Year-end extra edition") one-shots, published in Weekly Shōnen Jump in 2020 and 2019, respectively. It also includes the one-shot 'Micchaku! "Kimetsu Gakuen" ni Kayou Tanjiro no 1-nichi' (密着！"キメツ学園"に通う炭治郎の1日, "Closer Look! A Day of Tanjiro Attending Kimetsu University") which was published in Jump Giga 2018 Winter Vol.3 in 2018.
An art book, titled Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – Koyoharu Gotouge Artbook: Ikuseisо (鬼滅の刃 吾峠呼世晴画集―幾星霜―, Kimetsu no Yaiba Gotōge Koyoharu Gashū Ikuseiso), was released on February 4, 2021.
Anime
A 26-episode anime television series adaptation by studio Ufotable, directed by Haruo Sotozaki and produced by Hikaru Kondo, was broadcast from April 6 to September 28, 2019.
A second season, with the first part adapting the "Mugen Train" story arc, aired for seven episodes from October 10 to November 28, 2021. The second part of the season, adapting the "Entertainment District" story arc, aired for eleven episodes from December 5, 2021, to February 13, 2022.
A third season, covering the "Swordsman Village" story arc, aired from April 9 to June 18, 2023.
A fourth season, covering the "Hashira Training" story arc, aired from May 12 to June 30, 2024.
Compilation films
Prior to airing, the first five episodes screened theatrically in Japan for two weeks from March 29, 2019, under the title Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba: Sibling's Bond (鬼滅の刃 兄妹の絆, Kimetsu no Yaiba: Kyōdai no Kizuna).
A compilation film, Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – To the Swordsmith Village, which includes the 10th and 11th episodes of Entertainment District and an advanced screening of the first "Swordsmith Village" story arc episode, premiered in Japan on February 3, 2023.
Another compilation film, Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – To the Hashira Training, which includes the two final episodes of Swordsmith Village and an advanced screening of the first Hashira Training episode, premiered in Japan on February 2, 2024, with a wide theatrical release in the United States on February 23 of the same year.
Films
A film, titled Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – The Movie: Mugen Train, premiered in Japan on October 16, 2020.
A film trilogy adapting the "Infinity Castle" story arc is set to premiere in Japan on July 18, 2025.
Video games
A video game based on the series was announced in 2020. Titled Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – The Hinokami Chronicles (鬼滅の刃 ヒノカミ血風譚, Kimetsu no Yaiba Hinokami Keppūtan), it is developed by CyberConnect2, and published by Aniplex. The game was released for the PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X and Series S, and Steam on October 14, 2021, in Japan. Sega published the game worldwide for the same platforms on October 15, 2021. It was released for the Nintendo Switch on June 9, 2022. In December 2024, a sequel was announced. Titled Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – The Hinokami Chronicles 2 (鬼滅の刃 ヒノカミ血風譚2, Kimetsu no Yaiba Hinokami Keppūtan Ni), the game is set to be released for the same platforms as its predecessor on August 1, 2025, in Japan, and on August 5 in English-speaking territories.
A mobile game titled Kimetsu no Yaiba: Keppū Kengeki Royale (鬼滅の刃 血風剣戟ロワイアル) was announced to be released in 2020 by publisher Aniplex with development by Aniplex subsidiary Quatro A. In December 2020, it was announced that the game's release was delayed indefinitely to improve its quality.
Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – Sweep the Board, a digital tabletop game was released for the Nintendo Switch in April 2024; it was released for the PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X and Series S, Xbox One, and Steam in July of the same year.
Stage plays
A stage play adaptation of the manga was announced by Weekly Shōnen Jump in September 2019. The stage play was performed from January 18–26 in Tokyo at the Tennōzu Ginga Gekijō and from January 31 to February 2, 2020, in Hyōgo Prefecture at the AiiA 2.5 Theater Kobe. Kenichi Suemitsu scripted and directed the play and Shunsuke Wada composed the music. The cast includes Ryota Kobayashi as the protagonist Tanjirō Kamado, Akari Takaishi as his sister Nezuko, Keisuke Ueda as Zenitsu Agatsuma, Yūgo Satō as Inosuke Hashibira, Reo Honda as Giyū Tomioka, Tomoyuki Takagi as Sakonji Urokodaki, Mimi Maihane as Tamayo, Hisanori Satō as Yushirō, and Yoshihide Sasaki as the main antagonist Muzan Kibutsuji. A second stage play adaptation was announced at the Jump Festa '21 event in December 2020, with the cast and staff returning. Titled Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba the 2nd: Bonds, it ran in Tokyo from August 7–15, in Osaka from August 20–22, and again in Tokyo from August 27–31, 2021.
A traditional Noh-Kyōgen stage play was announced at the Jump Festa '22 in December 2021. It ran from July 26–31 at the Kanze Noh Theater in Tokyo and from December 9–11, 2022 at the Ohtsuki Noh Theater in Osaka. The cast includes Ohtsuki Yuichi as Tanjiro Kamado and his younger sister Nezuko, Ohtsuki Bunzo as Rui, and Nomura Mansai, who is also a stage director, played as Muzan Kibutsuji. A third stage play adaptation based on the manga's "Mugen Train" arc was announced by Weekly Shōnen Jump in January 2022. Titled Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba The Stage Part 3: Mugen Dream Train, it was performed on September 10 and 11 at the Tokyo Dome City Hall in Tokyo, at Kyoto Theater in Kyoto from September 16–25, and again at the Tokyo Dome City Hall from October 15–23, 2022.
A fourth stage play adaptation based on the manga's "Entertainment District" story arc was announced in April 2023. Titled Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba The Stage Part 4: Sneaking into the Entertainment District, it ran in Osaka from November 11–19 and Tokyo from December 1–10, 2023. The cast and staff are returning to reprise their roles, with Shogo Sakamoto played as Tanjiro Kamado. A Kabuki play of the manga was announced in October 2022. Titled Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Super Kabuki II, it is scheduled to run in Tokyo from February to March 2024. However, due to "various circumstances" about an actor, planned performances were postponed.
A fifth stage play adaptation based on the manga's "Swordsmith Village" story arc was announced in December 2024. Titled Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba The Stage Part 5: Assault on the Swordsmith Village, it is scheduled to run in Tokyo from April 11–20 and Hyōgo from April 25–27, 2025.
Other media
A collaborative kabuki exhibition featuring the characters from the series, was held at Kyōto's Minami-za theater from November 6–23, 2020. An art exhibition of the series ran in Tokyo's Mori Arts Center Gallery from October 26 to December 12, 2021. The exhibition displayed numerous artworks drawn by Koyoharu Gotouge and also sold original goods. The exhibition ran in the Grand Front Osaka from July 14 to September 4, 2022.
From September 17, 2021, to February 13, 2022, Universal Studios Japan hosted attractions based on the series, including the "Demon Slayer XR Ride". Other attractions include the "Hollywood Dream the Ride" and a Demon Slayer Corps special training sessions. Universal Studios Japan is again hosted the "Demon Slayer XR Ride" attraction from February 1 to June 6, 2024. From July 19, 2024, to January 5, 2025, the theme park opened two attractions including "Race to Swordsmith Village" XR Ride and Hashira Training Arc's "Hollywood Dream the Ride".
An immersive exhibition, titled Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Total Concentration Exhibition, was originally slated to be held at the Araneta City in Quezon City, Philippines, starting on July 20, 2024; however, the event was rescheduled, and ran at the same venue from August 3 to October 27 of the same year.
Prior to Major League Baseball's 2025 Tokyo Series between the Los Angeles Dodgers and Chicago Cubs, the league collaborated to produce a short anime film about the series which featured both teams' Japanese players (Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto for the Dodgers, and Shota Imanaga and Seiya Suzuki for the Cubs).
Writer
The name of the cartoonist is Koyoharu Gotouge. Gotouge has never been seen publicly, and their true identity is unknown. Demon Slayer is their fifth product.
