Demon Slayer Mangaka: TIME’s 100 Next list honours up-and-coming personalities who are making history, and the creator of Demon Slayer is the first mangaka to be named to the list.
TIME 100 Next is an annual list of 100 people who are changing the future, on the verge of making history, or have already done it. This year, a well-known figure made the cut: Koyoharu Gotouge, creator of the massively popular Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba, was the first manga artist to make the cut.
It’s no surprise to find Gotouge’s name on it, given Demon Slayer’s popularity and all of the records the manga and movie smashed. Still, how did this happen, and why is having Gotouge on something as prestigious as TIME 100 Next such a significant step forward for the manga/anime industry?
Why Should Gotouge And Demon Slayer Be Honored?
Demon Slayer tells the narrative of Tanjiro Kamado, who becomes a Demon Slayer in order to transform his sister back into a human. It’s a classic hero’s journey in which Tanjiro must face numerous challenges and defeats in order to grow stronger.
The roster of characters, which is largely made up of Demon Slayers, is diverse, with everyone having heartbreaking backstories that explain why they battle every day. Despite the fact that the Demons are responsible for the deaths of numerous characters and their families, they are shown sympathetically through Tanjiro’s eyes.
Demon Slayer’s popularity was largely due to the anime, which, with its magnificent and clean animation, outstanding combat choreography, and soundtrack, nailed the series’ distinctive enchantment, making it one of the year’s biggest hits. Despite this, the manga has sold over 82 million copies, making it the best-selling manga series in 2020 as well.
It first started serialisation in 2016, but manga sales didn’t really take off until after the anime ended. Despite the fact that a second season was not revealed until this year, the show’s popularity did not fade. With the release of Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba the Movie: Infinity Train, it surged rapidly. Despite the fact that it was set to premiere in the midst of a pandemic, the film’s success was unaffected. It broke the long-standing record set by Spirited Away, grossing over 32 billion yen.
Due to the pandemic, many anime programmes had to be postponed, and many staff members were forced to work from home, posing various difficulties and hurdles in resuming voice acting. Many films were forced to be released online or were postponed indefinitely, which hurt the cinema industry. Despite this, the anime business has thrived, thanks in part to the box office success of Demon Slayer the Movie: Mugen Train.
The Importance of Demon Slayer’s Achievement
It’s also worth mentioning that Gotouge penned a storey that everyone connected with. 2020 was a difficult year, and with everything that has happened since then, Demon Slayer was a welcome respite and source of solace. Tanjiro’s unconditional generosity and empathy for others’ sorrow and pain were the blazing lights of hope that everyone needed in an era where anti-Black and anti-Asian prejudice is rampant and many people feel cut off from their loved ones.
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