Attack on Titan was embroiled in a lot of issues when its final season was released. Some did not like MAPPA’s animation, while others hated the ending. But one of the most persistent complaints stemmed from the unnecessary divisions of its last arc.
Now, Demon Slayer is also planning to follow the same path, as it is releasing three movies that depict the final arc of the manga. Each of these movies will also have a substantial gap between their releases.
However, weirdly enough, fans are not complaining about Demon Slayer, even though they heavily criticized Attack on Titan for doing something similar. The reason behind this proves that it was not about breaking a story into multiple parts but rather how and when it is being done.
Why Demon Slayer’s approach is justified
The Infinity Castle Arc of the Demon Slayer manga spans chapters 140 to 183, which is filled with key moments and various impactful fights. In one part, if Shinobu is facing off against Doma, it means somewhere else, Zenitsu would be fighting against Kaigaku at the same time. Thus, every character is involved and has their own small but prominent segments within this whole arc.
Therefore, dividing the remaining story into three movies seems justified as it can provide ample space for everyone to shine. Yes, this could have been adapted into a series, and the creators might do so eventually. But that quality can never match a movie with a much higher budget.
There is also the fact that this is not the first time that we are getting a movie before it is released as a series. This has been the marketing strategy of Ufotable from the time of the Mugen Train Arc.
They were clear that the fans who wish to witness Tanjiro’s journey unfold on the big screen can do it by visiting the theaters. While those who want the series will get it at a later date. The transparency about their intention was something that got their approach readily accepted in the case of Demon Slayer.
Where Attack on Titan went wrong
Attack on Titan definitely tried to emulate the same process, but it received heavy backlash because of the studio’s confusing intention. First of all, the decision to break the last season of AoT came out of nowhere for fans who just wanted to witness the conclusion. The final arc was repeatedly split with last-minute announcements, leading to massive frustrations from everyone.
Had this been their approach from the very beginning, like Demon Slayer, it would not have felt like they were milking the fans. Plus, instead of giving each part a proper title, they kept labeling everything as Season 4, even though these sections had enough episodes to be recognized as separate seasons.
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This kind of haphazard and messy modifications felt like the studio saw the franchise’s potential and tried to drag it till they could for profit. The long gaps between the releases also did not help appease the fans at all.
This is why even though Demon Slayer and Attack on Titan walked the same roads, the former’s approach felt more structured and planned. Maybe there will come a time when almost every famous anime franchise will go for this hybrid model. This can draw criticism but also might be accepted if things are transparent from the get-go.
Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle movie will be released on September 12, 2025. Watch Attack on Titan and Demon Slayer on Crunchyroll.
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