Demon Slayer Has Ended, But Its True Successor Is Already Here

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Demon Slayer premiered in 2019 and immediately became a huge hit with anime fans. It quickly established itself as a top title in the shōnen genre, telling the story of Tanjiro and his sister, Nezuko Kamado. The series has gained a large and devoted fanbase worldwide, and is now expanding its story with a series of three movies.

The first part of the *Demon Slayer* movie trilogy, *Infinity Castle Part 1 – Akaza’s Return*, has already been a big success in Japan, Korea, Thailand, and other countries. It’s now being released in the United States, where it’s expected to perform well. However, while *Demon Slayer* continues its popular run, the story is nearing its conclusion. A new anime series is poised to take its place as the next big hit on Crunchyroll.

Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle Part 1 Is A Global Phenomenon

Tickets for *Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle Part 1 – Akaza’s Return* went on sale last month and quickly generated over $10 million in pre-sales. This is a remarkable achievement, particularly because the anime market faces strong competition from Hollywood films in Europe and North America. Outside of Japan and Korea, anime has to compete with a wider range of English-language and other foreign films.

As a huge anime fan, I was blown away by how quickly *Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle Part 1 – Akaza’s Return* took off! It racked up $10 million in pre-sales here in the US in just three days! That’s incredible when you consider *Superman* (coming out in 2025) took a whole four weeks to hit $20 million. It really shows just how popular *Demon Slayer* is, and it proves that anime has firmly established itself as a major force in the American entertainment scene. It’s so exciting to see!

Saying goodbye to Demon Slayer is tough, and it brings back a lot of good memories. Tanjiro, the main character, quickly became a fan favorite with his inspiring story of overcoming challenges. Like many heroes in similar action stories, Tanjiro faces incredible obstacles. His journey begins with a heartbreaking tragedy: his family is killed by demons, and his sister, Nezuko, is turned into one herself. Fueled by sadness and a desire for revenge, Tanjiro joins the Demon Slayer Corps, determined to defeat Muzan Kibutsuji, the Demon King who caused so much suffering.

Demon Slayer is a truly memorable anime, and its characters, Tanjiro and Nezuko, are particularly beloved. With easy access on streaming services like Crunchyroll and Netflix, it’s sure to attract even more fans in the future. However, despite its powerful story of sacrifice, revenge, and kindness, it feels like the right time for a new anime to emerge and become the next big hit.

The True Successor To Demon Slayer

Hiromu Arakawa, the creator of the popular manga *Fullmetal Alchemist*, is working on a new series. Arakawa previously created *Silver Spoon* in 2011 and is currently producing *Daemons of the Shadow Realm*, which has already been compiled into 10 volumes.

The anime version of *Daemons of the Shadow Realm* is officially happening! It was announced at Crunchyroll’s Anime Expo 2025 event, and a short trailer and preview image were also released. Crunchyroll will stream the series in North and South America, Europe, Africa, Oceania, the Middle East, and India.

Daemons Of The Shadow Realm: What We Know About Hiromu Arakawa’s Manga So Far

Starting in 2021, Arakawa began publishing *Daemons of the Shadow Realm* in Square Enix’s *Monthly Shonen Gangan* magazine. So far, nine volumes have been released in Japan. Square Enix also publishes an English version of the manga, which has been described as:

In a world where some people have the power to control supernatural beings called Daemons, twins Yuru and Asa – known as “the children who sunder day and night” – are destined to be their leaders.

Lost as children and kept apart, a brother and sister must overcome hardship to reunite, discover their true heritage, and ultimately protect the world.

Fans of Arakawa’s work will find that *Daemons of the Shadow Realm* feels like a return to her classic fantasy style, similar to what she did in *Fullmetal Alchemist*. Though the stories aren’t identical, *Daemons of the Shadow Realm* also centers around two siblings, much like Edward and Alphonse in *Fullmetal Alchemist*.

The relationship between Yuru and Asa in *Daemons of the Shadow Realm* differs significantly from that of Ed and Al in *Fullmetal Alchemist*. Ed and Al relied on each other completely, sharing a deep and unwavering trust. Yuru, however, didn’t have the same level of trust in Asa. This is partly because Ed and Al had very little else, making them entirely dependent on one another. In contrast, Yuru grew up sheltered in a village, while Asa is more knowledgeable about the outside world.

I noticed something really interesting while reading Daemons of the Shadow Realm – the dynamic between the characters completely flips the script on how Ed and Al interact in Fullmetal Alchemist. It’s like Arakawa took their relationship and turned it inside out.

How Daemons of the Shadow Realm Compares to Demon Slayer

Many consider *Fullmetal Alchemist* to be one of the most important anime of the last ten years, but *Daemons of the Shadow Realm* feels more contemporary in how its story is told. Aside from similarities to *Fullmetal Alchemist*, *Daemons of the Shadow Realm* shares quite a bit with *Demon Slayer*. Most notably, both series center around the bond between siblings who face challenges from powerful, demonic enemies.

With *Demon Slayer* nearing its end, *Daemons of the Shadow Realm* is poised to become the next big hit. The titles share a similar feel, and the fact that Bones – a highly respected animation studio – is adapting *Daemons of the Shadow Realm* suggests it will be just as visually impressive. There are many promising new anime competing for viewers, but Arakawa’s storytelling skills should capture audiences once again, just as they did with *Demon Slayer*.

The Notable Works Of Bones Over The Years

Studio Bones has built a strong reputation with a wide range of popular anime series. Their impressive list includes titles like *Bungo Stray Dogs*, *Soul Eater*, *Darker than Black*, *Carole & Tuesday*, *Eureka Seven*, *Mob Psycho 100*, *Space Dandy*, and *My Hero Academia*. They are particularly well-known for their incredibly accurate adaptation of the manga *Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood*.

Bones is a highly talented animation studio with a diverse range of work, including both adaptations of manga and completely original anime. They’ve created everything from heartwarming, everyday stories to thrilling action series and funny science fiction. In 2003, they released an adaptation of Arakawa’s *Fullmetal Alchemist*, which followed the story of Ed and Al but with a different ending than the manga. While many fans enjoyed this version, *Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood*, released in 2009-2010, provided a more faithful conclusion to Ed and Al’s journey, and is often preferred by viewers.

Even though it’s been announced, *Daemons of the Shadow Realm* doesn’t have a confirmed release date yet. While fans wait, they can read the manga to learn about how Yuru and Asa became separated, what happened before they reunited, and what happens next in the story.

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2025-09-15 08:35