Demon Slayer: Why the Series Ended So Early, Explained

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Summary

  • Demon Slayer is notably shorter than other major anime stories due to its complete storyline in only 205 chapters.
  • The manga’s success led to its adaptation into an anime, making it a cultural phenomenon globally.
  • The decision to end the series early was driven by the completion of key story arcs, preventing unnecessary prolongation.

In the last ten years, Demon Slayer has undeniably emerged as one of the most influential stories. The manga captivated readers globally, the anime resonated with a diverse array of viewers, and the film “Demon Slayer: Mugen Train” shattered box office records. Demon Slayer has been the focus of cosplay, merchandise, fan art, and numerous other forms of fandom. It shares many similarities with other prominent anime series of our era, but it stands out notably due to its relatively concise length.

Compared to other popular shonen anime and manga, such as Naruto, Bleach, Attack on Titan, and One Piece, Demon Slayer is relatively brief in its run. While Naruto has 700 chapters and 220 episodes, Bleach boasts 698 chapters and 366 episodes, even Attack on Titan lasted for 94 episodes, albeit with a shorter manga at only 139 chapters. However, One Piece is an exceptionally long-running series, currently at 1128 chapters and 1122 episodes. Interestingly, Demon Slayer concluded after just 205 chapters and 63 episodes, with plans for a trilogy of movies instead of a final season. This raises the question: Why is Demon Slayer so much shorter than other similar stories? Does its abrupt ending seem unexpected to you as well?

Proceeding text may reveal key plot points from the final chapters of Demon Slayer manga. If you haven’t finished watching the anime yet and prefer not to learn about the story’s conclusion prematurely, please be cautious before reading.

A Quick History of Demon Slayer

Taking the Anime World by Storm

Back in February 2016, under the pen name Koyoharu Gotouge, this popular series known as Demon Slayer was brought to life. The manga continued its run until May 2020, concluding after 205 chapters across 12 unique storylines. Today, it boasts more than 150 million copies in circulation, making it one of the top-selling mangas ever produced. In 2021, Gotouge even earned a spot on Time‘s list of 100 Most Influential People – a first for a manga artist and testament to the far-reaching impact that Demon Slayer has had.

It’s not surprising that after the manga’s tremendous success, Demon Slayer was quickly made into an anime. This anime debuted in 2019 and ran for four main seasons and three films that connected them. In the year 2024 summer, it was revealed that the final story arc of Demon Slayer, known as the Infinity Castle arc, would be presented as a trilogy of movies instead of another anime season. These movies are expected to premiere in 2025.

Demon Slayer achieved remarkable success in both its manga and anime versions. In fact, it was a groundbreaking achievement as it held all top 10 positions on the Oricon weekly chart – a Japanese company that tracks sales statistics. Moreover, it made it to the New York Times bestseller list. The Swordsmith Village arc was the most-watched anime in Japan during 2023. Notably, Crunchyroll and IGN both recognized Demon Slayer as one of the top anime series from the 2010s. This only begins to highlight the story’s success and cultural influence.

The End of Demon Slayer

Over After Only Four Years

Observing from here, it seems that the manga series “Demon Slayer,” despite its remarkable achievements over four years, unexpectedly concluded. This brief run also influenced the anime adaptation, which ended with less than 70 episodes, making it relatively concise compared to similar popular titles. But one may wonder, why did Koyoharu Gotouge decide to bring “Demon Slayer” to a close prematurely? Given the significant profits it was generating, there seemed to be ample opportunity for continuation for years on end. However, the creator chose not to extend or expand the narrative further.

The straightforward explanation is – the narrative reached its conclusion. Essentially, the essence of Demon Slayer revolved around Tanjiro’s quest to identify his family’s murderers and avenge their actions on his life. Furthermore, he aimed to transform his sister, Nezuko, back into a human from being a demon. Ultimately, the common goal was to eliminate Muzan Kibitsuji, the demon ruler, which served as the primary motivation throughout the story, propelling it forward in each season and chapter.

IMDb outlines the narrative of the forthcoming “Demon Slayer” films centered around the Infinity Castle storyline.

The Demon Slayer Team ventures into the Infinite Castle with the intention of vanquishing Muzan. Yet, it is the surviving Hashiras and the Demon Slayers who passed Tanjiro’s Trial by Fire that are initially confronted by the remaining members of the Twelve Kizuki.

In the Infinity Castle arc penned by Gotouge, the primary objectives were successfully achieved. It was Muzan who had brought tragedy to Tanjiro’s family, but justice was served when he, the world’s strongest demon, was avenged. Nezuko was restored to her human form. With Muzan defeated by the Demon Slayer Corps, all other demons vanished from the realm. The epilogue depicts our main characters thriving in a peaceful, fear-free world.

Why Was Demon Slayer So Short?

Could it Have Been Longer?

Essentially, should Koyoharu Gotoge have proceeded with the tale of Demon Slayer following Muzan’s demise, it would have lost its essence. With Muzan vanquished and Nezuko restored to health, the world found tranquility. The Demon Slayer Corps was no longer necessary, and Tanjiro and his companions no longer had a reason to battle demons. Instead, they all chose to lead ordinary lives, settle down, and marry. If Gotoge had delved deeper into such a narrative beyond just an epilogue, it would have significantly transformed the genre of Demon Slayer from a fantasy action anime to a historical slice-of-life story.

The main purpose of Demon Slayer wasn’t just about fighting demons, but rather it was about telling Tanjiro’s story from beginning to end. Continuing the story in the same way would mean bringing the demons back again, implying that defeating Muzan wasn’t sufficient or he wasn’t truly defeated. This would essentially undermine all the characters who didn’t survive throughout their struggle against Muzan and other demons. The sacrifices these characters made to defeat Muzan and the other demons would have been in vain if the demons were brought back merely for the sake of creating more chapters.

In further discussion, Tanza points out several aspects that were hinted at in Demon Slayer but didn’t end up playing a significant role in the final storyline. For instance, the blue spider lilies, which seemed to have some importance earlier on, were not utilized in the final arc. Furthermore, certain side characters did not receive satisfying conclusions for their stories because the manga reached its end, focusing primarily on wrapping up the main characters’ arcs. This is one of the reasons why Demon Slayer concluded sooner than many had anticipated.

Demon Slayer stands out as a more concise series compared to many other anime and manga of the same genre. However, this brevity isn’t a flaw; instead, it demonstrates Koyoharu Gotouge’s dedication, as they skillfully guided us through Tanjiro’s journey for revenge and ultimately, peace. Rather than prolonging the anticipation, they wrapped up the story in a satisfying manner.

Moreover, Gotouge shunned filler arcs and spin-offs, ensuring that almost every chapter and episode served to either progress the plot or flesh out characters. Perhaps the manga and anime community could benefit from emulating Demon Slayer’s success, while also recognizing when it’s time to transition and prioritize personal life. It’s essential to remember that even creators of manga are human beings after all.

Watch Demon Slayer now on Crunchyroll.

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2025-02-19 02:04