The film
Demon Slayer - Le Train de l'Infini
follows the series available on Wakanim and is being released on more than 400 screens throughout France.
Used to previews of Japanese anime, the Grand Rex in Paris offers it its large room, and all screenings are sold out until Sunday.
The audience of fans, aged 15 to 30, was there from the first session at 11 a.m., some had lined up at 7 a.m. to get the best seat.
“A tsunami. This is how Alexandre Hellmann, director of the Grand Rex, an iconic Paris cinema, described the enthusiasm for pre-sales of the film
Demon Slayer
, which was run on more than 400 screens from Wednesday and one of the events of the reopening of the rooms. “The fans were there to the point that the system exploded. They were also there on D-Day, starting at 7 am… for the 11 am session!
“Even if they already have all their tickets, they want the best place in the room,” confirms Maxime, receptionist and projectionist.
And not just any venue, since
Demon Slayer: The Infinity Train
is projected in the large one, usually ready to accommodate 2,700 spectators.
There, the 850 places are taken, gauge of 35% of the sanitary protocol obliges.
All the screenings of the day are sold out and the film is shown in no less than three theaters at the same time at 6 p.m.
“In fact, all the sessions are full until Sunday,” adds Maxime.
Ah OK.
Two hours in advance to get the best seat
As the spectators of the 11 o'clock session get ready to leave, there is already a line up for the next one, in two hours.
Namory and his friends are therefore well ahead.
They are between 16 and 20 years old, and are fans of the animated series available on Wakanim.
The manga?
Not read.
Even if they read some, says Anas, citing the novelty
Jujutsu Kaisen
or the inevitable
Attack on Titan
.
If they have not embarked on the manga, it is also to protect themselves from the surprises that the story will reserve for them and therefore the animated adaptation.
And the temptation to see the film "in advance", not to say illegally?
Outrage!
"No, no, no, you have to see it in theaters", continues Loceni, before admitting that a friend has seen it like that but is going back to the cinema tomorrow.
The film #DemonSlayer arrives Wednesday in more than 400 theaters in France, new proof of an unstoppable phenomenon in manga, on TV and now in the cinema @Wakanim @CGRCinemas @PaniniManga 👹⚔️ https://t.co/WKYlxihiEo pic. twitter.com/Og7jNgSMuw
- Vincent Julé (@Vincent_Jule) May 18, 2021
"The animation is phew, like in the series"
The little gang is actually true to anime previews, from
Dragon Ball Super: Broly
to
My Hero Academia
, regularly staged on the Grand Rex, and often only way to see them on the big screen. “The atmosphere is crazy,” comments Namory. For the second
My Hero Acadomia
movie
, as soon as I got in line and saw all the cosplay, I was just too happy. None of that for
Demon Slayer.
It must be said that its release is not "limited" or "event", but a real release on a large circuit of prints and that the film should remain several weeks on display.
Applause.
Yes, the audience applauds at the end of the film.
A young audience, aged 15 to 30, above all a fan of the animated series.
Two friends came early, on the first day of the outing, because they were afraid that there would be few sessions.
Thomas, 14, came with several school mates, girls and boys.
They loved the film: “The animation is phew, like in the animated series.
We had not seen such an achievement for years in the TV production.
"
"" Demon Slayer "does not hesitate to show his heroes cry"
Namory qualifies, him, the animation of
Demon Slayer
of "magic", and also praises the Japanese folklore at the heart of the story.
Anas adds: “
Demon Slayer
is a pure traditional shônen, while the others tend to move away from the codes of the genre.
It's nice to see ".
Everyone does not forget to slip a word about the characters and the emotion they exude.
Especially in the movie.
They also shed their tears.
Claude, 58, cried twice.
He came with his daughter Camille, 13, who introduced him to the show, and they both released the Japanese masks for the occasion.
Our dossier on manga
“I like how the animated mixes things that are both simple and complex,” he explains, “how he puts forward philosophical and positive values, which we really need at the moment.
He knows how to talk to young people, and, for example, does not hesitate to show his heroes cry.
It's rare.
Claude also finds the commercial strategy of linking the animated series with the release of a film clever.
“To see if it works.
He is told that
Demon Slayer: Infinity Train
is the biggest hit of all time at the Japanese box office?
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