Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba — Zenitsu’s Smile Brings Tears… New Illustration by ufotable Creates a Buzz

The anime film Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – Infinity Castle Arc: Part 1 – Akaza Returns has been screening since July 18. To commemorate the release, an illustration of Zenitsu was shared on ufotable’s official X (formerly Twitter) account. In the artwork, Zenitsu is shown smiling, and it has been generating a lot of buzz online.

Up until now, Zenitsu has entertained viewers with his expressive emotions, but in this new film, as revealed in the preview scenes, he never once smiles. Instead, we see a determined version of him, resolute and ready for what lies ahead.

Fans have responded to the rare glimpse of Zenitsu’s smile in the illustration with comments like, “Every version of Zenitsu is amazing, but this one is the absolute best,” “His smile brings tears to my eyes,” and “This takes me back… to the Zenitsu of those days.”

Demon Slayer is based on the immensely popular manga that ran in Weekly Shonen Jump from February 2016 to May 2020. Set in the Taisho era, the story follows a boy named Tanjiro Kamado, whose family is slaughtered by demons. To turn his demonized sister Nezuko back into a human and avenge his family, he joins the Demon Slayer Corps and sets out to defeat the demon responsible. The manga has surpassed 220 million copies in circulation worldwide.

From April to September 2019, the TV anime Demon Slayer – Tanjiro Kamado, Unwavering Resolve Arc aired and became a major sensation. This was followed by the release of Demon Slayer – Mugen Train in October 2020, which became a social phenomenon, earning approximately 51.7 billion yen at the global box office.

Since then, Demon Slayer has been adapted into video games and stage plays. The anime continued with the Entertainment District Arc in December 2021, followed by the Swordsmith Village Arc in April 2023, and the Hashira Training Arc which aired from May to June 2024. Now, the story moves to the big screen with a trilogy adaptation of the Infinity Castle Arc. In Demon Slayer – Infinity Castle Arc: Part 1 – Akaza Returns, Tanjiro and the Demon Slayer Corps face their final battle against Muzan Kibutsuji and the Upper Rank demons within the demon stronghold, the Infinity Castle. The film is currently screening in 452 theaters (393 standard and 59 IMAX) nationwide.

Source : ORICON NEWS