Anime’s box office knockout

A few years ago, if you’d said a Japanese anime film would set the Indian box office on fire, people might’ve looked at you funny. But ‘Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – Infinity Castle’ has just done something remarkable as it grossed over Rs 83 crore in India (and a bit over USD 650 million globally) within a month of release. That’s not niche. That’s not cult. That’s mainstream.

Now pause and think about that number. Rs 83 crore, in India, for an animated Japanese movie with no Hindi stars, no Karan Johar press circuit, no song-and-dance routine. Just story, animation and a fanbase that’s clearly bigger than most Bollywood producers expected.

And honestly? It’s not a fluke. It’s a shift.

Anime don’t just play around

Let’s be clear — ‘Demon Slayer’ didn’t come out of nowhere. Its success is riding on a steady build-up of anime titles that have been warming up Indian theatres for a while now. ‘Suzume’ (2023) quietly collected Rs 10 crore during its run. ‘Jujutsu Kaisen 0’ (2022) pulled in about Rs 9.4 crore. Even the previous instalment in the ‘Demon Slayer’ franchise, ‘Demon Slayer: To the Hashira Training’ (2024) managed over Rs 6 crore.

Sure, these numbers aren’t Marvel-level, but they’re impressive considering anime was, not long ago, mostly living on illegal sites and Sunday morning cartoons. What we’re seeing now? Packed shows in cities such as Delhi and Chandigarh, cosplayers outside theatres, dubbed versions in Hindi, full-blown anime merchandise stalls in Mumbai malls. It’s a cultural turn, one Bollywood probably didn’t see coming.

Not every anime wins

Take ‘Chainsaw Man: Reze Arc’. Released just weeks after ‘Infinity Castle’, it had all the makings of a hit — edgy plot, wild animation a loyal global fanbase. But in India? It managed a more modest Rs 5 crore over its first two weeks. Now Rs 5 crore isn’t nothing, but it’s also nowhere near ‘Demon Slayer’ levels. So, what happened? A few things: the movie was rated “A” (so, limited younger audiences), there wasn’t much marketing and fewer dubbed versions meant narrower reach. It’s proof even in the anime boom, content needs context. Not everything works unless it’s made accessible — and hyped right.

Back at Bollywood…

Let’s talk sequels. Or maybe let’s not, because it’s getting hard to tell them apart. This year saw over 10 Bollywood franchise releases. Most of them tanked or underwhelmed. ‘Baaghi 4’ — the fourth film in a series that peaked with the first — became the lowest-grossing of the bunch. ‘Housefull 5’ tried leaning into nostalgia and slapstick but ended up getting slammed for recycled gags and double entendres.

You’d think franchise fatigue would be a red flag, but Bollywood keeps doubling down on it — like throwing sugar into a dish that’s already too sweet.

The formula’s broken: “big star + brand name + louder explosions” just isn’t cutting it. Audiences are asking for more. And anime, of all things, is giving it to them.

What anime gets right

Here’s the thing: anime isn’t just drawing people in with flashy visuals. It’s bringing heart. It’s delivering stories with weight — and arcs that feel earned. The ‘Demon Slayer’ franchise didn’t just drop a hit film out of the blue. It built a world — through manga (a style of Japanese comic books and graphic novels), anime episodes, character lore — and when the movie hit theatres, fans were already emotionally invested. It was like watching the final episode of your favourite show… but on a giant screen.

Also, the animation? Next-level. Not “cheap cartoon” vibes — we’re talking fight scenes that look like poetry in motion. Pair that with great storytelling and a sense of cultural freshness, and you’ve got a formula Bollywood could study: build the story first, the brand will follow. And fans aren’t done yet — they’re already counting the days till the remaining two instalments in the Demon Slayer saga drop in 2027 and 2029

Bollywood’s need to pivot

This isn’t about replacing Shah Rukh Khan with a CGI demon. It’s about respecting the audience’s evolving tastes. People don’t just want glamour — they want grit, depth, weirdness and something new. And maybe it’s time Bollywood started playing the long game. Create cinematic universes rooted in story, not just stardom. Explore animation and CGI seriously. Take risks with format and narrative structure. Hire young writers who binge anime and read Anurag Kashyap.

If anime can pull off Rs 83 crore without a Bollywood budget or PR machine, what’s stopping India’s biggest studios from doing the same?

Final thought

If there’s a demon that Bollywood needs to slay right now, it’s not competition from Japan. It’s the idea that formula still works. Audiences have changed. They want more than just masala. And the proof’s sitting right there at the box office — with a sword in one hand, and a story worth following.