Spirited Away’s Record Remained Unbeaten Until This Movie Was Released

For almost 20 years, Spirited Away held the record of the highest-grossing anime movie in Japan. Directed by the legendary Hayao Miyazaki and made by Studio Ghibli, this movie was a magical experience with magical animation. The film won an Oscar and became a worldwide favorite, loved by people of all ages.

Many anime movies tried to break Spirited Away’s box office record, but none of them could come close. That was until one movie came out of nowhere and shocked everyone. We are talking about Demon Slayer: Mugen Train. This action-packed film did something no one expected.

Don’t miss our YouTube Short for a quick look at how Spirited Away’s record was finally broken.

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Spirited Away’s Magic And Long-Time Record

Spirited Away was released in 2001 and quickly became a cultural phenomenon. The story of Chihiro, a young girl trapped in a spirit world, touched millions of hearts. From its mesmerizing visuals to emotions, the world-building, and the storytelling, everything about Spirited Away was simply perfect.

The movie made over ¥31.6 billion (about $305 million) in Japan alone. It stayed at the top of the box office for years and even won the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature in 2003. No anime movie, no matter how popular, could take its crown. Even as newer anime films like Your Name and Weathering With You became hits, Spirited Away stayed on top. But that was until Demon Slayer: Mugen Train arrived.

How Demon Slayer: Mugen Train Broke The Impossible Record

Demon Slayer: Mugen Train had three huge advantages: timing, hype, and a built-in fanbase. The movie was a direct sequel to the 2019 anime, which had exploded in popularity on Netflix and Fuji TV 6. When COVID-19 delayed Hollywood blockbusters, Japanese theaters bet everything on Demon Slayer, even screening it 40+ times a day in some cinemas.

Within a few months, Mugen Train made over ¥40 billion (around $377 million) in Japan, officially beating Spirited Away’s record. It became the highest-grossing anime film in Japanese history. What made it even more surprising was that it broke the record during the COVID-19 pandemic, when theaters were not even running at full capacity.

Anime	Release Year	MAL Rating	Animation Studio	Watch On
Demon Slayer	April 2019	8.44	Ufotable	Netflix

Anime	Release Year	MAL Rating	Animation Studio	Watch On
Spirited Away	July 2001	8.77	Studio Ghibli	Netflix

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