<p>An anime epic in which a teenager hunts down and beheads demons on Monday became Japan's top-grossing film of all time, its production company said, ending the near two-decade reign of Studio Ghibli's "Spirited Away".</p>.<p>"Demon Slayer", based on the hit manga series, has chalked up 32.5 billion yen ($314 million) in box-office sales since its October release, a spokeswoman for anime producer Aniplex said.</p>.<p>The story of Tanjiro, whose life transforms when his family is killed in a demon attack, has drawn 24 million viewers to cinemas, she added — in a year that has seen movie theatres and film releases around the world hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic.</p>.<p>After weeks of closing in on the top spot, "Demon Slayer" dethroned the 2001 fantasy classic "Spirited Away", whose total takings had reached 31.7 billion yen including ticket sales from a summer re-release.</p>.<p>Japan has seen a relatively limited outbreak of Covid-19, with some 3,200 deaths, although record numbers of new cases have been reported in recent weeks.</p>.<p>"Demon Slayer" has been helped by Japan not implementing the strict lockdown measures seen elsewhere, and movie theatres have largely stayed open, though with restrictions including mask-wearing.</p>.<p>Throughout the pandemic, people have been urged to avoid crowds — putting most other forms of mass entertainment off-limits -- while a sophisticated marketing campaign, including tie-ups with shops and restaurants, and well-known actors voicing the characters, also helped boost the film.</p>.<p>The success of the movie, whose full title is "Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba the Movie: Mugen Train", has been a rare bright spot in the economic malaise that has accompanied the pandemic in Japan.</p>.<p>One research institute estimated the entire series has generated an economic impact of 270 billion yen in Japan alone.</p>.<p>"Demon Slayer" has already been distributed elsewhere in Asia with releases in Europe and the United States planned for next year.</p>
<p>An anime epic in which a teenager hunts down and beheads demons on Monday became Japan's top-grossing film of all time, its production company said, ending the near two-decade reign of Studio Ghibli's "Spirited Away".</p>.<p>"Demon Slayer", based on the hit manga series, has chalked up 32.5 billion yen ($314 million) in box-office sales since its October release, a spokeswoman for anime producer Aniplex said.</p>.<p>The story of Tanjiro, whose life transforms when his family is killed in a demon attack, has drawn 24 million viewers to cinemas, she added — in a year that has seen movie theatres and film releases around the world hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic.</p>.<p>After weeks of closing in on the top spot, "Demon Slayer" dethroned the 2001 fantasy classic "Spirited Away", whose total takings had reached 31.7 billion yen including ticket sales from a summer re-release.</p>.<p>Japan has seen a relatively limited outbreak of Covid-19, with some 3,200 deaths, although record numbers of new cases have been reported in recent weeks.</p>.<p>"Demon Slayer" has been helped by Japan not implementing the strict lockdown measures seen elsewhere, and movie theatres have largely stayed open, though with restrictions including mask-wearing.</p>.<p>Throughout the pandemic, people have been urged to avoid crowds — putting most other forms of mass entertainment off-limits -- while a sophisticated marketing campaign, including tie-ups with shops and restaurants, and well-known actors voicing the characters, also helped boost the film.</p>.<p>The success of the movie, whose full title is "Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba the Movie: Mugen Train", has been a rare bright spot in the economic malaise that has accompanied the pandemic in Japan.</p>.<p>One research institute estimated the entire series has generated an economic impact of 270 billion yen in Japan alone.</p>.<p>"Demon Slayer" has already been distributed elsewhere in Asia with releases in Europe and the United States planned for next year.</p>