T5W#527-Top 5 Anime that could do well in the US after Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle (Part 1)

Well would you look at that.  Demon Slayer didn’t just meet my expectations from last week, it surpassed them.  Ok maybe thinking an opening north of $100 Million might’ve been a little far reaching but still it kicked ass at the US Box Office this past weekend, opening to the tune or $70 Million, more than doubling the opening weekend gross of Pokemon: The First Movie back in 1999.  Considering it clobbered hit holdovers like The Conjuring: Last Rites as well as two new releases: Downton Abby: The Grand Finale and The Long Walk, Demon Slayers runaway success might mean Anime is on the verge of a more mainstream spotlight compared to previous years…or Demon Slayer is just as big a title as Dragon Ball Z that it’s name alone will put butts in seats so again, might be reaching.  But the year isnt over yet.  And while I don’t think any of these picks for todays Top 5 Wednesday will do nearly the business Demon Slayer did this weekend, interest might be high enough to leave a little more than a simple one weekend only showing mark on the industry.  These are the Top 5 Anime that could do well in the US after Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle (Part 1).

 
#5-Mobile Suit Gundam Hathaway: The Sorcery of Nymph Circe

The first of two Gundam entries on this list, the second part of the Gundam Hathaway trilogy has been a long time coming.  After being delayed from it’s 2020 release due to the Pandemic, the first part arrived in theaters in the Summer of 2021 and became a big hit amongst the Gundam fandom.  Following the success of Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Freedom last year and the release of Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuX the franchise is on the radar more than ever before and it’s a name that resounds greatly with US Anime fans.  It might not be as anticipated on the East Coast as another title we’ll get to but perhaps a solid US gross will help get the third and final chapter of this trilogy into production much faster.  Side note: This doesn’t have an official release date anywhere yet but the ballpark is Q4 2025, so Gundam for Christmas?

 
#4-Scarlet

I know the least about this one but there is one major strength in it’s corner: Mamoru Hosoda. The Director has a pretty amazing resume of Anime classics under his belt including one of my all time favorites, Summer Wars, and the hit musical, Belle.  Scarlet looks to be a bit different from his previous works as it follows the titular Princess out for revenge who finds herself paired up with a Medic from the present and is forced to challenge her beliefs and thirst for blood.  The trailer looks gorgeous and could be a serious contender come Awards season this fall.  Fans of Hosoda’s work and general Animation enthusiasts would definitely flock to this one for the holiday season.

 
#3-Mobile Suit Gundam Wing: Endless Waltz-Special Edition

Gundam Wing is celebrating it’s 30^th Anniversary this year with a special rerelease of the Endless Waltz Special Edition, aka the Movie version that combines all three episodes of the OVA with extra footage and reorganized scenes.  The films already dropped in Japan with some extra content including the 30^th Anniversary Video and fans have been excited to revisit this classic.  Since Gundam Wing got a prime panel spot at San Diego Comic Con this past summer, of course we’re going to be getting the film here in the States sometime in the fall and while I think this will only be a minimal showing event, the success of Gundam Wing in the US has stood the test of time and could draw the crowd of old school fans like myself who grew up with it or newcomers fresh off of GQuuuuuX looking for more Gundam on the big screen.
 

#2-Jujutsu Kaisen: Execution

One of the few Anime these days with international appeal as great as Demon Slayer, the wait for Jujutsu Kaisen’s Third Season has been a long and arduous one.  But low and behold, Season Three, The Culling Game Part 1, is set to drop in January of Next Year.  Before that, however, JJK looks to be taking a page from Demon Slayers book with a special Preview/Compilation Film coming out in Japan in November and in the US in December.  Jujutsu Kaisen: Execution will cover the last two episodes of the Shibuya Arc of Season 2 before showing the first two episodes of The Culling Game Part 1.  Many might not remember but the Jujutsu Kaisen 0 movie came out stateside back in 2022 and actually made it to #2 at the box office that weekend…had it not been for The Batman in it’s third week it could have topped it.  Point is, fans are hungry for more JJK and seeing the conclusion of one of the most insane battles in all of Anime in the conclusion of the Shibuya Incident on the big screen begs to be a thing.
 

#1-Chainsaw Man: The Movie-Reze Arc

I can only imagine how hard this movie is going to be pushed coming out so soon after Demon Slayer.  Despite it being three years since it’s megahit debut season, Chainsaw Man’s popularity is still almost on par with that of Demon Slayer and Jujutsu Kaisen.  Instead of a long awaited Second Season, Chainsaw Man is taking the Demon Slayer Mugen Train approach with its next act, the Reze Arc.  The arc introduces one of the most popular characters, the titular Reze, who I have seen cosplayed at so many conventions well ahead of her Anime debut.  While I don’t expect it to do Demon Slayer numbers, the reception to the trailer they showed before Infinity Castle Part 1 was pretty positive.  Clearly there’s still plenty of demand for the blood soaked carnage of a man literally made of chainsaws.