ANIPLEX INC. AND CRUNCHYROLL ANNOUNCE EXCLUSIVE MAY PREMIERE FOR “DEMON SLAYER: KIMETSU NO YAIBA HASHIRA TRAINING ARC”

ANIPLEX INC. AND CRUNCHYROLL ANNOUNCE EXCLUSIVE MAY PREMIERE FOR “DEMON SLAYER: KIMETSU NO YAIBA HASHIRA TRAINING ARC”

Mumbai, India, April 9, 2024 – Fresh from the Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba -To the Hashira Training- World Tour and theatrical experience, Aniplex Inc. and Crunchyroll will be exclusively premiering Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Hashira Training Arc starting Sunday, May 12, 2024. As part of its previously announced Spring 2024 season lineup, Crunchyroll will exclusively simulcast new episodes every week everywhere the service is available. Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba is based on the manga series by Koyoharu Gotoge published under SHUEISHA's JUMP COMICS, which consists of 23 volumes and over 150 million copies in publication. The animation production is by ufotable. The story begins when Tanjiro Kamado, a boy whose family is killed by a demon, joins the Demon Slayer Corps to turn his younger sister Nezuko back into a human after she is transformed into a demon. Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba first premiered in April 2019 with the Tanjiro Kamado, Unwavering Resolve Arc, followed by the feature film Mugen Train in October 2020, and the TV series Mugen Train Arc and Entertainment District Arc from 2021 through 2022. In 2023, the Swordsmith Village Arc debuted on Crunchyroll, shortly after the Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba -To the Swordsmith Village- World Tour theatrical release. Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Hashira Training Arc Official Synopsis: To the Hashira Training... The members of the Demon Slayer Corps and their highest-ranking swordsmen, the Hashira. In preparation for the forthcoming final battle against Muzan Kibutsuji, the Hashira Training commences. While each carry faith and determination within their hearts, Tanjiro and the Hashira enter a new story." The first episode of Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Hashira Training Arc premiered globally in movie theaters, along with the gripping finale of the Swordsmith Village Arc, this past February allowing fans to get a sneak peek at the highly anticipated Hashira Training Arc in one-extra-sized blockbuster experience. Additionally, fans in select cities including New York, Berlin, Mexico City, São Paulo, Paris, and London, flocked to the Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba -To the Hashira Training- World Tour which brough talent from Japan – including Natsuki Hanae, the Japanese voice of main character Tanjiro Kamado, and Aniplex producer Yuma Takahashi, and more – together for these special one-night-only advanced screenings. The Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba TV series, which debuted in 2019, and Demon Slayer -Kimetsu no Yaiba- The Movie: Mugen Train, which took the world by storm in 2020, are currently available to stream on Crunchyroll. Japanese voice cast and characters: Natsuki Hanae as Tanjiro Kamado Akari Kito as Nezuko Kamado Hiro Shimono as Zenitsu Agatsuma Yoshitsugu Matsuoka as Inosuke Hashibira Takahiro Sakurai as Giyu Tomioka Katsuyuki Konishi as Tengen Uzui Kengo Kawanishi as Muichiro Tokito Saori Hayami as Shinobu Kocho Kana Hanazawa as Mitsuri Kanroji Kenichi Suzumura as Obanai Iguro Tomokazu Seki as Sanemi Shinazugawa Tomokazu Sugita as Gyomei Himejima Dubs for English, Spanish, Brazilian Portuguese, French, German, Italian, Hindi, Tamil, and Telugu will be produced and released in the future. Official Website: demonslayer-anime.com Official Facebook: facebook.com/DemonSlayer.anime Official Twitter: twitter.com/DemonSlayerUSA About Crunchyroll Crunchyroll connects anime and manga fans across 200+ countries and territories with the content and experiences they love. In addition to free ad-supported and membership Premium content, Crunchyroll serves the anime community across events, theatrical, games, consumer products, collectibles, and manga. Anime fans have access to one of the largest collections of licensed anime through Crunchyroll and translated in multiple languages for viewers worldwide. Viewers can also access simulcasts—top series available immediately after Japanese broadcast. Crunchyroll is available on 15 platforms, including most gaming consoles. Crunchyroll, LLC is an independently operated joint venture between U.S.-based Sony Pictures Entertainment and Japan’s Aniplex, a subsidiary of Sony Music Entertainment (Japan) Inc., both subsidiaries of Tokyo-based Sony Group. ©2024 Crunchyroll, LLC. All rights reserved. CRUNCHYROLL and the Crunchyroll logo are registered trademarks of Crunchyroll, LLC. About Aniplex Inc. Aniplex Inc. is a diversified entertainment company operating worldwide with focus on the planning and production of anime video and music content, its distribution in theaters and broadcast syndication as well as their respective physical and digital products, development of related game apps and merchandise such as figurines and apparel, stage production of musicals and live events, and operating the online store “Aniplex Online” which provides hand-picked items for sale. # # #