With the recent conclusion of Demon Slayer: Kimetsu No Yaiba – To the Hashira Training, the newest animated movie of the famous Japanese comic series, at Carib 5, Palace Amusement aims to expand the viewing opportunities and experience of the genre to Jamaicans.

Dushane Forbes, cinema manager at Carib 5, labelled the run a success.

“I am an anime fan. Working here at Palace Amusement and Carib 5 I thought it was a great opportunity to view the great anime movies on a big screen. So I had the idea of just showing an anime movie whenever it came out,” Forbes told the Jamaica Observer.

With that in mind he approached his directors.

The Anime Merchant was on hand for anime fans and moviegoers alike to pick up some swag. (Photo: Rory Daley)

“They thought it was a good idea, and they gave me the opportunity to try it, and it was a success,” Forbes said.

He added that even in the face of the monster hit that Bob Marley: One Love has been, and the long-awaited blockbuster Dune Part Two, Demon Slayer: Kimetsu No Yaiba – To the Hashira Training has held its own leading to the possibility of more anime hitting Carib 5 screens in the future.

Demon Slayer: Kimetsu No Yaiba – To the Hashira Training, is the third in the Demon Slayer movie franchise, currently sitting at around US$50 million in worldwide ticket gross sales.

The 2020 Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – The Movie: Mugen Train, the first in the trilogy, is the largest grossing anime in box office history, taking in just over a half a billion dollars.

To help drive the interest in anime a cosplay competition was held in conjunction with the final showing
of Demon Slayer: Kimetsu No Yaiba — To the Hashira Training. This resulted in even more positive results as fans came out in their costumes not only to support the movie, but have a chance to win.

Fourth-place finisher in the Carib 5 Cosplay Competition Samoya Williams (right) shares some lens time with Rhea “Silver N3ko” Rampair at the showing of Demon Slayer: Kimetsu No Yaiba – To the Hashira Training.

Carib 5 Cosplay Competition third-andsecond place finishers Alex Lothian (left) and Tonique Tate (Photos: Rory Daley)

Victory went to Trisean Anderson. She was the first of the four winners announced by the judging panel at the end of the movie.

“It’s amazing to have won. I was surprised and shocked as I was just here dressed up to support the cosplay community at the movie. I didn’t really expect to win anything,” she told the Observer.

Dressed as Shinobu, a character from the Demon Slayer universe, Anderson took home a gift basket courtesy Palace Amusement amongst other prizes that included a gift certificate from The Anime Merchant, and top-tier tickets to several upcoming anime/cosplay events. A fan of the Demon Slayer manga and anime, Anderson said her win was even a bigger surprise as she had pulled her Shinobu costume out of resting and had to modify it to make it to the event, explaining that the character wears pants, which she converted to a skirt due to time and fit issues.

“I made half the costume myself and bought half. I really wanted to focus on making props and making them more detailed as I recently started to sew. I’m trying to learn how to sew more this year to make bigger and better cosplay,” said Anderson.

Taking second was Tonique Tate cosplaying as her preferred character Mitsuri. Allex Lothian, as Rui, was third. Young Samoya Williams enchanted the judging panel as Nezuko Kamado, sister to the main series character and the catalyst for the entire story, enough to be awarded fourth place.

“I am happy with how everything turned out. We got a very good crowd, everyone came out in their numbers dressed up and supporting the movie and the event. I’m pretty sure my directors would like the final numbers,” said Forbes.