Several cinema chains across the Middle East have recently announced that they will not be screening the special film Kimetsu no Yaiba: To The Swordsmith Village due to the distribution company’s refusal to make certain edits.
Saudi Cinema’s official statement wrote: For fans of the Demon Slayer series Regarding the movie Demon Slayer: To the Swordsmith Village, We would like to clarify that the studio, “the owner of the rights to the film” does not want to make the required modifications to be shown in cinemas.
While the statement released by the Saudi Cinema network did not elaborate on the requested changes, it is widely believed that the controversial scene in question features the character Mitsuri Kanroji, who appears naked while taking a bath. The scene in question has been a topic of conversation between fans after the rumour that it won’t be adapted into anime. However, a recently leaked footage revealed that a specific scene of Mitusuri will be animated.
Given the strict censorship laws and cultural sensitivities in many Middle Eastern countries, it is not surprising that such a scene would be deemed inappropriate or offensive. However, it remains unclear why the distribution company (Crunchyroll and Aniplex) would be willing to sacrifice potential profits by refusing to make the requested edits. Some speculate that the company may have made multiple requests for censorship. In contrast, others suggest that they may have felt that compromising the film’s artistic integrity was not worth the financial gain.
It should be noted that Kimetsu no Yaiba: To The Swordsmith Village is a special film that consists of episodes 10 and 11 of the “Yuukaku-hen” arc and the first episode of the “Swordsmith Village” arc, which collectively make up the special film. Demon Slayer season 3 is scheduled to release on April 9 on Crunchyroll.
Fans in the Middle East can also watch the series on Crunchyroll, but unfortunately, they won’t be able to enjoy the special movie on the big screen.
Omg I live in the middle east im gonna cry