POV: A hyped shonen movie, sold-out theatre, and the power of shared energy

I watched Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle, a hyped shonen anime movie on the big screen and it had me thinking about the electric feeling of collective experiences.

A friend of mine who grew up in Guwahati once told me about how things were around 2015, when not everyone had internet access and many of the smaller towns nearby did not even have a proper movie theatre. But when a big mainstream Bollywood film was released that year, people from those towns travelled long distances just to catch a screening in the only theatre available nearby. For many, it was not just about the film itself but about being part of a rare collective experience. That memory often comes back to me whenever I hear people say that monoculture is dead.

The argument about whether monoculture is dead is not without merit, because our feeds are finely tuned to what we like, easily pulling our attention to whatever we want to know or see. In that kind of environment, it feels almost impossible for an entire crowd to stay hooked on the same thing for any real stretch of time. And still, every now and then, something manages to break through. A story, a spectacle, a piece of pop culture that makes people gather, react, and for a while, feel like they are part of the same conversation. Watching Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle in an Indian theatre reminded me of that. 

Also Read: Janta Review: Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle seems to have struck all the right chords with fans

As someone who has followed anime for years, I would call the film an average shonen story elevated by remarkable animation, but the details of the plot mattered less than the atmosphere in the room. While I was finding my seat, a boy behind me boasted to his friends that he had bunked school to be there. Beside me, two girls admitted to have saved up for this outing, their first time stepping out together beyond school hours, while one of them wore a Haori inspired by a character from the series. As the lights dimmed, people reacted in unison. Cheers rose at the entrance of beloved characters, and there was collective anticipation for the same long-awaited scenes. The theatre was full of young people. And I believe that the craze around the film wasn’t limited to the people I met. The film broke records during its release weekend, and my Instagram feed was full of edits and memes. The anticipation, it turned out, had been building for months, which is remarkable considering how fast we jump from one thing to another. 

Well, a few months ago, I had written about the disappointment of sitting in an almost empty theatre for an anime screening, and in that moment, I was quick to judge Indian anime audiences for being so narrowly obsessed with shonen that they rarely look beyond it. But if I am being honest with myself, I also know that the genre holds a power that is hard to dismiss. It is, after all, they are the stories that drew us into anime, teaching us to dream bigger, and to see ourselves reflected in characters who were kind, brave, reckless and cool all at once. There is something about the way these stories are told that makes them impossible to shake off, because at some level, we all want to see ourselves grow in the same way, to find strength and believe that we, too, could push past the limits of what we think we are capable of. It is a universal impulse, the search for inspiration and community. This common interest often becomes a common language for people to connect. Maybe that is why, as children, we collected Pokémon cards, launched our Beyblades into improvised arenas, or shouted “Goku, take my spirit energy” with complete conviction, as though our voices could actually make a difference. 

Today, the growing pull of nostalgic trends and the rise of what is often called “kidulting” feels almost inevitable. In a time when uncertainty, anxiety, and fatigue seem to define much of our daily lives, it is not surprising that many turn to the comforts of the past. Revisiting childhood obsessions or reimagining familiar rituals is less about escapism than it is about searching for stability. It is about reclaiming a sense of joy and community in a culture that often feels fractured and transient.

Demon Slayer might not be the best anime I have ever watched, and I would probably roll my eyes at anyone who insists it is the greatest thing ever made. But I have come to realise that, admitting every now and then, that you enjoyed an overhyped film or that a predictable emotional scene actually moved you to tears is not such a terrible thing. Maybe it is not so bad to let yourself get swept up in the excitement of something everyone seems to be talking about. In contrast to the popular opinion, being part of a trending conversation can be a beautiful thing. Being moved by a character’s development or believing in yourself because a shonen protagonist made you think, 'if he can do it, maybe I can too,' is beautiful.

Watching the Demon Slayer movie made me believe that monoculture might be farther from becoming a relic than we often think. When I think back on the story my friend told me, I feel like we need more things that get us out of our rooms. Something that give us a reason to travel a little, save up, or rearrange our day just to be there. And I think this movie was able to do that!

Have you seen the movie yet? Share your thoughts and personal review with us in the comments below!

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