A “tsunami of fans” swept over the Grand Rex several hours before the sessions

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Claude and Camille, fans “masked” from father to daughter, attended the first screening of “Demon Slayer” at the Grand Rex in Paris – Vincent Julé / 20 Minutes

  • The film Demon Slayer – Infinity Train follows the series available on Wakanim and is released on more than 400 screens throughout France.
  • Used to previews of Japanese anime, the Grand Rex in Paris offers it its large room, and all screenings are sold out until Sunday.
  • The audience of fans, from 15 to 30 years old, was there from the first session at 11 a.m., some had lined up at 7 a.m. to get the best seat.

“A tsunami. “This is how Alexandre Hellmann, director of the Grand Rex, an iconic Paris cinema, described the pre-sale craze from the movie Demon slayer, operated on more than 400 copies from Wednesday and one of the events of the reopening of theaters. “The fans were there to the point that the system exploded. They were also there on D-Day, starting at 7 am… for the 11 am session!

“Even if they already have all their tickets, they want the best place in the room,” confirms Maxime, receptionist and projectionist. And not just any room, since Demon Slayer: Infinity Train is screened in the large one, usually ready to accommodate 2,700 spectators. There, the 850 places are taken, gauge of 35% of the sanitary protocol obliges. All the screenings of the day are sold out and the film is shown in no less than three theaters simultaneously at 6 p.m. “In fact, all the sessions are full until Sunday,” adds Maxime. Ah OK.

Two hours in advance to get the best seat

As the spectators of the 11 o’clock session get ready to leave, there is already a line up for the next one, in two hours. Namory and his friends are therefore well ahead. They are between 16 and 20 years old, and are fans of the animated series available on Wakanim. The manga? Not read. Even if they read some, specifies Anas, citing the novelty Jujutsu kaisen or the essential Attack on titans.

If they have not embarked on the manga, it is also to protect themselves from the surprises that the story will reserve for them and therefore the animated adaptation. And the temptation to see the film “in advance”, not to say illegally? Outrage! “No, no, no, you have to see it in theaters”, continues Loceni, before admitting that a friend has seen it like that but is going back to the cinema tomorrow.

“The animation is phew, like in the series”

The little band is actually faithful to anime previews, Dragon Ball Super: Broly at My Hero Academia, regularly organized the Grand Rex, and often the only way to see them on the big screen. “The atmosphere is crazy,” comments Namory. For the second film My Hero Acadomia, as soon as I got into the queue and saw all the cosplay, I was so happy. »None of this for Demon Slayer. It must be said that its release is not “limited” or “event”, but a real release on a large circuit of prints and that the film should remain several weeks with the poster.

Applause. Yes, the audience applauds at the end of the film. A young audience, aged 15 to 30, above all a fan of the animated series. Two friends came early, on the first day of the outing, because they were afraid that there would be few sessions. Thomas, 14, came with several school mates, girls and boys. They loved the movie: “The animation is phew, like in the animated series. We had not seen such an achievement for years in the TV production. “

“” Demon Slayer “does not hesitate to show his heroes cry”

Namory qualifies, him, the animation of Demon slayer of “magical”, and also praises Japanese folklore at the heart of the story. Anas adds: ” Demon slayer is a pure traditional shônen, while the others tend to move away from the codes of the genre. It’s nice to see “. Everyone does not forget to slip a word about the characters and the emotion they exude. Especially in the movie. They also shed their tears. Claude, 58, cried twice. He came with his daughter Camille, 13, who introduced him to the show, and they both released the Japanese masks for the occasion.

“I like how the animated mixes things that are both simple and complex,” he explains, “how he puts forward philosophical and positive values, which we really need at the moment. He knows how to talk to young people, and, for example, does not hesitate to show his heroes cry. It’s rare. Claude also finds the commercial strategy of linking the animated series with the release of a film clever. “To see if it works. »He is told that Demon Slayer: Infinity Train is the biggest hit of all time at the Japanese box office?





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