The Problem With Anime Compilation Films (And How To Fix It)

Compilation films based on anime series are currently thriving in the anime industry. For instance, “Demon Slayer” has been highly successful by releasing movies like “Demon Slayer: To The Swordsmith Village” and “Demon Slayer: To The Hashira Training” which are essentially collections of episodes on the big screen. More recently, “Dandadan” joined this trend with its film “Dandadan: The Evil Eye,” which was just released in the West. However, there’s a significant issue that needs to be addressed regarding these compilation films that are dominating theaters today. Hopefully, improvements will be made to future collections.

Generally speaking, when compiling films for these popular shonen series, old and fresh episodes are blended into a single narrative for anime enthusiasts to enjoy on the big screen. For instance, Dandadan: The Evil Eye recently offered fans a glimpse of what’s to come in season 2 this summer with three additional episodes featuring Okarun and Momo navigating a haunted town. To extend the movie’s duration, a recap of the first season and interviews with the creative team are included, but this method seems somewhat underwhelming, particularly considering current ticket costs.

In the case of “Demon Slayer”, the compilation films faced a challenge since the episodes previously shown in theaters didn’t form a complete narrative for newcomers diving into the shonen series. Although it was exciting for existing fans to witness significant battles on the big screen, the previews could have included more exclusive content to entice those planning to watch in theaters. Shows like “Dandadan” and “Demon Slayer” might have benefited from showing more episodes from upcoming seasons, as their runtimes sometimes leave fans wanting more.

Which Anime Compilation Film Gets It Right?

Interestingly enough, “Attack on Titan: The Last Attack” seemed to nail the concept of an “anime compilation film” perfectly. To begin with, the movie boasted a massive runtime exceeding 2 hours and 30 minutes. The content from Studio MAPPA also encompassed the most significant battles ever seen in the series, making it truly deserving of a cinematic experience. Packed with dramatic deaths, thrilling action sequences, and intense character developments, “The Last Attack” serves as an ideal model for other anime franchises aiming to achieve similar feats. However, these aspects are just the tip of the iceberg.

In comparison to recent releases like “Demon Slayer” and “Dandadan”, “Attack on Titan: The Last Attack” had an edge due to its post-credits scene. This scene, reminiscent of “Attack on School Castes”, did not contribute significantly to the main storyline, instead exploring alternate endings for Eren, Armin, and Mikasa as they watched “The Last Attack”. Initially only available in theaters, this post-credits scene served as a delightful bonus, justifying the movie’s cost. The climactic finale of the violent anime series demanded an equally grand farewell, making it poignant to see the Scout Regiments assembled on a vast platform one last time.

In essence, it’s important that anime compilation films don’t fade away and disappear completely. Instead, they should be updated and provide more value for anime enthusiasts, such as extra episodes or exclusive theater-only content. For instance, “Demon Slayer” is deviating from this approach in its final film trilogy. Since the “Infinity Castle” story will conclude with three original movies, that alone justifies the ticket price. The initial movie of this series is set to debut in Japanese theaters next month, and it’s expected to hit North American screens this coming September for fans in the West.

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2025-06-13 00:39

Which Anime Compilation Film Gets It Right?

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