Demon Slayer Creator Receives Major Honor from TIME Magazine

It would put things lightly to say Demon Slayer has outdone all expectations. The supernatural series was popular from the start, but the manga’s rise did not raise eyebrows until ufotable set forth its first season. Since the adaptation went live, Demon Slayer has become one of the fastest-growing series of all-time in Japan. Demon Slayer is tearing up records on television and in theaters. So honestly, it is only fitting for Koyoharu Gotouge to receive an honor from a coveted TIME Magazine list.

Earlier today, it was announced Gotouge was being included in the 2021 TIME 100 Next List. The annual list is put out to shine a light on an up-and-coming talent no matter their focus. From actors to activists, this list includes some very influential names, and Gotouge has secured a spot.

The magazine’s entry about Gotouge heralds the artist’s craft in the face of overwhelming success. If you did not know, the anime’s first film went live last October, and it has since demolished box office records in Japan. Spirited Away was finally defeated overseas as Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – Mugen Train became the highest-grossing movie in Japan to date. Now, the feature hopes to become the top-grossing anime movie in the world, and Gotouge will surely see it happen.

“Writing under the pen name Koyoharu Gotouge, the author published the first chapter of the serialized Demon Slayer in 2016,” TIME writes. While Gotouge maintains anonymity in public, Kohei Ohnishi — an editor at Weekly Shonen Jump, the manga magazine that publishes Demon Slayer — says the writer’s personality shines through the series, in particular in Tanjiro’s ‘serious nature, honesty, and [a] strong sense of responsibility.’”

These days, Gotouge is taking a well-earned rest as they finished Demon Slayer early last year. The series continued on through the anime as a second season is in the works. So if you are eager to see more of Gotouge in the future, you can support them now by giving Tanjiro a chance.

Are you surprised by this honor? Do any other manga artists deserve this sort of recognition…? Share your thoughts with us in the comments section below or hit me up on Twitter @MeganPetersCB.