Summary
- Mugen Train
surpasses
Code White
with emotional depth and a major character death. - Code White
is entertaining but lacks the impactful drama of
Mugen Train. - Mugen Train’s
pivotal moments and long-lasting consequences make it a serious and unforgettable anime film.
Spy x Family Code: White marked an excellent accomplishment for the anime movie genre. The movie presented a creative and non-canon story that is entertaining and hysterically funny, while still delivering on the mysterious and high-intensity spy missions and action elements viewers have grown to expect from the franchise. Anime fans and non-anime watchers alike unanimously gave the film a nearly perfect rating. However, the film did not quite surpass hit anime movie, Demon Slayer The Movie: Mugen Train.
Demon Slayer The Movie: Mugen Train received slightly higher Rotten Tomatoes scores than Spy x Family Code: White, as well as surpassing most other theatrical anime films in popularity, revenue, and awards received. The movie won various prizes, such as a Crunchyroll Award and accolades from the Asian Film Awards and Japanese Academy, to name a few.
In the Reiwa era, between 2019 and 2023, “Homura,” a song from the film, was named fourth best-selling song in Japan. Mugen Train’s accomplishments seem nearly endless and, many years later, the movie is still considered one of Demon Slayer’s best arcs.
Demon Slayer The Movie: Mugen Train Is One Of The Best Anime Films Ever Produced
The movie’s emotional intensity continues to captivate viewers years later
Demon Slayer The Movie: Mugen Train was the first Demon Slayer movie and once it hit American theaters in 2021, its impact was undeniable. When Code White and Mugen Train are compared, the latter film comes out on top for one reason: its moving emotional intensity and depth. The events of Mugen Train were not soon forgotten by viewers and the gravity of the film’s plot is tear-jerking. It followed demon slayer Tanjiro Kamado, the series’ protagonist, who vanquishes demons in an attempt to protect humanity and help his sister transform out of her demon form and back into a human.
Tanjiro and his friends, Zenitsu and Inosuke, along with Flame Hashira, Kyojuro Rengoku, boarded the Mugen Train in order to uncover the identity of the mysterious demon who had lulled all the passengers into a defenseless, sleeping state and was cruelly murdering many of them. They quickly discovered the Lower Rank One demon, Enmu, and took him down, but Upper Rank Three, Akaza, appeared next and tragically murdered Rengoku. In a shocking and distressing sequence, Rengoku died in front of the three younger demon slayers as they tearfully mourned his death, and Tanjiro shamed Akaza for escaping and leaving the Hashira in that horrific state.
Demon Slayer: Mugen Train Was a Bold Risk That Represents the Future of Shonen Anime Movies
The incredibly successful and risk-taking Demon Slayer: Mugen Train movie dramatically changed the future of anime movies for the better.
The Emotional Depth In Mugen Train Puts It A Step Above Code White
Code White is a delightful film in its own right, but Mugen Train’s impact is stronger
Between Rengoku’s devastating death, glimpses of his difficult past, tragic demon backstories, and various challenges the demon slayers face, Mugen Train is packed with tearful moments that would make even the most emotionally reserved person shed a few tears. Code White certainly contains a handful of emotional scenes, such as Loid reassuring Yor that he would never replace her, and genuine moments of connection between the Forgers. However, these instances don’t have quite the same sobering and heart-wrenching effect as the ones in Mugen Train do. Code White undeniably beats Mugen Train in humor, but falls short in the drama department.
Another aspect that contributes to Code White’s more lighthearted and easygoing nature is the non-canonical nature of the film. No incredibly crucial events occur in the film and the Forgers’ trip to Frigis does not have any bearing on the story of Spy x Family or change anything in the canon. While this makes for a fun and laid-back vacation journey for the family, it doesn’t emotionally involve viewers as much as Mugen Train does, because everything that occurred in the latter film had long-lasting and direct consequences in the Demon Slayer universe, drastically shaping the next season of the show.
Review: Spy x Family CODE: White Offers a Fun Adventure Even New Fans Can Enjoy
With a fun script and an adventure made for the big screen, Spy x Family CODE: White is a film that will delight fans and newcomers alike.
Mugen Train’s Major Character Death And Devastating Consequences Make It More Serious And Unforgettable Than Code White
Rengoku’s death caught many viewers completely off-guard and changed the course of Demon Slayer, proving even a seemingly all-powerful Hashira could be killed by a demon. The Mugen Train film captured a pivotal moment in Tanjiro’s journey as a demon slayer, as watching a beloved mentor die before his eyes horrified him and gave him an even deeper hatred of demons and dedication to fighting against their evil ways. The movie concluded in a solemn manner, with the demon slayers reeling from the loss of Rengoku and unsure where to turn next in the never-ending war between demons and humanity.
The end of Code White is noticeably more warm and fuzzy, with the Forgers happily planning their next trip. The family members do grow to enjoy each other’s company even more, and their bonds with each other are stronger because they did endure frightening and near-death experiences together during the film, proving that Code White is not without its share of touching and deep moments. However, Mugen Train’s permanent major character death, sobering and gory battles, dramatic, cinematic animation, gripping musical score, and fiery whirlwind battles still triumph over the more casual and playfully non-canonical Code White film.
Spy x Family
Created by Tatsuya Endo, Spy X Family is an action-adventure comedy anime that follows the misadventures of a found family with unique quirks. The story follows spy Twilight (known as Loid Forger), who, while on assignment, builds a fake family to get closer to his target. Unbeknownst to him, his new family carries their quirks. His wife, Yor, is a kind but deadly assassin, while his daughter, Anya, has telepathic powers – and is the only one who knows their secrets.
- Cast
- Takuya Eguchi , Atsumi Tanezaki , Saori Hayami , Alex Organ , Megan Shipman , Natalie Van Sistine
- Release Date
- April 9, 2022
- Seasons
- 2
- Writers
- Kazuhiro Furuhashi , Ichirō Ōkouchi
- Directors
- Kazuhiro Furuhashi , Takahiro Harada
- Creator(s)
- Tatsuya Endo