Different cinema chains in the Middle East announced that the special film Kimetsu no Yaiba: To The Swordsmith Villagewill not be screened in their territories because an agreement was not reached with the company that holds the distribution rights. Chain Saudi Cinema (السينما السعودية) offered a more detailed statement on the matter, writing:
- For Kimetsu no Yaiba fans, about the movie Kimetsu no Yaiba: To the Swordsmith Village. We would like to clarify that the company that has the distribution rights to this tape refused to make the requested modifications in order to be screened at our facilities.
The statement does not give no additional clues as to what the company holding the rights (presumably it is from Aniplex or Crunchyroll) refused to edit within the content of the film. However, knowing the background in the Middle East countries, it is evident that the problematic scene is the one where the Pillar of Love, Mitsuri Kanroji, appears completely naked while taking a bath.
Why would the distribution company refuse to edit this scene of just a few seconds and give up the profits that the Middle East would bring? Or perhaps they had made more than one request for censorship? It should be remembered that this special film consists of episodes 10 and 11 of the arc “yuukaku-hen” and the first episode of the arc “Katanakaji no Satohen”, that is, the third season.
The second season premiered in December 2021 and had a total of eleven episodes, or eighteen if the Anime‘s seven are considered. Kimetsu no Yaiba: Mugen Resha-hen, which together make up the second season project. the platforms crunchyroll and funimation are in charge of its distribution in the West subtitled and with dubbing into Latin Spanish.
General Synopsis of Kimetsu no Yaiba
Tanjirou Kamado lives with his impoverished family on a remote mountain. As his older brother, he took responsibility for supporting his family after his father’s death. On a cold winter’s day, he goes down to the local village to sell charcoal. At dusk, he is forced to spend the night at the home of a curious man who warns him of the existence of strange creatures that roam the night: malevolent demons that crave human flesh.
When he finally gets home, Tanjirou’s worst nightmare comes true. His entire family has been brutally massacred, with the sole exception of his sister Nezuko, who has turned into a carnivorous demon. Filled with hatred and despair, Tanjirou desperately tries to stop Nezuko from attacking other people, embarking on a journey to avenge his family and find a way to turn his beloved sister back into a human.
Fountain: @alcinema_sa on Twitter
©吾峠呼世晴／集英社・アニプレックス・ufotable
