ufotable Confirms "Katsugeki Touken Ranbu" Movie Still in Production, Sparking Mixed Fan Reactions After Decade-Long Wait

Animation studio ufotable has announced the continuation of the much-anticipated theatrical film "Katsugeki Touken Ranbu," generating significant buzz on social media. This announcement, made alongside updates for ongoing popular projects "Genshin Impact" and "Demon Slayer: Swordsmith Village Arc Part 2," has brought both relief and complex emotions from fans, given the nearly decade-long wait.

Since the theatrical film adaptation of "Katsugeki Touken Ranbu" was first announced upon the conclusion of its TV anime broadcast in 2017, there has been very little concrete follow-up, leading some fans to worry that production might have been canceled. However, ufotable's official "in production" announcement has now confirmed the project's "survival."

On X (formerly Twitter), numerous voices of relief emerged, such as "I thought Katsugeki Touken Ranbu was canceled" and "It's alive!" On the other hand, comments expressing frustration and sarcasm about the almost ten-year delay were also prominent: "Isn't this an excessively long wait?" and "It's almost 10 years since the announcement? Well, I guess I'll wait for up to 20 years." Particularly, since this announcement only "unveiled the title logo," disappointment over the lack of concrete progress was also expressed: "If they were only going to show the logo, maybe they shouldn't have forced the announcement," and "After all this time, just showing us a title logo with a 'we're still working on it' message doesn't inspire any trust."

While many fans celebrate the success of ufotable's "Demon Slayer" series, there are also frequent criticisms that "Katsugeki Touken Ranbu"'s production might be pushed aside due to the focus on "Demon Slayer." Comments include: "There was a time when I thought Katsugeki Touken Ranbu would be made after Fate/Heaven's Feel. For this one point, I can't forgive Demon Slayer." Harsh opinions like "If they're not motivated, they should just let go of it quickly. I want to see Katsugeki Touken Ranbu, not ufotable" are also visible.

Furthermore, the prolonged wait has also impacted fans' lives, with poignant posts such as "I've become almost 30 while waiting for Katsugeki Touken Ranbu" and "The movie adaptation was announced when I was in junior high, and I'm turning 23 this year."

"Katsugeki Touken Ranbu" captivated many viewers with its deeply portrayed struggles of the character Horikawa Kunihiro and its high-quality animation. This "in production" announcement offers a glimmer of hope for long-time fans, but specific release dates and detailed information are still eagerly awaited. Fans continue to keep a keen eye on how ufotable will eventually deliver this "big content" to the world.

The context

This article discusses the long-awaited update for the "Katsugeki Touken Ranbu" theatrical film. To understand the fan reactions, it's important to know the following:

• ufotable: A highly acclaimed Japanese animation studio renowned for its visually stunning and high-quality productions, particularly known for its dynamic action sequences and special effects. Their previous works include the "Fate/stay night" film trilogy and the globally successful "Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba" series. The studio's reputation for excellence sets high expectations for its projects.
• Katsugeki Touken Ranbu: An anime adaptation from the popular "Touken Ranbu" media franchise, which originated from a browser game where famous historical Japanese swords are personified as handsome young men. ufotable's adaptation, broadcast in 2017, was distinct for its more serious tone and intense action compared to other anime versions of the franchise.
• Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba: An anime series by ufotable that achieved immense global popularity, with its "Mugen Train" film breaking numerous box office records in Japan and worldwide. The extraordinary success of "Demon Slayer" is often cited by fans as the primary reason for ufotable's perceived prioritization of this franchise over other projects, leading to delays for other announced works like "Katsugeki Touken Ranbu."
• Fate/stay night: Heaven's Feel: A trilogy of anime films produced by ufotable, based on a route from the "Fate/stay night" visual novel. The final film in this critically acclaimed series was released in 2020. Fans in the article refer to their expectation that "Katsugeki Touken Ranbu" would be a major focus for ufotable after the conclusion of the "Fate/Heaven's Feel" projects, an expectation that was seemingly overridden by the rise of "Demon Slayer."