Toshio Suzuki says the legendary director isnt surprised by Demon Slayers success.Studio Ghibli co-founders Hayao Miyazaki and Toshio Suzuki have a pretty clear division of duties. Miyazaki, the director, has a single-minded focus on creating the next great anime film. Meanwhile, its Suzuki, in his role as producer, who talks with fans and the press.This makes Suzuki not only the best source of insider information as to whats going on inside the walls of Ghibli, but also whats going on inside the mind of Miyazaki. So occasionally Suzuki, in the course of an interview, will sprinkle in an anecdote about the most respected creator in the history of Japanese animation, and one of his recent ones involves Miyazakis feelings about Demon Slayer Kimetsu no Yaiba.While appearing on the April 25 episode of Fuji TVs Bokura no Jidai talk show, the subject of Demon Slayers runaway success came up, and Suzuki, reenacting Miyazakis reaction to a conversation theyd had, said:So [Miyazaki] says to me, It seems like Kimetsu is a big hit. I havent actually seen the anime, or read the manga its based on, but Ive heard about it from other people, so I gave him [Miyazaki] a basic overview of it, and he said [nodding solemnly], Yeah, an anime like thatll be a success.Suzuki also showed that he can do a pretty solid Miyazaki impression.With Suzuki feeling like he needed to give Miyazaki a synopsis, it sounds like the Ghibli director hasnt seen Demon Slayer for himself ether. But just because he hasnt seen it doesnt mean hes completely uninterested, as Suzuki went on to quote Miyazaki as saying:Well, you know, to me, Demon Slayer is my rival.Trailer for Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba the Movie: Mugen TrainIts a less emotionally detached reaction than Miyazaki had when he was asked about Demon Slayerwhile he was cleaning the streets near his Tokyo home, though Suzuki doesnt say whether the rival comment came before or after that incident, not whether it was before or after the Demon Slayer movie, Mugen Train, passed Miyazakis Spirited Away as the highest earning movie of all time in Japan (though the interview with Suzuki took place well after Demon Slayer took over the top spot).In any case, though, Suzukis tone of voice when imitating Miyazaki doesnt seem to have any malice, so assuming its an accurate portrayal, odds are the Ghibli director isnt so much angry at Demon Slayer for its success as he is driven by it to make something great of his own, sort of like how Gundams creator dreams of crushing Evangelion.Source: YouTube/Mitsu Shonan via Hachima KikoTop image: YouTube/ YouTube Want to hear about SoraNews24’s latest articles as soon as they’re published? Follow us on Facebook and Twitter!