ufotable Rolls Out Birthday Art and Merch for Kanao
Anime studio ufotable (Demon Slayer, Fate/Stay Night: Unlimited Blade Works) unveiled a new original illustration of Kanao Tsuyuri to mark the character's in-universe birthday on May 19. The artwork carries a "Flower Stand" theme, and as Oricon News reported, the ufotable WEBSHOP has already launched its Birthday Festival 2026 event goods alongside the reveal.
The merch lineup includes four items built around the new illustration: a diorama acrylic stand that recreates the Flower Stand artwork in miniature, an ornate rosette, and two additional pieces designed to match the birthday theme. All four are available now through ufotable's online store.
Who Is Kanao Tsuyuri?
For anyone who needs a refresher, Kanao is one of the key supporting characters in Koyoharu Gotouge's manga and ufotable's anime adaptation. A fellow Demon Slayer Corps member and the adoptive younger sister of Insect Hashira Shinobu Kocho, Kanao starts out as a near-silent fighter who can barely make decisions on her own — her arc across the series is one of gradually finding her own will. She plays a pivotal role in the manga's final battle, making her a fan favorite whose birthday regularly draws official celebrations from ufotable.
Demon Slayer itself needs little introduction: Gotouge's manga ran in Weekly Shonen Jump from February 2016 to May 2020, and the comics have surpassed 220 million copies in circulation worldwide. The anime adaptation, produced by ufotable, kicked off with the Tanjiro Kamado: Unwavering Resolve Arc in April 2019 and has since become one of the biggest entertainment properties on the planet.
The Franchise After Infinity Castle
The timing of this birthday celebration is notable. The first Infinity Castle film — officially titled Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba the Movie: Infinity Castle Arc Chapter 1: Akaza Returns — wrapped its Japanese theatrical run in early April 2026 after accumulating over ¥40.2 billion (approx. $250 million) at the domestic box office alone. Globally, the film crossed $738 million, making it the highest-grossing anime film in history and pushing the Demon Slayer film franchise past the $1 billion mark.
That comes on top of the original Mugen Train film's approximately ¥51.7 billion worldwide haul back in 2020-2021 — a figure that made it a genuine social phenomenon in Japan. The anime has also expanded through the Entertainment District Arc (December 2021), Swordsmith Village Arc (April 2023), and Hashira Training Arc (May–June 2024) television seasons, plus game and stage adaptations.
Looking Ahead
The Infinity Castle trilogy still has two films to go. No official release date has been announced for Chapter 2, though fan speculation and industry analysis point to a possible 2027 window. ufotable and Aniplex have stayed quiet on the timeline.
For international fans, the Demon Slayer anime series and the Mugen Train film are available on Crunchyroll, Netflix, and other platforms depending on region. The Infinity Castle Part 1 film had a wide international theatrical release through Crunchyroll and Sony Pictures. The source manga is published in English by Viz Media, with the complete 23-volume set readily available.
As for the birthday goods, ufotable's WEBSHOP ships primarily within Japan, though proxy shipping services remain the go-to route for international collectors looking to grab the Flower Stand merch set.