At this year’s Otakuthon, the anime and manga convention’s paid concerts received an unexpected but welcome upgrade: a brand-new venue that has hosted some of the most remarkable performances Montreal has seen—the prestigious Salle Wilfrid-Pelletier in Place des Arts. Even before setting foot in the Salle for the Demon Slayer concert, I was intrigued to learn how it came to be. So when I had the chance to speak with Stefan Paul Latour, the event’s spokesperson, I didn’t hesitate to briefly ask about this collaboration.
ImaginAtlas: How did this partnership with Salle Wilfrid-Pelletier come to fruition? With the event attracting more and more visitors each year, was it an essential change to accommodate the growing crowds?
Latour: We had floated the idea of shows at Place des Arts for several years now. This was the first year [that] the dates aligned and negotiations bore fruit. We have been using all available floors of the Palais des congrès since we moved registration to the first floor in 2016, and our attendance has gone from 21,000 to 36,000 [guests] since then. Expansion has been on the agenda for some time.
ImaginAtlas: If this partnership is here to stay, are you considering using Salle Wilfrid-Pelletier for other types of events as well?
Latour: Place des Arts has a selection of wonderful theatres that could potentially hold future concerts or other events that draw large audiences. We do not presently have plans to host anything other than concerts there, but we will explore the possibility. I do not envision moving marquee events like the Masquerade out of the Palais des congrès in the near future.
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With that in mind, I took a stroll from the Palais des congrès to Place des Arts. The walk to Salle Wilfrid-Pelletier meant crossing René-Lévesque Boulevard, weaving my way through the parade taking place under the hot Sunday sun, then slipping into the Desjardins Complex before finally reaching Place des Arts from the inside.
The defining feature of Salle Wilfrid-Pelletier was its sheer size, which ensured that everyone had a clear and beautiful view of the stage. Although a simple detail, the red fabric seats and the light wooden accents of the room have never failed to catch my eye. This time, however, I was also pleasantly surprised by the addition of a large screen (seriously, why not just binge Demon Slayer here?). Kashamara Productions, after all, is known for its “live-to-film concerts”—orchestral performances paired with visuals from anime, movies, TV shows, and video games.
When the concert began, we were immediately greeted by Tanjiro and his family, mirroring the anime’s opening scene. From there, the orchestra guided us more or less chronologically through the first season of Demon Slayer, covering the entire Unwavering Resolve Arc. It began with Tanjiro returning home to the tragedy of his slaughtered family and Nezuko’s transformation into a demon, then traced his journey as he faced the trials to become a Demon Slayer and confronted the Michael Jackson lookalike arch-antagonist. It concluded at Tanjiro’s first mission with his newfound companions, Zenitsu and Inosuke, culminating in a battle deep in the forest against a Lower Moon demon.
The first thing that struck me was how beautifully the music and visuals complemented each other. The team at Kashamara Productions clearly took great care in selecting clips that aligned with their musical arrangements. From sword swings that slashed in perfect time with the orchestra to the tempo accelerating in sync with the on-screen action, everything flowed seamlessly. It brought me back to the first time I watched the show, and the same thrill and heartbreak returned just as sharply. Tracks like Kamado Tanjiro no Uta by Go Shiina, Zenitsu’s theme, and, of course, the ones by LiSA—especially Gurenge—never failed to flood my mind with the intensity of the fights they scored. You can imagine my excitement and surprise when, near the end of the performance, the orchestra treated us to even more songs from the Mugen Train movie. I mean, Homura to close the show? Yes, please.
Experiencing the concert in this impressive new venue was definitely one of my highlights of this year’s Otakuthon—a real treat as I wait with bated breath for the upcoming Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle movie (can you believe we’re already entering the show’s final arc?). Ufotable is sure to dazzle us again with their otherworldly animations and soundtracks that are nothing short of perfection.
As for Kashamara Productions, I was practically jumping out of my seat when I discovered that their upcoming events are none other than the Nier: Piano Concert and Death Stranding: Strands of Harmony, both of which are excellent video games with memorable soundtracks. These concerts will be performed in Montreal in early 2026, with the latter again at Salle Wilfrid-Pelletier. I can’t wait to cover them, but in the meantime, I’ll be keeping my fingers crossed that they’ll also return for Otakuthon 2026—here’s to another amazing show.