Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – For Swordsmith Village [Anime Review]

“Demon Siblings and the Twelve Kizuki”

Demon Slayer first aired in 2019 and has taken the world by storm with a story that tugs at your heartstrings and fights you on the edge of your seat. Demon Slayer has become a fan favorite anime series with record-breaking sales and chart-topping releases. We follow the intriguing story of Tanjiro Kamado, whose family was killed by a ferocious demon. He finds that his dear sister, Nezuko, has been transformed into a bloodthirsty demon, but is able to harness what is left of her humanity. Tanjiro vows to find a way to avenge his family by joining the Demon Slayer Corps and hunting down the Demon King, Muzan Kibutsuji, to turn him back into a human.

In 2020, the film Mugen Train was released, where Tanjiro, Zenitsu, Inosuke and Nezuko board the Infinity Train to aid Flame Hashira, Kyojuro Rengoku, in defeating Enmu, a Lower Rank 1 demon. After a surprise encounter with Akaza, an Upper Rank 3 demon, Rengoku succumbs to his injuries. In 2021, we are introduced to the Entertainment District arc, where Tanjiro and his friends join Hashira Tengen Uzui on a mission to locate his 3 wives, who were secretly gathering information and disappeared. Tanjiro, Zenitsu, Inosuke, Nezuko, and Uzui encounter an Upper Level 6 demon duo, Gyutaro, and Daki.

This brings us to the Swordsmith Village arc, where Tanjiro travels to replace the sword he broke during his fight with Gyutaro in the Entertainment District. After being in a coma for two months following his ordeal, Tanjiro is eager to get back out there and hunt Muzen. But first he must have a new sword.

1. Tanjiro and Uzui vs. Gyutaro

One of the great reasons to go see this movie is because you get to see the epic battle against the Upper-Level 6 Demon on the big screen. With some of the most beautiful fight sequences, colorful animations and climactic attacks, this fight is a marvel of animated combat. Defeating the upper-level duo means they must behead both Gyutaro and Daiki at the same time. With his strength nearly depleted and poison coursing through his body, Uzui and Tanjiro are in a battle against the clock. Just in time, Genitsu and Inosuke rise from the ashes and give their all to behead Daiki just as Tanjiro beheads Gyutaro. From start to finish, this fight is a spectacle to behold on a giant screen with theater surround sound.

2. New Friends and Enemies

If you are a person who has read the manga, then the upcoming reveal of the new upper-level monsters should not come as a surprise to you. From the trailer, we see the appearance of Akaza, an Upper 3, Gyoko, an Upper 5, Hantengu, an Upper 4, Doma, an Upper 2, and finally Kokushibo, an Upper 1 demon! In addition, we learn that Tanjiro will be working with Love Hashira, Mitsuri Kanaroji, and Mist Hashira, Muichiro Tokito in the upcoming arc. Be sure to watch it if you want more details on what Demon King Muzan has in mind for the future.

3. Slice of Life

If you’re a gourmet for puns and love a sad backstory, then this movie is for you. After an intense battle, we move on to the upbringing of cute Daki/Ume and his unfortunate looking older brother, Gyutaro. Born in the entertainment district to the lowest-class mother, Gutaro has lived a miserable life of starvation and abuse for his unattractive appearance and rank odor. He becomes cruel, petty, and jealous of anyone whose life seems better than his. The only light in his life comes from the birth of his beautiful younger sister whom he loves more than anything in the world. One day, after coming home after beating up people and collecting debts, he finds his sister burnt and left for dead in a hole in the ground. He rages against injustice.

“You are collecting from me after giving me nothing? … I will kill the gods, Buddha, every one of you.”

He embraces the opportunity to become a demon and wreak havoc on a world that has never shown him an iota of kindness.

1. Recycled Episodes

The worst part of being an anime fan is the long waits between seasons of our favorite shows. While many of us will jump at the chance to see any Demon Slayer episode in the theater, some of us prefer to skip the movie entirely because it’s the same fight we already saw in the Entertainment District arc finale. While the film is set to hit theaters on March 3 in the US, the anime series is set to premiere in Japan in April this year. If you don’t mind waiting a while for a new episode, maybe skip this movie until the new season of Demon Slayer begins.

2. Zenitsu and Innosuke

If you’re a fan of Zenitsu and Innosuke, you’ll be devastated to know that they’re away on their separate adventures while Tanjiro and Nezuko spend time in the hot springs of Swordsmith Village. Perhaps the upcoming episodes of the season will give us an insight into what they are up to.

The Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – To the Swordsmith Village arc has the potential to keep blowing us away. We are constantly blown away by stunning visuals that look like a cross between real life and animation. Ufotable has done an incredible job using CGI to create the fight action sequences and fluid 3D-style graphics. Demon Slayer continues to amaze us with its remarkable storytelling and poetic imagery. It’s no surprise that Demon Slayer claims a spot on the new “Big 3” alongside My Hero Academia and Jujutsu Kaisen. We can’t wait to see what Swordsmith Village Ark has in store for us.

Illustrator/Editor/
translator