First Impression: Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Hashira Training Arc

As Tanjirou, Mitsuri, Muichiro, and others recover from the events at the Swordsmith Village, the Snake Hashira, Obanai, and Wind Hashira, Sanemi, approach a massive, abandoned temple on a mission to save a kidnapped woman. While there, they discover hordes and hordes of demons, and then to their even greater surprise, a portal connecting the temple to the Infinity Castle, which the two Hashira get a glimpse of before returning to their own realm. Meanwhile, at the Ubuyashiki Estate, Shibobu explains to Kanao that with two Upper Rank Kizuki defeated and even more importantly Nezuko gaining resistance to sunlight, big events are on the horizon—namely that Muzan will unleash everything he has to kidnap Tanjirou’s sister and gain the same immunity she has. The remaining Hashira meet together to be addressed by Ubuyashiki, but are instead met by his wife, Lady Amane, who is about to deliver distressing news—and something possibly even more significant than that.

And even more happens since, after all, this is a double-length first episode of the new arc. Entitled “To Defeat Muzan Kibutsuji,” the nearly one-hour episode has already been seen by many fans as part of the Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba—To the Hashira Training movie, which compiled some of the end of the “To the Swordsmith Village” arc along with this episode. As with others that kick off Demon Slayer arcs, this one feels as introductory in nature as it is, reintroducing characters (and especially those about to become of prime importance in the following episodes) and providing the main storyline of the entire season. And this is a big one. Demon Slayer doesn’t play around: it is always hurtling toward a conclusion, and these episodes, about Muzan’s main enemies training to defeat him while their enemy closes in, is part of that steam train bearing toward the end of the line. It’s really quite exciting for an opening episode because of the tension we can feel, but also because of the love as well since we get to catch up with so many characters (including Zenitsu and Inosuke, whom we haven’t seen in so long) and get to know the Hashira a little more deeply. Sanemi is one of my absolute favorites in the manga, and he gets a real chance to shine in this episode; Obanai and Gyomei likewise get more depth than they have in the entire series until now. The animation also continues to be excellent, with the attacks by Obanai (slithering and with a white serpent aesthetic) and Sanemi (green-hued and full of tornadic power) being high points in the episode.

All in all, I am back fully into this series and excited to watch this season. The previous arc wasn’t as well-received as those before it, and I felt it was weaker too, but I also considered it the weakest in the entire manga; things look up from here, and I have full trust that Ufotable will animate the remainder of the series well. The final arc or two is very long, so we’re not really that close to the end yet, but we are drawing ever nearer, with these episodes (and short season) fundamental to Demon Slayer’s conclusion. It’s going to be so much fun. Let’s go!

Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Hashira Training Arc can be streamed on Crunchyroll.

Twwk
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