AKA: 鬼滅の刃 柱稽古編

Genre: Shounen Fantasy

Length: Television series, 8 episodes, 27 minutes each

Distributor: Currently licensed by Aniplex of America, available streaming on Crunchyroll.

Content Rating: 16+ (Violence, suicide, mature themes.)

Related Series: Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba (TV series); Mugen Train (movie); Entertainment District Arc (TV series); Infinity Castle (3 movies)

Also Recommended: Attack on Titan; Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress; Kaiju No. 8

Notes: I'm using Hashira as both singular (for any one of them) and plural (for the whole bunch) Based on manga by Koyoharu Gotage, published by Shueisha

Rating:

Demon Slayer Kimetsu no Yaiba: Hashira Training Arc

Synopsis

We follow Tanjiro as he receives training from both current and former Hashira (even the now one-armed, one-eyed Tengen Uzui returns as a trainer), in preparation for the showdown with "Final (Demon) Boss" Muzan Kibutsuji.

Review

This story arc is, I'm told, relatively short in the manga, and had to be padded out a little to even stretch 8 episodes- with the final episode (a remarkable one, discussed later) the bridge to the "Infinity Castle" arc, which is planned to be adapted as 3 movies, and which will FINALLY wrap up the series. (The story's ending has been out in manga form for quite some time- if, like me, you had to know who made it (and who didn't) as soon as possible. Plenty of UTube videos out that spoil this, as well.)

As noted, Tanjiro, in the first 7 episodes or so, is receiving training from the more experienced Hashira. (I guess Tanjiro is still considered a neophyte, despite taking down some Upper Moon demons.) Tanjiro's received warmly by the Hashira he's fought beside, such as Tengen (Entertainment District), and Muichiro Tokito and Mitsuri Kanroji (Swordsmith Village.) Some of the other Hashira, though... I'll get to them. It should be noted that there are a bunch of nondescript trainees, who get contemptuous treatment by ALL the Hashira, even the ones who like and respect Tanjiro. These guys are apparently intended for "support" roles, i.e., Demon Fodder. (If this was Star Trek, they'd all be wearing red shirts.)

The two Hashira who seem most dedicated to giving Tanjiro a hard time are Sanemi Shinaguzawa (Wind Hashira) and Obanai Iguro (Serpent Hashira.) In Shinaguzawa's case, he's apparently just an overbearing jerk in general; he's the one who stabbed Nezuko to see if she'd act like a demon. (Tanjiro has neither forgotten, nor forgiven, this.) He also treats his less-naturally talented younger brother Genya just as badly as (if not worse than) he treats everyone else. (Genya, you may recall, sometimes seems as surly as a demon himself; we'll find out why here. Genya is also the only character here who favors a firearm over a sword.)

Obanai Iguro's case is different. He wears a mask, carries around a snake (as you'd expect the Serpent Hashira to), has differently-colored eyes, and has a MAJOR crush on Mitsuri, and gets inflamed with jealousy if anyone is even cordial to her, and of course Tanjiro is cordial with everyone. You might expect things to get strained there, and the show meets your expectations.

We also finally get a good introduction to Gyomei Himejima, the Stone Hashira. He's certainly the most devoutly Buddhist of the bunch, and if he always seems to have tears streaming from his eyes, you may find out why.

Before I get to Episode 8 (and the season's spectacular finale), I would note that, despite the Swordsmith Village events, nobody sets a serious watch against spies- which they could have done, and still stayed within the parameters defined by their Master Ubayashiki. And while I know there is a strong tradition of self-immolation in Japanese tradition, I STILL find taking others (innocents) with you morally questionable.

Episode 8 starts with the arrival of Muzan himself. There's what will, I'm sure, be regarded as one of the most remarkable scenes ever conceived in shounen anime, where... Well, I'm not sure how to praise CGI. I'll take a stab at it and say that a lot of computer processing power obviously went into that bit of SFX, and in fact in Ep. 8 in general. Production company UFOtable's visual effects work is often peerless (really, at least as far back as their work on Garden of Sinners), so now they're more one-upping THEMSELVES than competing with rivals.

Nezuko fans may be disappointed that she almost completely disappears from this installment, even though there are excellent story reasons for that.

On the other hand, Inosuke and Zenitsu, who were pretty much omitted from Swordsmith Village. are back. Inosuke is just as he always is, one who delights in a good fight, and when the Hashira are going into the final battle, you can bet he'll be right there in the forefront, Beast Breathing Berserker mode fully engaged.

Zenitsu, though, goes through some changes. He starts these episodes in his usual whiny coward mode, but he's very different late in the show- shockingly different, in the last view we get of him. Maybe the show is going to finally allow him to demonstrate the courage (and competence) necessary to be worthy of Nezuko.

And, last of all, YES, I acknowledge that Muzan kind of looks like Michael Jackson. I'm assuming that's coincidence, though; otherwise, I'd have no idea what the appropriate comment should BE.

The last episode may be 5 stars worthy (depending on how you feel about things being left...well, I'd say DANGLING, but that's not precisely it.) Maybe not for the 7 episodes that come before, though; they're lighter and often very much in the OTHER Demon Slayer tradition of hit-or-miss comedy. Still, this is overall just as good as the series has ever been. — Allen Moody

Recommended Audience: Crunchy rating is age 16, citing suicide and violence. I absolutely agree.