Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba- To The Hashira Training Review
If you haven’t heard of Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba you must be purposefully trying to avoid it… Because it’s EVERYWHERE! There’s good reason for that as it has some of the hypest fight scenes you’ll find in anime. So, how do those scenes work out on the big screen? They look pretty damn cool, that’s how!
Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba- To The Hashira Training takes the final episode of Season 3 and runs it into the first episode of Season 4. Crunchyroll’s official description is:
Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba -To the Hashira Training– will feature A Connected Bond: Daybreak and First Light (Episode 11) from the Swordsmith Village Arc, featuring the conclusion of the fierce battle between Tanjiro and Upper Four demon Hantengu, as well as Nezuko’s triumph over the sun. Seamlessly followed by Episode 1 of the highly anticipated Hashira Training Arc, featuring the start of training conducted by the Hashira in preparation for the forthcoming final battle against Muzan Kibutsuji, an episode never before seen by audiences.
Review
Full disclosure, I had not seen a full episode of Demon Slayer before this event. Sorry AVR2 reaction fans, I’ve been spoiled now. However, I knew the general story coming in, and I had seen several of the previously mentioned “hypest” fights. So, I feel I can give you some thoughts on the visuals and performances within context of being a HUGE anime fan.
Viusally, Demon Slayer looks amazing on the big screen. I saw this at the Regal Union Square on its very large RPX screen (you can check out my coverage of the red carpet event here) and it made the fights all the more exciting. For the Season 3 portion, Tanjiro’s chase and fight with the demon Hantengu had me engaged and appreciating the screen candy on the large format. There is a lot of CGI, which may turn some off, but it works for this franchise and it’s style.
I checked out S3E11 on Crunchyroll when I got home, just to see the difference in how it looks on a “small” (75in) screen versus the RPX screen, and damn… Fans should really watch this in theaters.
As for performances, I watched the Japanese version with English subs, they were exactly what I would expect after seeing scenes in the past. Everyone is giving the scenes their all, and you can feel the sense of joy when a certain someone walks around in the sun.
The Season 4 Stuff
I won’t spoil what followed the S3 ending, but I will say that it sets the tone for what is to come. You get reconnected to some characters that aren’t a big part of what came before, and you see the planning going into the coming conflict with big bad, Muzan Kibutsuji.
There is an AWESOME fight between some demons and a couple of the Hashira, and by some I mean A LOT! There’s also funny moments with a character that may or may not be child Tony Stark in old-timey Japan. The girls were swooning.
Final Thoughts
Overall it was an enjoyable experience. Certainly, fans will be able to get much more from this than I could, but I would not say I wasted my time at all. If I judge this on the most technical levels I can, I feel It’s a solid B+. Great action, good performances, and worth seeing on the biggest screen you can!
Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba- To The Hashira Training hits North American theaters on February 23rd, and tickets can be bought here. You can also watch Demon Slayer Seasons 1-3 and The Mugen Train movie on Crunchyroll.
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