DESCRIPTION

CAST

ANIME ActionKimetsu no Yaiba: Katanakaji no Sato-hen
MANGA ActionKimetsu no Yaiba
MOVIE ActionKimetsu no Yaiba: Mugenjou-hen

REVIEWS

• 

  vessalius5524

  80/100
  The perfect set-up to an ultimate finale.

  Training arcs are some of the most looked down upon stuff in the anime medium. However, this season proves you can actually incorporate these things and add to the story while making a set up for what actually is the finale of an action series. The season is primarily focused on showing the natural progression Tanjiro goes through along with learning about the pillars better. Honestly there are some pacing issues here and there and some minimal flaws but let's be fair, every story has its fair share of shortcomings and honestly why focus primarily on them? In the end I will be mostly talking about the last 2 episodes and why that makes this season my fav after the 1st. Demon slayer is about grieving with loss and a large group of people having a single common enemy. We see from various backstories that it was also a matter of who meets whom first. Most demons are unlucky people who met Muzan who is also at most occasions portrayed as the "whisper of the devil" while slayers being people who are either betrayed or lost their loved ones. The ultimate battle between these 2 forces comes down the individual resolves both of these groups have. Often portrayed as super humans or just straight up psychos sometimes even, in this season we get to learn about these ultimate + normal slayers who are actually just normal human beings and how if times were different, they could have lived a normal life. This factor adds to the characterization of the cast in a way since in most cases we don't usually get to engage with such mannerisms of the side characters or the strongest individuals in a shounen series. In short, all the things are ultimately setup from season 1 considering the nature of the narrative so far and this season brings it all together in the last 2 episodes setting up the ultimate finale. From the moment Gyomei's story begins to the meetup between the 2 leaders, the anime provides with several analogies using Buddhist beliefs, symbolism and ultimately the clash of ideals between 2 groups of people and that in turn creates the kind of stakes which are rarely a thing in shounen nowadays. There will be action but that action won't be mindless considering the reasons most of them fight for and the battles themselves. And of course, the spectacle itself considering the production. I know people often complain about how "the show is produced by a good studio" which honestly is a complaint I can't wrap my head around... I mean when did having good adaptations became a bad thing... Not to mention the nitpicks though ig I am going to ignore that for now. In short, the character moments, the set-up, the overarching ideologies, symbolism, clash of resolves by 2 groups and ultimately the progression of the characters themselves makes this not only a great set up but honestly a perfect arc before the finale and shows that training arcs can actually serve a greater purpose for an action series. Time for the trilogy and yeah see you guys in well several years. Thankyou for reading and adios :)
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• 

  NerfMiner

  100/100
  New season, same peak Demon Slayer

  SPOILERS FOR Demon Slayer: Hashira Training AHEAD!!!

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  entertain [ ˌen-tər-ˈtān ]

  Definition of entertain:
  noun | entertained; entertaining; entertains

  To provide (someone) with amusement or enjoyment.
  Demon Slayer continues to be the most entertaining anime of all time.

  

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  New season, same Demon Slayer. Although this season lacks the action of previous seasons, it manages to highlight the many other aspects of Demon Slayer that we all have grown to enjoy and love. Once again Demon Slayer has redefined peak fiction.

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  Plot: 20/10 |

  The plot of the Hashira Training Arc follows up right after the events of the Swordsmith Village Arc. After the climactic battle of the Swordsmith Village Arc, Tanjirou and the rest of the Demon Slayer Corps are called back to headquarters. The demons have halted their attacks and are instead searching for Nezuko. This gives our beloved Demon Slayers the chance to train in preparation for the decisive battle ahead. Although it is a training arc, the Hashira Training Arc manages to be even more captivating than any of the previous installments into the Demon Slayer anime.

  We get to explore all of the current Hashira and even get to visit some of the old. ufotable also did a wonderful job of adding anime exclusive content that made the world of Demon Slayer feel much more alive. For example, we get much more insight into Tengen’s training. It is always fun to spend more time with characters from past arcs. We also got a anime exclusive sparring match between Sanemi, Obanai, and Muichirou. This short, yet spectacular, sparring match was more than enough to fill in the absence of major action in this arc. In place of the action we have grown accustomed to was wholesome and comedic interactions amongst our Demon Slayer Corps members. We even got an anime exclusive paper airplane contest between Tanjirou and Muichirou, which was incredibly wholesome and funny after their long and harsh training session.

  Aside from anime exclusive content, we also had the flawless manga content to go alongside it. We get a peek into the relationship and inner turmoil of the brothers, Sanemi and Genya. We also get to see more of the hilarious dynamic between Tanjirou and Giyuu. Although they may have their funny moments together, in this arc we get to learn about Giyuu’s backstory and how he has become the way he is. Speaking of backstories, we also were graced with Gyoumei’s backstory, which was incredibly heartbreaking. To top things off, we got to see Muzan’s entrance at Ubuyashiki’s mansion and the execution of Ubuyahsiki’s master plan. The cliffhanger of the entire Demon Slayer Corps getting transported into the infinity castle was one of, if not the best cliffhangers in all of fiction. This cliffhanger really showed how Muzan wanted all the smoke because he transported everyone rather than transporting them one by one. I do not know how they managed to do it, but this season of Demon Slayer once again redefined peak plot.

  

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  Characters: 18/10 |

  The more characters, the better. The Hashira Training Arc gave almost every character their own time to shine in just one arc. We finally got to spend more time with all of the Hashira and it did not disappoint. The most interesting Hashira of the season had to be Sanemi, Obanai, Gyoumei, and Giyuu.

  The poor relationship Sanemi has with his brother, Genya, is very intriguing and builds off the glimpse of Genya’s backstory we got in the Swordsmith Village Arc. Although Sanemi’s backstory is similar to many others, the way his backstory affected his relationship with his brother is a welcome touch. I look forward to seeing more of his relationship with Genya in the Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle movies.

  It was nice to see Obanai get some more love in the anime. The first episode gave us a great anime exclusive fight and really showcased the art of serpent breathing. The moments between Mitsuri and Obanai sprinkled throughout the season were great. I cannot wait for these moments to be expanded upon in the future.

  The reveal of Gyoumei’s backstory really showcased what a powerhouse he is while also being heartbreaking at the same time. Gyoumei’s backstory was much more than just a Demon killing those he considered family. Him being blamed for killing the children he considered family, led to his relationship being established with Ubuyashiki. This bond foreshadowed the big reveal that Gyoumei knew Ubuyashiki was going to use himself as bait for Muzan all along. An excellent use of a backstory to connect characters and foreshadow events.

  Other than the Hashira, Tanjirou and Zenitsu’s displays of growth were some of the biggest moments of the season. Tanjirou remembering Rengoku’s words to help him push the boulder was a truly heartwarming moment. Tanjirou has really come a long way since slicing that boulder in half in season 1. After receiving a letter, Zenitsu stopped acting like a cry baby and finally got serious. It is sad to see our comedic cry baby go away, but it is about time he woke up. Zenitsu’s character development in this arc was some of, if not the best character development in all of fiction.

  

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  Animation: 19/10 |

  It is crazy how accustomed we have gotten to ufotable’s amazing work. We must still praise how ufotable has once again surpassed themselves and provided us with the most fluid and beautiful animation to ever grace a screen. The use of CGI alongside 2D animation has always been superb, not to mention the amazing choreography of the small amount of fights we got. The 5 minutes of slow motion walking by Muzan may have been the best animated sequence in all of Demon Slayer. It is amazing how ufotable goes all out for scenes that are not just fights. Only a story as good as Demon Slayer’s could garner this level of animation quality.

  

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  OST: 11/10 |

  The OST for the Hashira Training Arc was more of the same, but that is not a bad thing. Demon Slayer has always had a phenomenal OST and it is always welcome to return in any Demon Slayer media.

  

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  Op/Ed: 13/10 |

  The opening, MUGEN (夢幻), by MY FIRST STORY and HYDE was a blessing to the ears and also featured some of the best animated sequences alongside it. Even with such a great opening, they managed to also nail the ending too. Tokoshie (永久 -トコシエ-) also by MY FIRST STORY and HYDE was a delight that just left you craving more Demon Slayer at the end of each and every episode.

  

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  Overall: ∞/10 |

  With the Hashira Training Arc in the books, I can confidently say that Demon Slayer has once again redefined peak fiction. Though it may have been redefined, I do not expect this standard of peak fiction to remain stagnant because I am certain the adaptation of Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle will once again redefine peak fiction.

  

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  Thanks for reading my review to the end!
  
  _[Click here to read my other reviews](https://anilist.co/user/NerfMiner/reviews)_
  <a href="https://anilist.co/user/NerfMiner/reviews"><img src="https://i.postimg.cc/P5BMKq2Q/Nerf-Miner.png" width=135></a>
  <span class='markdown_spoiler'><span><img src="https://i.postimg.cc/DfWVX8ck/Airplane.gif" width=500>
  __Paper Airplanes > Training__</span></span> ~~~

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• 

  Lenlo

  63/100
  Gearing up for its final conflict, Kimetsu no Yaiba finally takes time flesh out its weakest aspect: The Characters

  

  Lets not beat around the bush, Kimetsu no Yaiba had a tough time last year. From lackluster and hard to follow fights to a nonsensical narrative and mediocre villains, Season 3 is Yaiba's lowest point yet. So going into Season 4, seeing the title, knowing it was a training arc and setup for the coming finale, my expectations were rock bottom. And yet, as the episodes went on... I found myself enjoying it. Some how, some way, Ufotable and director Haruo Sotozaki have managed to breathe new life into this series, reviving some of my interest. It's not perfect, Yaiba still has a long ways to go before it's great. But the fact that it's on an upward trajectory at all, after last season, feels like a miracle. So lets dive into Kimetsu no Yaiba Season 4: Hashira Training Arc and find out how a seeming filler arc, improved so much.

  Be warned, this review contains minor unmarked spoilers for Kimetsu no Yaiba Seasons 1-4. It also contains major spoilers in some sections however these will be heavily marked to avoid accidents

  

  Production

  First up, let's talk about what Yaiba has always been known for, Production. Big flashy fights have been a staple in Yaiba since the beginning. Whether it be Uzui vs Gyuutarou, Rengoku vs Akaza, or Tanjiro vs Rui, every season has ended in a bombastic battle against one of the Twelve Moons. So in a season with no major conflicts and minimal fights, you might think Yaiba would be at a disadvantage. What else does an action show have going for it if not big, fun, memorable fights? Well don't worry, because while the season is ostensibly about training and building up forces, Yaiba does still manage to fit in a fight right near the end. I won't spoil who between, since it comes a bit out of left field, but for those looking for that classic Yaiba action, this season still has it.

  What's more, with the rest of the season otherwise being rather relaxed, Yaiba has the opportunity to take things slow and focus on something it's never really focused on before: Character acting. Small movements like jogging, cooking, facial expressions and conversations, all of those seemed to get a bit more attention than usual. Maybe that isn't what some action fans are looking for, but personally? It was a nice change of pace, and the big battle in the last episode should still give the action fans something to chew on.

  This isn't to say Yaiba's animation was the most nuanced of the season or anything, combat is still what the series does best, as seen in many of the spars this season. It's more that, for Yaiba, it's something we don't get to see often. And with how much I enjoy Yaiba's art style, seriously I love the thicker lines and sharp edges that make up the characters bodies, it's an opportunity to see it move in ways it usually doesn't care to. Really, the biggest issue I see is that Yaiba is still overly dependent on special effects. Smoke simulations, lots of that classic Ufotable diffused and indirect light that sort of bathes the entire scene in the same color, loads of tracking shots through 3D space that aren't quite good enough to hide the CGI environments. Those issues have been present for years, and continue to stand out.

  All in all, Yaiba's production largely feels subdued this season compared to previous. There's only one what I would call "money shot", the memorable Twitter breaking action sequence. It's otherwise a very relaxed season, which shouldn't come as a surprise by the title. For those looking for the fights, it's not like the season is without them entirely. I already mentioned the spars, and the final fight, and these aren't bad, though they are much more light hearted than we usually get, the spars seem more focused on showing off what the Hashira can do prior to a big final arc rather than being a climax in and of themselves. This makes it a very a easy watch, where you aren't being dragged in and out of tension every other scene, nor does Yaiba have to wind you up at the start of a new episode. It's just... fun, and while not particularly impressive, I liked it.

  

  Narrative

  But what about Yaiba's biggest, longest running problem, the narrative? If you've read my previous reviews of the series, you'd know this is where I've historically had complaints. Whether it be the tropes of S1, the unfulfilled potential of S2's Gyuutarou and Daki, or the mediocre and flashback ridden mess that was S3's entire run. Yaiba always ended up getting caught in that Shounen trap of having to introduce new heroes and villains for every arc while never having enough time to flesh them out, leading to fights that feel like ass-pulls and unsatisfying villains. So it's a nice surprise to be able to turn around and say, for once, that Yaiba has actually done something... pretty cool this season. A lot of people probably won't agree with me, they probably think this season was boring. But for me? This season gives me something I've wanted for years: Characterization.

  What I mean is that this season is focused, almost entirely, on fleshing out the Hashira and the Demon Slayer Corps before the big final battle. Every Hashira, from old favorites like Uzui to ones who've had barely any speaking lines like Himejima, get at least half an episode dedicated to them. Most get more, an entire episode to them, and them alone! That's an entire episode to just... listen to them talk, to learn who they are, why they fight, their philosophies on life. To get flashbacks that feel appropriate instead of being last-minute fight fillers. They aren't grand epics, sure. At the end of the day these are still side characters. But these episodes have done more to make me care for these "side characters" than the last three seasons have in their entirety. Seriously, Giyu has more speaking lines in Episode 2 than all previous seasons combined.

  Combine this with time spent on the mooks, the random Demon Slayer Corp members who don't actually have names but will be dying by the dozen when they go to fight Muzan, and you have a pretty good ramp-up season before the big battle. We get to watch them train, to try to improve only to realize their own limitations and that, in the grand scheme of things, they probably won't be able to contribute that much. Yet by watching Tanjiro and the Hashira, they become inspired to push on anyways. They see the effort of their leaders, see what's on the line, and decide to push forward. Do they matter? Not really. But I think this characterization for literal nobodies, who we will see dying in just one more season, will really help the stakes feel high and the battles feel important. It's a nice touch.

  So yeah, I'm shockingly happy with what Yaiba is doing this season. I wish we had gotten some of this earlier, Giyu probably should have been a more important character in season one, but better late than never you know? Listening to his insecurities, to Himejima's fall from grace, Shinobu's plan, Tokito's growing relationship with his men, or Iguro's infatuation with Kanroji, makes them feel relevant in a way they never have before. And while it may be boring for some, I think this season will pay dividends when season five, or the movies, inevitably air next year. At least for me it will, because I'll actually care about these characters for the first time in years.

  

  Characters

  So with all of that gushing over the narrative, it shouldn't come as a surprise that the cast was pretty decent as well. Not amazing. Again, each of the Hashira really only got a single episode to strut their stuff and there's only so much you can do in that time. Still, it's a marked improvement over what we got in previous seasons where their flashbacks were shoved into the middle of fights that really had nothing to do with what they were actually fighting. Himejima and Giyu stand out the most this season, having the best and second best episodes of the entire season all to themselves. Others like,Uzui and Tokito,have nice moments as well, but it's clear they weren't the focus. It's really only Shinazugawa, the perpetually angry Wind Hashira, who I would say missed the mark as he's kind of just an abusive asshole.

  That said, I was a tad disappointed by how little was done with our main squad, Tanjiro, Inosuke, Zenitsu and Nezuko. Tanjiro is sort of fine, he's used to inspire the mooks and has this "hero" thing going on where he gets characters to open up and connects all of the otherwise separate episodes. He doesn't do or change much himself, outside of training arc power scaling. But if you liked this ball of sunshine before you'll probably still like him now. Meanwhile Inosuke and Zenitsu are sort of just... there? They train along with Tanjiro, showing up every now and then for some banter and little else. There's a hint of something going on with Zenitsu, but we don't see it this season. Really, Genya is more important than those two, since a fair amount of time is spent on him and his brothers relationship and just hanging out with Tanjiro.

  The real crime though is Nezuko. She's just... Not present? At all? We see her once early on in a joking fashion as she's learning to talk, and that's about it. A real missed opportunity if you ask me, I would have loved to see how the Hashira meet and interact with her now that she can talk and walk in the sunlight. Let her show off a bit in front of the lesser Corp members or something, or get doted on like a little sister by everyone. Anything to get her out of the house and into being an actual character rather than a mascot. Considering how important she is to the plot, this really hurts Yaiba in my eyes. Sadly we didn't get that, and it's felt every time she's brought up. Still, the rest of the cast is an improvement, and for that at least I am thankful.

  

  OST

  Finally we come to the last section of this review, the OST. A joint effort by Yuki Kajiura and Gou Shiina, each with a long history in the industry, it shouldn't come as a surprise that Yaiba's OST is pretty good. They've been making the same thing for four seasons now, I would hope they would be good at it. That's also sort of the problem. This is the same OST we've heard for a number of seasons now. It's the same sounds arranged slightly differently, the same powerful backing vocals, the same orchestral sound. It's very Yuki Kajiura core, where if you've heard one of her OSTs, you've probably heard most of them. That isn't necessarily a bad thing, Yuki Kajiura is very good, if you enjoy her sound like I do then you're going to enjoy Yaiba's OST. But it feels like she hasn't evolved in the last... decade.

  Overall I would say Yaiba's OST continues to deliver exactly what it has before. The same level of quality, the same kind of sound it's had since season 1. If you don't care that it's the same, if you just want to vibe to some Yuki Kajiura style of music again, then you're going to love it, nothing about it is bad. Yuki Kajiura is very good at her job, she isn't going to screw it up now. But if you were hoping for something new, for Yaiba to sound different or unique? Then you're out of luck. Really, knowing Yuki Kajiura, that's all the information you need to know what it sounds like.

  

  Figuring Itself Out

  With that we come to the personal section of this review. This is where I go full no-holds-barred on spoilers, talking about anything and everything, to try and communicate a small piece of what my experience watching this season of Kimetsu no Yaiba was like. So if you either haven't watched the show and don't want to be spoiled, or just don't care and want to see the score, skip this. I'm mostly going to be talking about what set this season apart. But if you're interested, if you've liked what I've had to say until now, then read on.

  So like I said at the start of this review, I haven't had the best time with Yaiba in recent years. I've reviewed every season on this site, and I've gotten called a lot of names (And also some praise!) after every single one because I wrote about the issues I had with it. Simply put, Yaiba has always felt like a very safe, very standard, shounen experience that got lucky with an above average production and rode that to success. The formula was always the same, new arc, new characters, new villain, flashback mid fight to make us feel bad, fight over, rinse and repeat. Any challenges the heroes faced, like last season with Tanjiro having to choose between Nezuko and the fleeing villagers, never have any consequences. It felt... uninspired.

  Yet this season, for the first time, I felt like Yaiba actually cared. That for once, it was actually invested in its own story and characters. It put time and care into setting up who these people are and why they are here, not just into the Hashira, not just the random nobodies like I talked about, but Muzan as well, the big bad of the entire show. Seriously, what do we really know about the guy? We've only really seen him through his relationship with his minions, through their flashbacks and how they became demons, never through himself. Even Ubuyashiki, one of the only important characters with less screentime than Muzan, got to show up and tell us about himself. It wasn't perfect, or even very good, but it was nice that it happened.

  What I'm getting at is, this is the first time in a long for Yaiba where I felt satisfied by the characters and their journey. Tanjiros growth was recognized, most of the Hashira were fleshed out, Muzan and that classic vampire "weakness" of running away from their humanity was acknowledged, and Ubuyashiki got to mouth off before blowing himself and Muzan to Kingdom come. It feels like this final arc was actually planned and prepared for rather than thrown together to fill space with a bunch of characters no one cares about. Which considering this leads into the final arc it better, but still, that's just how low my expectations were after a mediocre season 3 last year.

  

  Conclusion

  So yeah, all in all I was pleasantly surprised by this season of Kimetsu no Yaiba. After last season, I went into this expecting absolutely nothing. Knowing it was a training "filler" arc, my hopes were nonexistent. Yet what I got was not a waste of time but rather the calm before the storm. The buildup of all the plot lines and characters before the final battle. For the first time in a while, it feels like Yaiba is building up to something meaningful, and I'm here for it. I genuinely hope that this upward trajectory becomes a trend, that Yaiba takes this lead and runs with it. It isn't perfect, Yaiba still has a lot to work on to re-earn my trust. But this is a good start. I hope it cares this much about the characters next season too.

  Thanks for reading! If you want to leave a comment, positive or negative, you can leave it here.

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