When you are staying at home, for sure you get pretty bored sometimes. You play video games, tidy up your home, watch different types of series. Drama, romance or comedy, everything is fine as long as you have something to watch. Even anime series. Almost all of them have a good plotline, well-developed characters and amazing soundtrack.
Lately, more and more people discover the anime world. The best part about them is that you can find series for every kind of person. There is slice of life, a genre which presents our lives, our daily routines, you can even find characters you can relate to. And the soundtracks. The music from anime can go from happy-go-lucky to breathtaking, just to make you feel the characters’ emotions. Just like in video games or maybe even online casino games. The music from games makes all the difference. For example, it’s not the same thing without the sounds when you play some online free casino games on Gametwist. Online slots and cards are fun and easy to play, not to mention that it’s something relaxing to do when all you need at least is a mobile phone. The connection between music and gameplay is the best way to make you feel happy, the sound effects when you make a move keeps you concentrated as well, so you’d miss the nice atmosphere if you play a casino game without its music. The same thing applies to anime.
Sometimes we stumble upon a great anime with a wonderful soundtrack and graphics, that has such a gravity and it’s hard to turn away from. That’s the kind of anime Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba is.
On April 6, 2019, Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba aired. It is considered to be a dark fantasy adventure anime from studio Ufotable (who did work on Fate/Zero, God Eater and more) and licensed by Aniplex of America. The anime adaptation’s art style is met with mixed reception but it overall positive, as well as a different take on demons interacting in an anime like this.
Typically we see a protagonist just slaying demons until they reach their goal, but in this show the main character Tanjiro holds on to his kindness, even with deadly adversaries all around. He empathy to everyone and everything, demon or otherwise. This is shown in a few scenes where he uses his words to put demons to rest peacefully after their battles, strengthened by his persistence to get them to change instead of having to finish things off in a violent way.
Plot overview
Let’s dive into the show’s plot. Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba takes place in a modern-esque fictionalized Japan. It follows a young man named Tanjiro Kamado, who sells charcoal to support his family that live on a mountain. He goes into a city that is near the foot of their mountain home to sell their charcoal. One day he stays out late selling out of his wares then heads home and he is stopped by another villager who lives just inside the woods. This villager tells him he shouldn’t travel at night because of the demons that wander the mountain after dark. Tanjiro is hesitant at first but ultimately takes the old man up on his offer to stay the night at his house and to leave once it is daylight again. Upon returning home Tanjiro smells blood and rushes in to find his family has been slaughtered by demons in the night.
The only surviving member of the family is his young sister Nezuko. When carrying her and trying to get her to help, she suddenly changes into a demon. After a short battle between the two, Tanjiro seems to get through to her even though she is now a demon. The two are then attacked by a Demon Slayer, forcing Tanjiro to fight to protect his sister. The Demon Slayer goes to land a final blow on Tanjiro when Nezuko protects him. Moved by this unique situation, the Demon Slayer leaves them unconscious on the ground with a note to find another Demon Slayer that trains recruits. Upon waking up, Tanjiro and Nezuko begin their journey to find this recruiter and search for a way to turn Nezuko back into a human.
The characters
There is a lot of nuance in this anime, despite the straightforward setup, from facial expressions to phrasing that changes the meaning of many things. Each character in this story is quite different from one another. Tanjiro Kamado, our main protagonist, is kind with gentle eyes and a great amount of determination. He isn’t opposed to asking for help, which sets him apart from plenty of anime tropes in Shonen. Nezuko Kamado, the sister, worked diligently around the house and was seen as a beauty in her home village, but after turning into a demon she can change her size, doesn’t talk, and is usually carried around by Tanjiro. She isn’t helpless though, she is very strong and shows it by supporting Tanjiro a majority of the time. When they team up they are unbelievably formidable.
We also have characters like Zenitsu Agatsuma, another member of the Demon Slayers. Unlike Tanjiro and many others, Zenitsu is cowardly. He tends to run away, but when he becomes overcome with fear and anxiety he passes out and fights unconscious. This pushes his limits beyond himself and he fights at a superb level with his instincts alone. Inosuke Hashibira is a Demon Slayer with a really short temper. He falls into more of a typical short-tempered anime trope but shows a real type of growth as the series continues. He grows from just a hot headed friend/enemy that rushes into combat and puts himself in danger to a friend that begins to think and use strategy and becomes able to control his temper, at least somewhat.
The style
The art of Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba also follows a sort of different approach. There are mixed feelings to be found in the comments and threads about the show and manga but all in all, it is pleasing to the eye and lets the nuance through just as needed. In the anime, the art style changes up depending on the fights and usually shows the water breathing style as a type of actual water surrounding Tanjiro and his blade.
Pacing can make or break an anime and Kimestu no Yaiba gets it right. Each moment spent is learning and developing the characters in some way shape or form. Not every moment can be a hunt, and not every moment can be a battle. There has to be moments of growth and interaction between characters to tell a great story and in this story, the justice done is fantastic. Thus far, it is hard to be bored while watching and the show doesn’t feel like a chore just to get to the next large conflict or issue.
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Conclusion
So far, this anime exceeds expectations. Personally, I have to say that I love seeing new angles taken on stories and anime like this. The story has a sort of form, but it not totally predictable. The characters are strong, but they are not overpowered with exception of the big baddies. To add to more of what we feel about Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba and why you should check it out, not everything revolves around the main character Tanjiro. Each of the characters has their own quirks, flaws, and growth. Each supporting character gets spotlights as well and do not just rely on Tanjiro. The show emphasizes the need for teamwork and using their training. No one is using something incredibly overpowered to win at a pivotal moment. They are just using their training and figuring out how to overcome a situation with what they have together. All of these unique elements combine to blend into a great experience. This is definitely a recommended story to read and anime to watch.
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