In with the new, out with the old. With One Piece now the last manga standing from Weekly Shonen Jump’s Big Three, the time has come to appoint new successors. Between its overwhelming popularity and wide circulation, Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba, which made its debut in February 2016, seems like a worthy candidate to fill the gap, but this breakout success was actually a recent development, brought on by the release of its anime adaptation.
The show’s impact was so significant and far-reaching that it turned what seemed like a diamond in the rough into a worldwide phenomenon, so it’s only expected that the third season, premiering in April 2023, will continue to generate more hype for the franchise. As Tanjiro and gang gear up for their return to the small screen, the Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – To the Swordsmith Village special cut is here to tide over the wait.
like Mugen Train, or Infinity Train, as known in the English translation, the theatrical release isn’t an anime movie. Instead, it’s a patchwork of Episodes 10 and 11 of the Entertainment District Arc from Season 2, and includes an extended pilot episode of the upcoming Swordsmith Village Arc, bundled neatly into a 110-minute runtime. After catching the preview, which offers a teasing glimpse of breathtaking visuals and more colourful characters, it seems fans are in for another treat.
The feature opens with a montage of key moments in the first two seasons and Mugen Train, with their respective opening theme songs (“Gurenge”, “Zankyosanka”, and “Akeboshi”) playing in the backdrop. A welcome nostalgic nod, then an instant dive into breakneck action, as the epic, high-stakes battle between Team Tanjiro (Tanjiro + Nezuko, Inosuke, Zenitsu, and Sound Pillar Tengen Uzui) and the Upper Rank 6 demon siblings (Gyutaro and Daki) breaks out on the silver screen.
A beat-by-beat rehash of the original, the showdown pans out exactly like it did previously, but the 4K resolution and remastered audio makes this watch a lot more intense – both visually and emotionally. The flames of Tanjiro’s sword and Zenitsu’s ferocious lightning-imbued attacks look crisp and vibrant, while the flashback sequences and unravelling of the demon pair’s past have a heavier, more sombre weight to them. Once the rush of the climax dies down, the lighthearted, comedic moments set in, which ease the transition to a slower pace for the opening scenes of Season 3.
The second half of Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – To the Swordsmith Village snaps its focus from the battlefield to two key locations: the Infinity Castle, where the Demon King Muzan dwells in, and as suggested by the title, a village of swordsmiths. Here, the feature revisits the dynamic camera movement that comes with visiting the castle, weaving past layers of staircases and shifting into the angle for the next series of frames.
The animation, helmed by returning studio ufotable, remains consistent to the smooth and stylistic quality of Season 2. In line with the ufotable staple, Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – To the Swordsmith Village features some bold, unconventional shots – a lingering scene, for instance, reveals an upside-down Muzan in lieu of the usual upright angle. The dynamic cinematography keeps things fresh, though there’s also a tendency for the studio to over-rely on the aesthetic, which may become too excessive or ostentatious long once the novelty wears off.
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