Kimetsu no Yaiba [Review]

Posted on February 15, 2020 by KiritoNarukami 2 comments

Studios: ufotable

Source: Manga

Genres: Action, Historical, Demons, Supernatural, Shounen

Synopsis: “Since ancient times, rumors have abounded of man-eating demons lurking in the woods. Because of this, the local townsfolk never venture outside at night. Legend has it that a demon slayer also roams the night, hunting down these bloodthirsty demons. For young Tanjiro, these rumors will soon to become his harsh reality. Ever since the death of his father, Tanjiro has taken it upon himself to support his family. Although their lives may be hardened by tragedy, they’ve found happiness. But that ephemeral warmth is shattered one day when Tanjiro finds his family slaughtered and the lone survivor, his sister Nezuko, turned into a demon. To his surprise, however, Nezuko still shows signs of human emotion and thought. Thus begins Tanjiro’s request to fight demons and turn his sister human again.” –Kimetsu no Yaiba (manga)

Story:

Kimetsu no Yaiba takes place in what looks like Meiji Era Japan, where man-eating demon lurking in the night waiting for their next prey. The first episode is a big shock factor in pulling in the audience into the story, and trust the fans when we say that it won’t be the last one either. Good directing and awareness of the source material resulted in Kimetsu no Yaiba being well-paced and ending on a cliffhanger on every episode keeping the audience guessing and want more episode after episode.

Artwork & Animation:

ufotable blows the art and animation out of the water. The incredible use of both 2D and CGI animation to create seamless fight scenes were extraordinary! Every swing, dodge, roll, slice, etc. are meticulously detailed to the T. Along with extremely detailed scenes, the dynamic cinematics and art direction brings the manga to life within the anime and creates moments throughout the show that are vivid and memorable. Tanjiro’s ability is showcased as being some type of water element and that way it’s drawn gives it the aesthetic of a Ukiyo-e, or Japanese woodblock paintings and more specifically “The Wave” by Hokusai, and that connects back to the setting of the story Ancient Japan.

Character(s):

The story starts off purely following Tanjirou, but as the plot develops we’re introduced to two new characters Zenitsu and Inosuke. The trios become the main focus throughout the show as well as Nezuko! It’s given that the main cast will be getting a lot of screen time, but that isn’t to say that the side characters are pushed to the side! The character development is a bit more abstract and doesn’t necessarily spell it out for you. Through the dialogue, actions, and observations of the main cast, we see the remnants of the stories that are left by the side characters. Urokudai’s history and his pupils or Shinobu’s affections for Kanao are just a few things that aren’t explicitly said but shown in a more obscure way.

Sound (OST & Voice Acting):

While already a strong show, Kimetsu no Yaiba’s OST ranks at the top of what the show has to offer. The mixture of intense orchestral pieces, melancholic pieces played with traditional Japanese instruments, and a hint of electronic music to give a slightly new element in the mixture. That’s quite a diverse set of genres and they are all tied together with the ominous vocals that we hear so often throughout the soundtrack. A very powerful OST and it’ll be difficult to top it!

Enjoyment:

Kimetsu no Yaiba was incredible from being to end. I had no idea how popular it would get by the halfway point. Even some of my favorite artists were covering Gurenge (performed by LiSa)! Brendan Urie (Panic at the Disco), JVNA, and Dabin (just to name a few…) have shown their love for the series. It’s an exciting time for Kimetsu no Yaiba fans as the movie was already announced in production by the last episode which will continue the series as well as another season that will start after that!

Overall: Score 10

At this point, there’s hardly anyone who doesn’t know the name of Kimetsu no Yaiba (aka Demon Slayer). The story took the anime world by storm with its gruesome story and articulate animation. A wonderfully crafted show that involves meaningful character development, a powerful soundtrack, and amazing art direction.

Best Girl: Kochou Shinobu

This was one of the hardest decisions I’ve had to make in a while…all of the female characters are so wonderfully written and unique in their own way makes it quite difficult to choose. Shinobu wins the throne due to her complex personality but willingness to change and help others as much as she can. She tends to create interesting moments throughout the show that creates significant effects later down the road. Being one of the pillars is also a plus! Her relationships with the Demon Corp as well as her desire to understand the monsters that she kills on a daily basis create a very complicated situation and opens a huge spider web of story elements that we have yet to see!

Bonus Image: