Demon Slayer

This year I had gotten into a manga reading and buying phase. Anime is at a strong point right now where studios are acquiring rights to adapt manhwas (Korean manga) and light novels, which has never really been done before. For Christmas last year, my husband had bought me the carry case box set of the entire Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba manga. The anime is going into the final season and will be in the form of theatrical releases of 3 movies.

If you are not familiar with Demon Slayer, it is the story of a young boy named Tanjiro Kamado. In the first 5 minutes of the story, he comes home from selling coal in the local village to find that his entire family is slaughtered by a demon, leaving his sister Nezuko alive to turn into a demon herself. The remainder of the story is Tanjiro becoming a member of the Demon Slayer Corp so that he can find a cure for Nezuko. You meet a lot of fantastic people along the way who have their own backstories into why they either became a demon or why they joined the Demon Slayer Corp. I’m sorry, there will probably be a bunch of spoilers for you from here.

I was introduced to Demon Slayer out of order; I went to go see Demon Slayer: Mugen Train with my husband and one of our friends first. In the timeline, Mugen Train is essentially season two. Long story short, I left the movie just sobbing because it did all the right things, which reflects the remainder of the series:

It gives you a great storyline. There is a multi-layered noble cause, where in a small picture this is a step in a positive direction for Tanjiro and Nezuko to find either the cure or the demon who killed their family, and in the big picture the Demon Slayer Corp save people by slaying demons and wanting to stop the ultimate baddie. 

The characters are a perfect combination. The dynamic between Tanjiro and Nezuko is so pure in teamwork, and sibling respect and obedience. The dynamic within Tanjiro, Zenitsu, and Inosuke is complimentary and a repeat in character: the main character who is an overly positive grounded leader, the friend who is cowardly but slowly overcomes fear, and the friend who is overly confident and strong willed but willing to work as a team. And then there are the Hashira. The Hashira are the best of the best in the Demon Slayer Corp and as you read or watch Demon Slayer, you get to know all of them. 

The morals and values. I remember reading through and watching certain arcs and just getting hit with so many truths and affirmations. Tanjiro is incredibly kind hearted, wanting to know why a demon chose to become so and even at times prays for their souls once they are slain. He is a cheerleader, and is always reminding people that they are not alone and can ask for help. He inspires others to push forward and reconcile with their pasts and broken relationships. Tanjiro is always learning; he knows that this is a quality that is necessary to get to the goal he wants. He holds his truth and does not concede to lies.

I will say that reading that final volume had me crying. It ended in such an honoring way to Demon Slayer Corp members who had died for their cause. In comparison to Attack on Titan, where there is also an incredible amount of death within a military-style dynamic, Demon Slayer does it in a more personal way; like, the Master takes every death very personal and assumes personal responsibility for all. His behavior makes you believe that he takes the time to remember every member’s name. Now that I have read all of Demon Slayer, I cannot wait to see it on the screen.

I am keeping this series, and not just because it was a Christmas present, ha-ha. I plan to read it over and over again. There’s a reason why this is one of the biggest anime currently. Even though I see children as young as elementary age walking around cosplaying as characters from Demon Slayer, for the parents who are mindful of what their children watch, I would personally not have kids watch or really read this. I think they have it rated for fourteen years and up because it is just so gory.

If you are interested in Demon Slayer, I would recommend starting here. The anime is available on every major streaming site, I believe as well.

10/10

Happy Easter, everyone.