[Editors note: this review may contain spoilers for anyone who hasn’t read the “Demon Slayer” manga up to the “Swordsmith Village” arc.]
On the 3rd of March, “Demon Slayer: Kimetsu No Yaiba – To the Swordsmith Village” hit theaters nationwide. I was able to see the film, but went in blind having not seen “Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – The Movie: Mugen Train.” Luckily, you don’t have to have seen the previous film to know what was going on.
The film begins with highlights of the last two season arcs and the Mugen Train movie. Before showing the new season arc, they aired episode 9 of the previous season. This was the beginning of the ending to the Entertainment District Arc. This was a really great way to catch up people like myself that didn’t get the chance to watch it yet. After the last few episodes finished it transitioned into the first episode of the newest season, Swordsmith Village.
Swordsmith Village’s first episode focuses on Tanjiro recovering from his injuries from the Entertainment District. In the beginning it starts with Tanjiro dreaming. In the dream he encounters a new character we haven’t seen in the anime yet. Not long after he woke up, it revealed to the viewer that he was in a coma for 2 months. We also learn that during this battle he accidentally chips his sword and the sword maker, Hotaru, gets angry at him and never sends him a new one. This sets up the season so that Tanjiro must go to Swordsmith Village to request a new sword.
Once Tanjiro arrives and talks to the village chef, he learns that Hotaru has gone missing and they are searching for him. In the meantime, Tanjiro can stay in the village. Later on at the hot spring he runs into fellow demon slayers Mitsuri and Genya. During the episode he gets to hang out with Mitsuri and he tells Tanjiro there is something hidden at the village and that he should go try and find it. How old is Mitsuri? Anyway, the next day when Tanjirio goes out he ends up running into another demon slayer, Muichiro Tokito who is the person he dreamed of at the beginning of the arc. This is where the film stopped, leaving me wanting more resolution to the story.
Overall I was very happy with the movie, but I would say calling it a movie is a bit of a stretch since it’s technically just multiple episodes in one. The music and animation were very well done as to be expected from Ufotable’s animation team. My only complaints are that it was a little confusing in the beginning of the new episode.
“Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba -To the Swordsmith Village” should be available to watch on Japanese television April 9th. The date for the United States premier on apps like Crunchyroll is yet to be announced.
