Spoiler-Free Anime Review:
Demon Slayer: Kimetsu No Yaiba Season 1
Rating: 10 out of 10 stars
Intro
Demon Slayer is an anime I watched because I heard people say it is better than My Hero Academia. I actually like it less than My Hero Academia, but that’s only because I prefer more light-hearted anime in general. Demon Slayer is, in fact, really fascinating and enjoyable to watch.
I watched the first half of the season with my dad and siblings and ended up watching the rest alone at college.
Warning: Even though this review does not have a significant spoilers, it does describe some plot details from Episode 1.
Background
Demon Slayer Season 1 was released in 2019, and is based on a manga series of the same name. It was written by Koyoharu Goutuge. It can currently be watched on Netflix, Hulu, Crunchyroll, or Funimation.
Summary
After Tanjiro’s family is slaughtered and his sister is turned into a demon, he studies to become a demon slayer to avenge his family and cure his sister.
Pros
- Complex characters
- Engaging combat
- Demons are unique and have various skills
- Great intro and outro
- Catchy music
- Taisho secrets
- Attractive animation
Cons
- No specific cons
Observations
- It is a bit gory
Review
Characters
Tanjiro Kamado is the main character. He is a kind young man who sells charcoal to support his family until their untimely demise. His sense of smell is impeccable, significantly affecting the storyline believe it or not. He can pick up the smell of blood from far away or tell that a broken object was knocked over by a cat. He also can understand birds. He is extremely hardworking and loyal.
We barely get to know Nezuko Kamado before she is turned into a demon. She struggles with a violent side at times, but her connection to Tanjiro is heartwarming.
Zenitsu is generally cowardly and kind of pervy. Unlike in some anime, he is scolded for his behavior frequently and luckily doesn’t do anything as invasive as, for example, Mineta from My Hero Academia. There is more to him than meets the eye, however.
Inosuke is strong, socially inept, insensitive, and stubborn. Yet he is also quick to forget a grudge or even why he was angry in the first place. He is annoyed by Zenitsu’s weakness and Tanjiro’s kindness.
Combat
The combat in Demon Slayer is multi-layered and complex. Breathing technique is a huge component in an individual’s capacity to fight. Demon slayers master various forms to learn to attack, often related to the elements. Those who cannot kill demons by beheading them resort to other methods such as poisons. There is also something called the thread that Tanjiro can see, which shows him when there is an opening.
Demons
Each demon has a different specialty and many have different blood demon arts. The one depicted above, for example, is nicknamed the Arrow Demon and can redirect movements and launch opponents. Another interesting one is the Drum demon, which can perform different attacks by beating various drums embedded in its body.
The demons almost all have tragic backstories because they were once human before the traumatic event of being turned into demons.
Intro
The Demon Slayer Season 1 intro not only is a great introduction into future events in the first season, it also has great catchy music. It is well-made and intriguing.
Outro
The artistic design of the outro is beautiful, from the vibrant flowers at the beginning to the rendering of Nezuko shown above.
Taisho secrets
The Taisho secret at the end of each episode provides more insight into characters and is a fun way to tease about the next episode.
Animation
The animation of Demon Slayer is beautiful and terrifying. I especially liked the eyes of the characters and the design of the demons.
Conclusion
I would say if you don’t mind shows being a little bloody and violent, and you like anime, then you will probably like this show. Definitely recommend for ages 13 and up.
Links
The Queer Schizophrenic 