Demon Slayer - Mugen Train Arc / Entertainment District Arc

The Mugen Train Arc is easier to digest as a TV anime series adaptation than Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – The Movie: Mugen Train, mainly due to the addition of the first episode and the fact that there is a week’s break between each episode of the anime series. What I mean by the former is that because of the extra first episode in which Kyojuro Rengoku is introduced to us in more depth, this character gains more life and is a bit better fleshed out within the plot. His fate interests me more than it did in the movie. By the latter, I mean that all the whining, which is so annoying in the movie, is not as bad because of the anime TV series format, it is more tolerable. However, to give the first part of the anime series a better rating than I gave the movie, considering that it is an exact retelling from the second episode, strikes me as nonsense, so I am sticking to the same rating. In other words, yes, the anime series adaptation is a bit better, in my opinion, even though the downside is that it is simply a retelling of something I have already seen. Thus I cannot legitimately enjoy it as much as I did when I first saw it because I already know its narrative quite well. The Entertainment District Arc is the best part of the anime series so far. It has momentum, so the pacing is quite brisk. This anime series has some of the most gorgeous and dazzling fight scenes I have ever seen because the cinematography is divine, the editing is unreal, plus the set design and choreography of the fight scenes are also incredible. The Ufotable animation studio knows how to produce a fight scene and shoot it from different angles; they have great camera work, so the movement and the pace are dynamic. This is what slow motion is supposed to look like, and conversely, this is how to speed up a shot using editing so that the viewer's eye can process it. In addition, the anime's creators know how to work with color filters and know that the aesthetic impression is as important for the viewer as the smooth movement. After all, most of the team working on Demon Slayer worked on Fate/Zero and Fate/Stay Night: Unlimited Blade Works, and anyone who has seen those anime series and experienced their fight scenes is not going to be all that surprised by the quality of this show. I thought that the best episode was probably the thirteenth when, in addition to everything already mentioned, I enjoyed Tanjiro's scene with Daki, especially when he show something like "Where are you going? Get over here!" Of course, the other episodes were also magnificent, full of beautiful and powerful moments, unexpected power shifts between the rival sides, and moments that gave me chills. I was afraid for the main male protagonists during at least one scene. In other words, from the thirteenth episode onwards, everything built up incredibly to a powerful and emotional conclusion that once again did not disappoint. I was happy with how they executed everything and that I once again got that profound feeling where I could sympathize with the main villain and his narrative, which was shocking, powerful, and sad. (I missed this a lot in the Mugen Train Arc with Enmu, for example). Likewise, I was won over again by Tanjiro Kamado and his empathy. Another big positive aspect of the Entertainment District Arc is the greater use of Nezuko. Finally, he is not just there as an ornament for decorative purposes that the main male protagonist carries around in his backpack, or just a symbol of incredible cuteness, or a comic element. Nezuko features some strong scenes in this show, saving others' skins at the right moments, and in her fighting form, she comes across as dazzling and sinister, almost like She-Hulk. Plus, when the hysterical Zenitsu is asleep most of the time and performs in some of the coolest moments of this anime series like it is nothing, there is almost nothing to prevent yourself from really enjoying this. Only almost, of course, because even the Entertainment District Arc has its weaknesses. For one thing, it is great that the first episode of this installment satisfactorily wraps up the previous part, dealing with what happened on the train and things related to it. It was necessary for me as a viewer. However, once again, the anime's creators had not learned their lesson, so Uzui Tengen's arrival on the scene is as strange and abrupt as it was in the previous episode with Rengoku. Again, there is a lack of introduction (this is something that the first episode of this anime series addresses with the Mugen Train Arc, although they missed that with Uzui Tengen). As a result, we only get to know Uzui Tengen from minor flashbacks, hints within the narrative, and some post-credits scenes. I quite liked Tengen, and fortunately, by making Tengen a slightly more interesting character than Rengoku was, in my opinion, it all works a little better. (By that, I do not just mean that he has three wives, but rather how he interacts with others, including his wives). After saying that, I still insist that I feel he deserved a better introduction. Another thing I did not get were some of the things that many praised terribly, although I, being ignorant of the original manga, did not get. Like, what was so freaking cool about the muscle mice? I felt like I was missing something; many viewers loved them, even though I still do not know why. Another minor complaint is that I found episodes eight to twelve a bit rushed and truncated. They were supposed to portray the setting and introduce situations and the characters. While they did all this quite well in the end, I could not shake off the impression that they were in a terrible hurry to get through it as quickly as possible so that the fight would be over. Anyway, all these negative aspects would still not have been so terrible and would have only made the overall impression worse by about half a point, if it were not for something else that really annoyed me. What irritated me so much was the plot armor of some of the characters. SPOILER ALERT. In the penultimate episode, Inosuke was really over the top. I could still buy that the first layer of his armor was immune to poisons because he is a mountain boy, although the organ shifting in his body was total bullshit! That was plot armor of a Fairy Tail level and perhaps even worse! That one line pissed me off, I could have done without it, just like I am sure the conclusion could have done without Inosuke, or the whole thing could have been made less stupid! END OF SPOILERS. I guess that is enough for the negative aspects. Most of the time, Demon Slayer shows how a shonen can be engaging, where the emotional aspects work, the fight scenes are good, and even the characters become increasingly easier to like. So there are weaknesses, although every show has them. So I am looking forward to future episodes to see what else the anime's creators are going to come up with and where they can take it all visually with the graphics because what they showed in this show demonstrated they are without question at the TOP of their game. The TOP narrative is now the only thing that it is missing, but the Entertainment District Arc, was well-paced and emotional. I found it moving, although the plot was lacking. I am awarding the Mugen Train Arc - 7.5/10 and the Entertainment District Arc 9/10, 8.3/10 overall. (13/02/2022) (less) (more)