When Dragon Ball Daima was announced last year at NYCC, fans were thrilled. For the first time in years, Dragon Ball would be getting a new series, and Akira Toriyama was the one who wrote it. It felt like a dream come true!
Then, in the spring of this year, the world would end up losing Toriyama. Dragon Ball Daima would be the final work that he would contribute to the world that he had created. Suddenly, it became more important than ever that Daima was a huge success. And so, the world waited with bated breath for the day when it would premiere, ready to honor the memory of a man who inspired millions of its people. Th
Iโm glad to say that Toriyama didnt disappoint with his final work. He cooked us a feast of thrills and laughs.
Since this is the first time Dragon Ball has had an anime in a while, a good portion of the premiere is devoted to getting everyone up to speed with events up to the defeat of Majin Buu. While some might see it as an issue, itโs essential for two reasons. Firstly, it establishes that this will take place before the events of Super, so no Super Saiyan God or Blue. Secondly, it introduces us to the leading antagonistic group.
Meet Gomah, Degesu, and Dr. Arinsu, the new King of the Demon Realm, the Supreme Kai of the Demon Realm, and a Core Person of the Demon Realm. While much of the rest of Universe 7 and parts of the other Universes have already gotten fleshed out, the Demon Realm has remained notably unknown until now. I think Toriyama wanted to correct that by making the primary setting of Daima, and if thatโs the case, Iโm glad he chose to do so before he died. He even gave them their own Dragon Balls and guardians to protect them, and retconned the Namekians point of origin to be from the Demon Realm. So, congrats Piccolo. Youโre now a slug alien demon!
The main plot of the episode is that Gomah has watched how powerful Goku and the others are and fears them to be a threat to his rule. So, he and Degesu (and another Namekian) travel to Earth to use the Dragon Balls to make Goku and everyone else kids so they wonโt be a threat. In essence, itโs the plot of GT but on a larger scale. By the time the credits start to roll, we can already hear everyone beginning to shrink down to the size of kids. And the kids shrinking down to the size of babies!
I know that this is supposed to be serious, but I still canโt help but find it funny. Toriyama took the plot of GT, the series that was made without his direct involvement, and made it ten times better. Thatโs essentially him saying โYouโre doing it all wrong, you guys. Let the master show you how itโs done!โ Given how Daima is meant to celebrate the franchise 40th anniversary, though, it makes sense why Toriyama would want to tell a story like this. He tried to get the series back to its roots, and it glad he got to do so before he died.
This was an excellent start to what will likely be one of the most giant anime of the year. I have no clue how long Daima will run, but I know that Iโm going to enjoy it every step of the way.
When I first saw the trailers for My Hero Academiaโs fourth film, Youโre Next, I had one thing on my mind: who the heck is this fake All Might? Was this Dark Might guy supposed to be an evil twin or clone of All Might? Did the series really need to resort to that for its next film? I was sure that there had to be some kind of explanation behind this faker, and that led me to go see the movie in theaters this past Friday. Iโm glad that I did, because while it doesnโt break new ground for the series, it does know how to deliver the spectacle. Plus, I got to see the anime version of Homelander get humiliated by the anime version of Spider-Man.
Anime Homelander Thinks he Can Be New All Might?
Taking place in between the sixth and seventh seasons of the show, Youโre Next is set amidst the backdrop of a Japan thatโs struggling to stay afloat. The chaos that All for One and Shigaraki have unleashed has forced the students of Class 1-A to work overtime helping the pro heroes capture criminals. Then out of nowhere, a man who looks to be the spitting image of All Might shows up! Calling himself Dark Might, he claims himself to be All Mightโs successor, but nobody buys it. Especially not Deku and his friends. It doesnโt take long for the imposter to show his twisted ideas of heroism as he takes countless people hostage and forces Class 1-A into a fight for survival while the pro heroes scramble to provide aid. And at the center of it all is a young woman with a mysterious Quirk and this gun-toting butler version of Hajime from Arifureta.
Dark Might is Basically the MHA Version of Homelander
I was going into this film with no context or clue about who this Dark Might was. As soon as I saw him make his public debut by dispatching a villain with no consideration for collateral damage, something clicked for me. He reminded me of Homelander from The Boys. Both of them claim to be heroes, but in truth, theyโre bloodthirsty killers who only want to be worshipped and feared like gods. The main difference is that whereas Homelander continues to fool a good portion of America, no one in Japan buys what Dark Might is selling. Itโs pretty telling how messed up this man is when Midoriya openly hates his guts. And I donโt blame him, either. Much like Homelander, Dark Might is insufferable; a dark reflection of what it means to be a hero.
As for who Dark Might really is, that remains a mystery for much of the film, but the payoff isnโt that interesting. We all knew that he wasnโt going to be some clone or evil twin of All Might, but the reveal of his identity makes look even more pathetic than that. Heโs just a criminal who only cares about All Mightโs power and not his ideals. And as strong as he is, heโs still a chump compared to the real All Might, like how Homelander is a chump compared to Superman. And just like Superman would wipe the floor with Homelander, Deku and the others eventually wipe the floor with Dark Might like the chump he is.
Great Fights, Decent Story
As for the fights, that is the only thing that I can say remains consistently awesome in the MHA films. With this taking place right before the final battle begins, we get to see Deku and Class 1-A near their peak. Most of the heavy lifting winds up being done by Deku, Bakugo, and Shoto, though. During the filmโs climax, the three face off against Dark Might alongside their butler ally, Julio, and the animation is some of the best in the series. Wannabe All Might or not, Dark Might is still a strong opponent and hard for the heroes to beat. But he still loses.
As for the story itself, itโs decent. The main plot revolves around Dark Might using this girl whose Quirk amplifies others Quirks at her own expense. Deku and the others team up with her butler best friend, Julio, who, again, reminds me of a red-haired version of Hajime. Heโs got a cool cyborg arm, an eyepatch, and a motorcycle. It wasnโt hard for me to be reminded of Hajime from Arifureta. He also happens to be one of those movie characters thatโs had a lousy life and needs the main protagonist to regain his sense of optimism and hope. In other words, your standard Shonen film stuff.
Just a Lot of Good Fun
This film doesnโt really add much to My Hero Academia, but to be honest, it doesnโt need to. Whenever I see a movie for a popular anime, the majority of the time, I know that itโs not going to have any bearing on the plot. WHO cares, though? We get to see an anime hero inspired by Spider-Man beat up a guy who reminds me of Homelander. That alone is worth the price of admission. Plus, since thereโs a good chance this might be the last film the franchise will get (unless they decide to do an epilogue film), I want to enjoy it. Mainly since Justin Briner kills it as Deku once again!
Also, can you guys settle a bet for us: is All Might considered an expy for Superman? Aaron and I are debating about it.
Summer’s over, so it’s time for the cozier part of the year to begin. Fortunately, when we’re not outside enjoying the changing weather and prepping for Halloween (and Thanksgiving), we can enjoy plenty of anime beneath the comfort of a warm blanket. And this year, it looks like the anime community is going to feast! And since I enjoyed talking about what I was looking forward to watching in the summer, I decided to make that a trend here at the D&A Anime Blog. That being said, I’m RJ Writing Ink, and here are all of the anime I’m looking forward to watching for the Fall 2024.
As was the case with my list for summer 2024, this will only include anime that premiere in the fall. Anything that premiered before then will not count. I would also like to note that there will be big anime coming out that I will not be covering by me not being interested in them. In other words, no Bleach: Thousand Year War, even if it’s going to be one of the big ones.
Something is not right with the town of Kurouzu-cho. These mysterious spirals are starting to appear on everythingโfirst on objects, then the environment, and then on people. As people start wondering what the heck is going on, paranoia and fear begin to set in as the curse of the Uzumaki threatens to devour all.
Up until Toonami and Adult Swim aired the first teaser for this a few years ago, I had no idea that Uzumaki and its mangaka, Junji Ito, even existed. The repeated delays haven’t helped, as I haven’t been particularly motivated to read the manga. That being said, I’ve heard people sing its praises and call it this masterpiece of Japanese horror. And with Halloween coming up, I’m going to need some scary shows to watch, and something tells me this will be perfect for that. Here’s hoping I’m not traumatized!
Re:Zero-Starting Life in Another World Season 3 (10/02/24), Crunchyroll-
After three years of hiatus, one of the Seven Summits of Isekai is coming back! With Mushoku Tensei on break until its next season and Reincarnated As a Slime winding down its latest season, it’s time for Re:Zero to step up to the plate with that high-quality isekai goodness.
I wish that I could say more about this anime, but the hard truth is that I’ve never watched it before. I know it’s one of the all-time greatest isekai, so I consider it part of the Seven Summits. But beyond reading the synopsis for the episodes on Wikipedia, I’ve never had time to watch it. However, with the new season premiering with a 90-minute special, this fall might be the perfect time for me to get into it. Given how it was one of the series that helped kickstart the isekai craze we live in, it will be good.
Dan Da Dan (10/04/24) Crunchyroll-
A girl who believes in ghosts but not aliens, and a boy who believes in aliens but not ghosts. When both make a bet to see who’s right, it turns out that they’re both right. A spirit possesses the boy, and aliens abduct the girl and discovers she has psychic powers. Now they both have to deal with the paranormal together while navigating the pressures of being in high school. And I’m not sure which is easier.
I know almost nothing about this series, but from what I’ve seen in the trailers and heard about online, it sounds like complete and utter chaos. And I love it! I’m a big fan of paranormal things such as ghosts and aliens, so having a series dealing with both sounds like a good way to create some interesting stories. Additionally, the series is being produced by Science Saru, who made last year’s Scott Pilgrim Takes Off. Given how much I liked that series, I’m willing to give this one a look. Also, with Nokotan now over, I’m going to need a new source of vitamin crazy in my anime diet.
Is it Wrong to Try and Pick up Girls in a Dungeon Season 5 (10/04/24), HiDive-
With how much the founders of this blog love Hestia and think she’s bestia (and she’s up there in my book), I would be remiss to not include the new season on here.
It’s the time of the Goddess Festival in Orario, AKA the time when people pay respects to the Goddesses of fertility that bring the city and its labyrinth to life. And it just so happens that Bell receives a letter from his friend Syr asking him out on a date to the festival. And with Bell’s track record of getting involved in big events, there’s a good chance that things are bound to get nuts.
I wish I could say I would watch this since I do like DanMachi, but there are two problems. First, I haven’t kept up with anything past season two. Second, my schedule for the fall is already pretty booked, as you can see. The fact that it’s only on HiDive and not Crunchyroll doesn’t help matters, either, but with the Internet being what it is, that’s more of a nuisance than a problem.
Ranma 1/2 (10/06/24), Netflix-
Urusei Yatsura made a modern-day comeback with its own remake a few years ago. Now it’s Ranma 1/2‘s turn. For those who don’t know, never watched the previous anime or read the manga, the series revolves around Ranma, a young martial artist thrown into an arranged marriage with the daughter of a man his dad trained alongside. There’s just one catch: Ranma’s cursed. When he’s splashed by cold water, he turns into a girl. And when he’s splashed by hot water, he goes back to being a boy. Hilarity ensues.
I’ve never seen the original anime or read the manga, but I have heard that the former gets flak for all the filler due to outpacing its source material. However, there are two reasons why I’m giving this a shot. Firstly, the manga finished back in 1996, so there’s no chance for history to repeat. Secondly, I’m a big fan of the mangaka, Rumiko Takahashi, thanks to her other works like Urusei Yatsura and Inuyasha. The art style and the way she utilizes exaggerated facial expressions are both entertaining to look at.
Arifureta: From Commonplace to World’s Strongest Season 3 (10/14/24) Crunchyroll-
Hajime Nagumo and his team of overpowered women have returned for another season. As the now strongest man in the other world continues his quest to find a way home, they get sidetracked by a mission to the neighboring Hoelscher Empire. With his friend Sheaโs people being threatened by the Empire, Hajime teams up with the Rabbit Men to put them in their place.
First, I am well aware of Arifureta’s shortcomings, especially regarding the pacing in its first season. Secondly, Iโm also aware that itโs a power fantasy where the protagonist gets OP abilities and a harem of girls that all love him for one reason. But it’s a guilty pleasure because I like how badass Hajime is. And unlike most of his fellow summons, he sees their task of saving the world for the nonsense it is and refuses to be used like that. Here’s hoping the anime keeps doing a better job of adapting the light novels!
And now, the best for last!
Dragon Ball Daima (10/11/2024) Crunchyroll-
The next chapter in Dragon Ball is coming this fall, and it looks to be taking the franchise back to its roots. Taking place sometime between the defeat of Kid Buu and the end of Dragon Ball Z, Daima centers around a conspiracy that shrinks Goku and his allies down to the size of kids. With no other alternative, Goku retrieves his old Power Pole and goes on a quest to the Demon Realm to set things right.
This is likely going to be the anime that people are going to be focusing on this fall, and for good reason. Outside of the additional movies (and the anime based on Dragon Ball Heroes), this is going to be the first anime in the franchise since Super finished its run. Secondly, with series creator Akira Toriyama’s passing earlier this year, Daima will be his final contribution to the world he created. With many fans still mourning the legendary mangaka’s passing, odds are we’re going to throw our full support behind it.
It’s also coming out the same day as the highly anticipated new game, Dragon Ball: Sparking Zero. That can’t be a coincidence, and it’s going to make that weekend all about Dragon Ball.
Bonus-Naruto x TMNT Crossover Comic (11/13/24)-
Starting in November, VIZ Media and IDW Comics are teaming up to bring the Ninja Turtles and the Hidden Leaf’s number one, hyperactive, knuckleheaded ninja together in a limited series! According to the official synopsis, the set-up involves the Turtles’ friend April O’Neil meeting up with the Hidden Leaf’s Lady Tsunade, only to be targeted by the Foot Clan. Naturally, the Turtles will get involved, bringing them into contact with Naruto and Team 7 in this story of east meets west.
I know that this isn’t an anime, but I’m putting it on here anyway for several reasons:
I’m a big fan of Naruto and a casual fan of the Ninja Turtles, so I am understandably excited.
I think the idea of the famous Turtles teaming up with one of the greatest Shonen heroes of all time is excellent.
November will officially mark ten years since the end of the original Naruto manga. That can’t be a coincidence, and I’m feeling nostalgic.
Good times.
Do you agree with my picks? What anime are you looking forward to this fall? Let us know in the comments down below and enjoy the season!
Fairy Tail: Hundred Year Quest Initial Series Review
When it comes to Shonen series, depending on who youโre asking, Fairy Tail is either pretty famousโฆor pretty infamous. People have criticized Hiro Mashimaโs best-known work for many things over the years. Things like having too much fanservice in it and not enough character depth. How it uses the power of friendship to let its characters bs itโs way through situations they shouldnโt survive. And, my personal favorite, how itโs One Piece if Oda didnโt care.
Having read Fairy Tail for years, and spent as much time reviewing Mashimaโs next series, Edens Zero, I can honestly say the criticisms are valid. That said, that doesnโt stop me from loving the series like a guilty pleasure. And when I found out that the sequel manga, Hundred-Year Quest, was getting an anime this summer, I knew I had to watch it. Iโm glad I did, because the series is as fun as ever.
Fairy Tail’s Greatest Adventure Yet
Itโs been one year since the wizarding guild Fairy Tail and their allies defeated Zeref and Acnologia, and resident Fire Dragon Slayer is going on his greatest adventure to date. Natsu, Lucy, Gray, Erza, Wendy, Happy and Carla travel to the continent of Guiltina to take on the Hundred-Year Quest, a quest so dangerous that none have completed it since wizarding guilds began. It soon becomes apparent why. The quest involves finding the Five Dragon Gods, defeat them, and seal away their powers. And each of them has strength on par with Aconologia. Needless to say, Team Natsu has its work cut out for it.
Meanwhile, back at Fairy Tail, a new member named Touka joins the guild, and sheโs crazy for Natsu. But thereโs something off about herโฆ
I Like Fairy Tail and you Can’t Change My Mind!
I want to reiterate this: Iโm well aware of the criticisms surrounding Fairy Tail. And I will not deny them. Iโve spent years reading the work of Hiro Mashima, and as good as he can be, heโs no Oda, Araki, Kishimoto, or Toriyama. Granted, Kishimoto has had his own problems writing female protagonists, but thatโs besides the point. But even with all these faults, I still love Fairy Tail, and here’s why.
Firstly, I love the series sense of humor. It could do a little bit better when it comes to how deep it makes some of its characters, but when it comes to being funny, Mashima knows what he’s doing. The titular guild is a haven for rowdy, chaotic, but good-natured people who love life, adventure, and testing each other. In fact, whenever I’m feeling depressed about life, one of my first instincts is to look up a video of Fairy Tail and watch them do the funniest stuff. Say what you want, but they always bring a smile to my face.
The second reason I like Fairy Tail is simpler: the dub is good. When Funimation first started dubbing the series fifteen years ago, they spared no expense when it came to talent. If you look at the cast list for the english dub, you’ll see that it has a lot of voice actor’s that were either already successful or have become successful in the time since then. And they do a good job at playing their roles. The way they deliver some of their lines is enough to get a laugh out of me.
Lastly, the show’s got some great music. Full stop.
So, yeah, I like Fairy Tail despite its faults, and I’ve been eagerly watching the dub for Hundred-Year Quest. And on the subject of whether it’s good or not, this is all I have to say: it feels like the series never left us, and I’m sure plenty of fans feel the same way.
I don’t know how long the new series will run for, but frankly, I don’t care. I’m just glad that Fairy Tail has come back to us after almost five years of waiting. It was worth the wait, and it steps back into the world of the series so seamlessly, you’d barely recognize that it had left.
So, the Hashira Training Arc is already ending, and it’s happening soon. I knew that this arc was going to be short, but I wasn’t expecting it to be this short. That being said, even without reading the manga in advance, I already knew that this whole arc was going to be the calm before the storm. I just didn’t expect the storm to roll in so quickly.
— Yumi โฉยฐ๏ฝกโ GOJO เธ ^โข๏ปโข^เธ (@gojosatoros) June 23, 2024
Tanjiro and his friends continue their training under Gyomei, and thankfully, Tanjiro and Inosuke have made some progress. Both of them are now able to move the boulder, though the effort almost causes Tanjiro to pass out from dehydration. Thankfully, Gyomei is there to give him water to drink, so he doesn’t die of thirst. And in the process, Gyomei opens up about his past…and it is so sad!
— Yumi โฉยฐ๏ฝกโ GOJO เธ ^โข๏ปโข^เธ (@gojosatoros) June 23, 2024
Gyomei was born blind, meaning that the lack of irises wasn’t just an artistic choice. Yet that didn’t stop him from living the humble life of a priest and taking care of a group of orphans. They didn’t have much, but they were still happy together. However, one night, one of them stayed outside after dark, and ran into a demon. To save himself, he sold out everyone else, leading to the demon slaughtering all but Gyomei and one other child. Then he snapped and somehow managed to beat them to death with his bare hands, an act that deeply ashamed him.
It gets worse. When the authorities showed up, they mistook the little girl’s words to mean Gyomei killed everyone and arrested him. It was only thanks to Kagaya, the head of the Demon Slayers, that he escaped execution.
…Sweet mercy, that is a sad story. No wonder the man is always seen crying like that. He’s haunted by his failure to save most of his adoptive family and for lashing out like he did. He was in the right to do so since it was self-defense, but even so, the act of killing someone is not something one should take lightly. So, when Gyomei chooses to praise Tanjiro for saving the villagers in the Swordsmith Village, he means it. He doesn’t Tanjiro to make the same mistake he did.
Too Late, Demon Slayers. The Shadows Have Arrive
And with that, Tanjiro finishes his training with Gyomei and heads to the next Hashira…is what I would say! However, the forces of darkness are already converging on the Demon Slayer Corps!
Throughout the season, Muzan and his army of demons have been laying low. That’s because Muzan is using one of the Upper Ranks powers to help locate Nezuko and the head of the Demon Slayers, Kagaya Ubuyashiki. And as Sanemi manages to catch one of those demonic eye monsters, he realizes something horrible: they’ve already been found out.
Sure enough, the final moments of the episode are dedicated entirely to Muzan showing up at the Ubuyashiki Mansion and confronting Kagaya. And much like all the important moments in Demon Slayer, the animation is knocked into high gear. The way the air seems to freeze as Muzan comes strolling in wearing his white suit and hat is bone-chilling to look at. It’s as if the devil himself has descended upon the Earth; and given who Muzan is, that’s pretty much accurate!
The next episode is going to be the final one of the season, and from what I’ve heard, it’s going to be an hour long. Given how it’s setting us up for the final battle, it needs to cover as much as possible. Because once that’s done, there’s no turning back. No more funny moments, no more wholesome stuff. Just a fight to the finish with the fate of all Japan at stake. Make some popcorn. This is going to be epic.
This Hashira Training Arc may have little action, but does it show how hard the Demon Slayers are working themselves! Even though he breezed through the earlier portions, the last episode of Demon Slayer saw Tanjiro starting to really exert himself. Mitsuri’s flexibility training made men scream. Obanai hated Tanjiro’s guts for being friends with Mitsuri. And Sanemi? Tanjiro got banned from training with him for standing up for Genya! However, all of that pales in comparison to the training under the strongest Hashira, Gyomei Himejima (the one who’s always crying.)
Can we go back to Mitsuri or Obanai? They weren’t trying to kill him!
This is Brutal!!
So, having made it to Gyomei’s training course, Tanjiro and Zenitsu realize two things. Firstly, its very simplistic, consisting of strength training exercises. Secondly, and this is the most important, they’re all brutal beyond belief!
— Yumi โฉยฐ๏ฝกโ GOJO เธ ^โข๏ปโข^เธ (@gojosatoros) June 16, 2024
Standing under a freezing waterfall until they pass out! Lifting gigantic logs over their heads!And pushing a massive boulder hundreds of feet! And they have to do that every day until they pass out!
— Yumi โฉยฐ๏ฝกโ GOJO เธ ^โข๏ปโข^เธ (@gojosatoros) June 16, 2024
The whole experience is so brutal that several of Tanjiro’s fellow trainees call it quits and bail. You could call them cowards, but knowing your limits is important. Yet Tanjiro, Inosuke, and Zenitsu persist in it, with Tanjiro working the hardest, and unlocking a very important power: his Demon Slayer Mark.
Tanjiro is Unlocking His Shonen Transformation
Extremely well animated the movement and tanjiro pushing rock has unusual smoothness
And one of the best Smoke animation in all Kimetsu Holy Peak
Tanjiro has unlocked his Mark before when under extreme circumstances, but he’s never been able to control it. He doesn’t know how he activates it, but realizes that if he learns that trigger, it could be make all the difference. And thanks to some advice from Genya and Gyomei’s brutal training, Tanjiro starts to know what makes it work for him. The memories of his murdered family. The last words given to him by Rengoku. By remembering how he felt, Tanjiro starts to gain better control over his Mark. The episode ends before showing us the full extent of the results, but Tanjiro is on the right track.
Muzan is on the Move
And not a moment too soon, as Muzan is moving from amidst the shadows.
This season has seen a massive absence of the Demons that the Slayer Corps must fight, and for a good reason. Muzan is marshaling his dark army for the final battle. However, there’s more to it than that. He’s looking for two people: Nezuko and Kagaya Ubuyashiki. And he’s using one of his Upper Four, Namiko, to do so.
I had to watch a video on YouTube explaining this, but Namiko might be the most important of Muzan’s remaining minions. Firstly, she can create those little eye-monsters that he’s using to scout the location of the Corps to find Nezuko and Ubuyashiki. Secondly, those videos revealed that she’s the source of the Infinity Castle that he uses as his headquarters. So, taking her out will be an essential part of this final battle.
As I was watching this episode, I couldn’t help but feel bad for Tanjiro. I knew that the Hashira Training Camp would be brutal, but Demon Slayer has a way of making it even worse than we can imagine. Or that’s just me. Either way, the episode’s ending shows that Tanjro’s training under the strongest Demon Slayer (physically) is not done. Judging by the title to the next episode, I’m hoping to learn more about Gyomei’s past. Specifically, why is he always crying? It’s out there, even for the Hashira’s!
Citizens of the internet, I have been a fool. Since Tanjiro has done so well with Hashira boot camp until now, I thought he could handle the rest of it. Little did I know that he only handled the easiest parts of the whole thing. From here on out, he’s going through the meat grinder of three Hashiras.
I loved watching this, but I still feel bad for the poor guy.
Mitsuri Proves Ballet Isn’t Girly.
When I was a little boy growing up, I never understood the concept of guys doing ballet. I dont think I thought less of guys who did, but I just didn’t understand why they would do it, or wear the outfit required. Now that I’m an adult, I see that ballet is a physically intense dance that requires great physical strength, flexibilty, and stamina.
Why mention all of this? Because Mitsuri’s training is all about ballet. And increasing flexibility. It’s painful!
— Yumi โฉยฐ๏ฝกโ GOJO เธ ^โข๏ปโข^เธ (@gojosatoros) June 9, 2024
Thats nothing compared to his next teacher, Obanai Iguro, though. He hates Tanjiro right from the start, mainly because hes in love with Mitsuri and is livid at how friendly she is with him. Though, he’s not any better with any of the other trainees. The man ties them posts for annoying him, then makes Tanjiro fight him while trying to avoid hitting them.
— Yumi โฉยฐ๏ฝกโ GOJO เธ ^โข๏ปโข^เธ (@gojosatoros) June 9, 2024
The point is pretty obvious: Obanai wants to make sure the Slayers do not hesitate to strike, or the demons will kill her. That being said, seeing him treat the trainees like punching bags is demoralizing. However, it does lead to yet another interesting duel between Tanjiro and a Hashira.
The duels in Demon Slayer are some of my favorite parts of the anime, and for good reason. That animation is so incredible!
In the end, Tanjiro passes, but Obanai still hates him. However, the last Hashira is worse than all the others: its Sanemi! AKA, the Hashira who stabbed Nezuko and tried to tempt her with his blood! And he still hates Tanjiro.
Sanemi is Too Harsh on Everyone!
Now working with Zenitsu and Genya, Tanjiro spends the whole time-fighting Sanemi in brawl after the brawl. That alone is brutal, but its for the sake of training. However tbings take a tjrn for the worse when Tanjiro learns something: Sanemi is Genya’s older brother, and he makes it clear he doesn’t want Genya in the Corps.
— Yumi โฉยฐ๏ฝกโ GOJO เธ ^โข๏ปโข^เธ (@gojosatoros) June 9, 2024
As the older brother to Nezuko and his late siblings, Tanjiro can’t understand why Sanemi can be so cruel to Genya. When things escalate to an outright fight, Tanjiro starts defending Genya. Even if he can’t use breathing styles, his eating demons meant that they won in the swordsmith village.
No dice. Not only does Sanemi not lighten up, but Tanjiro gets banned from training with him.
— Yumi โฉยฐ๏ฝกโ GOJO เธ ^โข๏ปโข^เธ (@gojosatoros) June 9, 2024
If I had to guess, though, I think Sanemi has a good reason for being mean to his brother. He knows how being a Demon Slayer means a very short life, even with their skills. Since Genya can’t use breathing techniques, the likelihood of him surviving is even lower. The only issue I have is that he should come out and say it.
Tanjiro is In for Even Worse!
Either way, Tanjiro and Zenitsu head to their next Hashira camp with Gyomei. And it looks like its going to be even harder than all of them!
— Yumi โฉยฐ๏ฝกโ GOJO เธ ^โข๏ปโข^เธ (@gojosatoros) June 9, 2024
I dont know how much longer the Hashira Training Arc will be, but I’m really hoping that the season doesn’t end in the middle of the coming final battle. That would be so lame! In addition, I’m enjoying getting to see these light-hearted moments!
Now that Tanjiro is healed, he’s participating in the Hashira Training bootcamp. And apparently, that also means he’s helping the other trainees deal with their own issues. First, he got Giyu to join the camp, and then he gave the slayers under Tengen the fire they needed to get through their training. Now, he’s on to Tokito, and he’s not holding back on any of them! When Tanjiro becomes concerned, it falls to get Tokito to lighten up, or else none of the trainees will make it.
Tanjiro Helps Tokito Lighten Up
Ever since he regained his memories, Tokito has changed for the better. Whenever he talks to Tanjiro, Tokito is always smiling and showing real emotion. It’s clear that their shared experience fighting in the swordsmith village has changed Tokito for the betterโฆto an extent.
As Tanjiro witnesses first-hand, while Tokito gets along well with him, he’s as cold and harsh as ever to everyone else. As a result, while he passed Tanjjro in five days, everyone else has to stay behind. And they’ve been training under him for two weeks.
— Cha the Great and Powerful (ๆฏๅฉ่ญ) (@charanime) June 2, 2024
Given how they’re fighting demons in what will be the final war, itโs expected for Tokito to be so harsh. He has to make sure they’re able to survive the final battle, so he can’t afford to go easy on them. However, he’s so blunt that its demoralizing everyone. And, once again, Tanjiro has to help.
— โ๏ธโ๏ธ ๐ซ๐ธ๐๐๐ถ ๐ซโ๏ธโ๏ธ (@m1st_hashira) June 8, 2024
Team-Building is Important for Morale
I never took Tokito as someone who was into paper airplanes, but its a pretty fun hobby. There are even actual competitions for paper airplane making and flying. And Tanjiro challenges Tokito to a contest to see who can fly the furthest. If he wins, Tokito has to be nicer to everyone.
He gets his butt kicked! But while he lost the battle, Tanjiro wins the war.
The sight of everyone laughing and making paper airplanes and throwing them into the air together is pretty inspiring. Its like a metaphor for how the Demon Slayer Corps can go further working together than they can alone. Or a symbol of the hope that they carry for all of Japan. Either way, Tanjiro breaks the ice between Tokito and everyone, and thus, he can go on his merry way.
I’m really enjoying this training arc. Its giving us plenty of chances to enjoy time with all the Slayers. Additionally, the anime even went out of its way to add a new scene to the story in the form of a three-way duel between Obanai, Sanemi, and Tokito. And it’s awesome!
It’s moments like this that remind us why Demon Slayer has proven so popular. The animation is art in motion, and I love it. I wish that more anime could pull off what Demon Slayer manages to do! If we get more scenes like this, then I don’t mind waiting another season for the final battle. This stuff makes it worth it.
Now that Tanjiro is healed, itโs time for him to commence his anime training arc! To prepare for the final battle against Muzan, the Demon Slayer forces everyone to endure training from the Hashira. The reason boils down to the idea of the chain only being as strong as its weakest link. Having the Hashira get stronger wonโt mean anything if the rest of the group canโt fight worth a darn. However, itโs not until Tanjiro joins the training under Tengen Uzui that we see how far the Corps needs to go. That shows just how strong Tanjiro is compared to the regular Slayers.
Can they promote Tanjiro to Hashira already?
Tanjiro Aces Boot Camp
In the real world, many elite special forces are known for their skill and prowess on the battlefield. Thereโs a good reason for that: they have to be the best to survive, which means they have to train their bodies until they collapse from exhaustion. And the training camp the Demon Slayer Corps is going through is like that, but on steroids. When the audience catches up with the Slayers working under Uzui, they are pushed to their physical and mental limits. Itโs like Hell for all of them.
The series has made it no secret that Tanjiro is stronger than most Demon Slayers despite only being a rookie. Seeing how he outpaces all of them in Uzuiโs boot camp demonstrates how big the gap is between him and the others.
Only he would reminisce so fondly about being cracked like a glowstick ๐คฃ
Itโs actually funny to see how much better Tanjiro is compared to most of the Corps. Whereas the others are winded, out of breath, and barely able to complete their exercises, Tanjiro is the opposite. He barely breaks a sweat and does everything with a big grin. Thatโs how far ahead he is of the rank-and-file. But it gets to the point where the other trainees feel disheartened by the gap in strength.
Strength Through Unity
Iโve never undergone a training camp like the one the Hashira are running, but even I know theyโre not working everyone like this to be cruel. Any good military instructor knows that soldiers need to be tough to survive on the battlefield. And since theyโre fighting actual Demons, the Demon Slayer Corps canโt afford to rely on a small handful of elites to win. They need everyone to work together to bring down Muzan.
Lucky for the trainees, they have inspiration in the form of Tanjiro. In a late-night training session with Uzui, Tanjiro shows everyone how strong he has to be to fight a Demon. And seeing him hold his own against a former Hashira lights a fire in everyone that refuses to go out.
The rank-and-file of the Demon Slayer Corps may never reach the same level as the Hashira and Tanjiro, but thatโs not the point. They know they wonโt reach that level, but they realize they donโt care. They can still support the Hashira and ensure that theyโre ready for the final battle.
A chain is only as strong as its weakest link, and thanks to Tanjiro, that link has gotten a little sturdier. His task done, Tanjiro moves onto the next part of his training with the Mist Hashira.
— โ๏ธโ๏ธ ๐ซ๐ธ๐๐๐ถ ๐ซโ๏ธโ๏ธ (@m1st_hashira) May 26, 2024
I donโt know how long this season of Demon Slayer will be, but Iโm actually hoping that we donโt rush toward the final battle. The final battle against Muzan is going to need to take up an entire season on its own, its so big. So I donโt really care if we have to wait until next season to see Tanjiro wreck Muzan. This training will make it worth it.
Before we get started, let’s make it clear that I have every intention of covering the new season of Demon Slayer. The only reason I didn’t cover the season premiere is because I saw it in theaters months in advance and reviewed it. So we’re jumping right into the Hashira Training Arc starting now!
At least, that what is supposed to be happening. However, for the training to work, the Demon Slayer Corps needs all of the Hashira present. And, as Kagaya explains via letter to Tanjiro, Giyu Tomioka isn’t particpating. His inferiority complex and past trauma is keeping him from doing so. Thus, it falls to Tanjiro to light a fire in him.
Assemble the Hashira!
The episode picks up where the previous one left off, with Kagaya summoning Ms. Tamayo and Yushiro to Demon Slayer HQ. With Nezuko having conquered the sun, a cure for Demons is at hand. That makes Tamayo a target, andย allย the more imperative that she works with the Corps on this.ย It would seem thatย Tanjro and Nezuko’s efforts to prove their trustworthiness have paid off.ย
— BlankachuโกKIMETSU! (@PikachuGTR5) May 19, 2024
The meat of the episode, though, focuses on the task that Kagaya gives Tanjiro: getting Giyu Tomioka to join the training. That proves easier said than done, even for someone as friendly as Tanjiro. However, it’s still funny seeing Tanjiro follow and annoy Giyu for days on end.
There’s a good reason why Giyu refuses to join in on the training arc, though: he doesn’t consider himself worthy of being the Water Hashira. And the reason behind that is pretty tragic.
Back when Tanjiro was training to become a Demon Slayer, he was assisted by the spirits of his master’s students that died during the Final Selection. One of those students, Sabito, was Giyu’s best friend. According to Giyu, he almost single-handedly killed all the Demons during their year’s Final Selection. However, he still died fighting the Hand Demon that Tanjiro killed. Ever since then, Giyu’s been dealing with an intense case of Survivor’s Guilt.
It’s not hard not to feel bad for Giyu. This moment will hit anyone who’s watched someone die protecting them right in the feels, but Tanjiro especially knows what Giyu’s going through. He still feels guilt over how Rengaku died protecting him, even thinking to himself how, had he lived, he could’ve taken down Muzan. It’s hard to keep going when someone you think was more deserving to live dies in your place. However bad he might feel though, Tanjiro understands something that Giyu’s forgotten: the importance to keep on living.
Don’t Give up on Life. Ever!
Before Giyu trained to become a Demon Slayer, his older sister was murdered by a Demon. Even though she was going to get married the very next day, instead of saving herself, she chose to save Giyu by hiding him, sacrificing herself in the process. That left Giyu with his first feelings of survivor’s guilt, until Sabito told him not to think like that. Thinking he should’ve died instead would be an insult to the memory of his sister. And by that logic, it would also be an insult to the memory of Sabito.
Finding the means to keep going in life when you lose someone trying to protect you can be one of the hardest things anyone can endure. However, the lesson that Demon Slayer teaches Giyu is that no matter how painful it is, he needs to keep living. Maybe if he does, he’ll find a reason why he was spared.
Oh, and Giyu and Tanjiroย getย into a speed-eating contest, which was funny.
Now We Have to Learn about Shinobu
That’s one more Hashira that’s joining the training, but as the episode ends, another one is shown to be sitting things out: Shinobu Kocho, AKA the one that’s supposed to be working with Ms. Tamayo.
As I said in my review of the compilation movie, I don’t know how long this season will be. However, I’m still going to enjoy it. Demon Slayer is one of the best Shonen series in the post Big-Three generation, and I’m looking forward to seeing the ending get animated. If the studio is smart, then it will air the final battle as a movie!
The Ultimate Guide to East Asian Pop Culture. Dive into Anime Episode Reviews, Kdrama Recaps, Manga, Comics, & Graphic Novel Discussions. Discover Japanese Culture, Folklore, Mythology, and Adult Animated Series News.
D&A Anime Blog 