Shonen

Shonen Villains that are the Stuff of Nightmares

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Anime Villains that Can Induce Nightmare Fuel in Fans

There can be no good without evil, and that means that a great hero needs a great villain. Batman has the Joker, Cloud has Sephiroth, Spider-Man has the Green Goblin. The best heroes have the best villains, and the best villains can be as popular as the heroes. However, no matter how much people may like them (or like to hate them), that doesn’t change the fact that they’re evil. If people were to somehow encounter them in real life, they’ll generally have three choices.

  1. Run for your life and pray that they don’t come after you.
  2. Bow down to them and pray that they spare.
  3. Make peace with your impending death.

Since Halloween is about scaring ourselves, here are some of the villains in Shonen anime that are the stuff of nightmares. Villain’s that, if encountered by someone unprepared, should be run away from as fast as you can.

DIO, JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure

There’s hatred, and then there’s the concentrated malice that is known as DIO. As the overarching antagonist of most of Araki’s JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure, DIO is one of the most vile beings to ever walk upon God’s green earth. Which is ironic because his name means “God” in Italian!

Despite starting out as nothing more than an extremely cruel bully to Jonathan Joestar, Dio graduated from that and humanity when he used an ancient mask to become an immortal vampire. After that, Dio slaughtered his way through Victorian England before the OG JoJo took him down, sacrificing his own life in the process. Unfortunately for the world, it didn’t stick.

DIO (now all caps) returned a hundred years with JoJo’s body and a Stand power that let him stop time, and even then, he wasn’t satisfied. Had JoJo’s descendant, Jotaro Kujo, not slain him, he would’ve eventually evolved his Stand into one that could rewrite reality itself. The worst part, though, is that even in death, DIO remained a threat thanks to his followers, one of whom would find a way to end and restart the universe.

DIO is like Dracula on steroids. He’s brilliant, has almost no regard for humanity, and worst of all, incredibly charismatic. Even if someone manages to resist his charisma, it won’t matter since he can implant a parasite in their brains and force them to serve him. Anyone unlucky enough to cross his path should run, lest he devours you mind, body, and soul.

Frieza, Dragon Ball Franchise

There are a lot of villains in the Dragon Ball franchise that would terrify even the bravest people. However, even when stacked against beings like Cell, Majin Buu, and Goku Black, Frieza stands as the biggest villain in Dragon Ball for good reason. Series mangaka Akira Toriyama based him off his own worst nightmares fused with real estate speculators that, at the time of his creation, were raking in dough at countless other’s expense. As a result, unlike most villains in the franchise, Frieza has an unthreatening appearance and eloquent way of speaking one might expect from Hannibal Lecter, which only makes him all the more terrifying.

While he was eventually surpassed by stronger villains like Cell and Majin Buu, Frieza remained the most popular villain in the franchise. That popularity would eventually see him not only come back from the dead (twice), but gave him a power-up that put him back on top. At the time of this writing, Frieza’s gotten to the point where he’s stronger than Goku and Vegeta. The only reason they’re still alive is because he let them live just to prove a point. Unless you’re a Super Saiyan or a god of destruction, then Frieza is the last person that you want to anger. He will not kill you but your entire species in the process.

Also, he’s got his own heavy-metal theme song.

Akainu, One Piece

There are plenty of villains and monsters in One Piece that make ordinary people tremble in fear, but few of them can get away with their actions by being one of the “good guys.” That’s different for Navy Fleet Admiral Sakazuki, AKA Akainu (“Red Dog.”) Akainu is everything wrong with the Marines personified. If you step out of line with his extreme views on justice, he will not hesitate to kill you. And with his Magma Magma Fruit powers letting him turn his body into magma, there’s little anyone can do to stop him. 

Many of the actions that Akainu has committed over the course of the series would, in a fairer world, likely constitute as war crimes. From blowing up a refugee ship on the off-chance a single fugitive would be on board to killing his own men for getting in his way or losing their nerve, this is someone that shouldn’t be put in charge of anything. For fans of One Piece, though, his biggest crime was murdering Luffy’s brother, Ace, right before him. This monster needs to be stopped, and many fans would love to see Luffy beat him into the ground before the series ends.

No, really. Luffy needs to beat him to a pulp and avenge his brother’s death. 

Muzan Kibutsuji, Demon Slayer : Kimetsu no Yaiba

He may look like Michael Jackson, but Muzan is a complete and utter monster. The centuries old progenitor of all Demons, Muzan is less of a person and more of a plague upon the world. Born a sickly human a thousand years ago, he took an incomplete medicine to survive, only to have it turn him into the first Demon. Since then, he has plagued Japan from the shadows, spawning countless Demons. His ultimate goal is to attain true immortality and conquer the light of the sun.

Even with his weakness to sunlight, Muzan is a terrifying, nigh-immortal foe. With a healing factor that rivals the likes of Cell or Majin Buu and an insatiable will to live, Muzan is the stuff of nightmares. Not even his fellow Demons are safe from him, as he’ll kill them for no reason. Any unlucky soul who finds themselves facing him shouldn’t even bother running. Just pray to God to let you into Heaven when you die.

WARNING: This Final Entry Provides MAJOR SPOILERS for Chainsaw Man. Anime-only fans and those who haven’t read the manga, stop reading!

Makima, Chainsaw Man

This blog’s review for the 9th episode of the Chainsaw Man anime called Makima a dangerous and, indeed, scary person. That had been written with little knowledge about what happens in the manga. That assessment turned out to be accurate to the extreme. Makima isn’t just a dangerous woman. She’s a menace!

While the anime has dropped hints that Makima isn’t a normal person, the manga eventually reveals that she’s actually the Control Devil. AKA, the embodiment of humanity’s fear of control, oppression, and the loss of free will. As such, her ability to control those she sees beneath her is so broken it puts Lelouch Vi Britannia’s Geass to shame. She’s a manipulative, cruel, and sociopathic villain whose idea of a perfect world is one without Devils and everyone under her heels. In other words, she’s the stuff of nightmares.

The worst part is the fact that she’s almost impossible to kill. Any damage done to her gets sent to some random person instead. With nigh-immortality and the ability to manipulate almost anyone she meets, she’s an enemy to everyone who loves free will. It doesn’t matter if she’s called a waifu; she’s a monster.  

Luffy Jumps Into the Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade

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One Piece Joins 2023 Lineup for Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade

For almost a century, millions of Americans have spent Thanksgiving watching the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. Every year, the biggest names in pop culture get their floats or balloons and march through Manhattan for everyone to see. From longtime staples like Snoopy and the Peanuts gang to modern-day legends like Spongebob, everybody who’s anybody in pop culture takes part in the Macy’s Parade. In recent years, thanks to anime becoming a steady part of American culture, Japanese icons like Goku from the Dragon Ball franchise have gotten to join the parade roster. However, the 97th Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade will see another anime legend join the lineup. A hero that, truth be told, stands a good chance of being spoken about centuries after his series ends. This year, Monkey D. Luffy sails into the Macy’s Parade.

No, we’re not joking. On October 4th, 2023, Toei Animation announced on social media that “Straw Hat” Luffy will be joining the Macy’s Parade for the first time. He’ll be the fourth character (fifth if you count Hello Kitty) from an anime series to join the iconic Parade, following in the footsteps of Pikachu and Eevee from Pokémon and fellow Shonen Jump protagonist, Goku. That latter fact is even more significant when one considers how Goku was a source of inspiration for One Piece creator Eichiro Oda when creating Luffy. The fact that these two legendary protagonists from Japan are taking part in an American tradition drives home how popular anime has become. What was once a niche interest is openly enjoyed by millions in the West.

It gets better, though: the fact that Luffy’s joined the Macy’s Parade shows just how popular One Piece has become in recent years. 

For those who don’t know, One Piece is a shonen series set in a world filled with pirates, fantastical creatures, and people with extraordinary powers. The series itself follows Monkey D. Luffy, a young pirate captain who can stretch his body like rubber, as he and his crew seek the One Piece, a legendary treasure hidden by the late Pirate King, Gol D. Roger. With an ongoing story that’s lasted several decades and some of the best world-building in all of fiction, One Piece is the best-selling manga of all time. A century from now, it could be counted as one of the greatest works of literature in human history; it’s that good!

While One Piece has always been incredibly popular, both in its native Japan and abroad, the last two years have seen it grow bigger than ever. It’s latest film was a global hit. Official clips for new episodes end up trending on YouTube. And most recently, its live-action adaptation on Netflix managed to defy the curse of LAA’s (Live-Action Adaptions) being terrible. Now more than ever, people are getting into One Piece, making the time to read the manga or watch the anime. 

In other words, this is a big win for Luffy. Is it any wonder why he’s one of the most fantastic characters in anime history?

Netflix ‘One Piece’ Gets an Unprecedented Season Two

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Why the Live-Action One Piece Getting a Second Season is a Big Deal

Over the years, Netflix has tried to adapt popular anime into a live-action format, only to fall flat on their faces. Their live-action Cowboy Bebop got canceled less than a month after first premiering. And their film adaptation of Death Note was hated so much, the director deleted his Twitter to avoid the death threats. Needless to say, anime fans are adamant about any adaptations being true to the source. Then, Netflix decided to team up with mangaka Eichiro Oda to adapt his legendary series, One Piece. And despite the stigma surrounding live-action adaptations, One Piece succeeded where so many others failed. It was good! It didn’t reach the same levels of comedy as the original story, but it captured the spirit of the series in a way few had.

The show’s success is apparent to Netflix and fans alike. At the time of this writing, it’s consistently remained in the top ten most-watched shows on the platform. In addition, it’s garnered more popularity than the Ahsoka miniseries. Fans waited years for that to come out, and One Piece blew it out of the water. Thus, it comes as no surprise when Eichiro Oda himself announced on social media that the series would be getting a second season.

An Unprecedented Decision

This decision is unprecedented. While live-action adaptations of anime have gotten sequels in movie format, such as Ruronori Kenshin, to the best of my knowledge, it’s never happened to a show itself. In a recent interview with Deadline, executive producers Marty Adelstein and Becky Clements admitted that they already have a roadmap planned out for six seasons of the show. If it does well enough, though, they have plans for twelve seasons. If that’s true, then Netflix could attempt to adapt the entire series over the next ten or so years. 

Those familiar enough with One Piece will know how Herculean a task this is. One Piece is a series with a thousand-plus chapters under its belt, and a near-equal amount of anime episodes. In other words, there’s a lot of material to cover. If the people at Netflix are truly investing in this for the long haul, then they’re going to have make a lot of hard decisions. How much of the material will they choose to adapt per episode? Assuming they choose to give season two the same number of episodes as the first one, they will have to condense a lot of material. At best, they’ll be covering the Loguetown arc all the way up to the end of the Alabasta Saga. That’s a tall order to fill!

Then there’s also the manner of how much this will cost them. As One Piece progresses, the fights become more elaborate and fantastical. Considering how many of the opponents that Luffy and the others will be facing from this point onward will have Devil Fruit powers, they will have to find a way to adapt them to live action. That means a lot of money will go towards special effects and related issues. One of the future Straw Hat’s alone will have to be created entirely by CGI. Adapting most of this will cost a lot of money!

Fortune Favors the Bold…and the Crazy

Regardless of the cost, though, it seems likely that Netflix will be willing to pay whatever they have to ensure that their adaptation of One Piece is a success. Despite some nitpicks, the show has largely been a success, capturing the spirit of the anime and manga in live-action form. Countless people worldwide are getting into One Piece thanks to the live-action series. Before, many would refrain from getting into the franchise, intimidated by its sheer length and size. The live-action series serves as a mean for newcomers to get into One Piece without having to spend days binging the anime or manga, making it an appealing alternative for those lacking free time. 

As for Oda, he’s getting the chance to retell one of the greatest stories in recorded human history: his story. It’s not even complete, and it can already stand toe-to-toe with legendary, centuries-old tales. With the right planning, advertising, and Oda’s steady hand, it could become the big show to watch in the 2020s. Even if it isn’t, though, One Piece has already secured its legacy for generations to come.

That, and there’s no way it could do worse than the end to Game of Thrones.

5 Reasons to Watch My Adventures With Superman

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Over the years, there have been a lot of takes on the Man of Steel. Some have stood the test of time, like Christopher Reeves’ live-action version or the animated version from the DCAU. However, few, if any, are like the incarnation found in Adult Swim’s new series, My Adventures With Superman. Instead of their usual depictions, we get quirky, funny, and downright endearing versions of Superman, Lois Lane, and Jimmy Olsen. In addition, much of the show’s style takes influence from anime, proving the medium’s continued popularity worldwide.

I’m RJ Writing Ink, and here are five reasons why you should watch My Adventures With Superman, especially if you’re a fan of Shonen anime!

The Boys Jack Quaid Plays Clark Kent to Adorkable Perfection

The irony!

Over the years, many people have gotten the chance to play Superman in various mediums, from live-action to animated video games. However, the fact that this series sees him voiced by Jack Quaid brings a new adjective to mind: ironic. For those who don’t know, Jack Quaid’s most famous for playing Hugh Campbell in the live-action Amazon Prime series, The Boys. That show’s infamous for essentially being the anti-superhero show, complete with a corrupted version of Superman himself.

So far, Jack Quaid is nailing his role as Superman, but not as the confident man of tomorrow that everyone knows. Instead, this Clark Kent is a lovable, socially awkward, gentle giant. He gets embarrassed when he can’t control his strength, freaks out when he thinks people see him using his powers, and can’t stop blushing around Lois. In other words, he’s adorkable! 

This Show’s Version of Lois Lane and Jimmy Olsen is a Breath of Fresh Air

Lois Lane and Jimmy Olsen are, and always have been, two of the most influential people in Superman’s life. The former is a tough-as-nails reporter who is Superman’s great love and biggest supporter. The latter is an intrepid photographer who serves as Superman’s best friend. The versions found in the show, though, aren’t like any seen before.

Firstly, besides the change in ethnicity, this Jimmy Olsen serves as Clark Kent’s best friend and roommate. He also happens to be a conspiracy theorist who thinks the world’s stranger than most people think (and he’s right!). As for Lois, she’s what anime fans call a ‘genki girl.’ She’s confident, energetic, and a tomboy who wears her emotions on her sleeve. Between the two of them, is it any wonder that fans are reminded of Luz and Gus from The Owl House?

Speaking of which…

The Show Brought in fans from The Owl House

From the moment the promo images for the show were released, the Internet started making comparisons. Let me explain.

The Owl House was a popular Disney cartoon from 2020 to April 2023. It was about a confident, self-assured girl who wound up in a world of Demons and Witches, which inspires her to stay to become a Witch herself. Among the friends, she makes is a young boy named Gus, who has a huge fascination with Humans, who are considered weird by his world’s standards. 

So, a confident, energetic girl and a guy interested in things people consider weird. Suppose that sounds like Lois and Jimmy, plenty of fans have noticed that, too. On top of the fact that Lois and Jimmy look like adult versions of Luz and Gus, it’s no wonder that fans of The Owl House have flocked to My Adventures With Superman. With a sizeable fandom, these comparisons could ensure the series’ long-term success. That helps The Owl House fans cope with that show getting cut short due to Disney’s foolishness. 

This Version of Superman Starts Not Knowing His Heritage

Most versions of Superman either start with the Man of Steel already aware of his Kryptonian heritage or soon discover it themselves. While that holds in MAWS, there’s a big difference for this version of Clark Kent. While he’s aware that he’s not human, a language barrier prevents him from fully understanding his Kryptonian Heritage when he finds what brought him to Earth. As a result, he’s left clueless about who he is going into his life in Metropolis.

We have a rare opportunity to see a Superman stumbling as he tries to figure out who, or what, he is. The show can frame it as part of this big, overarching mystery it can dive into as it progresses. While fans know the general outcome regarding what Clark will eventually learn, it will still be fun to see Clark and his friend’s reactions as they learn more about him. 

It Wears its Anime Influences on its Sleeve.

The last time Superman had his cartoon show, anime was still a niche medium making its way to the West. Fast forward to the present day, though, and it’s not only firmly entrenched in Western culture but also serves as a big influence for Western Cartoons. Be it in themes or art styles, anime has seeped its way into Western Cartoons, and MAWS is a glorious by-product of that.

Firstly, we have the art style that the series uses. Besides being visually pleasing, the show also frequently uses the vivid facial expressions regularly found in anime. Secondly, the moments when Superman powers up are reminiscent of a Shonen hero unleashing their designated super form. The biggest example of all, though, is when Superman first receives his iconic costume. The entire sequence is ripped straight from the legendary Sailor Moon transformation. Look me in the eye and tell me that that doesn’t scream anime!

If that’s not convincing enough, series producer Jake Wyatt admitted in an interview to being a big fan of Toonami and Dragon Ball. Considering how Goku wound up being partially inspired by Superman himself, it makes the Shonen anime influence all the more poetic. 

If this hasn’t convinced you to go watch this show, then I don’t know what will. You are missing out! Also, Lois Lane is now the Waifu of 2023 until further notice!

The Miracle of Nezuko Against the Daybreak!

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Demon Slayer: Kimetsu No Yaiba S3, Ep 11 Review

Full disclosure: I already knew going into this season that this would eventually happen. I read about it years ago online. That said, HOLY COW was this worth waiting for! Demon Slayer regularly blows up the Internet, but this time, so many people went onto Crunchyroll that it crashed the website trying to watch it. I would be mad if it weren’t a testament to the show’s popularity. Considering what happens to Nezuko in this episode, though, the Internet’s right to freak out. What Nezuko manages to do changes the game forever, and makes for what has to be the most emotional moment in all of Demon Slayer.

Hantengu Should Just Die Already!

While Gyokko was bad enough as he was, Hantengu proves to leagues above the deranged artist in levels of heinousness. No matter what Tanjiro, Genya, and Nezuko throw at the Demon, he refuses to die and keeps running. Even after Tanjiro beheads him, the Demon gets up and starts running after some swordsmiths hiding nearby while Tanjiro’s reaching his limit. Even when the Sun starts coming up and burning him, Hantengu keeps running to survive. If it were anybody else, that tenacity would be worthy of respect. For Tanjiro, though, he’s had it, and so have the fans.

The mangaka has always done a good job of showing how most Demons represent the worst of humanity made manifest, but even among them, Hantengu stands near the top. As Tanjiro uses his newly reforged sword from the machine doll, there’s a flashback to Hantengu’s life as a Human. Even then, he was a wretched, lying, despicable person. It got to the point where, even when it’s clear he’s guilty of whatever crimes he’s accused of, he says it’s not him. The man tries to blame it on everyone else or say his hands do it of their own will. He’s such a coward that he can’t admit to himself that he’s a worthless excuse for a person. As a result, when Tanjiro finally ends this wretched old man, it’s very cathartic to watch. 

Alas, it feels like victory is bittersweet. For in order to get to Hantengu, Nezuko forced her to stop protecting him from the approaching sunlight. The anime makes a point of giving us a look back on all the moments the two spend together trying to find a cure for Nezuko just to hammer home the tragedy: Tanjiro is about to lose Nezuko, his sole reason for joining the Demon Slayers.

It is then that a miracle occurs. Nezuko’s standing there, in the middle of the rising Sun, and she’s alright!

Nezuko Has Become An Apex Demon

I would like to reiterate that, having read the spoilers for the manga some time ago, I knew that this moment was coming. However, that did not make it any less emotional for me. When Tanjiro and the others see Nezuko standing in the sunlight, looking alright, no longer burning up, and now able to talk a little, everyone starts crying. Tanjiro’s crying, the swordsmith’s are crying, the fans start crying. In an anime that’s already give us moments capable of bringing us to emotional high’s that few can achieve, this ranks at the top. Nezuko manages to conquer the Sun, something not even Muzan, the original Demon, has done in the last thousand years.

As to how Nezuko has performed this divine miracle, there’s a theory by Lady Tamayo. Most Demons regain their sense of self after being a Demon for a while, but Nezuko hasn’t. That’s because while she’s been a Demon, she’s been subconsciously focusing her body on a more important priority: being able to survive during the day. The woman’s evolved her body to focus on the more important aspect of survival over power, and it has worked. As a result, Nezuko can walk under the Sun again, albeit her mental capacity’s akin to an infant still. It’s such an important moment for the series!

However, now there’s a bigger problem: Muzan.

The Wretched Origins of Muzan

A thousand years ago, in the Heian Era, Muzan was a sickly young man not expected to live past 20 years. Then a doctor came along with an experimental medicine that he said would make him strong, but when it didn’t work, he killed the man. However, it turns out it was, but since it was incomplete, the process turned him into the first Demon. He’s spent the last thousand years killing, murdering, and slaughtering his way across Japan in search of this rare flower needed to complete the medicine. Barring that, he created more Demons in the hopes that one of them would be strong enough to be immune to the Sun. And now, Nezuko has done exactly that.

What this means is that the entire war between the Demon Slayers and the Demons is about to get worse. The Demon Slayers now have a member, a Demon, with the ability to withstand the Sun. If Muzan kills her and takes her powers for himself, he’ll be unstoppable. In other words, the final battle is now approaching. And as Tanjiro and Nezuko depart the Swordsmith Village to great fanfare, this fact hangs over everyone’s heads.

Demon Slayer Proves Once More Why it’s one of the GOATS

This episode proves yet again why Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba is among the Shonen greats. This hour-long finale was one of the biggest highlights of a year already full of some great anime. While the season as a whole had its ups and downs, this final episode made it all worthwhile. 

And we don’t have to worry about getting the anime renewed. UFOtable’s already released a promo showing that a fourth season is coming. When that will happen remains unknown. However, as we get closer to the final battle with Muzan, fans excitement remains as high as ever.

I’m Not Even Bothering to give “A Connected Bond: Daybreak and First Light” a Rating. It’s Beyond that.

Mitsuri Kanroji Is Sakura Done Right

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Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba S3, Ep 10 Review

Everyone remembers Sakura Haruno from Naruto, for better or worse. She started as Sasuke’s number-one fangirl and didn’t do much. Then Sasuke ran away and she dedicated herself to getting stronger, which she did, gaining superhuman strength. However, nothing could save her from the menace of poor character writing. Even someone who thinks she’s overhated like me understands that she was underutilized. Thankfully, we live in a world where there’s an improved version of Sakura in anime. Her name is Mitsuri Kanroji, AKA the Love Hashira, AKA Sakura 2.0.

Mitsuri Kanroji is such a Badass

After she swoops in to save Tanjiro, Nezuko, and Genya, the disrespectful demon calls Mitsuri Kanroji a shameless tramp, angering her and the fandom to no end. However, she proves she’s anything but as she proceeds to demonstrate the power of her Love Breathing style. It lets her cancel out other people’s attacks, making it extremely powerful. Unfortunately, she makes the mistake of going directly for Zohakuten’s head, unaware it’s not his real body. Thankfully, the counterattack that follows doesn’t kill her.

It turns out, despite her small size, Mitsuri’s muscles are denser than a normal human’s. As a result, she survives that initial attack long enough for the others to save her. 

It’s at this moment, though, where we learn about her backstory, and how it makes her better than Sakura.

Those People Don’t Know what they’re Talking About

As we see in Mitsurri’s memories, she’s always been this incredibly strong. When she was a baby, she could lift a pickling stone that even adults would have trouble carrying! As a kid, she could out-eat sumo wrestlers and beat them in arm wrestling contests! Instead of giving her a happy life, though, Mitsuri’s abilities brought her hardship. The man she was interviewing for marriage dumped her for this, plus her pink hair color! 

After that happened, Mitsuri felt ashamed of who she was and started hiding it from the world. She wanted to find love and fit in with others, but all this did was make her miserable. All this led her to join the Demon Slayer Corps to help people, find love, and be herself. And it worked!

This is how you write a better version of Sakura Haruno. Sakura’s initial motivations were shallow, self-centered, and continued to be a big part of her throughout Naruto. While she got better, she never lived up to her full potential. In contrast, Mitsuri’s motivations, while similar, come off as more genuine. She wants to love people, and for people to love her for who she is, something many can relate to. It’s what makes her a better version of Sakura.

Hantengu’s Done Running

Thanks to the efforts of Mitsuri, Zohakuten’s distracted long enough for Tanjiro, Genya, and Nezuko to chase after Hantengu’s main body. The coward continues to flee, but despite his best efforts, the Demon Slayers aren’t going to let him escape. The Demon’s crocodile tears deserve no sympathy from anyone; he’s done.

There’s one problem, though: as Nezuko goes to make the final blow, it becomes apparent that dawn’s almost upon them. If that happens, Nezuko could die! They need to finish this soon for her sake!

Next week, we’re getting the finale to the Swordsmith Village arc, which is a shame, since I thought there would be two more episodes. Given what has happened, though, I think that it’s ending at an appropriate time. At least it doesn’t drag things out like many other Shonen anime tend to do!

I Give “Love Hashira Mitsuri Kanroji” a 4/5

Score One for the Demon Slayers! And the Arts!

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Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba

Ladies, gentlemen, and those who identify as neither, the Demon Slayers scored a significant win! Against all odds, Tokito the Mist Hashira managed to put an end to the terrible artist known as Gyokko. Muzan’s Demon Army has suffered a devastating loss for the second time in a short period. How did this happen, though? Find out now in the new episode of Demon Slayer!

Tokito Channels Inner Spider-Man to Waste Gyokko

What’s one of the reasons why Spider-Man’s so effective as a crime fighter? There’s the powers, the indomitable will, and his genius-level intellect, to be sure. However, another reason he’s so effective is his penchant for quips, jokes, and general mocking of his opponents in a fight. He does this because he knows it angers them; when they get angry, they’re more likely to make a mistake. Tokito uses a subdued version of this strategy in this episode to significant effect.

Having freed himself from Gyokko’s death trap with help from Kotetsu and remembering his past in full, the Mist Hashira goes to town on the Upper Four Demon. Not only does he continuously dodge Gyokko’s attacks, but he proceeds to troll him the entire time. One minute, he won’t say anything to make the Demon mad, and the next, he’ll be insulting him for reeking like fish. The best part is that this tactic works to a tee. Gyokko transforms into this fish-lamia hybrid to get even more robust, but Tokito no-sells it like it’s nothing. By the halfway point, the deranged, Demonic artist has met his end by beheading. Another one of Muzan’s best assets has died in a short amount of time!

Tokito for the Win!

This entire portion of the episode triumphs Tokito’s character growth. We’ve seen his backstory and how he had to claw his way out of Hell to end the threat of the Demons. Now, he’s not only making good on that, but thanks to Tanjiro reaching his wounded heart, he’s able to become the badass he was meant to be. In addition, we get to see the sadistic monster Gyokko die. He’ll have to make his sick, perverted form of art in Hell now.

The most emotional part of the episode came when it was revealed that Kotetsu survived. Just as important, though, is what enabled the boy to survive his injuries: the tsuba, or sword mount, that belonged to the Flame Hashira, Kyojuro Rengoku. That man went out like a legend, and everyone who knew him missed him. Tokito starts crying as he remembers his late comrade. Given his previously emotionless state, this act feels all the more impactful.

It’s Time for Mitsuri Kanroji to Shine

Meanwhile, the fight against Hantengu’s Hatred Demon could be better for Tanjiro, Nezuko, and Genya. Even though they’re giving it their all, the Hatred Demon keeps overwhelming them. Now Tanjiro’s eardrums are shattered, his left foot gets crushed, and he’s a sitting duck. 

It’s moments like this, though, when the cavalry comes in to help save the day. In this case, said cavalry comes from the Love Hashira, Mitsuri Kanroji. Fresh from defending the Swordsmith Village, Kanroji is the extra firepower the Demon Slayers will need to destroy Hantengu once and for all. That woman’s started to grow on me in the short timeframe of this season, so I’m looking forward to seeing her go all out.

We are nearing the end of the Swordsmith Village Arc at this point. While there have been plenty of incredible moments, the anime has yet to live up to the sheer destructive power demonstrated at the end of the Entertainment District Arc. z

Given how there are still a few episodes left, though, we should not have much longer to wait. It should be pointed out that by now, the Demons should consider retreating. They’ve lost this fight; they don’t know it.

I Give “Mist Hashira Muichiro Tokito” a 4/5

Muichiro Unlocks his Tragic Past…and New Powers

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Demon Slayer: Kimetsu No Yaiba S3, Ep 8 Review

They say when you’re about to die, your life starts flashing before your eyes. I don’t know if that’s true or not, but it’s always a good plot device in fiction. Besides serving as a means to remind people of key moments in a character’s life, it also helps explain more about how they ended up the way they are now. In this case, we get to see the life of Muichiro Tokito and learn what made him into the Hashira he is now. The obtuse, potentially thoughtless Hashira we’ve come to know.

This Was My Life…and it Sucked!

Even though he managed to free himself from the water pot thanks to Kotetsu, Muichiro’s in no better shape. Those needles Gyokko and the fish Demons hit him with were poison. As a result, he’s still on the verge of passing out right as the low-level grunt Demons swarm around him.

And this is the moment where Muichiro remembers all of his traumatic past. It soon becomes apparent why his mind chose to suppress the memories, though.

When he was younger, he was the son of a kind and compassionate woodcutter, and he took a lot after his father. However, tragedy struck their family when his mother died from an illness brought on by overworking herself. In addition, his father died trying to find herbs that could’ve helped her. He lost both his parents in one day, leaving him an orphan and alone.

Alone, that is, except for this twin brother.

Yuichiro and Muichiro Needed Therapy!

In essence, Yuichiro, in order to cope with the loss of his parents, shut himself off from the world and not caring about anyone else, thinking that it would keep himself and his brother alive. That’s why even though the wife of the head of the Demon Slayer Corps came to recruit them since they were descendants of one of their members, he kept turning her away. However, that proved to be a massive mistake when a Demon came to kill them both. 

 

In what can only be described as a fit of primal rage brought on by the urge to survive, Muichiro somehow managed to kill the Demon. The episode leaves the details a mystery, with not even the future Hashira knowing. What is known, though, is that Yuichiro didn’t survive the attack. In his final moments, the boy prayed to the heavens for forgiveness for his misguided attempts to protect his brother, something Muichiro witnessed. 

No wonder Muichiro developed amnesia! He might have gone insane had this not happened.

 

Awakening a New Power and Wasting Gyokko

As painful as his past was, remembering it did help Muichiro in the long run. As a result of this near-death experience trigger his dormant memories, the Hashira unlocks a new level of power. His face gains markings similar to the ones displayed by Tanjiro in his fights against Demons. Without going into spoiler-territory, it’s safe to say that these marks are the Demon Slayer equivalent to the Super Saiyan. Once he gains them, Muichiro wastes all the fish Demons to save Kotetsu, then turns his attention to the distracted Gyokko.

What follows is the beginning of a fight that, once again, shows off Demon Slayer’s greatest asset: it’s animation. The animation becomes smoother, crisper, and breath-taking to look at. That’s the anime’s way of showing that the stakes are higher than normal, and that we’re going to see things get destroyed, as Gyokko soon learns.

The fight’s between the Mist Hashira and the psychotic artist Gyokko isn’t over yet, but I can already see the writing on the wall: Muichiro’s going to win. 

This was another great episode of Demon Slayer, but I do have one complaint: the meaning of the episode’s title. It’s referring to how the Kanji for ‘Mu’ in Muichiro can have two meanings, according to his late brother: incompetence…and infinite or infinity. However, that loses a little meaning in translation to Western Audiences. Chalk that up to cultural differences, I suppose.

I Give “The ‘Mu’ in Muichiro” a 4/5

Also, this is a quick reminder that the dub for this season of Demon Slayer is now airing on Crunchyroll. If you’ve been waiting to watch it dubbed, then now’s the time to start!

Human Will is Why the Demons Will Never Win!

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Demon Slayer: Kimetsu No Yaiba S3 Ep 7 Review

I’ve seen my fair share of Shonen stories over the years, and I’ve come to notice a number of familiar tropes in them. Among my favorite of these tropes has to be the importance of one’s will to succeed. Think about it; how many shonen protagonists have we seen get beaten to the point where they shouldn’t be able to stand, let alone fight…yet do exactly that? Some call it corny or ridiculous; I call it a testament to the will of the human spirit. It’s why the good guys win in the end, and its why the Demons can never win no matter how many Demon Slayers they kill. Case in point, Tanjiro and the other Demon Slayers utilize their incredible willpower to turn the tide on the Demons once more in this episode!

Tanjiro Ain’t Buying That “Awful Villian” Garbage

So, right as Tanjiro’s about to decaptitate the diminutive Hantengu, he finds his sword’s unable to penetrate his skin. Then, to make matters worse, Sekido, the Demon representing Hantengu’s rage, takes matters into his own hands. He absorbs several of the other Emotion Demon’s into himself to create a new Demon, Zohakuten, Hantengu’s hatred. And Zohakuten is a piece of work.

The main thing about Zohakuten is the fact that he is a spiteful and foul-mouthed creature, calling the Demon Slayers awful villains for picking on the “weak and defenseless” Hantengu, who he tries to protect. The Demon then doubles down on the awful villains talk when Tanjiro admits that Hantengu’s never killed anyone that he knows or loves. 

Tanjiro, though, is having none of it. He knows that the Demon’s have no right to claim the moral high ground when the vast majority of them slaughter Humans without a second thought. What Hantengu and Gyokko have done in the short amount of time they’ve been in the village is proof that they’re the villains, and they’re going down.

Gyokko Angered Over Haganezuka Being Better Than Him

Meanwhile, back at the shed, Tokito’s attempts to escape from his watery prison continue to be for naught. He’s close to drowning, and he knows it. Gyokko knows it well enough that he turns his back on the Hashira in lieu of seeing what’s inside the shed. There, in the shed, is Haganezuka, who remains hard at work fixing the sword that Tanjiro recovered from the mechanical doll. And Haganezuka is not letting anything distract him, not even the Demon that could easily kill him.

Since Gyokko considers himself a talented artist, he’s incredibly vain and full of himself. So, when faced with a Human that’s willing to ignore him in favor of his craft, Gyokko loses it. He keeps trying to make Haganezuka break his concentration by attacking him, yelling at him, and breaking his mask so everyone can see his face. Yet, Haganezuka’s will and dedication to his work is so strong, nothing can make him budge. And that just makes the Demon even angrier, making him blow his chance to kill everyone.

That proves to be a costly mistake. As Tokito begins to suffocate, Kotetsu demonstrates his own willpower. The young swordsmith willingly allows another Demon inflict a potentially fatal wound on him, just so he can breathe air into the Hashira’s prison. That kid’s willing to die to save Tokito so he can save everyone. As a result, Tokito manages to slice through the water jar to freedom.

The Demons Lack the Will to Win

This episode encapsulates why the Demons are destined to eventually lose to Humanity: they lack the will to do so. Save for the handful I mentioned, every Demon we’ve seen has been selfish and only cared about themselves. When faced with the prospect of death, they’ll run and abandon each other. 

Now, contrast this with the members of the Demon Slayer Corps. Even when faced with certain death, they’re willing to keep fighting to ensure that one of them can come out on top. They’re willing to sacrifice their lives to ensure no one else can be hurt by Muzan. That’s how powerful the Human will can be, and it’s why they keep winning over the vastly more powerful Demons.

Overall, this episode was a good one. It reminds viewers of why Demon Slayer can stand amongst the greats of the Shonen genre. Like Naruto, JoJo, and One Piece before it, the heroes demonstrate a will to fight in spite of impossible odds. And, in accordance with Shonen rules, that can determine who the victor is.

I Give “Awful Villains” a 4/5

The Sad, Sad Story of Genya.

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Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba S3 Ep 6 Review

So, after the end of the last episode of Demon Slayer, I took the initiative and looked up what the deal was with Genya. I remembered reading how he has this power to absorb a Demon’s strength by eating them, but that’s all I could remember about him. After consulting the Demon Slayer Wikia and an anime channel on YouTuber, though, I found there’s more to Genya than meets the eye. Even though he’s a hot-headed and abrasive guy in the vein of Bakugo, he’s got a very tragic past. As in, it could give what happened to Sasuke a run for his money. 

No wonder he wants to be a Demon Slayer so badly.

So Close to Victory, but Not Quite.

Last week, it looked like Tanjiro and Genya managed to end the split Demons of Hatengu of the Upper Four. All of their heads were separated from their bodies and everything. However, despite this…the Demons don’t die. Their injuries only slow them down, but they’re ready to make Demon Slayer heads roll once they heal.

This is a regular occurrence in Demon Slayer. Right when the Demon Slayers look like they’ve got things in the bag, the Demons pull an ace out of their sleeves. Tanjiro realizes that the main Demon, Hatengu, isn’t dead in this case. Instead of fully splitting into four Demons, Hatengu broke them off his body while he ran and hid. As a result, Hatengu’s body is the size of a mouse and beyond durable. The sword breaks when Genya tries to hit him with his shotgun and sword! How does that make any sense?

Now, Genya’s lost his sword, and one of the emotion Demons is about to run his skull through with their staff. That makes it the perfect time for a flashback! 

The Sad Story of Sanemi and Genya Shinazugawa

I don’t know if it was already explained, but the flashback reveals Genya’s the younger brother of the Wind Hashira, Sanemi Shinazugawa. AKA the man who stabbed Nezuko in her box before trying (and failing) to goad her into attacking him. The fact that they’re brothers make so much sense, but what happened to them explains why Sanemi was so biased against Nezuko.

Sanemi and Genya’s childhood was fairly horrible. Their father was an abusive deadbeat who died via stabbing on the streets. Their tiny Mother had to care for them and their five brothers and sisters. Since they were the oldest of the two, they had to look out for their Mom and siblings. 

Then, one cruel night while their Mom was out, a monster broke into their home and killed all but Genya and Sanemi. Sanemi forced the monster outside while Genya ran to find a doctor, unable to accept his siblings were dead. Then, as the sun rose, he saw something that made his blood run cold. His brother, Sanemi, stood over their Mother’s bloodied, dead body. Sanemi killed their own Mom! It wasn’t until later that Genya realized that their Mom had been turned into a Demon and killed her own family, forcing Sanemi to kill her in self-defense. Thus, Genya feels like the worst brother ever.

Genya Needs to Open up His Heart to Become a Hashira

I cannot lie: what happened to Genya and Sanemi is messed up. It might be up there with what happened in Sasuke and Itachi’s backstories; it’s that bad! Like Sasuke, Genya blamed his brother for what happened, only to realize that his brother had no choice. It was that or let himself die and, more importantly, let his brother die. In other words, Genya feels like the worst brother ever and thinks Sanemi hates him for it. That’s why he wants to become a Hashira despite being unable to use Breathing techniques. He has to rely on his ability to eat the flesh of Demons and gain their strength. However, determination alone does make someone great. Naruto proves it, Luffy proves it, and Tanjiro proves it. Genya must learn to open his heart again if he wants to succeed.

Genya’s intentions are good, but due to the absolute hell he went through as a kid, he’s closed himself off and become abrasive to everyone. His powers, while cool, can only take him so far. Now compare that to Tanjiro. Despite losing almost his entire family and his sister becoming a Demon, he remains cheerful and friendly. That equates to him making powerful friends and thus overcoming great obstacles, a hallmark of the Shonen genre.

Now, Tanjiro’s kindness even gets through to Genya. Despite wanting to secure the win against an Upper Four, he realizes he can’t do it, but Tanjiro can. So, he lets himself get skewered while allowing Tanjiro find and end Hatengu. It’s the start of good character development.

Once again, Demon Slayer slays with another awesome episode. It might be my preference, but I’ve always been fond of expository flashbacks, so this episode got points. Meanwhile, we still have depraved Demon artist Gyokko holding one Hashira hostage and another defending the Swordsmith Village. If we’re lucky, this arc will end with a fight as cool as the one that leveled the Entertainment District!

I Give “Aren’t You Going to Become a Hashira?” a 4/5