Demon Slayer has taken over the world, breaking records with Mugen Train and embarking on a world tour for Season 3. Furthermore, with Season 2 — The Entertainment District — delivering the best fight of the series thus far, the anticipation for Season 3 — To the Swordsmith Village — is enormous. The premiere of Demon Slayer Season 3 – directed by Haruo Sotozaki and written by Koyoharu Gotouge – exceeds expectations and continues the upward trend of one of the best contemporary shonen animes.
Tanjiro (Natsuki Hanae) and Nezuko (Akari Kitô) travel to the Swordsmith Village after recovering from the events of The Entertainment District, where they meet two Hashira: the Mist Hashira (Kengo Kawanish) and the Love Hashira (Akari Kitô) (Kana Hanazawa). Meanwhile, Muzan (Toshihiko Seki) reconsiders his strategy for defeating the Demon Slayer Corps. The demons are the stars of Demon Slayer Season 3's premiere. As the remaining Upper Moons are introduced this season, everything is on the table. Akaza (Akira Ishida) remains a fan favorite, and viewers get to see a new side of him.
The former (Doma) adds a playful element to the Upper Moons. While he appears to be a silly demon, he has a sadistic nature that makes viewers eager to see Doma let loose. It's thrilling to see Miyano, best known for voicing Death Note's Light Yagami, have so much sadistic fun as Doma in Demon Slayer. Doma's chipper, flighty energy contrasts sharply with Light's, which is refreshing. Miyano excels at villainous roles, and his range is unrivaled.
Meanwhile, the latter (Kokushibo) is used sparingly, but the little that is seen of Upper Moon 1 is more than enough. Gotouge's design of Kokushibo is captivating and mysterious in regards to the larger lore Demon Slayer Season 3 promises to explore. If Okiayu's vocal performance isn't enough to command fear and respect, the little action he has will seal the deal.
This opening scene with the demons continues Demon Slayer's tradition of elevating source material through animation. Finally, fans get to see more of The Infinity Castle, and Studio Ufotable uses its fluid 3D animation to immerse them in this important, beautiful setting.
Demon Slayer Season 3 sets up some game-changing story threads about the series' most mysterious figure: Yoriichi Tsugikuni. Over the past two seasons, it's been teased that this man posed the biggest threat to Muzan and has some connection to Tanjiro. In a melancholic yet tender scene, audiences get an inkling of what that relationship could be. Gotouge knows exactly how to best pace Demon Slayer to balance action, lore, and humor. Gotouge expertly demonstrates how adapting a manga to anime requires some restructuring and a different pace to suit this medium.
Partnered with Sotozaki, these two are Demon Slayer's dream team. Gotouge lays the groundwork for elevating her original story while Sotozakie runs with this script at full force. He knows when it's best to go all out with dynamic direction and when to linger on a tender moment. In both cases, the animation is always the star, highlighting how Ufotable knows how to find beauty in both peace and chaos.
The humor is also top-notch in Demon Slayer Season 3, largely due to the Love Hashira, Mitsuri. Like Rengoku and Uzui, her initial introduction is over the top, but audiences see there is more to her. There is an optimism to this character that is refreshing in a world of demons and death, and Hanazawa nails her lovable nature. Her dynamic with Nezuko is adorable, and audiences will want more of them together.
Along with Mitsuri's adorable nature, Demon Slayer Season 3's animation lends itself to humor. There are moments in Demon Slayer Season 3 where the animation simplifies the characters' facial expressions to deliver hilarious reactions. Meanwhile, Sotozakie and Gotouge show off how well-paced this show is. They know when to hold for a laugh and when it's appropriate to have a moment of levity.
Demon Slayer is one of the most beautiful anime series on the air right now, with each arc outdoing the last. If this trend continues, Demon Slayer Season 3 will be another exciting and visually stunning chapter in Nezuko and Tanjiro's story. Based on what has been seen thus far, Demon Slayer Season 3 is a must-see for anime fans.
Demon Slayer Season premieres on March 3.
