Who is Demon Slayer : Kimetsu No Yaiba ‘To the Hashira Training’ for?

“Demon Slayer: Kimetsu No Yaiba – To the Hashira Training” has come to theaters and has left moviegoers somewhat divided. Is this a feature worth seeing? Or is it something to be skipped? Before we answer that, let’s take a look at what it is, what it’s not, and some of the highlights of the release.

What is it?

One thing moviegoers have been confused about is that this is not a “movie” per say. Before this release, we had two other Demon Slayer theatrical releases, “Mugen Train” and “To the Swordsmith Village.” Mugen Train was wildly successful and excited the fanbase while bringing in new viewers. It had a complete story through and through. However, what surprised some was that it was not just a movie; rather, it was the opening of the next season put together. This led to some drop-off in viewership at the start of that season.

The following release, “To the Swordsmith Village,” was very different. Instead of being a single-contained story, it acted as a kind of primer for the next season’s release. It contained the final 2 episodes of the previous season, “Entertainment District Arc” and the first two episodes of “The Swordsmith Village Arc.” Crunchyroll did their best to put out that this was not going to be a movie but rather was more of a special season premiere event. A detail that many forgot or did not know.

This brings us now to “To the Hashira Training.” This theatrical release takes after the latter release rather than the former. It’s meant to act as a special event to excite the fanbase for the upcoming and final season of Demon Slayer.  Reviewing it as anything other would be a disservice to the actual intentions of the release.

The Story

The story of this release crosses over from the end of the Swordsmith Village into the intro of the Hashira Training. Season transitions can be tricky as fans can sometimes forget certain key aspects of an ongoing story. This format was great for the story because while it gives you the pivotal revelations of the first season, the intro of the release also contained a quick summarization of the previous season. I found this invaluable as we approached the second half of this release, which contained the “new” material. The end of Swordsmith Village was pretty intense and came with some startling revelations and implications. The start of Hashira allowed viewers to return to some of the beloved lighthearted aspects of the franchise while also doing a great job of laying the groundwork for some of the upcoming events of the season.

With any film adaptation of a beloved book, there’s fear of changes being made. From what we can tell, this adaptation of the original manga by Koyoharu Gotouge is extremely faithful and, at times, seems to be shot by shot or panel by panel, as it were.

The Art

The art of Demon Slayer has always been one of the franchise’s highlights. Koyoharu Gotouge had already created a beautifully illustrated manga. But the production company, Studio Ufotable, has really brought it to life with their stunning animation. From the serious breathtaking battle moments to the elegance of simple panning scenes to the humor found in the chibi moments, Ufotable does a fantastic job of bringing to life the emotions of each scene.

From A Fan

When we went to go see this release, we were actually there to celebrate the birthday of a dear friend. One of the folks who joined us was our friend Cesar. This release aims to excite franchise fans for the upcoming season. So, we asked Cesar to give his first thoughts on the release.

“What can I say about Demon Slayer: Into Hashira Training? Great! I think Aniplex and Ufotable once again bring us yet another balanced piece, with comedy within the somber moments as they’ve always done. The screening brought back feelings from last season’s finale and sparked intrigue for next season and for what Tanjiro’s next level up will be, especially for someone who didn’t read the manga. This time, we can see the more in-depth development and explanation of certain details from last season, such as Tanjiro’s mark, which I thought was from birth, which I believe will spark within him his true fighting potential. Furthermore, it seems like next season will emphasize trusting those around you and relying on them in your time of need. I am so looking forward to what next season will bring, and to finally see Musan be defeated, maybe? Let’s see.”

Conclusion

So, is this something worth watching? If you’re a fan of Demon Slayer, watching this in theaters with friends and other franchise fans is worth doing. It’s less about seeing a movie and more about being in a community with the same passion as you do. If you’re new to the franchise, this may be a bit difficult for you as you’re literally coming into a nearly completed story. While the recap does an okay job of catching people up, you will be lost if you’re entirely new. Whether or not you are a returning fan or a newcomer, you must remember that this is NOT a movie. This special event acts as the premiere of a new season.