Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba (2019)
[鬼滅の刃]
Season 1
Director: Haruo Sotozaki
Studio: Ufotable
Starring: Natsuki Hanae, Akari Kito, Hiro Shimono
Episodes: 26
Synopsis:
A young man whose family is slaughtered by a demon trains to become a demon slayer and find a way to restore the humanity of his surviving sister, who was turned into a demon herself.
Impressions:
I'm usually not a big fan of Shounen Jump series. A lot of them follow the same formula, so unless you really dig the characters, there isn't much reason to follow along. I suppose if you boil this series down to the basics, it also follows the Jump formula, but it succeeds in being very well-written and inventive with an appealing cast. We have a problem these days with protagonists who have unearned power, but the only advantage Tanjiro has starting out is his preternatural sense of smell. Everything else comes from a whole lot of hard work and an impressively indomitable will. No one can say he doesn't earn what he gets. The core trio of Tanjiro, Zenitsu and Inosuke have a good dynamic going, though Zenitsu may grate on some people at first. Nezuko is a bit of a scene-stealer whenever she shows up and perhaps the sparing use of her is what gives her scenes greater impact. The oni our heroes face have creatively varied powers that keep the fights interesting.
Another thing I like about the series is the setting. You would think a fantasy story like this would be set in the Sengoku or Edo Periods, but it actually takes place in the Taishou Era, so we have the contrast of a conflict rooted in traditional folklore juxtaposed with a time of encroaching modernity. It's much akin to the Twilight of the Old West and I look forward to seeing what can be done with it.
Ufotable deserves massive props for the stunning visuals that never let up. The blend of 2D animation and CG is seamless and Tanjiro's Water Breathing Style looks like a Hokusai painting come to life. Character designs are appealing and the oni are as visually diverse and creative as their powers. The music is also quite good.
The year isn't over yet, but this will most likely be my pick for the best series of 2019. I've enjoyed quite a few other series, but no other has been the full package executed quite so perfectly. This is definitely one for the collection.
Rating:
Own It