by Lilika Jenkins ‘22

Demon Slayer, one of the most popular anime that has taken the Internet by storm in the last few years. It has recently aired another season that is available on multiple streaming platforms including Hulu. Alongside other very well-received shows such as Attack on Titan, there has been an excited buzz every weekend to see the anime’s breathtaking animation and exciting story line. The newfound publicity and attention this series has received in recent months has boosted the show to one of, if not the most talked about, anime of 2021.

Since its initial air in 2019, Demon Slayer has stayed consistent with its engaging and entertaining plot that dives into themes of supernatural occurrences, grief, family, friendship, and overcoming fears and hardship. In this fictional world, sentient and bloodthirsty demons roam the earth, hunting down humans and eating them to sustain themselves. Main character Tanjiro Kamado, a kindhearted individual who resided in a mountainside with his family, suffered tragedy when a demon invaded his home and gruesomely killed his family except for his sister, who turned into a demon of her own. However, she was able to resist eating other humans herself. Through pain, victory, and loss, Tanjiro has worked tirelessly to find a way to reverse her sister’s transformation and return her back to being human. 

Alongside this compelling story line, Demon Slayer has become famous for its beautiful and colorful animation that makes viewers unable to look away from the screen. Each of the 11 episodes in season 2 of Demon Slayer reportedly cost around $90,000 to produce and animate which can be seen in its unique soundtrack and fluid motion that draws millions of viewers to the screen. UFOTABLE, the animation studio that has animated this series since season 1, is famous for its gorgeous animations and large budgets implemented into the series that they adapt, such as the The Fate Series.

The strength in the Demon Slayer series lies in its fast-paced and exciting plot, along with a lovable main cast that you can cheer for as they train to become the strong demon slayers that can protect themselves and their loved ones. Tanjiro’s heroic tale makes it easy to watch the show with friends or family. While the show is a shonen anime–a genre of Japanese cartoon targeted towards a younger male audience–Demon Slayer’s straightforward yet engaging story line allows anyone to enjoy this comfortably paced television series. 

Grade: A