Demon Slayer: Kimetsu No Yaiba – To the Hashira Training 2024 Movie Review

“Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba — To the Hashira Training,” directed by Haruo Sotozaki and produced by the Japanese animation studio Ufotable, may not technically qualify as a standalone movie. Instead, it presents a feature-length compilation of two episodes from the immensely popular “Demon Slayer” television series, seamlessly woven together for cinematic presentation without any alterations.

This marks the second such theatrical installment following last year’s “Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba — To the Swordsmith Village,” which combined elements from the end of the second season with the beginning of the third. “To the Hashira Training” similarly merges the conclusion of the third season with the commencement of the fourth, both episodes clocking in at around an hour each; notably, the fourth season has yet to premiere on TV. As expected, this movie primarily caters to devoted fans of the series.

In theory, compiling anime action sequences from the small screen into a feature film could be successful, especially when the action is as captivating and well-executed as the intense and stylized swordplay showcased in “Demon Slayer.” The film delivers on the promise of thrilling demon-slaying encounters.

However, the blending of a season finale with a season premiere inevitably creates a sense of imbalance. The exhilarating conclusion of the previous season, where the protagonist Tanjiro (voiced by Natsuki Hanae) triumphs over the formidable Upper Four demon Hantengu (voiced by Toshio Furukawa), concludes halfway through the runtime. This leaves the latter portion of the movie feeling somewhat sluggish, as Tanjiro recuperates from battle, while the setup for the Hashira training arc unfolds at a leisurely pace. The narrative progression, or lack thereof, might leave viewers longing for a more cohesive cinematic experience.

In essence, “To the Hashira Training” leaves audiences yearning for a true standalone movie, as opposed to a stitched-together amalgamation of television episodes.