Posted by  |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
「改める任務」 (Aratameru Ninmu)
“New Mission”
I don’t know if I’m disappointed or ecstatic all things considered. I’m still trying to understand my convoluted feelings towards the ending of season one. All this was to be expected. There was no way any of the Kimetsu no Yaiba fans (anime-only viewers, of course) thought a battle scene would ensue in this episode. The final arc of this series was largely focused on the boys’ rehabilitation and on the Hashiras in general, combining slapstick comedy and heftier themes, which dragged on to create quite the plateau. I don’t think it was an unnecessary arc, but as a viewer who has never even attempted to dive into the source material, I thought the momentum we found with Rui, Tanjirou, and Nezuko’s scene slowly dissipated. I would have much preferred this arc to be a precursor to something larger…but all things considered, this final episode provided a huge window into what’s to come. I’ll repeat what I said last week though: the show remains entertaining to watch. So in that regards, I do appreciate this final hook. I’m ready for whatever Kimetsu no Yaiba is setting up for, and apparently it’ll be a film adaptation covering the Infinity Train Arc. So, let me just finish off this paragraph by saying goodbye to season one, but hello to a whole new world of possibilities. Gimme, gimme!
Final Impressions
After all my complaining this season, Kimetsu no Yaiba has officially made my personal top anime list. I know it doesn’t mean much to the anime community, but it does to me. The series has some issues which I’ll get into shortly but overall, it was captivating because of its characters (mostly), but also because of the quality of work that went into the series.
I wish so much that I had been a fan of the manga so I could watch it come to life. The use of CGI, especially in this last episode when Kibutsuji returned one last time as a classy morphed female demon, is spectacular. I only remember feeling jarred by the CG water during Tanjirou’s initial training sessions by the waterfall. That slight detail aside, its use in action sequences, particularly for moving objects, and even in establishing scenes, was so meticulous that the eye glided smoothly across the animation plane.
It’s not only the quality in animation that encouraged me to stay on, the music as well. It was a compelling soundtrack. The traditional Japanese songs and all other original soundtracks for demons appearing, for Hashiras emerging, for flashbacks, and more were simply exquisite. I also tip my hat off to Shiina Gou and Nakagawa Nami who helped carry this series and embed it in my heart with the beautiful ED song “Kamado Tanjirou no Uta.” I will forever recognize every note, pitch, and melody if ever I encounter it outside of the animated series.
Moving on from technical details, I’d like to focus more on the characters and story. While I think the story could do with some patching up, I think overall it did well in telling the tale of two siblings (mostly the eldest) trying to navigate new abilities, lifestyles, and challenges together. Character introductions haven’t been obnoxious with the exception of Zenitsu who could do with an attitude rework in the next season. I understand staying true to the character from the manga, but I bet readers didn’t flinch when they read his outbursts. To be fair, the last two episodes showed us a different side of Zenitsu’s. He was encouraged by the girls of the Kocho household to respect and treat women better. And he actually put in a lot of work and reached the same level of breath strength/capacity as Tanjirou. I didn’t expect that from him. It’s as though this rehabilitation training paved a road into maturity. Please hold back if you think I’m jumping the gun. This is my way to hold onto some hope as I prepare to see him again in the film adaptation and the second season. I will remain optimistic however as this episode marked the end of the ‘Coming of Age’ arc.
My absolute favourite thing about the show is Tanjirou. There is no surprise there. I haven’t got a single thing to complain about him, although my partner did mention he and his ‘crew’ have a pretty interesting choice of hairstyles, ha. As for myself, I love the character designs overall, and I really connected to Tanjirou’s personality. In this final episode, he told Kanao to follow the voice in her heart and to let it take space. When he said that something in me clicked. Tanjirou isn’t only kind, fair, and compassionate, he is an honest character. It’s rare for me to appreciate protagonists in shounen’s such as this but I find myself doing so here. If you read my intro, you know my name is Miss Simplice because I value honesty and honesty from the heart. I recognize it in Tanjirou, thus, Kimetsu no Yaiba is now a favourite anime series of mine. My rationale might be simple but I’m alright with that. I get to enjoy the show with an open heart as of now. It’s why I’m so transparent about how Zenitsu makes me feel. Tanjirou is the same. He is transparent when he speaks to others and when he meets others, allowing him to really express himself from the depths of his heart. That magic rainbow paintbrush he grazes his fellow slayers, enemies, and friends with is the magical paintbrush I sometimes want to use on the world around me. It’s unrealistic but for now, it exists within him, within this series.
So there you have it: that was my love letter to Tanjirou.
Now we have to wait a while longer for what I expect will be a fantastic film adaptation, Kimetsu no Yaiba: Mugen Ressha-hen. It will be the sequel to this season and I assume the prequel to season two with a focus on Rengoku. We have a lot to look forward to as this series left the door wide open. We have to learn more about Muzan and the upper Twelve Kizuki demon; we have to discover why oh why Muzan is so afraid of Tanjirou that he changed his appearance; and, we have to find out what fate lies ahead for Nezuko and her brother.
You can bet I’ll be here to review the film adaptation and the second season, no matter where life leads me. I mean, I just wrote a love letter to an anime character. That’s put me in the ‘permanent’ category for the rest of my RandomC life.
Preview
 |
 |
 |
The ending was like very mellow but they are doing a pretty faithful adaptation…I will have no complains as long as there’s season 2
https://randomc.net/image/Kimetsu%20no%20Yaiba/Kimetsu%20no%20Yaiba%20-%2026%20-%20Large%2020.jpg
Ok, I just can’t help but to ship them now. Speaking of shipping, no, no, no, Zenitsu is far from being the right man for Nezuko, at least for now.
oh boy, Tanjirou, that was some rally cool smooth-talking…
any other character would be damned as shameless pick up artist but he can escape that because he really means every word
chapeau bas!
What’s funny about that is that he probably didn’t mean it romantically when she took it as such XD
Zenitsu’s relationship with Nezuko is perfectly wholesome though. While it wasn’t adapted he always made sure to tell her about their training during the rehabilitation arc, promising to show her flowers in the night, taking stuff like Shinobu’s goldfish bowl to show to her and telling her how good her brother is. He’s a great guy for her, personally.
I immediately read the manga as soon as I finished the anime. I’d say we’re all in for an epic train ride.
Im gonna try to resist
Did Zenitsu become the brains of the group?
Haha, I don’t know about that, but the scene where he was explaining to the other two what a train is, was hilarious.
Hes never been dumb really. Him and Tanjirou just switch up the Tsukkomi role depending on the situation since he’s got a more “normal” mind set in contrast to Tanjirou’s down to earth country boy personality. Inosuke is always chaotic stupid though
The movie is going to cover the next arc (Demon Train Arc) that covers about 14 chapters, likely to get it out of the way for the second season’s arcs which are going to be HUGE. To put it in perspective the longest arc of the first season was seventeen chapters long (Natagumo Mountain Arc) and took seven episodes to adapt. The arc they’d be starting off season two with is THIRTY THREE chapters long. If they stick to the same adaptation rate of roughly two chapters per episode it would take more than sixteen episodes to cover. And then the arc following that is another TWENTY EIGHT chapters long.
Thanks for covering this. Tanjirou is truly great.
Didn’t expect that Kanao was unlike Shinobu, and wasn’t concealing her feelings, but rather emulating her savior Kanae due to a lack of a conscious desire to express anything else.
Not sure if I want to wait for the film or read the manga. Well, I kind of have a lot on my plate entertainment-wise for the next month or so, so I won’t be in a rush to read the manga.
The adaptation of lower moon demons massacre was beyond my expectations! The animation when the lady demon plays her biwa (likely her blood demon art) was really amazing and fluid. Unlimited Budget Works throughout the series! Definitely my best anime of the year. Thank you ufotable! Thank you for covering this MissSimplice! Can’t wait for the Infinity Train Arc Movie (Rengoku!!!) and hopefully we won’t wait too long for the Second season. The scenes will surely be more action-packed and greater than ep. 19!!!
Great anime and a true treat for battle shounen fans.
Zenitsu is a good boy but he’s dumb. I have an unbelievably soft spot for him to the extent that I actually enjoy his screams. As for personality I wouldn’t say Zenitsu changes, but he has different modes- a scaredy cat, a kind of rude but honest person, a lovesick softy, and his sleeping focused self.
Unfortunately the anime cut out a few scenes he had with Nezuko that showed an unbelievably cute side to him, but it added his worrying for her in the end and while not as good I still liked it.
For some reason, the first few minutes of the moving rooms scene I thought was super awesome and gave me goosebumps. Ufotable makes a series seem even more magical and serious that I’d say the manga would probably give it credit for!? It was kinda like Death Note level maturity or something, or I am just rambling as I do.
Seeing the comments about chapter length of arcs puts into perspective why they’ve chosen to do the next arc as film (I am not an manga reader), though I personally prefer episodes so I can wait it out rather than get a full blast enjoyment too quickly haha.
Pacing like this is expected I suppose for a shounen adaptation. CGI-wise, again, I have no complaints with the way Ufotable have such high quality way of animating, it’s really added to the dynamic side of this series and made it all the more thrilling to watch.