For those who are not aware; this movie review is spoiler-free. “Demon Slayer: Kimetsu No Yaiba” is far better when one is going in blind. 

   “Demon Slayer: Kimetsu No Yaiba – To the Swordsmith Village” is the most recent adaptation of the manga “Demon Slayer: Kimetsu No Yaiba,” being a serialized comic originally written and released in Japan. Since then, the manga has acquired a massive fanbase, and an anime adaptation that began in 2019. This movie is a continuation starting from the previous season, including the last two episodes of the season, and the first episode of the new season, which will soon air on streaming platforms like Crunchyroll. 

   The nature of this production makes it difficult to call this a conventional movie. Instead, it is more just a series of episodes played back in a theatre. Multiple cuts (scenes) are replayed in the bridges between episodes, including cuts that play right before and after commercials, despite there not being any commercials at all. Credits also play between episodes, even when the premiere is only a third of the way through. No editing has been done on the original anime episodes to give it a more “movie-like” quality, making for a jarring experience. The team behind “Demon Slayer: Kimetsu No Yaiba” is already highly-experienced in making true movies. “Demon Slayer: Kimetsu No Yaiba – Mugen Train” is a prime example of that. They could have done far better in these aspects. 

   Putting that aside, “Demon Slayer: Kimetsu No Yaiba – To the Swordsmith Village” is a beautiful sneak peek of how the new season of the anime will play out. Ever since its beginning in 2019, the “Demon Slayer: Kimetsu No Yaiba” anime has had constant artistic quality that most animated shows in the very history of animation can only dream of achieving. A seamless blend of new and old cinematic techniques is presented alongside a fully unique art style, making the show a joy to watch for anyone, no matter how much of the industry one has experienced. 

   However, it is important to note that this movie has some explicit scenes and imagery. Be aware of the R-rating, when considering bringing a younger sibling or equivalent to the theatre. The explicit scenes in question involve certain characters bathing in a hot spring, or wearing revealing clothes. 

   “Demon Slayer: Kimetsu No Yaiba – To the Swordsmith Village” will be in theatres until the end of this week, before the new season airs on online streaming platforms at a later date.