The Bite Magazine - Spring/Summer 2021 - Issue 29

bitefilmreview flame is snuffed out completely, the esteemed Hashira asks Tanjiro to visit his family's estate to find out more about his father's lost flame techniques. Half of the cine- ma had teared up by now, as we did not expect the most powerful member from Demon Slayers Corp to be killed in the first movie of the Demon Slayers. Beyond Tanjiro, there is an excellent cast of secondary and supporting characters, and there’s somebody for everybody. None of the characters is wasted, and they all serve a purpose and have very distinctive and somehow still relatable personalities. Despite having the typical structure of young men’s manga, the female characters have depth, great strengths and weaknesses, fighting hand in hand with the males. At the same time, Demon Slayer is not entirely dark and heavy, as some would say, even though it involves quite a fair bit of violence when showcasing the traditional Japanese martial arts. From a moral perspective, it does not feel wrong since the antagonists are mainly demons. Many of the characters and situations were designed to make the audience laugh and to preserve a lighter and more whimsical mood in a very manga-like way. We couldn't help but wonder if Tanjiro, or even one of his companions, might end up replacing Kyōjuro as the new Flame Hashira. Tanjiro's affinity right now is for wa- ter, but Kyōjuro did mention that black sword-wielders (which Tanjiro currently is) are often unsure of their true path at first. Following Akaza's arrival in Mugen Train , it's now more evident than ever before that the demons Tanjiro has faced so far are nothing compared to what lies ahead. Demon Slayer is one of the few anime and manga un- apologetically Japanese, from its culture to its history and fashion. It is an exciting hybrid between classic anime characters and applaudable CGI effects topped up with swooping camera work. As a result, the story somehow feels familiar and timeless, as Tanjiro, a brave young man from the country, sets out to combat threatening villains and avenge and save his family. It's topped up with stun- ning CGI animation referencing natural movement in a way that resembles a rotoscope. The use of bright colours and fluid movements, to Nami Nakagawa's insert song 'Kamado Tanjiro No Uta' turning up the emotions to the maximum; this is the moment that catapulted Demon Slayer into a cultural phenomenon around the globe. Be- lieve me, when I say that you cannot afford to miss this history in the making. https://www.demonslayermovie.co.uk