#but to be totally honest I think csm needs two watches because it’s easy to get bogged down in how complex and strange the world is

[tanjir0se]

Ok I’m gonna actually be real for a minute. Now that I’ve unfortunately watched enough anime to consider myself an Anime Fan™ (welcome to cringe city population me) I think I can confidently say that Demon Slayer is on a completely different level.

1. The Animation. This kind of goes without saying. But literally even the early seasons felt alive, even mid range episodes look beautiful, and this most recent season has cemented KNY as being in a completely different league to anything else I’ve watched. BNHA, AOT, even Chainsaw Man and Trigun literally don’t even hold a candle to Demon Slayer when it comes to the animation. The fire and sparks and lightning GLOW from inside whatever screen you’re watching it, I don’t even know how they do it. Attack animations and fight choreography are so gorgeous and well timed and just so fucking beautiful to look at. I could go on forever.

2. The story. This is a controversial one because I have heard some say that the plot is nothing special for a shonen. Which I actually think is a good thing? The setup is simple, the mechanics are easy to understand and make sense, and I don’t have to wait through 19 episodes of lead up before something interesting happens. It’s just a straightforward story about a boy who loves his family. Also, Tanjiro’s power crawl is INSANE, every huge overpowered moment he has feels so earned.

Further in defense of the writing in KNY, the story feels so tight. Like we don’t really waste time with shit in KNY, everything feels focused and purposeful with the exception of maaaybe a few more comedic relief moments especially early on. But even those I don’t mind, they keep the tone light but consistent and develop the kids’ characters.

3. The MUSIC. Holy shit the music. It never stops!!! The way the character and action themes kind of blend into one another throughout the episodes, how hearing the melody of your favorite character start playing at certain moments can just rip your heart out. HOW YOU CAN PREDICT PLOT BEATS BY LISTENING VERY CLOSELY TO THE SOUNDTRACK. Literally unrivaled. LITERALLY unrivaled. It only stops when they purposefully drop it out to emphasize something. The musical beats and stings can build tension like nothing else, I will always be insane about the music in Demon Slayer.

4. In the same vein, the sound design I think is often overlooked. The swords clanging whenever they change position. The roar of Tanjiro’s sun breathing and the hiss of Hinokami escaping through his teeth. The clap of Thunder when Zenitsu breaks out thunder breathing. The way jewelry and chains jingle, the way his earrings clack against his collar, the way jaws snap shut or footsteps crunch in the snow, it’s all such excellent attention to detail that you don’t really notice until you Notice and then it’s always there.

Maybe Aniplex or Ufotable is putting something in their water or maybe I love my blorbos so much it’s making my brain smooth but it really feels like a passion project. It feels like the animators and writers and voice actors just deeply deeply give a shit about the art they’re making. Every single frame just oozes love and care for the source material and it comes through so beautifully. And this season is really taking all of everything I just said to the next level.

Anyway, watch Demon Slayer, love yourselves and turn off BHNA and AOT