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Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – To the Hashira Training marks the third film outing for the popular anime series. But while ufotable’s gorgeously animated take on Koyoharu Gotouge’s manga deserves to be seen on the biggest screen possible, To the Hashira Training continues an unfortunate trend started by its immediate predecessor, 2023’s To the Swordsmith Village – unlike the first film from Demon Slayer, Mugen Train, This is not a standalone story but rather a compilation of two episodes of the television show. It’s assumed that the audience is completely caught up in Tanjiro Kamado’s high-octane adventures, and for all the visual splendor on display, this patchwork format makes for an unsatisfying narrative divorced from its broader context.
Combining the end of Demon Slayer’s third season with the premiere of its upcoming fourth, To the Hashira Training is just the end of one story followed by the beginning of a related one. In many ways, it’s good, because it’s two episodes of Demon Slayer, and Demon Slayer is a good show. But reaching a climax, watching its big emotional payoff unfold and so Watching 30 minutes of buildup to the next episode creates a strange cinematic experience.
While we get a very brief introduction to the other times Tanjiro defeated a demon, To the Hashira Training is definitely not for newcomers to Demon Slayer. You won’t get an explanation of who the main characters are, what their relationship is to each other, what they’re doing, or why they’re doing it. While many movies based on anime series go too far in the opposite direction (wasting precious time explaining too much of their basic principles), To the Hashira Training assumes you’re here to see the new episode early and on the big screen. Honestly, it’s a fair assumption, especially in Japan where the film topped the box office during its opening weekend.
It is also an assumption that is immediately clear. After its brief introduction, To the Hashira Training begins with a chase scene that’s already in progress, because that’s where the season 3 finale also begins. It doesn’t explain what happened in the story to bring us here or remind us who is involved. Even if it’s only been a few months since you watched the Swordsmith Village arc, it’s a good idea to brush up on what was happening before its conclusion. Luckily, the episode’s big moment still hits hard—assuming you know the characters, of course.
Dozens of “yokatta!” Later comes episode one of the Hashira Training arc, packed with exposition and story, although the adaptation cleverly adds an incredible fight sequence with the Wind and Serpent Hashiras. The scene is brilliantly choreographed and manages to endear us to two characters who, until now, have had very little screen time. It’s the obvious highlight of the episode, containing many charming moments and intriguing revelations, but no more big hits. It works excellently as a season premiere, but not as naturally as the second half of a movie. All of the action sequences in To the Hashira Training take place during the first 60% of the film.
It’s tempting to recommend waiting to see Hashira’s training arc at home. But if you’re a big Demon Slayer fan or a lover of animation in general, the chance to see ufotable’s impressive work on the big screen—or in IMAX, if you’re so lucky—makes going to the movies worth it. To the Hashira Training. Demon Slayer’s animation is often compared favorably to that of big-budget studio films, so watching a couple of episodes presented exactly like a big-budget studio film not only feels natural, but also a real treat. The detail of the backgrounds, the dynamic ways in which characters interact with their surroundings, and ufotable’s virtuosic blend of traditional and computer animation feel even more powerful when you can gaze at every rusty, moss-covered tile on a roof.