Demon Slayer: Kimetsu No Yaiba has a massive following all around the world because of its visceral imagery, imaginative story, wonderful and colorful characters, and touching tale about siblings. It is also an interesting family story as main characters Tanjiro Kamado and his demon sister Nezuko meet and befriend fellow demon slayers on their journey. The Haruo Sotozaki-directed movie, Demon Slayer: Kimetzu No Yaiba - To the Swordsmith Village Arc is a three-episode film that takes place at the end of season two in the anime series. It includes the last two episodes of season as well as the hour-long premiere of the following arc: To The Swordsmith Village.
In the story, Tanjiro is out selling coal when his family is attacked and killed by demons, leaving only his sister Nezuko alive-but barely. He carries her and searches for help, only to realize that she has been half-turned into a demon herself. After a run-in with a demon slayer, Tanjiro finds himself on a journey to become one. With his newfound powers, and with help from his demon sister, they are then sent on missions to kill demons, search for vengeance against the evil that killed his family, and (hopefully) find a cure for Nezuko.
The voice acting for the series and movie is done well, with the talents of Zach Aguilar, Kira Buckland, Griffin Burns, Ray Chase, Greg Chun, Lucien Dodge, and Stephen Fu for the English dub cast. The Japanese voice actors include Toshio Furukawa, Natsuki Hanae, Kana Hanazawa, Akira Ishida, Kengo Kawanishi, Yoshitsugu Matsuoka, Katsuyuki Konishi, and Akari Kito.
For Demon Slayer, which includes epic boss fights, being able to watch the anime with explosive sound quality and on a huge screen is a joy for fans of the series and of anime in general. Ufotable, the studio which wrote and animated the series (based off the manga by Koyoharu Gotouge) does an amazing job creating a unique animation style for this beloved Shonen (manga and anime with the target audience of adolescent boys).
Fans may find this film a little frustrating as the first third of the movie is a recap of the series. New inductees to the fanbase may find that information helpful to help explain the story and multiple characters. However, there are still characters who may be confusing to people new to the series as the vast world cannot be easily explained in only half an hour, and these characters appear briefly and with no explanation.
Each episode covered in the movie is copy-pasted from the series, including the opening and closing credits. An omission of the credits would have increased the immersion factor for viewers. Instead, they are left waiting after tense cliffhangers. Not only that, but the beginning of each episode is also a brief reiteration of the last minute of the previous one-which the audience has just watched. It is frustrating for viewers and comes off as lazy editing.
The "Entertainment District Arc" is an amazing one to cover on the big screen. The last two episodes of that arc are both beautiful and compelling. The rest of the "movie" is a welcome juxtaposition in that it is lighthearted and funny, and made even more impressive as a theater experience.