Anime Series - Kimetsu no Yaiba (Demon Slayer)
The Kimetsu no Yaiba (Demon Slayer) anime is based on the popular Japanese manga ‘Kimetsu no Yaiba’ written and illustrated by Koyoharu Gotoge. The manga was serialised in Weekly Shonen Jump since February 2016. The anime adaption of the manga was released by studio Ufotable and was announced on June 4, 2018 in the 27th issue of Weekly Shonen Jump from that year.
Season 1 of the series aired from April 6 to September 28, 2019 and has 26 episodes. The anime was directed by Haruo Sotozaki and produced by Ufotable. Prior to airing, a film named ‘Kimetsu no Yaiba: Kyoudai no Kizuna’ was released and included what would become the first five episodes of the TV series. This film was first screened in Japan on March 29, 2019 and lasted for two weeks. The film was also screened at Los Angeles on March 31, 2019 by Aniplex of America, while Madman Entertainment screened it in Australia on April 2, 2019. The is currently available for streaming on Crunchyroll, Hulu and Funimation.
Plot
The story is set in the Taisho Period. A young boy named Tanjiro Kamado has been supporting his family ever since the death of his father. The Kamado family was living peacefully on a remote mountain. However, this all turned its corner one day when Tanjiro was out in town selling charcoal. The family had been slaughtered by a Demon during his absence and he found the aftermath of the incident when he returned. The sole survivor was his sister Nezuko, who had been turned into a Demon. Tanjiro swears to avenge his family by becoming a demon slayer and find a way to turn his sister back into a human.
Information
- Director: Haruo Sotozaki
- Producer(s): Hikaru Kondo, Akifumi Fujio, Masanori Miyake, Yuma Takahashi
- Writer: Ufotable
- Music: Yuki Kajiura and Go Shinina
- Character Designer: Akira Matsushima
- Studio: Ufotable
- Aired: April 6 to September 28, 2019 (Season 1)
- Number of Episodes: 26
Music
The opening theme “Gurenge” is performed by LiSa. The ending theme, “From the Edge” was performed by FictionJunction and LiSa.
Voice Cast and Characters
Here is a list of the Japanese voice actors/actresses and the character they play in the anime series.
Japanese Cast
- Natsuki Hanae - Tanjiro Kamado, the main protagonist of this series.
- Akari Kito - Nezuko Kamado, Tanjiro’s sister who had been turned into a Demon.
- Hiro Shimono - Zenitsu Agatsuma, a member of the Demon Slayer Corps who uses the Breath of Thunder.
- Yoshitsugu Matsuoka - Inosuke Hashibara, a member of the Demon Slayer Corps who uses Breath of the Beast.
- Takahiro Sakurai - Giyu Tomioka, a demon slayer and the Water Pillar of the Demon Slayer Corps.
- Hochu Otsuka - Sakonji Urokodaki, retired member and the former Water Pillar
- Yuki Kaji - Sabito, former apprentice of Sakonji Urokodaki.
- Ai Kakuma - Makomo, former apprentice of Sakonji Urokodaki.
- Shiori Izawa - Usher Shirokami, guide at the Demon Slayer Selection.
- Aoi Yuuki - Usher Kirokami, guide at the Demon Slayer Selection.
- Takumi Yamazaki - Kasugai Crow, messenger that delivers missions to Demon Slayers.
- Daisuke Namikawa - Hotaru Haganezuka, a swordsmith for the Demon Slayer Corp.
- Maaya Sakamoto - Tamayo, a Demon doctor who cooperates with Demon Slayers to defeat Muzan.
- Daiki Yamashita - Yushiro, a Demon boy who follows Tamayo.
- Toshihiko Seki - Muzan Kibutsuji, the first Demon ever and their leader.
- Hikaru Midorikawa - Temple Demon, the Demon that Tanjiro encounters on his way to Mt. Sagiri.
- Takehito Koyasu - Hand Demon, the Demon that Tanjiro encounters at the Demon Slayer Corps Final Selection.
- Ryohei Kimura - Swamp Demon, the Demon responsible for Tanjiro's first mission.
- Jun Fukuyama - Yahaba, also known as the Arrow Demon.
- Mikako Komatsu - Susamaru, also known as the Temari Demon.
- Junichi Suwabe - Kyogai, former member of the Twelve Demon Moons and also known as Drum Demon.
- Koki Uchiyama - Rui, member of the Twelve Demon Moons.
- Ami Koshimizu - Spider Demon (Mother).
- Shotaro Morikubo - Spider Demon (Elder Brother).
- Ryoko Shiraishi - Spider Demon (Sister).
- Tetsu Inada - Spider Demon (Father).
- Satoshi Hino - Kyojuro Rengoku, the Flame Pillar.
- Katsuyuki Konishi - Tengen Uzui, the Sound Pillar.
- Kana Hanazawa - Mitsuri Kanroji, the Love Pillar.
- Kengo Kawanishi - Muichiro Tokitou, the Mist Pillar.
- Tomokazu Sugita - Gyomei Himejima, the Stone Pillar.
- Kenichi Suzumura - Obanai Iguro, the Serpent Pillar.
- Tomokazu Seki - Sanemi Shinazagawa, the Wind Pillar.
- Saori Hayami - Shinobu Kocho, the Insect Pillar.
- Shigeru Chiba - Jigoro Kuwajima, the former Thunder Pillar and Zenitsu’s Master.
- Reina Ueda - Kanao Tsuyuri, adoptive sister of Shinobu Kocho and user of Breath of Flower.
- Toshiyuki Moikawa - Kagaya Ubayashiki, 97th leader of the Demon Slayer Corps.
- Nobuhiko Okamoto - Genya Shinazugawa, member of the Demon Slayer Corps.
English Cast
Here is a list of the English voice actors/actresses and the character they play in the anime series.
- Zach Aguilar - Tanjiro Kamado.
- Abby Trott - Nezuko Kamado.
- Aleks Le - Zenitsu Agatsuma.
- Bryce Papenbrook - Inosuke Hashibara.
- Johnny Yong Bosch - Giyu Tomoika.
- Brook Chalmers - Sakonji Urokodaki.
- Max Mittelman - Sabito.
- Ryan Bartley - Makomo.
- Mela Lee - Usher Shirokami.
- Christine Marie Cabanos - Usher Kurokami.
- Doug Ertholtz - Kasugai Crow.
- Robbie Daymond - Haganezuka.
- Laura Post - Tamayo.
- Kyle McCarley - Yushiro.
- Greg Chun - Muzan Kibutsuji.
- Benjamin Diskin - Temple Demon.
- Kirk Thornton - Hand Demon.
- Sean Chiplock - Swamp Demon.
- Zander Mobus - Yahaba.
- Sarah Williams - Susamaru.
- Steve Blum - Kyogai.
- Matthew Mercer - Kagaya Ubayashiki.
- Zeno Robinson - Genya Shinazugawa.
Movies
To date, there are two movies affiliated with the Kimetsu no Yaiba (Demon Slayer) franchise.
Kimetsu no Yaiba Movie: Mugen Train
Kimetsu no Yaiba Movie: Mugen Train is the first film of the popular manga and is a direct sequel to the first season of the anime. It retells the “Demon Train” Arc from the manga (Chapters 53 to 66). The movie is scheduled to premiere in 2020.
Kimetsu no Yaiba: Live Action Movie
The Kimetsu no Yaiba: Live Action Movie was screened in Tokyo from January 18th to January 26th, 2020 and in Hyogo from January 31st to February 2nd, 2020.