The duality of, and similarity between, man and non-human entities has always been a topic of interest in fiction. After all, there’s more complexity to be explored with the added nuance, serving as a fascinating study of human nature that carries over to the real world.
So when Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba featured a human-turned-demon as the deuteragonist, its widespread appeal didn’t come as a surprise. The release of its anime adaptation in 2019 brought its popularity to newfound heights, with the hype spilling over to subsequent seasons and films, including the special compilation feature for the Swordsmith Village arc.
In the same vein, Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – To the Hashira Training is celebrating the release of Season 4 in style. It inherits the mould of its predecessor, keeping to a “world tour” release format and combining the last two episodes of Season 3 (To the Swordsman Village) with an extended pilot episode of the next arc.
Where the experience was previously confined to a fan screening in Singapore, it saw more fanfare this time as a mini-event of sorts. Held on 17 February in the Roselle-Simpor Ballroom at Sands Expo and Convention Centre, it greeted the large, enthusiastic crowd with hallway decor and cutout figures of Tanjiro, Nezuko, Zenitsu, and Inosuke.
Stepping into the space, themed set pieces adorned the sides and back of the room. The key anime visual served as backdrop for the main photo spot, while the Hashira – the top-ranking, most elite soldiers in the Demon Slayer Corps – got their own standees, dedicated poster wall, and standalone illustrations.
Elsewhere, attendees waited in line to collect their movie premiums, bundled into three price tiers: Premium Package A (S$150), Package B (S$100), and Package C (S$50). This constant buzz of activity slowly built towards heightened anticipation as the main stage prepared to screen Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – To the Hashira Training, which opened to enthusiastic clapping and cheers from fans.
The feature, as with its predecessor, segues from a montage of key moments across the series into the high-octane battle action of Season 3’s final two episodes. Tanjiro continues his pursuit of Upper Rank 4 demon Hantengu, but has difficulties keeping up with his injured leg; recalling Zenitsu’s advice regarding Total Concentration Breathing, he breathes in to circulate oxygen into his muscles, builds strength into his legs, and surges forward to slice the demon’s neck.
While not immediate, he eventually succeeds with the help of Genya, Nezuko, and Muichiro, only to find out that he failed to slice through the main body. As Tanjiro agonises over the decision to save Nezuko, who is burning in the sun, or kill Hantengu, he’s pushed away by his sister. The swordsman’s resolve strengthens after watching her die, and he eventually defeats Hantengu for good, before realising that Nezuko is still alive. The group is then reunited with Love Hashira Mitsuri Kanroji, with the finale closing out on Muzan’s backstory and murderous antics.
It’s a beat-by-beat rehash of the original, but the 4K resolution upgrade and wider expanse of the curved screen breathed a lot more life into the spectacle. Vivid, eye-catching colours are accompanied by crisp and stylish animation, with the remastered audio adding more intensity into the mix – even if the sound effects weren’t exactly conveyed clearly through the ballroom’s sound system.
Going into the extended pilot episode of Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – To the Hashira Training, the compilation film spares no time presenting a dynamic fight sequence featuring the Wind and Serpent Hashira, Sanemi Shinazugawa and Obanai Iguro respectively. The action continues to be smooth and enrapturing, mellowing out into a slower pace as more storytelling bits fall into place, including Demon Slayer Marks, Nezuko’s condition, and character backstories.
As its name suggests, the upcoming arc will focus on the Hashira and their training of lower-ranked Demon Slayers, with each of them overseeing a different part of the training programme. The first 40 minutes-or-so, while more action-packed than that of To the Swordsman Village, leans more towards exposition, lull moments, and the series’ characteristic humour – courtesy of the main four characters and Mitsuri. The soundtracks, too, tease a promising showing, appearing to fit in well with the setting.
Ending things off on a high note, voice actors Natsuki Hanae and Akari Kito took to the main stage as special guests. Apart from sharing their thoughts on Singapore and of course, Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – To the Hashira Training, the duo also delighted fans with some role-playing performances as Tanjiro and Nezuko respectively. The session proved to be lively and responsive, evidenced right off the bat when Hanae quipped in his self-introduction speech, “I’ve been told I look like JJ Lin (a Mandopop singer from Singapore)!”
Cue plenty of hearty laughter.
The Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – To the Hashira Training fan screening will be held at Shaw Theatres Lido on 24 February, with sales running from 19 to 24 February. Season 4 of the anime is set to premiere sometime this April.
Si Jia is a casual geek at heart – or as casual as someone with Sephiroth’s theme on her Spotify playlist can get. A fan of movies, games, and Japanese culture, Si Jia’s greatest weakness is the Steam Summer Sale. Or any Steam sale, really.
Natalie
