And Kimetsu no Yaiba has not disappointed. Ufotable has really dug into their unlimited budget into making this anime, and they produced, imo, one of the best anime this season. The art style is unique and bold, similar to AoT season 1 with clean, thick lines. The animation by ufotable, is as always, near movie level and harmonizes excellently with the art.
The execution of Kimetsu no Yaiba, is without a doubt, amazing. The camera work and 360 rotation during epic battle scenes, the sound effects with every slash and hit, and the small details that are painstakingly folded into each episode accentuate the anime. Each OST in the scenes always convey the right emotion, all while sticking to classic historical Japanese songs in the period which the story takes place. In addition, the twist of modern instrumentals give them the fantastical element that makes them truly beautiful.
The choreography is so awe-inspiring that it deserves its own paragraph. I'm not sure if many people have noticed it yet, but the voice actors really put passion and heart into their characters. For example, in one scene where Urokodaki is sending Tanjiro off to the Final Selection, he talks about a boy's growing appetite. If one listens closely, they can actually hear the amusement in his voice, showing how much work the VA put into his character. Tanjiro's tears sounded and felt completely real when disaster struck, unlike the embarrassing screaming that other VA's have in other animes.
Each story has their flaws, and Kimetsu no Yaiba is not immune to this. The story and character falls a little flat. While the setting of the anime is interesting, the way the story progresses is predictable, as it follows the Shonen model complete with a call to action, a training arc, and a test of worthiness. The characters also fall victim to this, as they are, at their core, Shonen stereotypes. Urokodaki is the sensei that doesn't want to let his student go, Tanjiro is a classic Shonen protagonist that wants to protect everyone after starting off weak and becoming strong.
In the end, I can only rave so much about Kimetsu no Yaiba. I thoroughly enjoyed it, and always look forward to the next episode every week. I rate it 10/10, and hope you enjoy it as much as I do, shoud you choose to watch it.
