First of all, I'd like to get this out of the way first. This review is mostly just me venting so if I'm being a little unfair to this show, that's probably the reason why.
Also, Ufotable did a great job in the art department. This anime is a feast for the eyes. Visually, I'd easily give this anime an 8 or above rating.
Here's what I do have a problem with: The direction of scenes and the characters.
So many things go into directing that it's very difficult to pin down what's exactly wrong with it but I'm gonna' try anyway.
It feels like there are too many moments that pad out the run time. Tanjiro often just stands there in shock because he can't believe his eyes that an event is unfolding. Maybe I've just watched too many shows now but I just want it to get to the point.
I'll try to be as vague as possible with the story beats that annoyed me.
***POSSIBLE SPOILERS***
When Tanjiro encounters a very important demon in public, I don't understand why he just doesn't yell out that he's a demon. Tanjiro hesitates because the demon is posing as a human and has a family with humans. If there was room for doubt that this demon might be just trying to live a normal life I can see why he hesitates but he KNOWS he's evil. The demon even slashes at a man's neck during their encounter.
It feels very annoying when the main character is the one breaking the momentum of the moment when he let that demon get away.
*** END OF POSSIBLE SPOILERS***
It's also the same when he encounters new friends into the party. It takes a really long time for him to explain that his sister is the demonic presence in his backpack. Everybody is already aware that there's a demonic presence so why doesn't he just explain himself and that he's trying to find a cure?
Even her reveal to the other characters (which takes a full day later) feels like time padding. It has to go through this stupid gag where someone misunderstands that they're not in an intimate relationship. I've seen my fair share of anime and I feel like a have a good sense of what comedic timing is like and this anime just does not have it.
What might have been a funny moment outstays it's welcome with the characters screaming nonsense at each other.
Here is lies the second problem. The characters.
All 3 of the male protagonists who are traveling together are just variants of screams made into characters.
There's the overly kind screaming one.
The cowardly screaming one.
And the wild screaming one.
It's like they're trying to make up for the fact that the only girl in the party can't/won't talk at all.
It ties in with the problem with directing. I get that overreacting is a form of comedy but if the characters overreact to everything, wouldn't that just become regular old reacting?
So in the end, who could I see enjoying this anime? I think that this anime is great for young and new anime fans.
For people who've been watching for a long time, unless visuals are all you care about in an anime, this show will wear down your patience as it goes on.
