Starting with the story and I was a little surprised at the approach from an episode total perspective. The first season was built on multiple mini arcs and demon encounters: Becoming a demon slayer, Ball Demon, Drum Demon etc. Here, we have an arc of 1 demon across the 11 episodes. While the content comes thick and fast, and it is also superb content, I feel it could have been longer to make it better and give the characters more space to develop. Saying this, I still think this story is a 8/10, so for me the greater breathing space for the story would take it to a 9 for sure. There is no shortage of action here and the story still keeps you interested in every second, I will say that the real star of this arc isn't the story, but I'll mention that in the proceeding paragraph. It keeps going with the intensity all the way to the very last episode too which for me is equally good and bad. Good because there is no messing around with the normal fiddly episodes at the end of most animes to bring the dynamic down, bad because after what you experience, I felt it could have done with a little more comedown. That being said, it's still a strong 8/10 for me.
The real star here is the animation. It might just be the best animation Demon Slayer has to offer by this point, which is a bold claim as moments in season 1 are in the main untouchable. The atmosphere created with the animation in this arc is outstanding, some might say rather flashy...the fight sequences are absolutely outrageously good, specifically towards the end of the arc. The characters peril, both Demon Slayers and Demons, are conveyed perfectly through the animation culminating in what my by one of theost visually stunning and dramatic finales to an anime I've seen. So for the animation, I can't possibly give it any less than a 10/10. Its fantastic.
Sound wise it's always great from Demon Slayer. One of those animes that understands the value of not just overusing EDM or techno for every fight. Excellent variety in sound which convey the emotions portrayed effortlessly. 9/10 for sound design.
This then brings us to an aggregate score of 9 and I think that's spot on to be honest. Its only just a 9, but a 9 none the less. It retains everything one has come to love about Demon Slayer in a compact and easily consumable package that ensures Demon Slayer is one of the best action animes around right now.
