All anime fans who have just seen the Mugen Train movie will be delighted to discover these surprising developments in the upcoming episodes of Demon Slayer.
It was in May 2020 that the last chapter of Demon Slayer was published in Shonen Jump, and if die-hard fans can access the entire adventure in Koyoharu Gotouge's manga, the anime is still far from having finished telling the story of Tanjiro and Nezuko. Although the future of Muzan Kibutsuji and Tanjiro Kamado has already been mapped out by Koyoharu Gotouge, fans of the anime are still taking their first metaphorical steps into the ocean that is the Demon Slayer mythos.
Fans will discover incredible developments within the pages of the manga as the anime moves forward faithfully adapting the original content.
Iguro & Kanroji are a powerful Hashira couple
It is in episode 22 of season 1 of Demon Slayer that the Hashira are introduced. Among the pillars of the demon slayer corps, two of them stand out upon their introduction, notably the Hashira Serpent, Iguro, and the Hashira of Love, Kanroji.
During their introduction, Kanroji continually expresses his love while Iguro stands aside, wrapped around a tree branch. Although viewers of the anime were not given enough information about the Hashira to make the connection between Kanroji and Iguro, readers of the manga know that they are a powerful and crucial couple in the battle against Muzan Kibutsuji.
Tanjiro develops his fire breathing techniques and the red blade
After witnessing the death of the former Flame Hashira, Kyojuro Rengoku, Tanjiro decides to master the Hinokami Kagura breathing style. It is a technique passed on to him by his father and which leads the young demon hunter towards the art of fire breathing. Not only are Tanjiro's fire breathing techniques splendid, but the way his flaming sword will slice through anime action sequences is also something that all fans are looking forward to.
Tanjiro inherits the hilt of Rengoku's fire sword
Even anime fans who went to the theater to see the Demon Slayer movie don't know the reason why the hilt of Tanjiro's sword changes in time with his breathing techniques. The Mugen Train arc was recently animated in Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba the Movie: Mugen Train, but the manga ends this arc by showing Rengoku's father gifting Tanjiro with his son's sword hilt.
While the new hilt is meant to foreshadow the development of Tanjiro's fire breathing techniques, it also adds a nice visual touch to everyone's favorite Demon Slayers. Hopefully, Tanjiro and Shinjuro's interactions will be included in the anime so fans can see his black and red sword at the pinnacle of visual art.
Giyu and Sabito underwent joint training with Sakonji Urokodaki
Anime fans were able to discover Giyu and Sabito before Tanjiro joined the Demon Slayer Corps. Although both warriors trained under the former Water Hashira Sakonji Urokodaki at the same time, only one of them became a full-fledged demon slayer. Anime fans know that Giyu inherited the title of Water Hashira of the Demon Slayer Corps from Urokodaki, but not much is known about Sabito.
Only manga readers know the unbreakable bond between Giyu and Sabito. Both of them underwent Urokodaki's training and, if Giyu is honest in his assessment of Sabito, the boy in the fox mask was even more powerful than Giyu. Despite his inability to defeat the thick-necked demon during the Final Selection, Sabito managed to save Giyu and allow the future Hashira of Water to find a path that would allow him to prove his strength.
The spell of Tanjiro's sword leads him to a village of magnificently talented swordsmen hidden behind bizarre masks
It is by their swords that members of the Demon Slayer Corps live or die. While the strongest manage to keep their sword intact regardless of the strength of their enemy, the others are forced to bind themselves to a swordsman until they master a breathing technique. For Tanjiro, it is difficult to communicate with his own swordsman, Hotaru Haganezuka, as he switches between water and fire breathing styles, but towards the end of the series, the latter plays as important a role as Tanjiro in Muzan's defeat.
Not only is Hotaru tasked with forging Tanjiro's final blade, but he does so under the stress of battle and the threat of his own life. Once the Demon Slayer Corps comes to Hotaru's rescue, the blacksmith sets out to complete his masterpiece and forge the sword that will end Muzan Kibutsuji's life.
Genya eats demons to become stronger
In the last episode of season 1, Demon Slayer fans witnessed the return of Genya. Tanjiro meets Genya again at the Butterfly Manor before he leaves to join Rengoku. This is the first time that the angry young Demon Slayer returns after appearing alongside Tanjiro, Kanao and Zenitsu during the Final Selection, in a much more imposing body than before. In the manga, it is stated that Genya gained muscle by eating the flesh of demons. Genya's inability to master a breathing technique set him on an ironic path to strength that most viewers couldn't have guessed.
Tanjiro's scar links his destiny to that of Muzan Kibutsuji
Since the mark is clearly visible and it's right above Tanjiro's head, even fans of the anime have already figured out that this one must be significant in some way. Only readers of the manga know exactly how this mark links Tanjiro to the Hashira and how it directs his destiny towards Muzan Kibutsuji.
The mark on Tanjiro's forehead introduces readers to the Demon Slayer's Mark, an ancient mark that talented demon slayers can acquire through rigorous training and a certain degree of combat resistance. This mark is described by the master of the Demon Slayer Corps as a necessity for any Hashira or demon slayer wishing to face Muzan Kibutsuji in combat.
The butterfly house is inspired by the ancient Hashira of Flowers, Kanae Kocho
Although almost every Demon Slayer fan recognizes the name Shinobu Kocho, only the most die-hard fans will remember meeting his older sister Kanae Kocho during Shinobu's tragic flashback in episode 24.
The Papillon Mansion has been revealed to fans of the anime, but the full story of Shinobu and Kanae is still relegated almost exclusively to the manga. It's when season 2 is finalized and broadcast on Crunchyroll that fans will be able to learn more about Kanae's generous personality.
Muzan Kibutsuji's plans to overcome his vulnerability to sunlight
Considering the young ages of both Kamado family members, Muzan Kibutsuji is perhaps the most powerful character in the entire Demon Slayer franchise. It is therefore essential that those who call themselves demon slayers come to understand the weaknesses of the most powerful demon in the world, one of which is sunlight.
Muzan is of course wise enough to understand his weakness and try to overcome it before the demon slayers can take advantage of it. Muzan Kibutsuji could have decimated the entire demon slayer corps in less than 24 hours, provided he had defeated the power of the sun.
Nezuko defeats the Sun in front of Muzan
As the Demon Slayer manga draws to a close, readers were able to learn about Muzan Kibutsuji's plot to defeat the sun and Nezuko Kamado's unnatural ability to do so.
In the Demon Slayer anime, we understand that Tanjiro is determined to save his sister, but Nezuko is not a damsel in distress. The young demon is extremely powerful although he has never consumed a human like Kizuki, the twelve of Muzan. At the end of the manga, Nezuko uses Lady Tamayo's remedy to return to her human form and face the sun.
And you ? Are you a reader of the manga or a fan of the anime?
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