Sounds insane? We can explain.
Summary:
- Demon Slayer’s first episode is amazing at setting the viewer up for the rest of the anime.
- Some fans believe that the anime is somewhat disappointing after a great premiere.
- In the end, it’s a valid take, even though it’s not a common one.
Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba may as well be credited with popularizing anime among young people. Getting millions of viewers around the world into anime, it’s a generation-defining phenomenon.
Demon Slayer’s popularity can be attributed to a lot of things. From incredible animation and music to memorable characters to a very fun and easy to follow plot, it can be praised for many of its strengths.
Also, many fans mention how well the first episode of the anime sets up the ground for the rest of the series. For some, that first episode is the peak that the series has never achieved again.
Why the premiere was so good
It’s hard to deny that there are many things to praise the first episode for. In a span of just 24 minutes, it manages to set up the tone for the series in the future and establish the setting very well. It didn’t even need a double-length premiere — something that many anime do nowadays to capture the audience better.
Demon Slayer’s first episode shows most of its strengths. The animation and the sound are expectedly great (we never doubted ufotable), but the premiere is far more than that. In one episode we get to experience many emotions, as well as get a taste of how cruel the world of the anime really is.
The first episode can also be credited with introducing us to the themes of the show. One of the main things in Demon Slayer is family connections — something that will be brought up many times later on, and something its premiere is very good at making us feel.
Was it really better than the rest of the anime?
Is the rest of the series worse than the first episode? Perhaps not necessarily worse, but to many, it is at least not as well-rounded. Despite its many strengths, Demon Slayer also has a significant amount of things that it is criticized for.
One of the main complaints about Demon Slayer is how the plot is too basic. That’s somewhat understandable — and the first episode is certainly very unique in its setup and presentation. The contrast is probably what makes people think the series peaked at episode one.
It’s just weird to talk about anime like this
Overall, it feels really weird to compare the first episode of Demon Slayer to the rest of it. You can’t simply do everything in just under 30 minutes, and many of the anime’s strengths and weaknesses come from its continuous run.
However, while the take of the series getting somewhat less impressive after episode one might seem wild, it definitely has a right to exist