Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Part 2 Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.5
Video		4.5
Audio		4.5
Extras		0.5
Overall		4.5

Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Part 2 Blu-ray Movie Review

An action anime smash-hit.

The second part of Demon Slayer: Kimetsu No Yaiba continues to prove to be a rewarding and exciting action-packed extravaganza. The runaway hit smash anime series has developed a rabid fan-base of devotees. The series airs on Tokyo MX in Japan. Airing stateside on Cartoon Network's Toonami programming block, the Funimation license (of the Aniplex production) is a must-see for fans of intense action-packed-adventure. A compelling horror-action hybrid adapted from the bestselling manga by Koyoharu Gotouge, Demon Slayer: Kimetsu No Yaiba has plenty to offer audiences the world over.

The journey continues as the fearless demon slayer Tanjiro Kamado (Natsuki Hanae) continues his quest to search for a cure for his sister, Nezuko (Akari Kito), who turned in to a demon herself. In contrast to most demons, Nezuko still showcases remembrances of her human self. After the brutal murders of his close family members at the hands of a vile demon (with only himself and his sister as sole survivors to the slaughter), Tanjiro finds a new mission in life: demon slaying. Joining Tanjiro on the journey are some dynamic new friends. The hero is now accompanied by the unique duo of the diligent Zenitsu Agatsuma (Hiro Shimono) and the powerful Inosuke Hashibira (Yoshitsugu Matsuoka). Can Tanjiro slay every wicked demon and find a cure for his beloved sister?

The second set of Demon Slayer: Kimetsu No Yaiba is even more gripping and intense than the first collection of episodes was. The set amply rises the action-tempo and finds the proper footing for the storyline to unfold in brisk and exciting ways. The fight scenes remain one of the most entertaining components of the production. The experience is heightened by the fluid animation (and all that it entails). The character designs also remain some of the best designs in modern productions and the background art work is consistently exquisite. The stunning art direction by Masahiro Kimura and Masaru Yanaka delivers – bringing forth the best efforts of the entire team of hard-working animators.

Time for some new friends.

The music by Yuki Kajiura (Noir) and Go Shiina (Dimension W) is one of the most compelling elements of the entire anime production. The score finds a perfect tonal balance between character drama and action-packed fun. The series is all the more entertaining, memorable, and compelling to watch because of the contributions of Kajiura and Shiina. There is a rich tapestry to the score that finds harmony throughout the entire collection of episodes. The exquisite music even adds a greater sense of depth to the production.

The English dubbing in quite good as well. Though purists may choose to opt for the original language version (understandably so), the dub is another good way to experience the action. Featuring a vocal cast that includes Zach Aguilar (voice of Tanjiro), Abby Trott (voice of Nezuko), Bryce Papenbrook (voice of Inosuke), and Aleks Le (voice of Zenitsu), the dub production never fails to entertain. The voice actors were well cast for their respective roles.

The screenplays by Ufotable (Demon Slayer the Movie: Mugen Train) keep the series entertaining from start to finish. Demon Slayer: Kimetsu No Yaiba is ridiculously fun at times and so much of that is due to the storytelling. The series has an easy-to-follow plot-line and the characters are compelling. This makes the series even more noteworthy. While Demon Slayer: Kimetsu No Yaiba might not be the deepest or most complex anime around, it finds ample pathos in the action.

Haruo Sotozaki (Demon Slayer the Movie: Mugen Train) remains the head director in charge of the production. The efforts of the filmmaker are well felt throughout the entire set of episodes. This is certainly one of the reasons the production is so entertaining. An edge-of-your-seat thrill-ride, the production finds even more solid footing in the second batch of episodes. Some of this is because things remain just as intense – while expanding on the series universe at the same time. Sotozaki is certainly a gifted director and the series is being produced in capable hands. Any anime fan looking for something new to watch could do far worse than the action-packed Demon Slayer: Kimetsu No Yaiba.

Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Part 2 Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The second set of Demon Slayer: Kimetsu No Yaiba arrives on Blu-ray from Funimation Entertainment and makes just as solid an impression as the first collection of the hit anime. The series is presented in 1080p MPEG-4 AVC encoded high definition in the original television broadcast aspect ratio of 1.78:1 widescreen. The striking visual aesthetic makes a stirring impression that is hard to shake off: the absorbing imagery of the production is well preserved in the encoding at every turn of the story.

Throughout the entire second collection of Demon Slayer: Kimetsu No Yaiba, the action scenes managed to excel with exquisite detail, color reproduction, and accuracy. There were few issues concerning banding and compression artifacts. The vivid animation looks crisp, clean, and dynamic. The series often has a dark undertone to the animation style – and the animators never miss a opportunity for displaying the ferocity of some of the demon characters. Funimation presents the series exactly as it should – with a strong, top-notch video encode that checks all the right boxes.

Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Part 2 Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The release is presented in English uncompressed PCM 2.0 stereo and Japanese uncompressed PCM 2.0 stereo (with English subtitles). The audio quality on the set is outstanding. Dialogue remains as crisp, clear, and easy to understand as it was during the first set of episodes. The action scenes are exciting, tense, and uproarious: the sheer velocity of the dynamic soundstage is well presented here, bringing the action to life in a way that is uniquely compelling. Every strike of a sword's blade can be heard with stunning clarity and detail. For fans of the series, Demon Slayer: Kimetsu No Yaiba sounds impeccable in either Japanese or English – dub fans aren't the only ones to win (with lossless audio enhancing the experience). It is difficult to imagine any fan of the smash hit action-packed series feeling disappointed in the sound design. Funimation delivers a top- notch audio presentation.

Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Part 2 Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

The release comes with an attractive o-card slipcover that enhances the aesthetic of the release. The inside art-work features a compelling selection of Demon Slayer art work and a list of episodes as featured in the collection. There are no on-disc supplemental features provided on the release.

Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Part 2 Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Demon Slayer: Kimetsu No Yaiba is one of the most intense action-horror series around. The series features ethereal music, top- notch direction, compelling storytelling, and stunning animation. The production exceeds in spades. The second set of episodes is even more entertaining than the first. Throughout the entire set, I remained glued to my seat. Anime fans should check it out. Highly recommended.