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

Rating summary

Movie		4.5
Video		4.5
Audio		4.5
Extras		4.5
Overall		4.5

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

A first-rate premium edition with three soundtrack CD's.

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.

An outstanding collection for die-hard fans.

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 Volume 2 Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Arriving on Blu-ray from Aniplex, Demon Slayer: Kimetsu No Yaiba: Volume 2 is presented in 1080p MPEG-4 AVC encoded high definition in the original television broadcast aspect ratio of 1.78:1 widescreen. The presentations appear to be the same as what was provided on the standard editions released by Funimation Entertainment. The colors are phenomenal and seem to pop off the screen. The animation looks exceptional. Line art, character designs, and background artwork looks stunning to behold. A fantastic, first-rate presentation.

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

The Aniplex edition of Demon Slayer: Kimetsu No Yaiba: Volume 2 includes two lossless audio options: English uncompressed PCM 2.0 stereo and Japanese uncompressed PCM 2.0 stereo (with English subtitles). The release features superb 24 bit high-resolution audio tracks. The clarity on the release is startling at times. Dialogue is exceptionally crisp and clear. The music is well reproduced. The soundstage is immersive and engaging. The action scenes are brought to life with impeccable detail. The lossless audio greatly benefits the presentation.

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

The premium edition comes in a collectors art box featuring stunning illustrations featuring the lead characters. The set includes three soundtrack CD's, a booklet, and artcards. The deluxe set is phenomenal and a must-own for serious fans of the anime franchise. A nice change-of- pace from the standard editions from Funimation (as those sets lack any on-disc supplemental features and don't come with the soundtracks).

Disc One:

Trailers:

Teaser Trailer (HD, 00:26)

Trailer 1 (HD, 2:57)

Trailer 2 (HD, 1:39)

Trailer 3 (HD, 1:32)

Commercial 1 (HD, 00:17)

Commercial 2 (HD, 00:17)

Commercial 3 (HD, 00:17)

Demon Trailer 1 (HD, 00:57)

Demon Trailer 2 (HD, 00:37)

Demon Trailer 3 (HD, 1:52)

Hashira Trailer (HD, 1:52)

Character Trailers:

Character Trailer – Zenitsu Agatsuma (HD, 00:37)

Character Trailer – Inosuke Hashibira (HD, 00:32)

Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – The Movie – Mugen Train Trailer Teaser (HD, 00:32)

Retail Release English Dub Trailer (HD, 00:31)

Disc Two:

Episode 19 "Hinokami" Textless Ending

Episode 19 Audio Commentary with English dub cast

Disc Three:

Episode 23 "Hashira Meeting" Textless Opening

Episode 26 Audio Commentary with Japanese cast (with English subtitles)

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

Another exceptional premium edition, Demon Slayer: Kimetsu No Yaiba – Volume 2 is a top-notch release featuring a nice assortment of extras which were not provided on the standard-edition by Funimation Entertainment. At the top of the list is the three soundtrack CD's featuring music from the series. The set comes with a deluxe art box, a booklet, and art cards as well. A must-own for die-hard enthusiasts who want every bonus feature and collectible. Highly recommended.