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Japan Anime News Edit by Satoru Shoji

"Demon Slayer" Episode 3 Praised for Anime-Original Content: A Story Spanning Just Six Panels in the Manga

The television anime "Demon Slayer: Hashira Training Arc," which began airing on Fuji TV in May, covers episodes from volumes 15-16 of the original manga. In this story, Tanjiro and his friends undergo training from the highest-ranking swordsmen in the Demon Slayer Corps, known as the Hashira, to become even stronger. Up to now, three episodes have aired, and the original content not present in the manga has become a hot topic online.


Scene Cuts from "Demon Slayer: Hashira Training Arc" (C) Koyoharu Gotouge / Shueisha, Aniplex, ufotable

Scene Cuts from "Demon Slayer: Hashira Training Arc" (C) Koyoharu Gotouge / Shueisha, Aniplex, ufotable


The most talked-about content is from the third episode, which aired on May 27. In this episode, Tanjiro, who has recovered from his injuries, visits former Hashira Uzui to participate in the Hashira training and undergoes basic strength training.


Scene Cuts from "Demon Slayer: Hashira Training Arc" (C) Koyoharu Gotouge / Shueisha, Aniplex, ufotable

Scene Cuts from "Demon Slayer: Hashira Training Arc" (C) Koyoharu Gotouge / Shueisha, Aniplex, ufotable


Uzui subjects Tanjiro and the other trainees to rigorous training, including a battle scene featuring Uzui versus Tanjiro and the trainees. This led to online comments such as "Tanjiro vs. Uzui battle!" "Uzui is too strong!" and "The trainees were cool too!"


Scene Cuts from "Demon Slayer: Hashira Training Arc" (C) Koyoharu Gotouge / Shueisha, Aniplex, ufotable

Scene Cuts from "Demon Slayer: Hashira Training Arc" (C) Koyoharu Gotouge / Shueisha, Aniplex, ufotable


While the story was captivating, the original manga's 15th volume (chapter 132) covers only “six panels” of this story.

In the manga, it begins with Tanjiro, fully recovered, starting his Pillar training. Uzui tells him, "Shake off the rust from your body here," to which Tanjiro responds enthusiastically, "Yes, I'll do my best!" Uzui’s three wives appear, and then Tanjiro moves on to his next Hashira training with Muichiro Tokito.


Scene Cuts from "Demon Slayer: Hashira Training Arc" (C) Koyoharu Gotouge / Shueisha, Aniplex, ufotable

Scene Cuts from "Demon Slayer: Hashira Training Arc" (C) Koyoharu Gotouge / Shueisha, Aniplex, ufotable


Thus, the battle between Uzui and Tanjiro and the trainees is not in the original manga. Additionally, the third episode includes a scene where the Wind Hashira, Sanemi Shinazugawa, and the Serpent Hashira, Obanai Iguro, challenge each other, which is also original to the anime.


Scene Cuts from "Demon Slayer: Hashira Training Arc" (C) Koyoharu Gotouge / Shueisha, Aniplex, ufotable

Scene Cuts from "Demon Slayer: Hashira Training Arc" (C) Koyoharu Gotouge / Shueisha, Aniplex, ufotable


The first episode of the anime began with a scene of Shinazugawa and Iguro working together to defeat a demon, which is also not in the manga. The ongoing anime-original content in the "Hashira Training Arc" has been praised online: "I’m grateful for depicting scenes not seen in the manga. I love the original, but I welcome this kind of original content," "The anime-original content in Demon Slayer does a great job of filling in the gaps from the manga, especially where mob slayers weren't named or Tanjiro’s interactions were minimal. This is what I call 'anime-original content with love for the work'...!" and "In the manga, this part felt like the tension was accelerating towards the final battle, leaving many things behind (which was great). The anime provides thorough follow-ups for the Wind and Serpent Hashira."


"Demon Slayer: Hashira Training Arc" covers episodes from volumes 15-16 of the manga, where Tanjiro and his friends train with the Hashira to become stronger.


Source : ORICON NEWS