The first episode of Demon Slayer shows why the anime is one of the best

Some anime series take a while to get into the action, gradually building up before the series’ most exciting and emotional moments occur. Other popular shonen series such as Jujutsu Kaisen and My Hero Academia, for example, model this slow escalation, taking your time before depicting serious deaths, violence, and gore. The same cannot be said about Demon Slayer however. In the very first episode, aptly titled “Cruelty”, I was taken by surprise by the brutality and sadness that unfolded just the first few minutes.

The first episode of Demon Slayer was phenomenal in capturing my attention and immersing myself in the story. Instead of introducing the characters in a light-hearted light, the first episode pulls no punches, thrusting viewers straight into the horrors to come. Demon Slayer world that is tormented by violent and bloodthirsty creatures called demons. Before I even knew any character’s name, who they were or what their goals were, I was confronted with the most horrific and traumatic moment in the life of the protagonist, Tanjiro Kamado, revealed before the audience in all its emotions. , catastrophic detail.

Demon Slayer The shocking opening scene is unlike the first episode of any other anime

Demon King, Muzan Kibutsuji, murdered Tanjiro’s family and turned Nezuko into a demon like him

The episode begins with a brief history of the Kamado family, revealing the main character, Tanjiro Kamado, his parents, Tanjuro and Kie, and his five siblings, Hanako, Takeo, Shigeru, Rokuta and Nezuko. The family was very close, united and loving and, in this episode, they were experiencing an ordinary and happy day together like any other, this would soon unexpectedly turn into a nightmare. Tanjiro briefly left home to sell coal in the city and earn money to support his family, but when he returned shortly afterwards, an irreversible tragedy occurred that would change Tanjiro’s life forever.

While Tanjiro was away, a demon later revealed himself to be Muzan Kibutsuji, the Demon King, murdered Tanjiro’s entire family. Not only did he commit this atrocity, but he also turned Tanjiro’s only surviving brother, Nezuko, into a demon like him. I still vividly remember the feeling of shock and absolute horror I felt watching that first episode because of the sudden and violent way in which Tanjiro’s family lost their lives. I was also really surprised by the risks the series was willing to take in just the first episode, as for many anime it takes longer for the story to delve into such dark themes like death.

The shocking tragedy of the first episode sets the tone, revealing the true threat of the demons

Not only was Tanjiro introduced, the episode also revealed the true evil of Lord Muzan and the demons

Most anime series would be hesitant to kill off main characters or show extreme violence in the first episode, but this bold move worked in Demon Slayer please. In my opinion, it was necessary for a disaster like the death of Tanjiro’s family to happen early for prove how significant the threat of demons is to humanity. Instead of just stating this fact and telling the audience that demons are dangerous and end thousands of innocent human lives, this first episode showed what demons are capable of firsthand by depicting such a sickening sequence of merciless murder.

Lord Muzan is the main villain of Demon Slayer and the main conflicts and plot twists revolve around him. By introducing him so early in the series in such a petrifying way, it’s clear that he’s willing to do anything to carry out his villainous acts. Tanjiro didn’t realize that Muzan was responsible for the murders until much later, and once he made that connection, his anger and disgust for the Demon King only intensified. Not only was this fundamental Demon Slayer Time to summarize Tanjiro’s past, it gave him a reason to become a demon slayer.

The episode gives Tanjiro a touching motivation to sign up for the Demon Slayer Corps

His family’s murder and Nezuko’s transformation led Tanjiro to become a demon slayer

There are many members of the Demon Slayer Corps with various reasons for choosing this profession, but Tanjiro Kamado’s motivation is arguably more convincing and understandable than anyone else. After finding his family’s corpses that fateful day, he vowed to avenge them and kill as many demons as possible so that no one else would suffer the same dark fate. There was also another component to this promise: as Nezuko was now also a demon, Tanjiro swore to her that he would restore her humanity at all costs, and hoped to find a cure during his work as a demon slayer.

These first scenes are so effective because they allowed me to better understand Tanjiro as a characterlearn his origin story quickly and realize the factors that led him to join the Demon Slayer Corps. Tanjiro’s burning hatred for demons also makes more sense considering everything Lord Muzan and the demons took from him. His commitment to turning Nezuko back into a human is also very admirable and meaningful, as she is his last living relative and losing her would also be a bigger blow than he could bear after everyone else he loved was killed in one fell swoop. time.

The episode also illustrates the close sibling relationship between Tanjiro and Nezuko.

The Kamado brothers grew closer out of necessity, with no family member to turn to.

Episode one of Demon Slayer uncovered the relationship between Tanjiro and Nezuko. As the only two survivors of a disturbing tragedy, they have had to depend on each other even more. Nezuko was weakened by her demonic state, and fortunately, Tanjiro protected her from those who were violent towards her because she was a demon, as well as external threats like the sun. The first episode of the series is a shock to watch, but the way it introduces Tanjiro’s character, explains the threat of demons and Muzan, and establishes his bond with Nezuko, it was the perfect way to start Demon Slayer.