Although lacking exceptionalstorytelling likeAttack on Titan,One Piece, orHunter x Hunter,Demon Slayerhas taken the anime industry by storm. Ufotable, the studio responsible for its breathtaking visuals, is perhaps the main contributor to its success. The animation, especially during the action sequences, is noteworthy.Demon Slayermanga was already well-known when it was released due to its high-quality story and fast-paced action, but the anime elevated its reputation.
Demon Slayerseason 1 premiered in 2019 and quickly became the most popular anime of the year, but it was only the beginning. Despite COVID-19 restrictions,Demon Slayer The Movie: Mugen Trainamassed record-breaking earnings in 2021, becoming the highest-grossing film at the Japanese Box Office. We assumed the second season ofDemon Slayercouldn’t possibly get any better, but theEntertainment District Arcblew our minds with its out-of-this-world animation.
This makes us wonder what the upcoming season has in store for the viewers. Well, Crunchyroll’s YouTube channel has released the official trailer forDemon Slayer: Swordsmith Village Arc, and here’s a breakdown for better comprehension.
To the Swordsmith Village
The trailer picks upafter theEntertainment District Arc, where Tanjiro fought the Upper Moon Six Gyutaro and his sister Daki alongside Uzui Tengen, the Sound Hashira, Zenitsu, Inosuke, and Nezuko. As the narration begins with the inspirational words, “Those who have mastered their skill share the same fate. You’ll always find your way back to the same place,” the sword smiths are seen forging swords, which we can presume in the hidden Swordsmith village based on the arc’s name.
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Apparently, Tanjiro has a habit of damaging his Nichirin sword whenever he fights a stronger enemy, perhaps, due to his inability to control his breathing techniques. Unfortunately, Hotaru Haganezuka, his swordsmith, eventually grows tired of repairing all his swords and refuses to pay him a visit. So Tanjiro has no choice but to travel to the village of sword smiths to commission a new blade. However, it seems he only brought Nezuko with him, so aside from a few appearances, we probably won’t see Zenitsu or Inosuke in action.
When the brother and sister duo grow excited to see the village that has been the backbone of the demon slayer corps, they meet some unexpected people, Love Hashira and Mist Hashira, whom we have been hoping to see in action since the first season.
Love and Mist Hashiras
Tanjiro’s main objective upon entering the village was to have Hotaru Haganezuka build a new blade for him. However, he never expects to meet these esteemed swordsmen, who, despite appearing strange in the trailer, appear highly reliable, the same as Tanjiro felt when he met Rengoku Kyojuro, the Flame Hashira inDemon Slayer The Movie: Mugen Train. The trailer also includes clips of these Hashiras in action, demonstrating their honed breathing techniques, and the studio made an effort to add a touch of uniqueness.
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We also meet Genya, who has only appeared a few times since the first season, and we expect to seemore than brief cameosfrom this fascinating character this season. Meanwhile, a threat seems to be looming near the village, which is highly improbable because demon slayer corps always change their location so that Muzan Kibutsuji cannot find it, but it seems they have failed this time. Since Hashiras has the reputation as the strongest demon slayers, Love Hashira and Mist Hashira would certainly elevate this season to new heights.
Battle Against the Upper Moons
While the village’s sword smiths have been working diligently to produce thebest weapons for demon slayers, two upper-moon demons have infiltrated it. As shown in the trailer, a couple of masked villagers run away from something, and we see Love Hashira performing various sword skills to attack the enemy. Gyokko, the upper moon five, and Hantengu, the upper moon four, have apparently discovered the settlement, implying that the battle will be difficult this time as opposed toEntertainment District Arc, where there was only one upper moon. As a result, we see Mist Hashira battling one demon and Love Hashira facing the other. However, there could be more than two demons, given how Tanjiro pushes himself to unleash his strongest technique at the end of the trailer.
While the trailer was brief, it included Akaza and Douma, upper three and upper two demons, as well as Mist Hashira and Love Hashira fighting the two upper moon demons. As the previous season revealed, the third season would most likely begin with the meeting of upper moon demons with Muzan; therefore, Akaza and Douma will not play any important roles in theSwordsmith Village Arc.
The trailer does leave many questions unanswered, such as why the upper demons chose to attack the village rather than informing Muzan of its whereabouts or why the Hashiras are in Swordsmith village when they’re usually off safeguarding the world from demons.
Demon Slayer: Swordsmith Village Arcwill be released on Crunchyroll on July 22, 2025, and we’ll be able to get answers to all of our questions.
