Demon Slayer first became a household name among anime fans when it aired back in 2019. After episode 19 of the first season broke the internet, it seemed unlikely for the series to follow it up in the second season. Nevertheless, Studio Ufotable once again astonished the fan base with its breathtaking adaption of Demon Slayer’s fights due to the incredible animation. However, how faithful was Ufotable’s adaptation to the manga, and what changes did they make?
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What was Cut
In fact, the anime is incredibly faithful to the manga and leaves almost nothing out. The only thing omitted is some small information blurbs used for narration in the manga. Because there is no narrator in Demon Slayer, these dialogue boxes usually have to be cut. However, the show manages to keep most of the information by turning it into dialogue. For instance, the buff mice in episode 4 had a panel explaining their origin as Tengen’s familiars. In the show, this information is given to us by Inosuke’s dialogue.
Unfortunately, not all the narration dialogue is able to make its way into the show. One tidbit of information that was lost was regarding Tengen’s swords. Within the manga, it states “These swords have an unbelievable explosive strength. Nobody knows how they work, for those who have received a blow from them have never survived.” Even though we are later shown Tengen’s explosive swords, the bit of information makes Tengen seem much more threatening as a Hashira.
What Was Added
One of the first additions to the adaption was in the second episode when the characters arrive in Yoshiwara, the home of the Entertainment District. Instead of cutting straight to the house where Tengen puts the boys undercover, the anime adds in a few scenes that showcase the town. This addition sets the scene for the next 9 episodes by making Yoshiwara feel more alive. It also includes a scene with Tengen and the boys that helps establish a somewhat comedic dynamic with Tengen.
Demon Slayer made another notable addition to the Entertainment District Arc by adding a scene of Tengen with his wives. In episode 9, all four characters have a picnic in front of the grave of Tengen’s sibling. Tengen laments his lost siblings by stating, he will live the flashiest life possible for their sake. Afterward, Tengen has a sentimental moment with one of his wives, Hinatsuru, followed by funny banter from the two other wives, showcasing their personalities.
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Another small but incredibly important addition was the elongated fighting sequence between Tengen and Gyutaro, the upper-six demon. In the manga, Tengen’s rescue of Tanjiro, which leads to them cutting off Gyutaro’s head, is one incredibly short transition. There are only 2 or 3 panels depicting the actual fighting that lead up to the battle’s climax. In the anime, Ufotable turned these panels into a breathtaking 2-minute long battle sequence between Tengen and Gyutaro.
How the Changes Affected the Show
Ufotable’s extension of the final battle between Tengen and Gyutaro without a doubt enhanced the show. Certainly, the incredible movie-level animation was beyond anyone’s expectations, but it also was an excellent showcasing of Tengen’s abilities. After Rengoku’s intense battle in Demon Slayer: Mugen Train, viewers were shown the sheer power that comes with being a Hashira. Tengen’s previous showing didn’t quite live up to the same level as Rengoku, but in this final fight he definitely showed off why he has earned the title of ‘The Sound Hashira’.
However, the scene between Tengen and his wives might be a more controversial addition, since it could be seen as a stereotypical mid-fight flashback. These types of flashbacks are notorious among anime fans since they tend to disrupt the flow of the battle and are drawn out. Typically, the flashbacks are used to pad time and add a bit of cheap emotional weight to the following scene. Additionally, it is not the only flashback used in the episode.
A defense of the flashback scene is that it helped to add a bit more weight to the subsequent scenes involving Tengen’s wives. The next flashback shows Tengen with his wives deciding to retire as demon slayers after slaying an upper-six demon. The extra scene before provides a glimpse into the sort of everyday life that they wish to have.
Overall, Demon Slayer’s 2nd season not only managed to adapt everything in the manga, but also provided some additions that enhanced the show beyond the source material. This was a surprise to manga-readers, who got a small treat with new content. So as it turns out, anime-only watchers didn’t miss out on anything!
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