Demon Slayer Season 4 Episode 6 Raises the Excitement with Epic Training Montages (2024)

Muzan Kibutsuji and his army of powerful demons have been terrorizing Japan for eons now, preying on the innocent and defenseless. Their goal to hunt under the open sunlit sky seemed like a distant dream until news broke about Tanjiro Kamado's sister, Nezuko, being immune to the sun. Nezuko holds the key to the demons' goal, and Muzan needs it at all costs. Suddenly, the Demon Slayer Corps is on high alert. Protecting Nezuko from Muzan is their top priority. As the Hashira prepare for the upcoming war, they have outlined a training program that every lower-ranked demon slayer must attend. Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba is deep into the Hashira Training arc, which had its ups and downs, with more brutal drills to come.

Demon Slayer Season 4, Episode 6 brings Tanjiro and his friends to the door of the strongest Hashira, Gyomei Himejima, who has some of the harshest training in store for the young demon slayers. After getting involved in a fist fight with the Wind Hashira, Tanjiro finds himself on his way out of Sanemi's dojo and in to Himejima's house deep in the woods. The episode puts the boys through the grind, with their tears, sweat, and friendship making the viewers go through a rollercoaster of emotions. Just as they give their all in training, they also bare their feelings, giving the episode a warm and human feeling as the cold, demonic touch of Muzan inches closer.

Demon Slayer Season 4, Episode 6 Makes Hashira Training Fun

The Episode Has Equal Doses of Comedy, Emotions, and Struggle

Demon Slayer Season 4, Episode 6 welcomes the audience to a more traditional form of training, as they follow Tanjiro into the next stage of the Hashira Training arc. Training montages have always been a popular cinematic tool to inspire viewers while giving the hero a growth spurt. This episode is no different, but it does away with all the fancy sword swinging and shifts to good old-fashioned physical training. As a Buddhist monk, Himejima designed a regimen for everyone that was a common practice for ascetic Japanese monks of the anime's time period (namely Feudal Japan). Tanjiro has been comfortably advancing through the training for a while now. So, when he finds a boulder blocking his road to success in a very literal sense, he works hard to overcome it alongside many other demon slayers. This depiction of a shared struggle is not only motivational, but it also gives the Hashira Training arc the feel of a retro martial arts movie, with The 36th Chamber of Shaolin coming to mind thanks to its strong Buddhist connotations.

Episode 6 also eases viewers into the story with hilarious antics from the iconic trio of Zenitsu, Inosuke, and Tanjiro. Whether it is Inosuke falling unconscious while meditating under a waterfall or Zenitsu washing away with the stream, the episode makes training fun in the company of friends. But, subtly, it also hints at how deceptively calm and safe the whole thing is. The Hashira Training arc has been missing any rush or element of risk so far. This changes with the Stone Hashira's training. Suddenly, the young demon slayers yearn for the comforts of home, with their reminiscing giving the tale an emotional undertone. The episode makes quite the jump from slapstick comedy to drama. And, like always, it is Tanjiro's bright smile and thoughtfulness that brings the other characters out of their shell and rut.

As the boys share stories, the episode's pace meanders a bit in the middle before taking a lunge in the final act. Everything that audiences love about training scenes in movies and anime happens in the episode's final moments as Tanjiro fails, picks himself up, and starts the grind anew. This is not only inspiring, but also a spectacular display of what training scenes are about. It really is all about conquering one's limit to grow stronger. The anime finally gets the basics right and while it can feel a bit formulaic, it cannot be fully blamed for the rhythm of events that the manga set in stone. The only change from the manga that the episode adds is giving a face and name to the demon, who has been spying on the Demon Slayer Corps this whole time. While this does not affect the overall plot, it at least provides exposition into how Muzan plans to find the Ubuyashiki mansion as the story inches closer to an inevitable clash.

Demon Slayer Season 4, Episode 6 Let Its Characters Be Kids Again

Friendships and Tanjio's Undying Determination Lighten the Burden

Since its debut, Demon Slayer always made Tanjiro the smiling, compassionate friend sandwiched between two of the loudest and most obnoxious goofballs imaginable. Demon Slayer Season 4, Episode 6 reunites the three for the first time since the season started, and, as expected, their friendship is what carries the episode -- at least in the opening act. But aside from Zenitsu and Inosuke, Tanjiro also makes a bunch of new friends among the other demon slayers, who have been stuck in the same situation as him, lifting logs and pushing rocks to no avail. Some saw him surpass great odds, while others fell in love with the brotherly way he treats them. Misery loves company, as the boys band together and talk about something else other than their training. This is a rare heartfelt gesture that the episode keeps up till the end.

This positivity continues into the final act, and it even plays a hand in the plot. Here, Tanjiro meets Genya for the first time since the whole fiasco involving his brother, the Wind Hashira. As a token of gratitude, Genya gives Tanjiro hints on how to pass the final test in Himejima's training. But more than that, it shows the bond they created over the space of a story arc where Genya was seriously concerned about his friend's well-being and wants to help him out. This is where Tanjiro, as the protagonist, shines because of his ability to connect with people. With renewed energy, he gives the boulder another push, this time with the audience rooting for him. It almost feels Shakespearean, where a simple cameo nudges both the story and the characters forward.

Even with so many of the cast around, voice actor Natsuki Hanae is easily the most memorable. As the voice of Tanjiro, he keeps up an upbeat rhythm to his character's scenes. He changes his pitch to match Tanjiro's emotions, whether it is a comedic moment where he is calling after Zenitsu or if he's charging up to unlock his powers during the training montage's peak. The reason he acts so well is because of the playfulness his colleagues bring to the table. Hiro Shimono and Yosh*tsugu Matsuoka -- who voice Zenitsu and Inosuke respectively -- act their hearts out in a frenzy of madcap humor. Even Tomokazu Sugita pulls his weight in the few scenes he gets as Gyomei Himejima, with a poignancy emanating from his soft yet deep voice.

Demon Slayer’s Animation Does Not Have Much to Do in This Episode

Ufotable Makes Up for the Lack of Action With Gorgeous Background Art and Hilarious Slapstick

Demon Slayer Season 4, Episode 6 is hectic and noisy, but no one would say that when looking at its background art. A good part of the episode is set out in the open, particularly beside a rocky river bed and a glistening waterfall. Natural beauty aside, Ufotable makes every element in the frame interactive with the characters as they splash around in the water, move rocks, and cook food. It may all seem peaceful, but as soon as the episode shifts into comedy, it is fair play for the caricaturish faces and hyperactive animation. From Zenitsu making angry faces to Inosuke blowing hot air out of his boar mask, Ufotable's animation tracks the characters' many moods and replicates them perfectly on the screen. The final scene with Tanjiro is the most fun Ufotable has with this episode's animation, reminding fans of the kind of special effects and physical comedy they can bring to life.

Demon Slayer has been toying with the idea that a darkness is quickly approaching the Demon Slayer Corps for some time now. But, with the slow pace of the Hashira Training arc, it always seemed far away. Demon Slayer Season 4, Episode 6 is not only an enjoyable training episode, but it also shines some light on Muzan's next move. The episode does well to juggle so many characters at once, letting them voice their opinions, hopes, and wishes. And at the center of it all is Tanjiro, carrying everyone's goodwill on his back. No one knows where that will lead the character, but looking at how things turn out in this episode, the future sure looks bright.

Demon Slayer Season 4 is now streaming on Crunchyroll.

Demon Slayer Season 4 Episode 1

TV-MA

Anime

Action

Adventure

8

10

When Tanjiro Kamado returns home to find his family was attacked and killed by demons, he discovers his younger sister Nezuko was the only survivor. As Nezuko slowly becomes a demon, Tanjiro sets out to find a cure for her and become a demon slayer so he can avenge his family.

Release Date

April 6, 2019

Cast

Natsuki Hanae , Zach Aguilar , Abby Trott , Yosh*tsugu Matsuoka

Main Genre

Anime

Seasons

4

Studio

ufotable

Creator

Koyoharu Gotouge

Streaming Service(s)

Crunchyroll , Hulu , Amazon Prime Video , Netflix

Pros

• Well-paced episode with a good focus on characters.
• The Stone Hashira's training forces Tanjiro to give his all.
• Emotional undertone that feels inspiring to watch.

Cons

• The episode drags in the middle, lacking intensity.