Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – To the Hashira Training
Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – To the Hashira Training, also known simply as Demon Slayer: To the Hashira Training, is a 2024 Japanese animated dark fantasy action feature-length compilation of "Swordsmith Village" and "Hashira Training" arcs from the 2016–20 manga series Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba by Koyoharu Gotouge. It is a direct sequel to the third season of the anime television series as well as its second feature-length compilation of episodes released in movie theaters, following Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – To the Swordsmith Village. The episodes in the compilation are directed by Haruo Sotozaki and written by Ufotable staff members.
Similarly to the Swordsmith Village compilation, To the Hashira Training acts as a compilation film to the anime television series, incorporating fully the last episode of the third season and the first episode of the fourth season, which was broadcast later in the same year, as well as an edited summary using footage of previous episodes at the beginning.
Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – To the Hashira Training was released in Japan on February 2, 2024, by Aniplex and Toho in Japan and Crunchyroll and Sony Pictures Releasing worldwide. Like its predecessors, the film received generally positive reviews and grossed over $50 million worldwide. A film trilogy set after the events of the fourth season has been confirmed, with the first installment, Part 1: Akaza Returns, premiered on July 18, 2025.
Plot
In the Demon Slayer Corps' Swordsmith Village, Tanjiro Kamado, his demon sister Nezuko, and Demon Slayer Genya Shinazugawa assist Love Hashira Mitsuri Kanroji against Upper Rank Four Hantengu, who has hidden himself while his manifested hatred Zohakuten attacks them. In the midst of battle, Mitsuri awakens a mysterious mark that greatly enhances her strength and speed, forcing him to focus on her and allowing the three to pursue Hantengu. Tanjiro uses his Hinokami Kagura to slash his neck, but Hantengu summons his manifested resentment Urami.Urami attacks Genya and Tanjiro until Nezuko burns him with her Blood Demon Art. They fall down a cliff when Mist Hashira Muichiro Tokito and swordsmiths Kozo Kanamori, Kotetsu, and Hotaru Haganezuka arrive to support them. With his last strength, Muichiro gives Tanjiro Hotaru's unfinished sword. He beheads Urami but Nezuko begins to burn as dawn breaks. Panicking, Tanjiro then sees that Urami's beheaded body is still moving because Hantengu is not dead.
Tanjiro freezes in his indecision until Nezuko signals him to kill the demon. He finds Hantengu hiding in Urami's heart and exposes him to sunlight after slicing Urami in half. Hantengu remembers his human past as Tanjiro kills him, saving Mitsuri as well when Zohakuten disintegrates. Tanjiro mourns Nezuko's death but she is revealed to be alive, no longer burning, and has regained the ability to speak slightly.
Through Hantengu's memories, Muzan Kibutsuji learns of Nezuko's new immunity, realizing his goal to be immortal will be fulfilled if he devours her. In the aftermath of the battle, Muichiro thanks Tanjiro for helping him to regain his identity, Mitsuri embraces them for all for surviving, and the village celebrate the siblings for their victory.
In another mission, Serpent Hashira Obanai Iguro and Wind Hashira Sanemi Shinazugawa investigate an abandoned temple inhabited by demons. They discover it is one of several portals to the Infinity Castle, a vast extra-dimensional space that serves as Muzan's lair. While his friends Zenitsu and Inosuke return from their missions, Tanjiro recovers from his wounds; Hotaru gives him a new sword with the late Flame Hashira Kyojuro Rengoku's tsuba on it.
The Corps' leader Kagaya Ubuyashiki has become bedridden, and his wife Amane summons the Hashira to a meeting in his stead. Muichiro and Mitsuri inform them about the awakening of their marks, both of which happened under extreme duress. To ensure the others can attain theirs as well, they must undergo a special training regimen and submit the Corps to it, in order to prepare everyone for Muzan's arrival for Nezuko. However, Water Hashira Giyu Tomioka refuses to participate and leaves. Elsewhere, the demon Tamayo is visited by a Kasugai crow on Kagaya's behalf, asking her to join forces with the Corps.
Voice cast
| Character | Japanese | English |
| Tanjiro Kamado | Natsuki Hanae | Zach Aguilar |
| Nezuko Kamado | Akari Kitō | Abby Trott |
| Muichiro Tokito | Kengo Kawanishi | Griffin Burns |
| Mitsuri Kanroji | Kana Hanazawa | Kira Buckland |
| Hantengu / Upper Rank 4 | Toshio Furukawa Koichi Yamadera | Christopher Corey Smith Ben Balmaceda |
| Gyokko / Upper Rank 5 | Kohsuke Toriumi | Brent Mukai |
| Genya Shinazugawa | Nobuhiko Okamoto | Zeno Robinson |
| Hotaru Haganezuka | Daisuke Namikawa | Robbie Daymond |
| Kozo Kanamori | Eiji Takemoto | Kyle Hebert |
| Kotetsu | Ayumu Murase | Jeannie Tirado |
| Zenitsu Agatsuma | Hiro Shimono | Aleks Le |
| Inosuke Hashibira | Yoshitsugu Matsuoka | Bryce Papenbrook |
| Kanao Tsuyuri | Reina Ueda | Brianna Knickerbocker |
| Kagaya Ubuyashiki | Toshiyuki Morikawa | Matthew Mercer |
| Amane Ubuyashiki | Rina Satō | Suzie Yeung |
| Muzan Kibutsuji | Toshihiko Seki | Greg Chun |
| Obanai Iguro | Kenichi Suzumura | Erik Scott Kimerer |
| Giyu Tomioka | Takahiro Sakurai | Johnny Yong Bosch |
| Gyomei Himejima | Tomokazu Sugita | Crispin Freeman |
| Shinobu Kocho | Saori Hayami | Erika Harlacher |
| Sanemi Shinazugawa | Tomokazu Seki | Kaiji Tang |
| Tengen Uzui | Katsuyuki Konishi | Ray Chase |
| Hinatsuru | Atsumi Tanezaki | Anairis Quiñones |
| Makio | Shizuka Ishigami | Erica Mendez |
| Suma | Nao Tōyama | Emi Lo |
| Aoi Kanzaki | Yuri Ehada | Reba Buhr |
| Tamayo | Maaya Sakamoto | Laura Post |
| Yushiro | Daiki Yamashita | Kyle McCarley |
| Sumi Nakahara | Ayumi Mano | Michelle Marie |
| Kiyo Terauchi | Nanami Yamashita | Jackie Lastra |
| Naho Takada | Yuki Kuwahara | Kimberly Woods |
| Goto | Makoto Furukawa | Derek Stephen Prince |
| Tecchin Tecchikawahara | Yûsaku Yara | Mike McFarland |
Release
Theatrical
The film was theatrically released in Japan on February 2, 2024. It was also theatrically released on February 22, 2024, in Brazil and various European countries. In the United States, Canada and India, it was theatrically released on February 23, 2024, via Crunchyroll and Sony Pictures Releasing.World Tour dates
Reception
Box office
, Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – To the Hashira Training has grossed $17.6 million in the United States and Canada, and $32.7 million in other territories, for a worldwide total of $50.4 million.In the United States and Canada, Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – To the Hashira Training was released alongside Drive-Away Dolls and Ordinary Angels, and was projected to gross $7–8 million from 1,949 theaters in its opening weekend. It ended up over-performing and debuting to $11.6 million, finishing in second behind Bob Marley: One Love.
Critical response
American audiences surveyed by CinemaScore gave the film an average grade of "B+" on an A+ to F scale, while those polled at PostTrak gave it an 84% positive score, with 68% saying they would definitely recommend the film.Writing for Fiction Horizon, Arthur S. Poe gave the film an 8/10 score, concluding that "Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – To the Hashira Training is a great work as far as a recap/preview movie is concerned. The editing part was amazing, the selection of music brought back some memories, and all in all, it is a satisfying work that definitely has us wanting more Demon Slayer content."