Review of Sword of the Demon Hunter: Kijin Gentosho
The title and cover might make you think it’s just another generic shonen fantasy series. Fortunately, it’s not. This story has real depth, with both its plot and characters developed across multiple arcs. At first, it may seem like a fast-paced show, but after the opening events, it reveals itself to be more of a slow-burn, calm narrative. That said, don’t mistake it for being dull; it still delivers action and flashiness if that’s what you’re looking for. The action is solid, but the true strength lies in the storytelling. Some people say it feels like “if Demon Slayer and Frieren had a baby,” which is actuallya great analogy. At first, it might sound confusing, but after about five episodes, the comparison makes perfect sense.
The characters are entertaining and very charming. Stories like this aren’t made often, but not because they’re too unique, but because audiences tend to prefer flashier, fast-paced series. While there’s plenty of drama, conflict, action, and training, the pacing here is calmer and slower than most modern 2020s anime. It’s reminiscent of the 2000s in style. Not as slow as older anime from the ’90s, ’80s, or ’70s, but steady enough to be distinct. This slower, calmer storytelling is part of the series’ charm, fitting the tone beautifully.
The animation is good, but nothing groundbreaking, and certainly above average. The music, on the other hand, is genuinely impressive.
At first, the narrative might feel confusing due to some context jumps, but these are intentional, meant to “rattle” the audience. Before long, you adapt and recognize the pattern, and it ends up fitting well with the traits of the main character.
The story also deals with demons/oni. While they are meant to be slain as “evil,” the morality isn’t as black and white as in most shows. Context and moral questions are woven in effectively.
Overall, this is a great series with strong storytelling, steady pacing, good animation, excellent music, and very well-developed characters.