Demon Slayer's Swordsmith Village Arc: Shocking Extended Finale

The latest episode of Demon Slayer: Swordsmith Village Arc, which aired on Sunday, came with a surprise announcement. Unlike most Spring 2023 anime shows, the series will wrap up next week with its 11th and final episode. However, the finale won't be a typical one, as it will run for a whopping 70 minutes. Demon Slayer has been a fan favorite since its debut in 2019, with the first 24 episodes being a massive success. The franchise's popularity skyrocketed with the release of the Mugen Train movie in 2020, which smashed box office records worldwide, despite the pandemic. The new TV series for Demon Slayer started with a seven-episode version of the Mugen Train Arc, followed by the ten-episode Entertainment District Arc in 2021.

The Swordsmith Village Arc premiered on April 9th, 2023 with a one-hour special, following the successful screening of the final two episodes of the Entertainment District Arc and the special across movie theaters in Japan and beyond. The global fervor surrounding Demon Slayer is evident from these events. The latest arc in the series sees Tanjiro on a mission to replace his broken sword, a task that can only be accomplished in a secret village in the mountains by skilled swordsmiths. However, his visit coincides with a dangerous attack by powerful high-tier demons, putting the future of these unique swords at risk. Tanjiro must rise to the occasion and save both the village and its precious craft from certain ruin.

As the Swordsmith Village Arc draws to a close, fans can rejoice in the fact that it has become the longest single arc in the series so far. With a one-hour opening episode and a 70-minute final episode, the arc boasts a total run time of around 13 average episodes, exceeding the previous record. This epic conclusion to the arc is sure to leave viewers satisfied and eagerly anticipating what's next in store for the anime.

Speculations suggest that the decision to air the final episode of Demon Slayer: Swordsmith Village Arc as an extra-long episode rather than dividing it into two parts stems from the fact that the story is expected to be a non-stop action-packed episode, much like the previous arcs' conclusions. Moreover, the plot may not have a natural stopping point, and splitting it into two may ruin the climax, leaving the audience disappointed. It is evident that the Swordsmith Village Arc is not the last season of Demon Slayer, and we can expect more enthralling seasons in the future. The final episode of the Swordsmith Village Arc is set to air on Crunchyroll on June 18, 2023.

Source: AnimeNewsNetwork