English Dub Review: Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Hashira Training Arc “Stone Hashira Gyomei Himejima”

Overview (Spoilers Below):
During the boulder training, Tanjiro is able to move the boulder, thanks to Genya’s training advice.  However, Tanjiro has used all of his power to do so, and he is saved by Himejima after he collapses.  Himejima, moved by Tanjiro’s genuineness, begins to talk to him about his past…

Our Take:
The Hashira Training has been completed, but that doesn’t mean this part of the story is also finished.  With Tanjiro’s strength restored, we get one more piece of history from one of the Hashiras, and it’s none other than Himejima.  The series is known for delving into the powerful characters’ backstories, revealing their vulnerability alongside their exceptional sword skills. So, it’s no surprise that the penultimate episode of the Hashira Training Arc is no exception, as Himejima wasn’t always cynical.
Via a flashback, Himejima was once a kindhearted monk who watches over the orphans until a demon arrives and kills the children.  He was able to save the young girl, Saio, during the onslaught, but his misinterpretation of her remarks left him feeling cynical and distrustful towards people, including children.  Fortunately, his inspiration from Tanjiro’s perseverance and selflessness made him change his tune for the better, as he learned that not everyone cares about themselves.  But, of course, the heartfelt moments between the Hashiras are bound to be interrupted by some drama, mainly from Sanemi’s salty attitude toward Tanjiro.  But that’s not even the worst part.  Following some teases involving Nakime’s eyes following the trainees everywhere, we finally get into the long-awaited confrontation between the Hashiras and Muzan, with the latter infiltrating the Corps.
The episode signified that we’ve finally reached the arc’s climax, part of which is due to it being a few minutes longer than the previous episodes.  However, some of those extra minutes were for Muzan’s grand entrance, which ran a bit longer than it should have.  However, that hardly mattered due to the animation for that sequence being freaking incredible.  Ufotable never failed to impress me with its impeccable mixture of 2D animation and CGI for specific sequences, whether action-packed or dramatic, and the episode’s ending is no different.  Along with Himejima’s heartwarming yet tragic flashback, “Stone Hashira Gyomei Himejima” effectively sets the stage for what seems to be another thrilling season finale.