Demon Slayer season 4 has begun, which means the Hashira Training arc is well underway and we're inching ever close to Tanjiro's endgame.
To help get viewers on the same page for the new chapter, we've put together a guide to Demon Slayer season 4. That includes pre-release materials such as trailers and posters, and even which manga chapters it's adapting for those reading along with the source material.
That's just the start. Our complete Demon Slayer: Hashira Training Arc rundown has the full cast list, plus a Demon Slayer season 4 recap of the story so far. We also speculate about the episode count for the new season.
Ready? It’s time to follow your nose and cut through the noise. Here’s everything you need to know about Demon Slayer season 4, AKA the Hashira Training arc. If you're still playing catch up, here’s our guide on how to watch Demon Slayer in order.
For more from some of the biggest names in anime, be sure to read our guides to Jujutsu Kaisen season 3, One-Punch Man season 3, and the Chainsaw Man movie – as well as the latest on all the new anime coming your way in 2024.
Demon Slayer season 4 release dates and times
The Demon Slayer season 4 release date was May 12, 2024. It is streaming exclusively on Crunchyroll.
New Demon Slayer episodes will premiere weekly on Sundays moving forward. For the latest, check out the confirmed Demon Slayer season 4 release schedule.
Demon Slayer season 4, episode 2 will launch on May 19, 2024 at May 19 at 10:45 AM Pacific and 1:45 PM Eastern. That's 6:45 PM BST in the UK.
Demon Slayer season 4 recap: the story so far
The first episode sees the Wind and Serpent Hashiras on a rescue mission, which suddenly transforms into a curious piece of intel as they stumble upon the entrance to the Infinity Castle. Unfortunately for them, it slams shut before they can get in.
Elsewhere, Tanjiro is recovering from his exploits in the Swordsmith Village, while Zenitsu and Inosuke both return to his side at Hashira's HQ.
A dying Kagaya is replaced in a Hashira meeting by his wife, Amane. While there, she makes note of the odd markings that have started appearing on the demon slayers. Also, she believes Muzan will try and claim Nezuko (who has 'conquered the sun') for his own studies. To prepare, she instructs each Hashira to begin training the new generation of Demon Slayer corps, with the teachers creating their own bespoke sessions to fit their personalities and skillsets. The Water Hashira refuses to participate, however.
The extra-long Demon Slayer season 4 premiere episode ends with demon-doctor Tamayo being enlisted by the demon slayer corps for a new plan to take down Muzan Kibutsuji...
Demon Slayer season 4 story: which manga chapters is it adapting?
Demon Slayer season 4 will follow on from the end of the Swordsmith Village arc (chapters 98-127 of the manga) by adapting the Hashira Training arc (chapters 128-136). If you’re following on in the bundled editions, that’s the latter half of Volume 15 and the first three chapters in Volume 16.
No spoilers here, but the source material does give us a taste of what to expect.
The book synopsis reads: "Tanjiro goes to see the Stone Hashira, Himejima, who intends to prepare him for the battles to come. The training to become a Hashira – a high-ranking member of the Demon Slayer Corps – is intense and demanding, and earning Himejima’s approval seems impossible, but Tanjiro won’t give up!"
In straightforward terms, expect Tanjiro to harness more of his powers with the help of various Hashira. The Stone Hashira, Water Hashira, Insect Hashira, Wind Hashira, and Snake Hashira have already been confirmed for the Hashira Training arc, with the 'To the Hashira Training' outlining the group's plans to train the Demon Slayer Corps with a series of well-honed regimens that cater to each Hashira's style.
The upcoming season should also revolve around the emergence of Nezuko’s new powers, namely that she can ‘conquer the sun’ and exist as a demon in the daylight. Series antagonist Muzan Kibutsuji, as shown in the Swordsmith Village finale, is aware of those developments and will be hot on her tail.
Looking further ahead, it also appears to be the last step before the very final anime storyline, dubbed the Final Battle/Infinity Castle arc.
To the Hashira Training: is Demon Slayer season 4 a movie?
Demon Slayer season 4 is not a movie. Instead, the 'To the Hashira Training' release follows the same path as the lead-up to the release of the Swordsmith Village arc.
Titled To the Hashira Training, the new Demon Slayer 'movie' (we hesitate to call it a full feature-length adventure) specifically combines Swordsmith Village arc episode 11 with Demon Slayer season 4, episode 1.
That got a limited release in February. Demon Slayer season 4, including an hour-long first episode, will release this May.
Demon Slayer season 4 cast
Tanjiro (Natsuki Hanae), Zenitsu (Hiro Shimono), Inosuke (Yoshitsugu Matsuoka), and Nezuko (Akari Kitou) will all return to the Demon Slayer season 4 cast in the Hashira Training arc.
The Water Hashira Giyu Tomioka (Takahiro Sakurai), Serpent Hashira Obanai Iguro (Kenichi Suzumura), Insect Hashira Shinobu Kocho (Saori Hayami), Wind Hashira Sanemi Shinazugawa (Tomokazu Seki), Mist Hashira (Kengo Kawanshi), Love Hashira (Kana Hanazawa) and Stone Hashira Gyomei Himejima (Tomokazu Sugita) will each be a major presence as Tanjiro begins his training. The former Sound Hashira Tengen Uzui (Katsuyuki Konishi) is also part of the cast.
Demon Slayer season 4 trailer: Hashira Training teaser
The most recent trailer for the Hashira Training season was released in March. While it only features footage from the first episode of the upcoming season, it does tease the upcoming arc. The Hashira will guide Tanjiro through to potentially being a Hashira-in-waiting, and they will train the next generation of Demon Slayer Corps against the surviving Twelve Kizuki/Upper Moons.
The first Demon Slayer season 4 trailer featured a quick recap of the arcs covered so far, plus the confirmed clutch of characters in the new arc. You can also see the new poster below, which highlights the Hashira involved in the titular training.
Demon Slayer season 4 episode count: how many episodes are in the Hashira Training arc?
The first season of Demon Slayer consisted of 26 episodes – but episode counts have been dwindling since then. The Mugen Train and Entertainment District arcs were seven and 11 episodes respectively, while Swordsmith Village was also 11 episodes.
Hashira Training, however, only has a small amount of source material to draw from. Without some serious padding, it’s unlikely to stack up to even Mugen Train’s truncated seven-episode run. While it’s been confirmed as a full season, we wouldn’t be surprised for it to be a short pit stop on the way to bigger things – a a six-to-eight episode season would be our educated guess.
Where to watch Demon Slayer
The first three seasons of Demon Slayer are available to watch on Crunchyroll. The first three seasons are now also available on Netflix and Hulu in some regions.
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