Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle trilogy’s first movie is now playing in theaters, finally adapting the climactic arc of the series in anime form. The previous season, the Hashira Training arc, set the stage by preparing the Demon Slayers for their final confrontation against the demon king, Muzan Kibutsuji, and his formidable Upper Moon Rank demons. As expected, this film highlights the overwhelming threat posed by the Upper Moons, while showing the Demon Slayers pushing past their limits and reaching new heights in preparation for the ultimate battle against Muzan. The first installment of the trilogy features three major fights in total, with two already reaching their conclusion.
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Warning: This article contains spoilers from the Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle Part 1
Although Shinobu Kocho’s confrontation with Upper Moon Rank Two, Doma, ended in a devastating loss with the Insect Hashira sacrificing her life, the other two battles delivered significant breakthroughs for Tanjiro Kamado and the fan-favorite Zenitsu Agatsuma. Zenitsu shocked fans by unveiling a form of his own creation, but it was the fight between Tanjiro and Giyu Tomioka against Akaza that brought the most impactful result: Tanjiro’s power upgrade. This not only solidifies his role as the central hero heading into the final showdown, but also resolves the lingering mystery of his Demon Slayer mark, which first appeared when his training began.
Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle Reveals Answers About Tanjiro’s Demon Slayer Mark
Tanjiro Kamado, the series’ main hero, was first introduced with a mark on his forehead, which he explained came from a burn. However, after completing his training to become a Demon Slayer, the burn scar transformed into a distinct mark. This was clarified in the Mugen Train arc by Rengoku’s father, who explained that certain talented Demon Slayers with such scars are born to fight demons, suggesting that Tanjiro’s path as a Demon Slayer was predestined. But Tanjiro’s power upgrade in the first movie of the Infinity Castle arc hides a crucial detail that reveals how Tanjiro truly developed this mark, confirming that his journey was not entirely predetermined.
In the movie, as Akaza continues to overpower Tanjiro and Giyu, Tanjiro realizes that vengeance alone is not enough to defeat his opponent, and he needs something greater to break through Akaza’s defenses. Reflecting on past moments, Tanjiro recalls a quiet night with his father in the woods, where he witnessed him strike down a bear with such speed that Tanjiro could not comprehend it. Now, he understands that his father showed no fighting spirit or malice during that moment, leading Tanjiro to realize that he, too, must fight without hatred. Through this revelation, he awakens the power of the “Selfless State,” also known as the “Transparent World.”
The striking detail is how Tanjiro was able to learn this supreme state of combat simply by watching his father. This technique, however, traces back further, and it can be pinpointed to his ancestor Sumiyoshi, who learned it from the mysterious man with the Hanafuda earrings and the Demon Slayer mark as revealed in the earlier episodes of Season 3, passing it down through the Hinokami dance ritual. Growing up watching his father perform this dance, Tanjiro was unknowingly being taught the key technique of the Demon Slayers. Thus, when he began training, he instinctively applied this powerful method, which led to him awakening the true Demon Slayer mark much earlier than others.
Other Demon Slayers Will Soon Follow Tanjiro’s Power Upgrade
With Tanjiro being the first to manifest the mark, it initially suggested that he was uniquely special. However, other Demon Slayers, particularly the Hashira, soon began developing marks of their own. Since Tanjiro awakened his mark through his father’s Hinokami dance ritual, it’s clear that his use of the Hinokami technique in battle also helped the Hashira grasp the essence of the true Demon Slayer’s skill, allowing them to awaken their marks as well. By the same logic, after Tanjiro’s latest power upgrade, it is likely that other Demon Slayers will follow, especially as the threats ahead only grow stronger.
Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle Part 2 is set to showcase battles against Upper Moon Ranks Two and One, making this ability essential for the Hashira as well. With communication easily carried out through the crows, Tanjiro could pass on this technique verbally, which would be easier for the highly skilled Hashira to adapt to. The first movie of the Infinity Castle arc not only resolved a lingering mystery about its main hero but also highlighted how carefully Tanjiro’s character has been crafted, which is a refreshing change considering how often Shonen anime heroes can feel repetitive.
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Image courtesy of Lucasfilm
