“Akaza” is the penultimate episode of the Demon Slayer Mugen Train Arc, bringing an end to Tanjiro’s fight with Enmu, and launching into easily the best sequence the anime has seen yet. As the events on the train end, the group is suddenly ambushed by Akaza, the upper-rank three demon.
This episode contains most of Rengoku’s fight with Akaza, and it’s just as stunning as it was in the film version. Akaza’s battle is a near-perfect confluence of animation, emotion, and music. The added context of the Mugen Train Arc’s first episode also really helps add even more heft to Rengoku’s dedication to fulfilling his “duty.”
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Again outside of the post-credits scene, there isn’t anything hugely new in “Akaza,” but boy do the colors pop in the battle. The neon blue of Akaza’s attacks plays the perfect foil to Rengoku’s brilliant red, and I can’t get over how well the whole sequence is directed – with the way an uneasy feeling creeps in as Rengoku steadily loses ground against his opponent. This is really Rengoku’s time to shine, but the episode also introduces Demon Slayer’s most compelling villain yet. At this point, we know next to nothing about Akaza, yet he’s still incredibly intimidating. Fans of the manga will, of course, know some of the tragic twists of his story, but the way the anime introduces him is definitely unforgettable.
There is one problem that crops up in “Akaza” with the episodic format, as the pacing feels a little strange. There’s essentially a quiet middle part bookended by two intense action sequences at the beginning and end of the episode. In the film format, the quiet after the battle with Enmu seemed more fitting, but here it just adds an overall sense of slowness to the episode. Still, it’s not a major problem considering the briskness of the battles.
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I will say that I’m a little disappointed the Mugen Train Arc, as a whole, hasn’t added any substantial new scenes. The first episode, of course, is entirely new, but there was a chance to add even more to the broadcast version. That’s not to say the Mugen Train Arc of the show is bad, it’s still just as fantastic as its film counterpart; there’s just a bit of a missed opportunity left by the wayside.
No matter what, though, the sixth episode of the Mugen Trian Arc sets up an unforgettable ending, and it’s a prime example to look at for what everything Demon Slayer gets so right.
SCORE: 9/10
As ComingSoon’s review policy explains, a score of 9 equates to “Excellent.” Entertainment that reaches this level is at the top of its type. The gold standard that every creator aims to reach.
Disclosure: The critic watched the episode on Funimation for ComingSoon’s Demon Slayer Mugen Train Arc Episode 6 – Akaza review.
