How to watch the Demon Slayer franchise in order
With the third season now drawn to a close, this is the perfect time to catch up.
When Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba debuted as a manga in 2016, it quickly took the world by storm, with over 150 million copies in circulation - making it the ninth best-selling manga series of all time.
It then went on to become the best-selling manga of 2019 and 2020, so it was a no-brainer that an anime was quickly on the way.
Soon after the anime's season 1 premiere in 2019 came more TV seasons and movies within the franchise that adapts Koyoharu Gotouge’s original manga - which ended in 2020, with 23 volumes in total.
However, it's important to note that you don't technically have to watch everything the Demon Slayer anime has released, as some instalments actually cover similar ground, or in fact even compact certain episodes into feature-length presentation. It can be a little confusing...
The series follows Tanjiro Kamado, a teenager who is training to be a demon slayer. We follow his journey as he climbs the demon slayer ranks after his family is killed and his sister is turned into a demon.
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With Demon Slayer season 3 having just concluded, adapting the Swordsmith Village arc, it's the perfect time to catch up on all the action so far.
But in what order do the different seasons and the film take place, and where can fans in the UK watch them all?
Read on for everything you need to know about how to watch the Demon Slayer franchise in order.
How to watch the Demon Slayer franchise in order
The Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba manga series has so far spawned three seasons of anime and two spin-off films.
The best order to watch the seasons in is as follows:
- Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba season 1
- Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – The Movie: Mugen Train OR Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba season 2 - Mugen Train Arc
- Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba season 2 - Entertainment District Arc
- Demon Slayer: Kimetsu No Yaiba - To the Swordsmith Village OR Demon Slayer: Kimetsu No Yaiba season 3 - Swordsmith Village Arc
- Demon Slayer: Kimetsu No Yaiba season 4 - Hashira Training Arc
However, that's not the be all and end all.
Newcomers to the franchise should start with season 1 of the anime, but it is after this that viewers will have different options presented to them.
The second season of the series was split into two separate arcs – the first is titled the Mugen Train Arc, while the second is the Entertainment District Arc.
The first film from the franchise is titled Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – The Movie: Mugen Train, and it covers the same story as the first half of the TV show’s second season. In fact, the film came first, but the TV show features some original content for viewers looking for something new.
The second film, Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – To the Swordsmith Village, adapts the final two episodes of season 2, as well as the first episode of season 3, while season 3 adapts the manga’s Swordsmith Village arc in full.
The fourth season will be adapting the Hashira Training arc, which is actually quite a short and sweet arc compared to the Swordsmith Village arc, meaning that season 4 could shape up to be more of a 'mini' season than season 3 was.
So, fans can either choose to watch the franchise in chronological order, or they can make a choice as to whether they want to enjoy the movie or watch that arc split up into episodes in season 2.
Season 3 of the anime series premiered on Crunchyroll on Sunday 9th April 2023, with its final episode airing on Sunday 18th June 2023.
Currently, there is no official announcement as to when we can expect Demon Slayer season 4.
However, looking at the past release schedules, we can make an educated guess.
Seasons 1 and 3 both premiered in April, whereas Demon Slayer: The Movie - Mugen Train and season 2 both premiered in October. Therefore, we could expect Demon Slayer season 4 to air in April 2024, and failing that, an October 2024 release seems likely.
Where are the Demon Slayer series and movies available in the UK?
The Demon Slayer franchise is available in full on anime-specific streaming service Funimation, including both seasons in full and the movie.
As well as this, all three seasons, alongside the Mugen Train movie, are available to stream on Crunchyroll in the UK.
Netflix is also home to Demon Slayer Kimetsu no Yaiba season 1, so if you're looking to dip a toe into the series before signing up for a new streaming service, that may be the best port of call for some viewers.
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All three seasons of Demon Slayer are currently available to watch on Crunchyroll. Visit our Fantasy hub for the latest news and features, or find something to watch with our TV Guide and Streaming Guide.
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