Sword Of The Demon Hunter: Season 1 Collection (Blu-ray Review)
RATED: UR/Region: O/1:78/1080P/NUMBER OF DISCS 3
AVAILABLE FROM Acorn Media
Well, that’s certainly a title that doesn’t believe in brevity. Sword of the Demon Hunter: Season 1 Collection sounds less like an anime and more like something you’d have to recite three times before a demon agrees to let you into its dungeon. But if you’re in the mood for supernatural samurai adventures, tragic backstories, demons, revenge, and enough misery to make even the most emotionally exhausted warrior consider taking up gardening, there’s plenty going on here.
The story follows Jinta, a young man who becomes a demon hunter and protector of a shrine maiden in a small Japanese village. After a fateful encounter with a powerful demon, he gains extraordinary abilities and learns of a terrifying prophecy. His life is turned upside down, his family is torn apart, and he eventually embarks on a journey that stretches across centuries. You know, the usual consequences of having a really bad day at work.
What I like about the premise is that it isn’t simply another anime about some ridiculously powerful swordsman wandering around looking for things to chop in half. There’s a much bigger story involving family, betrayal, destiny, loss, and the passage of time. It has that historical fantasy atmosphere that makes for an interesting change of pace from the usual fantasy adventures involving teenagers screaming the names of their special attacks for approximately 45 seconds before actually doing something.
And speaking of time, this series isn’t exactly in a hurry. Its story spans generations, giving it room to explore the consequences of Jinta’s actions and the world around him. There’s plenty of drama mixed in with the supernatural action, so don’t come expecting wall-to-wall sword fights and demons getting turned into expensive-looking confetti.
As for the Blu-ray collection, Sentai Filmworks brings the first season together in a three-disc package. That’s a nice way to have the complete season sitting on the shelf instead of having to chase it across multiple streaming services like some sort of modern-day demon hunter. The UK Acorn Media release also offers both Japanese and English audio, English subtitles, clean opening and closing animations, and Japanese promotional videos. Not exactly a mountain of bonus material, but at least there’s something beyond the usual menu screen and a prayer that the streaming rights don’t disappear next Tuesday.
Final verdict: Sword of the Demon Hunter offers a compelling supernatural fantasy adventure with samurai action, demons, tragedy, and a story that stretches far beyond its initial setup. The Blu-ray collection is a welcome physical-media option for anime collectors, even if the extras aren’t exactly overflowing with treasures. If you’re into historical fantasy anime and stories that take their time building a larger mythology, this one is worth investigating. Just don’t try saying the full title five times quickly. You might accidentally summon the demon hunter himself.
Extras
- Clean Opening and Closing Animations
- Japanese Promos
