Updated on July 1, 7:20 a.m. (GMT+8): Added season 4 episode 8 details.
While the Demon Slayer manga introduced us to the Hashira, the power group of demon hunters, the anime offers a deeper exploration of these elite Pillars.
In this article, we explore the Demon Slayer manga and anime differences, particularly for season 4’s Hashira Training arc.
These anime scenes give us a better understanding of the Hashira, providing more details about their background, personalities, and fighting styles that weren’t included in the manga.
Whether you’re an anime-only viewer curious about what you might have missed or a manga reader eager to relive these character-enriching moments, we guide you through the fascinating world of Demon Slayer’s expanded content.
What is filler content in anime?
In anime, filler refers to episodes or scenes not directly adapted from the source material, typically manga. These episodes are created for various reasons.
When the anime catches up to the manga storyline, filler episodes are added to create a buffer and allow the manga to produce more content before the anime runs out of material.
In the Demon Slayer anime, the filler scenes expanded Hashira’s character development and built up the tension between Muzan Kibutsuji‘s demon forces and the Demon Slayer Corps.
All Demon Slayer manga and anime differences in season 4
The filler scenes we’re discussing are entirely new content that wasn’t in the manga. While some episodes don’t follow the same order as the manga, we are only highlighting the new scenes unfamiliar to manga readers.
Demon Slayer Season 4 Hashira Training arc
Episode 1 — To Defeat Muzan Kibutsuji
The manga does not include a scene from the premiere episode of season 4. This scene, set between the finale of season 3 and the beginning of season 4, featured Wind Hashira Sanemi Shinazugawa and Serpent Hashira Obanai Iguro on a rescue and assassination mission.
They are tasked with hunting down a demon responsible for kidnapping civilians near a village. Their investigation leads them to an abandoned castle, which serves as a demon stronghold. Disgusted by the demons’ excesses, the two Hashira raid the castle, swiftly defeating the ambushing demons.
One demon attempts to flee by jumping off the castle ledge, revealing a glimpse of the Infinity Castle as it escapes. However, it vanishes before Shinazugawa and Iguro could reach the Infinity Castle.
Following this special scene, the episode continues with the opening events of the To the Hashira Training arc, which adapts chapters 128 to 131 of the manga.
Episode 2 — Water Hashira Giyu Tomioka’s Pain
This episode closely follows the manga.
Episode 3 — Fully Recovered Tanjiro Joins the Hashira Training
The scene where former Sound Hashira Tengen Uzui pushes the lower-ranked demon hunters to their limits is similar to chapter 129 of the Hashira Training arc in the manga. The anime expands on this by including the perspectives of the demon hunters, who describe the training as hell.
The parts where Tanjiro shows his superior skill, strength, and stamina compared to the other demon hunters, along with Tengen’s three wives personally thanking Tanjiro for saving them during season 2’s Entertainment District arc, are also anime exclusives.
These scenes do a great job of fleshing out the Demon Slayer Corps and highlighting the relationships Tanjiro formed with his season 2 comrades. The scene where the two demon hunters go on patrol is in the manga but is featured more prominently in the anime.
The two biggest scenes in episode 3 that aren’t in the manga are Tengen challenging all the demon hunters and Tanjiro to fight him in the mountains, and the Wind Hashira Sanemi Shinazugawa and the Serpent Hashira Obanai Iguro challenging each other at a temple.
Episode 4 — To Bring a Smile to One’s Face
Episode 4 features plenty of new scenes exclusive to the anime. These include an in-depth look into the Mist Hashira Muichiro Tokito‘s grueling sparring sessions, which lead to significant character development for the Pillar.
Tokito explains that he is training the demon hunters as hard as possible because he wants them to survive and have long lives after defeating Muzan.
The part where Mr. Kanamori from the Swordsmith Village is invited to help improve the Demon Slayers’ Nichirin blades is also new, along with the paper plane contest at the end of the episode.
Lastly, the scenes where Tokito, Iguro, and Shinazugawa hold secret sparring sessions are exclusive to the anime.
Episode 5 — I Even Ate Demons
Most of the scenes in episode 5 accurately follow the manga, particularly chapter 132. The difference lies in its more in-depth look at Serpent Hashira Obanai Iguro’s training course.
Additionally, it includes scenes of Tanjiro and the other demon hunters recovering after each training session with Iguro.
Episode 6 — The Strongest of the Demon Slayer Corps
Episode 6 is based on the events in chapters 135 and 136, which were faithfully adapted from Koyoharu Gotouge’s original manga.
The only difference is that the anime included more details than the manga, particularly in Tanjiro’s interactions with the other demon hunters. These additional scenes provided more depth to the series’ side characters and highlighted the camaraderie within the Demon Slayer Corps.
Episode 7 — The Stone Hashira Gyomei Himejima
Episode 7 stays true to chapter 136, capturing iconic scenes from Koyoharu Gotouge’s original manga.
Season 4, Episode 7 also expands on two key moments — Giyu and Sanemi sparring, and Muzan confronting Kagaya Ubuyashiki.
Episode 8 — The Hashira Unite
The season 4 finale of Demon Slayer adapts chapters 137, 138, and 139 of the manga. The confrontation between Kagaya Ubuyashiki, the leader of the Demon Slayer Corps, and Muzan Kibutsuji, the series’ main antagonist, remains faithful to the source material.
However, the anime enhances many scenes visually. This added detail strengthens the emotional impact of the scene later in the episode. A major difference in this episode was the depiction of all the Demon Slayers being teleported into the Infinity Castle.
In the manga, only Upper Moon Four, Nakime, is shown teleporting the Hashira and Tanjiro Kamado just before they attack Muzan. The anime, however, includes Genya Shinazugawa, Inosuke Hashibira, Kanao Tsuyuri, and other demon hunters on patrol being teleported to the Infinity Castle.
This added detail emphasizes that nearly all demon hunters were transported to the Infinite Castle, aligning with Muzan’s goal to annihilate the entire Demon Slayer Corps that night.
READ MORE: Why does Tengen Uzui have 3 wives in Demon Slayer? Unveiling the secrets of the Sound Hashira family
