Overview:
Kimetsu no Yaiba is the tragic tale of two siblings, Tanjiro and Nezuko Kamado, who, on one fateful, snowy night, lost everything dear to them and had their entire world turned upside down. Through their adventures, they meet a number of unique characters and fight a number of near fatal battles all in attempt to accomplish their goals; curing Nezuko of her demonic affliction and attaining revenge on the one who was responsible for the deaths of their family.
Art:
The art of Kimestu no Yaiba is unique to say the least. The series changes styles often, with comedic scenes being hilariously drawn off model to emphasize the comedy...Here are examples of the well known "Potato Faces" that the characters have during down time.
To the action scenes being drafted cleanly and dynamically to emphasize action...
Characters:
The characters in this story are amazing. I rarely like protagonists of Shounen, with a select few being passable individuals in my opinion, but Tanjiro is one of the rare exceptions.
The reason I like him? He's a genuinely good guy. Don't let that praise of Mel above fool you, he's a major jerk. A lot of what he does is terrible, but, like a lot of other series with protagonist I don't like, the series will bend over backwards to justify his world view, no matter how wrong they actually are. Tanjiro on the other hand? He's a kind hearted boy who is doing his best to deal with the hand life dealt him and protect his sister and friends. He's literally the opposite of Mel. He doesn't lie, he doesn't molest girls, he doesn't withhold information and trust people, he treats a lot of characters with respect, even when they don't deserve it, he doesn't molest girls, he can channel his frustrations in a healthy way, and he's a good brother. Also, he doesn't molest girls. He's the best example of the pure hearted protagonist, without the series changing the world and people's opinions to suit his world view *cough*Naruto*cough*. He works for it.
Nezuko
Wild card #1. I'll be honest, due to her ailment, her character says nothing for a large majority of the series. But that doesn't mean she doesn't do anything or see any action. Quite the contrary, she's one of the more capable and dangerous individuals in the series. Her character develops in a number of interesting ways, which is impressive given the way she's "limited" to no dialogue.
Zenitsu
Wild card #2. Here's an easy way to describe Zenitsu. Do you read One Piece? You know Cavendish? Imagine if he was a perverted coward. That's Zenitsu. From his first appearance, you wouldn't think he'd be reliable. Hell, he doesn't even realize the strength he holds. But, despite his surface emotions and appearance, he's also a kind person who will put the well being of others before himself.
Inosuke
Wild card #3-#10. Pig Assault Pig Assault Pig Assault Pig Assault. Pig Assault Pig Assault. Pig Assault Pig Assault Pig Assault Pig Assault. Pig? Assault. Pig Assault Pig Assault (Pig Assault), Pig Assault!
Narrative:
The shining aspect of this series; the narrative. The main reason I enjoy this series is it treats it's audience with respect. The narrative is strong, tight, and, most impressively for me, logical. It has yet to twist things to make stuff work out. If it establishes something, it sticks to it. In this series, Demons are an incredible threat, and the highest ranked Demons, The 6 Upper Moons, are said to have lived for centuries and are said to have killed many of the strongest Demon Slayers, The Pillars. That is not a lie.
These are what the Vasto Lorde in Bleach were implied to have been capable of, but weren't. Every fight in this series is won by the skin of their teeth, sometimes with only external and unique circumstances allowing for victory. One arc in particular I consider up their with the likes of Chunnin Exam arc of Naruto, the Soul Society arc of Bleach, and the Chimera Ant arc of HunterXHunter. It's that damn good, in my opinion. Another great aspect of the series is the strong theme of family. It's permeated well throughout the series and it's done nicely. Even villains have a great love for their siblings and family, despite having lost their way for hundreds of years. It treats family as a positive, rather than having an edgy brother who abuses you, but does it out of "love". Or a brother who killed your significant other. Or a father who abandons you by choice. Etc., etc.
This is a lovely series, one that I will hold near and dear to my manga reading heart, along with Toriko. I implore you all, please join us in the Kimetsu no Yaiba thread. It's a wonderful series that deserves more attention than it's currently getting. I'm sure interest will grow once the anime comes out, but I can't wait that long. I need to discuss this series more than I currently do.