As the Entertainment District Arc all wrapped up with a phenomenal conclusion, Demon Slayer is once again leaving fans dangling in hiatus. Fans are anxiously awaiting the return of siblings Kamado Tanjirou and Nezuko and their fight to transform Nezuko from a demon back to the human she once was. Demon Slayer is charming for a number of reasons, from its funny team dynamics to inventive creatures and exquisite fight scenes, making it no wonder it's one of the most popular anime airing today.
Though these following anime never reached the popularity heights of Demon Slayer, for those who can't get enough of the Demon Slayer Corps and their misadventures, they might just be the perfect shows to help pass the time nevertheless, and perhaps there's a new personal favorite in these hidden gems.
Blood Blockade Battlefront
Blood Blockade Battlefront is the chronicles of amateur photographer Leonardo Watch after he is sucked into the supernaturally-equipped organization Libra, which is stationed in a place that was once known as New York but is now known better as Hellsalem's Lot, a crossing between Earth and Hell. Leo and his twin sister were forced to make the choice by one of Hellsalem's Kings between which one of them would go blind and which would receive All-Seeing Eyes. Leo's sister chose blindness before he could make that sacrifice, meaning that Leo is now on the hunt for a way to reverse what happened.
Leo's new eyes turn out to be just what an organization like Libra needs, however, and once Libra discovers what Leo can do, there's no escaping his misadventures or his coworkers. Blood Blockade Battlefront features fantastic nightmare creatures that boggle the imagination but the members of Libra are no less fantastic. With plenty of dark humor and incredible animation from Studio Bones, Blood Blockade Battlefront is perfect for Demon Slayer fans who love the action, the world-building and the adrenaline rush of a battle, plus the fantastic jazz soundtrack gives this show a sound like no other.
Blood Blockade Battlefront can be streamed on Funimation, Crunchyroll, and Hulu.
Beyond the Boundary
Kyoto Animation Studios may be more associated with heart-filled dramas such as Violet Evergarden, but that doesn't prevent them from busting out a gorgeous supernatural adventure that fully immerses viewers in a nuanced world of demonic 'youmu' and their hunters when they want to. Kanbara Akihito lives each day toeing the line of human and youmu, being mixed breed himself. When Spirit World Warrior Kuriyama Mirai and her rare blood arts show up in town, it could be a recipe for a disaster, if Mirai weren't such a disaster at killing, that is.
As Mirai comes to understand Akihito's existence and has her first chance at normal high school life, her own line of human versus youmu begins to waver. Though with forces working behind the scenes waiting for an opportunity, this may not be such a good thing. Stunningly animated with Kyoto Animation's unique charm and with a memorable cast of core characters, Beyond the Boundary is perfect for the Demon Slayer fan who loves to get invested in the characters and their individual stories because this show delivers on the gut-punch it promises.
Beyond the Boundary can be streamed on Crunchyroll.
Seraph of the End
Wit Studio's vampire drama Seraph of the End delights in the unexpected yet takes comfort in old tropes, much like Demon Slayer, both boasting a shockingly bloodthirsty premiere that continues to surprise from there. In a world ruled over by vampires, an orphanage of children lives down in the city of Sanguinem, kept in check by the trio of Akane, Mikaela, and Yuuchirou. Mikaela believes he can get his family out of Sanguinem by tricking the vampire lord Ferid, and one night returns from an off-the-book feeding with a map. The children manage to sneak almost all the way out, but Mikaela had underestimated the sadism of a vampire and tragically overestimated his ability to keep his family safe when it turns out Ferid is waiting.
The lord himself murders every child but Mikaela and Yuuchirou, but Mikaela does manage to help Yuuchirou escape before succumbing to his injuries. Yuuchirou gets himself out of Sanguinem and doesn't look back, choosing to join the rebel force of humans existing outside on the surface so he can one day take revenge on Ferid and all the other vampires who stole what was most precious to him. Little does he know that not everyone he thought was gone is entirely dead. With raw emotional bonds, lovable and loath-able characters, and a team of vampire-hunting teenagers just out of old-school anime, Seraph of the End is an unexpected treat where one might have expected just another typical vampire anime.
Seraph of the End can be streamed on Funimation and Hulu.
Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress
Between the terrifying zombies, blood-spattered trains, steampunk weapons, and post-apocalyptic world, Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress has pretty much everything covered for a fantastic follow-up to Demon Slayer. When his home station is overrun by the mindless kabane, Ikoma doesn't escape without a bite, but he does manage to choke himself hard enough that the poison doesn't reach his brain. This unconventional method--to say the least--allows Ikoma to remain sane and fight alongside Mumei, a warrior from the capital who calls herself a 'kabaneri'. The two kabaneri escape by train along with most of Ikoma's station, but now Ikoma has to navigate his new life as a different sort of being. One that his friends no longer trust but must depend on as it turns out that the world they thought was holding out beyond their station walls is actually coming apart faster than they could have guessed. The second kabaneri, Mumei, is the star of the show when it comes to amazing action sequences as she unleashes her kabane powers and double steam guns, making this show the perfect one to watch for those who loved the action of Demon Slayer: Mugen Train.
Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress can be streamed on HBO Max, or the compilation films can be streamed on Crunchyroll.
While the Swordsmith Village Arc might seem ages away now, there are plenty of anime for Demon Slayer fans to catch up with. Whether it's a jazzy New York hellscape or a zombie-infested steampunk Japan, the shows on this list keep true to Demon Slayer's format of incredible action, lovable characters, a fascinating fantasy world, and a gang of misfits who need all their luck to survive, perfect for whittling away some time until the hiatus is over.
