Demon Slayer’s anime has been called one of the best visual masterpieces in recent history and has the potential to reach even greater heights. But the animation isn’t the only thing that keeps the popularity soaring, it’s also the incredibly gripping tale of demons versus humans in the race for survival.
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8 Biggest Differences Between The Demon Slayer Anime And Manga
Demon Slayer’s source material is very different from the anime.
The Demon Slayers use breathing techniques to fight demons, whereas demons use blood demon arts, a supernatural ability that complements their fighting style. There are many breathing techniques that suit each Demon Slayer, but among these, Sun Breathing stands out as the original and most potent form.
The Origins Of Sun Breathing
Sun Breathing was created by Yoriichi Tsugikuni, a legendary Demon Slayer who is considered the most powerful Demon Slayer in history. Born with the rare Demon Slayer Mark and the Transparent World ability, Yoriichi turned out to be incredibly proficient with a sword.
Yoriichi soon developed Sun Breathing and his mastery of it allowed him to nearly defeat Muzan Kibutsuji, the Demon King himself, leaving a scar on Muzan and forcing him to fear Yoriichi, essentially traumatizing the demon king.
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Over time, Yoriichi’s disciples adapted Sun Breathing into other forms, including Water, Flame, Wind, Thunder, and Stone Breathing, creating the various techniques that the modern Demon Slayer corps uses. However, Sun Breathing remained unique and virtually unattainable for most, preserved only by Yoriichi’s close ties to the Kamado family, as he had no children of his own to pass down the technique.
|
Form |
Name |
Technique |
|---|---|---|
|
1 |
Dance |
A swift, frontal slash resembling the motions of a traditional dance, emphasizing speed and elegance. |
|
2 |
Clear Blue Sky |
A powerful spinning slash that can counter and overwhelm an enemy’s attack. |
|
3 |
Raging Sun |
A rapid double slash capable of dealing with multiple enemies at once. |
|
4 |
Burning Bones, Summer Sun |
A highly destructive circular slash that can cut through powerful defenses. |
|
5 |
Setting Sun Transformation |
A spinning slash that allows the user to hit enemies behind them, offering both offense and defense. |
|
6 |
Solar Heat Haze |
A deceptive attack that creates the illusion of a missed strike while dealing significant damage. |
|
7 |
Beneficent Radiance |
A spiraling attack that emits immense heat, capable of overwhelming enemies with its intensity. |
|
8 |
Sunflower Thrust |
A high-speed thrust aimed at delivering a precise and fatal blow. |
|
9 |
Dragon Sun Halo Head Dance |
A series of continuous slashes that mimic the fluid movements of a dragon. |
|
10 |
Fire Wheel |
A spinning vertical slash is performed in midair, effective for high-positioned enemies. |
|
11 |
Fake Rainbow |
A maneuver that creates afterimages to confuse and evade enemies. |
|
12 |
Flame Dance |
A two-combo attack consisting of a powerful vertical slash followed by a horizontal strike. |
|
13 |
Thirteenth Form |
A combination of all previous forms, designed specifically to counter Muzan Kibutsuji’s multiple hearts. |
What Is The Hinokami Kagura?
The Hinokami Kagura traces its roots to Yoriichi Tsugikuni. After his departure from the Demon Slayer Corps, Yoriichi entrusted his techniques to the Kamado family.
At the time, the Kamados were simple charcoal makers with no connection to the Demon Slayer world.
However, Yoriichi’s friendship with Sumiyoshi Kamado, one of Tanjiro’s ancestors, led to the creation of the Hinokami Kagura.
Yoriichi demonstrated the Sun Breathing techniques to Sumiyoshi, who wanted to learn his techniques. Sumiyoshi vowed to keep the techniques alive in the form of the Hinokami Kagura, a ritualistic dance performed to honor the Fire God.
This annual tradition became a way for the Kamado family to preserve Sun Breathing, being passed down from generation to generation and leading to Tanjiro unconsciously learning Sun Breathing when he becomes a slayer.
Tanjiro’s Sun Breathing has many forms in the manga, and he uses it to eventually overwhelm and defeat Upper Rank demons, during The Infinity Castle arc.
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