Daemons of the Shadow Realm slows down the plot just a bit to plan things out in Ep. 21 “Zashiki-Warashi and Higashi Village”. First to let Danji and Kiri the Zashiki-Warashi daemons give Yuru and Asa some important backstory to explain the past of Higashi Village. Then to let the twin siblings to process all that information and more in order to set a trap. It’s a very plot-heavy episode that will leave fans who enjoy the story eagerly waiting for the next episode to carry out that plan.
Daemons of the Shadow Realm Ep. 21 “Zashiki-Warashi and Higashi Village”: Details in Brief
Daemons of the Shadow Realm Ep. 21 “Zashiki-Warashi and Higashi Village” is the twenty-first episode (you can read my reviews for Ep. 1, Ep. 2, Ep. 3, Ep. 4, Ep. 5, Ep. 6, Ep. 7, Ep. 8, Ep. 9, Ep. 10, Ep. 11, Ep. 12, Ep. 13, Ep. 14, Ep. 15, Ep. 16, Ep. 17, Ep. 18, Ep. 19, and Ep. 20 here) of this dark fantasy action adventure anime series overall, as well as being the first episode of the second cours. Said anime is the anime adaptation of the manga of the same name by Hiromu Arakawa (Fullmetal Alchemist, Silver Spoon, The Heroic Legend of Arslan).
Bones Film (Fullmetal Alchemist, Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood, Ouran High School Host Club, My Hero Academia) is the animation studio behind this anime. Masahiro Andō is the director behind this anime, with Noboru Takagi as the writer, and Kenichiro Suehiro as the composer for the music.
Speaking of that music, the opening theme song for the second cours of Daemons of the Shadow Realm is “Back Shot” by Masanori Otoda. Meanwhile, “Kujaku” (孔雀; lit. ”Peacock”) by Kei Sugawara is the ending theme song for the same.
You can watch Daemons of the Shadow Realm exclusively on Crunchyroll.
Daemons of the Shadow Realm Ep. 21 “Zashiki-Warashi and Higashi Village”: The Good
As you can tell, Ep. 21 “Zashiki-Warashi and Higashi Village” features the Zashiki-Warashi (voiced by Yuzu Yumoto (Danji) and Momoka Terasawa (Kiri), and Monica Flatley (EN)) daemons Danji (voiced by Ryōta Ōsaka (JP) and Abi Kumar (EN)) and Kiri (voiced by Yume Miyamoto (JP) and Molly Zhang (EN)) as they both now explain some good ol’ backstory to Yuru (voiced by Kensho Ono (JP) and Ben Stegmair (EN)) and Asa (voiced by Yume Miyamoto (JP) and Molly Zhang (EN)).
As you also might be able to tell, this episode is very heavy on the exposition. They complement the exposition with an entire animated flashback sequence though, and in so smoothly that it feels like a continuation of the episode. It really puts to mind the idiom: “Show, don’t tell”. Yes, this episode is telling the information, but it’s also showing it through visual media. That is the best way to do exposition if you need to, and Hiromu Arakawa has struck a good balance between them.
We also get a good look into the personalities of Yuru and Asa in this episode. In particular, the latter since this is where she reveals what she wants to do in life, which is to just live a normal life. It’s a goal that makes perfect sense for her. She’s spent her entire life being hunted by people who want to kill her or use her. She just wants to do things like go to “Dizneyland” and play around without fear of that. This was hinted at in previous episodes, but this episode makes that very clear.
Speaking of that animation, Bones Film’s animation team is really pulling out the stops for this episode. Even without a hint of action in it to boot. There is just so much detail in here, from the weathering patterns on Zashiki-Warashi’s relic forms to the beads of sweat when Asa discovers some of the intel regarding her parents from Yuru. Every little detail here feels like it’s near the quality of a feature-length anime film. Not as much as Witch Hat Atelier is, but it’s close.
Daemons of the Shadow Realm Ep. 21 “Zashiki-Warashi and Higashi Village”: The Bad
Alas, fans of bloody action might be disappointed by Ep. 21 “Zashiki-Warashi and Higashi Village” if that’s all you care about. There is no action in this episode. It’s all either fluffy backstory or dark drama, but with no action or violence to go with them. Funnily enough, even though there is explicit mention of war in this episode. So unfortunately, if you want blood and action enough to fit a more typical shonen anime, then you will have to wait for the next episode of Daemons of the Shadow Realm to get that.
Anime Recommendations
Fortunately, if you long for bloody action, then you have other options in the form of Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba, Kaiju No. 8, DDDD, DAN DA DAN, Sword Art Online Alternative: Gun Gale Online II, Zenshu, Blue Box, Solo Leveling, Black Butler, Nyaight of the Living Cat, May I Ask for One Final Thing?, TRIGUN STARGAZE, and / or Kagurabachi. However, if you want more story-focused anime like in this episode of Daemons of the Shadow Realm, then you might also like Spy x Family, Senpai is an Otokonoko, Apocalypse Hotel, Spice and Wolf: Merchant Meets the Wise Wolf, The Ancient Magus’ Bride, My Dress-Up Darling, This Monster Wants to Eat Me, Hana-Kimi, Journal with Witch, Witch Hat Atelier, and / or Jaadugar: A Witch in Mongolia.
What do you think of this week’s episode of Daemons of the Shadow Realm? Show us your exposition thoughts in the comments section below.
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