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(Image credit: Ufotable)
Demon Slayer season 3 may not have a release date yet, but that hasn't stopped us speculating about when new episodes could come out. And given that a trailer was recently released, it seems they might be arriving sooner than you think.
Demon Slayer was one of the best anime (opens in new tab) series in recent years, so it's fair to say anticipation for its third season is high. We do know some key aspects of the upcoming episodes, including that the batch is officially called the Swordsmith Village arc. The first trailer also gave us a glimpse at the fearsome villains that our heroes will face next in the show too.
For the latest on this, as well as everything else released about Demon Slayer season 3, read on for our complete guide. We've got a breakdown of the new footage, which parts of the manga are likely to be adapted, and how you can watch past episodes. We've even taken our best guess at a release date, based on previous seasons and updates from the creator. So scroll on for everything you need to know.
Demon Slayer season 3 release date speculation
(Image credit: Ufotable)
Nothing official yet, but we can expect Demon Slayer season 3 to release in the next 12 months, potentially in early-to-mid 2023. We had hoped Fall 2022 would be a distinct possibility but, in the COVID era, getting that done so soon feels unrealistic. If that's the case, a Winter or Spring release (January-April 2023) or Fall 2023 (September-October 2023) could all be targeted, especially as a Fall announcement should have taken place by now.
Having said that, Ufotable is usually very consistent with its work output. Demon Slayer debuted in Fall 2019, with the Mugen Train movie rolling into Japan in Fall 2020. Demon Slayer's Mugen Train recap arc for television began airing in Fall 2021. The streak of continuous Fall debuts for Demon Slayer could break, but if anyone can achieve the impossible, it's Ufotable.
The new trailer has some footage, which indicates production has been moving along nicely but, crucially, there's no release date in sight. We can hope for Fall 2022, but 2023 is just far more likely at this juncture.
Demon Slayer season 3 story: What is the Swordsmith Village arc?
(Image credit: Ufotable)
Demon Slayer season 3 is officially the Swordsmith Village Arc. Don't worry, we won't get into source material spoilers here, but we believe it will cover chapters 100-127 of the manga. Entertainment District Arc covered a similar range from 70-99, so this is again likely to be a 12-episode season, give or take a few episodes.
Unless there are any major deviations, it should involve Tanjiro heading to Swordsmith Village to get a new weapon. As luck would have it, the village is home to an ancient weapon. But it's not all quite that straightforward, with the story bringing in the Love and Mist Hashiras, and maybe an Upper Rank demon or two.
On a broader note, the Entertainment District ending also tipped us off on what road the show is going to likely take beyond Demon Slayer season 3. Tengen is off the board, but still alive and kicking. He told Iguro that his likely Hashira replacement should be Tanjiro. From there, the Demon Slayers can finally strike back at their ultimate target: Muzan Kibutsuji.
Demon Slayer season 3 cast: who are the new characters and demons?
(Image credit: Ufotable)
Tanjiro (Natsuki Hanae), Zenitsu (Hiro Shimono), Inosuke (Yoshitsugu Matsuoka), and Nezuko (Akari Kitou) will all return as part of the Swordsmith Village arc cast.
Joining them are two characters we've already glimpsed in the series: the Mist Hashira Muichiro Tokito and the Love Hashira Mitsuri Kanoji. Also expect more of the Hashiras to appear in future seasons, as well as members of the Twelve Upper Moons/Twelve Kibuki. One Upper Moon, Doma, is expected to appear in Demon Slayer season 3 and an official sketch of the villain has recently been released.
official_sketch_by_ufotable_animators from r/KimetsuNoYaiba
Haruo Satozaki is set to direct, with Akira Matsushima on character design duties.
Demon Slayer season 3 trailer: first Swordsmith Village teaser is here
The first Demon Slayer season 3 trailer finally arrived recently. Unfortunately, it mostly serves as a recap of what's gone before.
There are, however, some glimpses of new footage: the Love and Mist Hashira are seen separately in the sizzle reel, while a new sword (later wielded by Tanjiro) is being crafted at the Swordsmith Village. You can watch it in full above.
Where to stream Demon Slayer
(Image credit: Ufotable)
Demon Slayer is now available to watch on Crunchyroll. We expect Demon Slayer season 3 to follow suit and also be streaming on there, especially given the recent merger with Funimation. Netflix users can find the first season ready to stream now in some territories.
And that's it... for now, anyway. In the meantime, be sure to see what else is on the horizon with our guide to Jujutsu Kaisen season 2. And if you're still playing catch up, here's how to watch Demon Slayer in order.
I'm the Entertainment Writer here at GamesRadar+, focusing on news, features, and interviews with some of the biggest names in film and TV. On-site, you'll find me marveling at Marvel and providing analysis and room temperature takes on the newest films, Star Wars and, of course, anime. Outside of GR, I love getting lost in a good 100-hour JRPG, Warzone, and kicking back on the (virtual) field with Football Manager. My work has also been featured in OPM, FourFourTwo, and Game Revolution.