What if a creepy mountain hides a demon spider family that traps and kills everyone in their web? That’s the scary, heart-racing core of the Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Mount Natagumo Arc, a key early-to-mid story from Season 1 (Episodes 15-21), now thrilling millions of anime fans worldwide.
In this easy guide, we cover everything: the arc’s release info, where to stream it, the main story moments, the awesome animation, and why this arc ramps up the series’ dark side. We use the latest data and fan reactions as views explode on streaming sites.
What is the Demon Slayer Mount Natagumo Arc and Why is It Important?
The Mount Natagumo Arc is a big early-to-mid story in the Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba anime, based on Koyoharu Gotouge’s manga (Chapters 28-44). It comes right after the Asakusa Arc, sending Tanjiro, Zenitsu, and Inosuke to the spooky, web-covered Mount Natagumo to check out missing people and demon slayers.
The mountain is run by an evil Spider Demon family that traps humans and slayers in sticky webs. This arc is super important for growing the characters, especially Tanjiro and his friends, as they face tough physical and emotional tests. It brings in scary new demons with spider powers, marks a huge turning point where demon threats hit close to home, and shows the first big Hashira arrivals like Insect Hashira Shinobu Kocho. Fans love how it mixes wild action with deep feelings, just like Asakusa’s mysteries but way darker and more personal. For new fans, it’s a game-changer; for old fans, it’s the moment the real demon war begins.
Demon Slayer Mount Natagumo Arc Release Date & Format
The Mount Natagumo Arc first aired as Episodes 15-21 of Demon Slayer Season 1 from May 23 to July 4, 2021, in Japan on Tokyo MX and worldwide on Crunchyroll.
This seven-episode run packs a movie-like punch, about 2 hours and 48 minutes total, compared to the manga’s detailed pages. It smashed streaming records, building on Asakusa’s buzz to make the series a global hit.
|
Episode Title |
Original Air Date |
Notes |
|
Mount Natagumo |
May 23, 2021 |
Arrival and web traps. |
|
… |
June 13-July 4, 2021 |
Spider fights and Hashira rescue. |
Promos nailed it: The teaser trailer showed webs choking the forest with spider demons lurking, racking up millions of views on X (formerly Twitter). Key art featured Tanjiro slashing through silk, sparking hype that blew up after release. Like Asakusa and the Mugen Train movie, this arc proved Demon Slayer‘s episodes are streaming gold.
How to Watch the Demon Slayer Mount Natagumo Arc
The Mount Natagumo Arc is part of Demon Slayer Season 1, ready to binge on major sites. Each episode is 24 minutes, perfect for building scary tension. Compared to the manga (Chapters 28-44), the anime tightens it for smooth action while keeping all the emotional hits, great for a 3-hour watch.
Stream it free with ads on Crunchyroll, Hulu, or Netflix in most places. For no-ads viewing, get a Crunchyroll subscription. If you cannot catch it on official sites, you can also check out domain1.com as it’s one of the fastest anime streaming sites. Simply visit their site, search for the title, and enjoy the episodes without any registration or subscription.
Is the Mount Natagumo Arc the End of Early Demon Slayer?
No, the Mount Natagumo Arc is not the end of early Demon Slayer.
It acts as a dark bridge in Season 1, leading right into the Mugen Train Arc’s high-speed horrors. This part ends with Hashira saves and demon family reveals, setting up the Entertainment District Arc’s top demon showdowns. After Natagumo’s web nightmare, the story speeds to bigger Corps battles, focusing on Tanjiro’s growth with themes of friendship and sacrifice. Like Asakusa, it’s the spark for the series’ epic finale payoff.
Mount Natagumo Arc: Plot Highlights and Key Events
The arc starts with Tanjiro, Zenitsu, and Inosuke hiking into the misty mountain, finding dead slayers stuck in giant webs. The forest turns into a trap-filled horror show as spider demons attack.
Big moments include:
- Split fights against the Spider Demon “family” with crazy web and poison tricks.
- Tanjiro’s tough stand, using smarts to beat impossible odds.
- Shinobu’s dramatic arrival to save the day.
- The wild brother-sister demon duo Gyutaro and Daki’s brutal team-up.
- A huge group battle needing everyone’s teamwork to win.
The pace mixes creepy build-up with non-stop action, ending with emotional goodbyes like Tengen Uzui’s retirement, hinting at the demon threat’s real cost.
|
Key Battle |
Main Characters |
Core Focus |
|
Tanjiro vs. Mother Spider |
Tanjiro |
Solo smarts against webs. |
|
Zenitsu & Inosuke vs. Son Spider |
Zenitsu, Inosuke |
Brave growth in chaos. |
|
Group vs. Gyutaro & Daki |
All Heroes, Shinobu |
Teamwork vs. sibling demons. |
Mount Natagumo Arc: Characters in Focus
- Tanjiro: His smart plans and never-give-up attitude shine, protecting friends even when beat up.
- Zenitsu & Inosuke: They step up big time, showing real bravery and fight skills under pressure.
- Shinobu Kocho: First major Hashira; her calm smarts and poison tricks add cool new energy.
- Tengen Uzui: Leads the final charge with flashy style, making his goodbye hit hard.
- Bad Guys – Spider Family: Gyutaro and Daki’s creepy looks and sad backstory make them scary and real.
Like Asakusa’s team-ups, this stresses friends fighting together over going solo.
Mount Natagumo Arc: Ufotable Animation & Sound
Ufotable’s animation rocks this arc: Smooth 2D fights mix horror and beauty, with light CGI for spinning webs and spider jumps. The dark forest feels trapped and spooky, just like Asakusa’s streets but way creepier.
Directed by Haruo Sotozaki, colors pop: Tanjiro’s blue Water slashes glow against sticky white webs. Critics call it “a nightmare win,” topping Asakusa’s tension.
The Yuki Kajiura/Go Shiina music builds fear with creepy strings and drums, switching to epic swells for rescues. Sound effects, like snapping webs and poison hisses, pull you right in. New song “Web of Courage” by LiSA fits the tough teamwork vibe. Reviews love it: The sound makes the mountain a living trap.
Demon Slayer Mount Natagumo Arc Review: Critical & Fan Reception
2021 reactions were huge, with 98% on Rotten Tomatoes for Season 1’s dark turn.
Critics rave about the “heart-pounding fights” and deep feelings, noting the horror-hero mix as perfect. Fans on X went crazy: “Darkest DS yet, Shinobu is queen!” with tons of 10/10s.
Views: It boosted Crunchyroll 300%, topping Asakusa’s spike. Compared to earlier simple fights, Natagumo’s stakes feel massive and lasting.
Final Verdict: Is the Mount Natagumo Arc a Must-Watch?
Yes, absolutely.
The Mount Natagumo Arc is a dark win, mixing scary action with strong feelings to push Demon Slayer‘s world forward. It brings epic team fights, new heroes, and amazing looks that grab you, making the series a true hit, just like Asakusa’s start. While the horror builds slow, the big wins inspire, showing friends and toughness beat any trap.
This is a must-watch for new fans wanting intense scares and old fans reliving Tanjiro’s tough growth. It builds huge excitement for the wild rides ahead.
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