The BEST episodes directed by Toshiyuki Shirai

Hinokami
star
9.17
923 votes

#1 - Hinokami

Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba - Season 1 - Episode 19

Swordsmen in the Demon Slayer Corps known as Hashiras have arrived on Mt. Natagumo. Giyu Tomioka, the Water Hashira, slays the Father Spider Demon with a single strike. Inosuke, thrilled to see such a display of swordsmanship by someone in a totally different league from himself, challenges Giyu to a duel. Meanwhile, Zenitsu lies near death as the poison circulates throughout his body. Just then, the Insect Hashira, Shinobu Kocho appears before him.

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Move Forward!
star
8.12
434 votes

#2 - Move Forward!

Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba - Season 2 - Episode 5

Tanjiro and Inosuke battle Lower One Enmu, the strongest demon they've faced yet. With his limitless attacks and a potent Blood Demon Art, Enmu proves to be an extremely powerful adversary, forcing the two to attack in a way they have never done before.

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An Eye for an Eye / All in Vain
star
7.78
215 votes

#3 - An Eye for an Eye / All in Vain

God Eater - Season 1 - Episode 5

Lenka is frustrated to learn that the Aegis Project has a long, long way to go. In order to complete the project, massive amounts of the natural resource known as Oracle must be harvested from the Aragami. As Lenka stands dumbfounded, Soma kicks him out of the way and tells him, “What we can do is hunt Aragami. That’s all.” The veteran God Eaters, Lindow and Soma, are away when the next assignment comes in, so Sakuya, who has been left in charge, decides to hunt lesser Aragami. But knowing that the bigger the core, the faster the Aegis Project can be completed, Lenka suggests that the mission target large-type Aragami. When Kota and Alisa both agree with Lenka, Sakuya decides to take three rookies on a hunt for the large-type Aragami…Vajra.

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The Plagued City
star
7.78
67 votes

#4 - The Plagued City

Tales of Zestiria the X - Season 1 - Episode 9

Alisha’s party and the medical unit find the bridge leading to Marlind collapsed due to the heavy rains, and start searching for a detour. Meanwhile, Sorey continues his journey and reveals to Edna the seraph that he is going to Rolance, which is rumored to have many ancient ruins where dragons were deified as gods. Sorey’s earnest faith in the writings in the Celestial Records exasperates Edna, but she opts to tag along. Later, Lailah asks Sorey, “What does ‘purify’ mean to you?” This causes Sorey to reflect on how he must confront future hellions. About that time, Mikleo, armed with a Divine Artifact, heads for Griftlet Bridge where a maelstrom of clouds swirls overhead.

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Deep Sleep
star
7.65
464 votes

#5 - Deep Sleep

Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba - Season 2 - Episode 2

Kyojuro Rengoku heads to the Mugen Train to investigate the disappearance of over forty passengers and encounters a demon along the way. After saving the people attacked by the demon, he finally arrives at the Mugen Train. What lies ahead of him?

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Soma Schicksal
star
7.42
170 votes

#6 - Soma Schicksal

God Eater - Season 1 - Episode 9

A change is occurring in Lenka’s body due to over-adaptation to the Oracle Cell. Lenka is in a dilemma when told that while he cannot escape inevitable death, if he resigns as a God Eater, he may be able to prolong his life for a little while. Meanwhile, a briefing is being held on the “Meteorite Strategy,” the crucial mission necessary to execute the Aegis Plan. Lenka’s tactical skills have been recognized and he is appointed a leader. Lenka learns that members of other units avoid Soma who has been labeled a “shinigami” (harbinger of death) and is told by Sakaki, “Fate is cruel... It can be said both you and he are its victims.” Soma’s hidden past is revealed to him, but Lenka...

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To the Frontlines
star
7.09
45 votes

#7 - To the Frontlines

Katsugeki Touken Ranbu - Season 1 - Episode 1

In order to steal cargo from the Time Retrograde Army, Izuminokami Kanesada joins the rookie Horikawa Kunihiro at the end of the shogunate period. The two swords complete the mission through their valiant efforts, but what awaits them is a new directive: "At a certain castle town in 1863, the new Time Retrograde Army will appear." Izuminokami and Horikawa prepare to intercept the enemy with this limited information. However, the two swords are unable to fend off the overwhelming number enemies. In their time of crisis, their master "Saniwa" appears.

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The First Unit
star
6.92
13 votes

#8 - The First Unit

Katsugeki Touken Ranbu - Season 1 - Episode 7

With the Second Unit back at the Citadel, the First Unit has now mobilized in Kyoto during 1565. With Yamanbagiri Kunihiro as captain, the First Unit receives a directive to investigate a noise that’s capable of breaking through the wall of time, and stop the Time Retrograde Army from changing the history. In order to discover the Time Retrograde Army’s motives, Yamanbagiri and his unit head to the capital. In this supposedly peaceful town, they hear about a street slasher roaming about that hides his face behind a demon mask. Thinking this slasher might be the key to the potential historical change, the First Unit begins their investigation.

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Commander
star
6.77
31 votes

#9 - Commander

Katsugeki Touken Ranbu - Season 1 - Episode 2

With the help of Mutsunokami Yoshiyuki, Yagen Toushirou, Tonbokiri, Izuminokami and Saniwa head to the castle in pursuit of the Time Retrograde Army. Leading the charge, Mutsunokami witnesses the slaughter of the castle samurai at the hands of the Retrograde Army. In order to find out the Time Retrograde Army's true purpose behind the castle attack, Izuminokami and company must stay in this era to continue their investigation. Saniwa names Izuminokami Kanesada, Mutsunokami Yoshiyuki, Horikawa Kunihiro, Yagen Toushirou, and Tonbokiri as the Second Unit, and charges Izuminokami with leadership of the unit.

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Master's Orders
star
6.71
24 votes

#10 - Master's Orders

Katsugeki Touken Ranbu - Season 1 - Episode 3

With the unexpected explosion of the steamship, the port is thrown into chaos. Despite Mutsunokami's best efforts to save the survivors on the ship, he vents out his anger and regret of not able to save everyone. As Mutsunokami is getting more emotional, Izuminokami is trying to convince him to listen to reason. The differences between the two Sword Warriors starts tearing the unit apart. Izuminokami splits up the unit to investigate the Roushi (Masterless Samurai) thinking the Time Retrograde Army will manipulate the Roushi and their anti-foreigner ideology for the Army's schemes. However, as Mutsunokami listens to the Roushi's wishes, he starts to worry about their safety.

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The Fires of War
star
6.69
16 votes

#11 - The Fires of War

Katsugeki Touken Ranbu - Season 1 - Episode 5

The last Sword Warrior of the Second Unit, Tsurumaru Kuninaga, appears from the time-space distortion onto the warship occupied by the Time Retrograde Army. After saving Yagen, Tsurumaru meets up with Izuminokami and Mutsunokami to defeat the Time Retrograde Army and take back the warship. Meanwhile, as Ootachi overpowers Tonbokiri and Horikawa, they desperately try to protect the meeting from being uninterrupted. Things get worse when another warship bombards Edo and engulfs the town in flames. The Second Unit is now forced into a corner…

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The Citadel
star
6.69
16 votes

#12 - The Citadel

Katsugeki Touken Ranbu - Season 1 - Episode 6

The Second Unit has returned to the Citadel. Izuminokami and Tonbokiri sustained heavy injuries from their battle with the Time Retrograde Army, but they managed to protect the meeting. Though, Tonbokiri’s life-threatening injuries from fighting the Ootachi are so serious that even with Saniwa’s treatment, he remains in a comatose state. Meanwhile, Izuminokami questions his own ability to lead the unit after seeing his comrades, many innocent people, and the town he’s supposed to protect all suffer from the Time Retrograde Army during this mission.

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Protect History
star
6.56
9 votes

#13 - Protect History

Katsugeki Touken Ranbu - Season 1 - Episode 8

After defeating the unknown street slasher, the First Unit stays in the Capital instead of immediately returning to the Citadel. At the Captial, Yamanbagiri and his unit are determined to help the citizens recover from the Time Retrograde Army’s assault and the twisted history. Meanwhile, Izuminokami ponders the meaning behind protecting history, and asks the Sword Warriors of the Second Unit to fight with him once more. This time Izuminokami wishes to fight, not at the Master’s directive, but on his own volition. With newfound determination, the Second Unit departs on a new mission.

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What I Wanted to Protect
star
6.29
17 votes

#14 - What I Wanted to Protect

Katsugeki Touken Ranbu - Season 1 - Episode 4

It is March, 1868. The Second Unit led by Izuminokami has arrived in Edo. Their new mission is to “Ensure the meeting between Kaishu Katsu and Takamori Saigo happens according to history.” Saniwa anticipates that the Time Retrograde will try and interfere, as the meeting is a crucial event that will become a turning point for Japanese history. Izuminokami and Horikawa have thoughts about this era as it is where their formal master used to live. The Time Retrograde Army appears on the last day of the meeting, however, the patrolling Second Unit encounters a powerful opponent, the Ootachi. Meanwhile, Yagen sneaks onto a warship in pursuit of a Roushi who’s not supposed to exist in history. As Yagen tries to stop the warship from bombarding the meeting with cannons, the Time Retrograde Army surrounds him. In this time of great peril, the last Sword Warrior of the Second Unit appears.

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