On February 13, the season two finale of the popular anime Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba aired in Japan. That, combined with the fact the manga of the same name ended with issue 23 on May 17, 2020, led fans to believe that their beloved franchise was over. But Ufotable, the animation team behind the anime, said the franchise would be returning in a third season based on the Swordsmith Village Arc of the manga.

Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba follows a kind-hearted teeanger named Tanjiro Kamado, who, after a demon slaughters his family, joins the Demon Slayer Corps to kill demons throughout Japan while trying to find a cure for his surviving sister Nezuko, who has been turned into a demon herself. The franchise has proved to be one of the most popular Japanese exports, with the movie Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – The Movie: Mugen Train, becoming the highest grossing Japanese movie in history. Part of the series’ popularity is due to the unique personalities of its wide range of characters, from the cowardly and flirtatious Zenitsu Agatsuma to the hot-headed and arrogant Inosuke Hashibira.

The creators of the anime haven’t confirmed a specific release date yet, but the anime news website Recent Highlights reported that, “The Demon Slayer Season 3 production has finally been confirmed and the release date has been set for Spring 2023.” Meanwhile, fans are using what they know about the Swordsmith Village Arc to predict the storyline of season three. According to the American entertainment website Screen Rant, “[The arc] follows Tanjiro attempting to find a replacement for his sword, which is constantly in need of repair. Over the course of the arc, he meets the love hashira Mitsuki Kanroji and the mist hashira Muichiro Tokito, then embarks on a quest to discover the secret weapon that is the source of the town’s strength.” Regardless of what happens in season three, it is certain that Demon Slayer fans worldwide can’t wait for the return of Tanjiro, Nezuko, Zenitsu, Inosuke, and all of their allies, friends, and enemies.