The episode premiered on MBS and TBS on November 15, 2024, and was released shortly thereafter on streaming platforms such as Crunchyroll, Hulu, and Netflix internationally.
It was praised for its animation and use of colors, and the scene depicting the memories of Acrobatic Silky, particularly the tragedy of her and her daughter, was considered the highlight of the episode.
The preceding episode, "A Dangerous Woman Arrives," has the character Aira Shiratori believe herself to be chosen due to finding a golden ball, which Ken "Okarun" Takakura, Momo Ayase, and a yōkai named Turbo Granny are searching for.
This ball allows her to commune with spirits; while confronting Momo, another yōkai named Acrobatic Silky arrives, believing herself to be Aira's mother.
Aira learns from Turbo Granny that since Acrobatic Silky has no more aura and will leave behind regrets, she cannot rest in peace and will disappear, forgotten by the living and the dead.
It is available in Japanese, English, German, French, Spanish (Latin America and Spain), Portuguese, Italian, Tamil, Telugu, Hindi, Thai and Indonesian.
[17] Dengeki writer Kawachi also praised Inoue's performance, discussing how she portrays Silky as both a scary monster and a loving mother.
He found the comparison appropriate, arguing that both are "revelatory" of the "depths of humanity that springs from the pain of it all," adding that the scene of Aira hugging Silky helped her become a hero on par with the protagonists by showing the power of compassion.
[13] CBR writer Maham Arsalan argued it was one of the best episodes of the year, stating that it "deliver[s] an impeccable balance of action, storytelling, visuals, and sound effects" that would leave viewers crying.
"[20] Screen Rant writer Zach Zamora felt that "To a Kinder World" introduced one of Dandadan's "biggest strengths," namely its emotional backstories.
He felt that Silky was the first time the series "stretche[d] its legs" with writing, adding that she seemed like more than a "monster of the week" in the previous episode, and that her sacrifice for Aira made for what he considered the "most poignant and visually stunning sequences that anime has had to offer in recent years."
He also stated the "quiet, intimate direction" of the memory made the manga's story more tragic, giving praise to composer Kensuke Ushio for mixing his music "seamlessly" into the scene.
[21] Dengeki Online writer Kawachi praised the "serious" art and acting, believing that despite how moving the original manga version was, the episode exceeded his expectations.
[11] Real Sound [ja] writer Hotaka Sugimoto called the episode "divine," praising its pacing and ability to display both gags and tragedy.
They felt that it was particularly outstanding for the series, commenting on how detailed Silky's memory was, believing it was in order to make it feel like something that could happen in real life.