While Demon Slayer is a series that stands out for its incredible animation and visuals, thanks to the talented people at ufotable, a big part of why the series is so great has to do with its cast of characters. Tanjiro and Nezuko's journey has them interact with a variety of interesting people, some friends and some foes.
The world of Demon Slayer is a tragic one, and we see that in how both the series' heroes and villains have been affected by it. With so many different characters and a variety of different backstories that shape who they are, these stand as some of the best characters in Demon Slayer.
Akaza — Upper Rank Three
An Interesting Villain With a Great Backstory
Akaza might be a villain, but that doesn't stop fans from showing the character love every now and then. While he certainly earned the ire of fans for his actions during the Mugen Train Arc, you can't say that he hasn't left a mark on the Demon Slayer fan base.
Aakaza is an interesting character who, rather than just being depicted as some maliciously evil enemy for Tanjiro or other Demon Slayers to destroy, is portrayed with interesting morals that add extra depth to his character. With one of the most depressing backstories among the Upper Ranks, Akaza definitely left his mark on fans.
Inosuke Hashibira
A Wild Yet Loveable Companion Throughout Tanjiro's Journey
Inosuke is a massive wild card, both as a Demon Slayer and in his daily life with Tanjiro, Nezuko, and Zenitsu. Having been raised in the wild, you can never be sure about how Inosuke will react to any given situation, which more often than not leads to some of the best comedic moments Demon Slayer has to offer.
While initially standoffish, we see Inosuke gradually become closer to his companions as the series progresses. He gets some great development throughout the series, and like most of Demon Slayer's main cast, has an incredibly emotional backstory that really recontextualizes what initially seemed like a fun little gag origin.
Kyojuro Rengoku - The Flame Hashira
A Fan Favorite Despite Little Screen Time
For a character who wasn't featured in the story for very long, Kyojuro has made quite the impact on the Demon Slayer fan base. Aside from being admired by multiple characters within the series, Kyojuro has also captured the hearts of Demon Slayer fans for his bravery, enthusiasm, and kindness.
Introduced during the Mugen Train Arc, Kyojuro plays a key role alongside Tanjiro and the rest of the gang. His battle with Akaza, though tragic in how it ended, was one of the most explosive in all of Demon Slayer, and his impact on those around him continued to be felt long after his role in the series ended.
Shinobu Kocho — The Insect Hashira
A Bright Smile That Hides Something Darker
Shinobu might be one of the most important characters in Demon Slayer outside of its main quartet. As the Insect Hashira, she's a key piece in the fight against the demons, and following the events of the Mount Natagumo Arc, she and the rest of the residents at the Butterfly Mansion take charge of helping Tanjiro and the gang rehabilitate.
Shibobu plays a sort of older sister role for most of the series, offering advice and caring for the main characters at different points. Though she's outwardly friendly and cheerful, we eventually see a different side of her that shows just how much losing her parents and sister has affected her over the years. Strong, emotionally tough, and never willing to waver from her duty, Shinobu is a highlight any time she's included in Demon Slayer's story.
Muzan Kibutsuji - The Demon King
Demon Slayer's Big Bad Plays The Role Well
Every story needs a good villain, and when it comes to Demon Slayer, Koyoharu Gotouge did an amazing job of creating a myriad of interesting villains with different motivations and backstories. But the series' main antagonist has always stood above the rest as one of its most memorable characters.
While many of the demons you see throughout Demon Slayer are afforded some sort of context as to why they ended up the way they are, Muzan is a much more straightforward villain. Fans don't sympathize with him the same way they would with characters like Akaza or Daki, and Gyutaro. He's a character you love to hate, which makes him a perfect final boss for the series.
Nezuko Kamado
Everyone's Favorite Little Demon
Nezuko being transformed into a demon following the slaying of her family kicks off Demon Slayer's story. The bond between the Kamado siblings is the driving force of the whole series, as not only do we get to see how close the family was prior to the tragedy that started everything, but we also see just how far either sibling would go to protect the other throughout the series.
Nezuko isn't just a character who sits idle while she waits for others to save her. She's shown just how powerful she can be while helping her brother throughout his journey as a Demon Slayer. Though her demonic personality can slip out at times, most of ti time, Nezuko is shown to be kind and caring of those around her, making her one of the easiest characters to root for.
Tanjiro Kamado
Demon Slayer's Tenacious MC Greets Every Challenge Head-On
It's easy to root for Tanjiro throughout Demon Slayer. His journey to save his sister while dealing with the loss of the rest of his family makes him an incredibly sympathetic character, and the resiliency he shows throughout the series makes it hard not to root for him as he faces every challenge head-on.
Tanjiro's selflessness and willingness to help others make him an easy character to admire, and the compassion he shows for fallen demons illustrates just how kind he is.
Yoriichi Tsugikuni
Demon Slayer's Most Important Character
While Tanjiro might be Demon Slayer's main character, there's arguably no character as important to the series as Yoriichi. He was widely believed to be the most powerful Demon Slayer despite having lived 500 years prior to the start of the series. He was also the creator of Sun Breathing, which Tanjiro would later adopt.
Yoriichi is often seen as a very stoic character, and while that is part of his personality, various revelations about his past, as well as the relationship between him and his brother, Michikatsu, help flesh him out as a much more tragic character.
Demon Slayer
Display card tags widget Display card community and brand rating widget Display card main info widget- Release Date
- April 6, 2019
- Network
- Adult Swim
Based on Koyoharu Gotouge's shonen manga, Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba is an action anime set in Japan during the early 20th century. Seeking revenge for the murder of his family while also looking to save his sister, Tanjiro joins the Demon Slayer Corps as they try to eradicate Demons led by Muzan.
- Creator
- Koyoharu Gotoge
- Number of Episodes
- 63
- Streaming Service(s)
- Crunchyroll, Hulu, Netflix
- MyAnimeList Score
- 8.26 (Hashira Training Arc)
