Demon Slayer undoubtedly sets a new standard regarding what’s possible in sword-fighting anime. Demon Slayer hit the ground running, and it wasn’t long until fans were already calling it one of the best shonen anime of the decade. However, unlike most shonen anime out there, Demon Slayer’s characters are almost all winners, with very few duds in the cast.
Be it the main protagonist, Tanjiro Kamado, or his sister, Nezuko, who barely speaks a word throughout the series — hardly any characters aggravate the fandom. However, some characters are more popular than others, and MyAnimeList is a valuable resource for fan engagement and character feedback.
Updated on April 11, 2023, by Daniel Kurland: Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba continues to exceed expectations and stand out as one of the decade’s most exciting and entertaining shonen series. It looks as if the events of Season 3’s “Swordsmith Village Arc” will put Tanjiro up against deadlier challenges than ever before. Certain Demon Slayer characters leave bigger impressions than others, and the Swordsmith Village appears to be full of new faces. In honor of Demon Slayer’s new season, we’ve updated this list to examine which characters are currently most popular with fans.
15 Genya Shinazugawa
586 Favorites
Genya Shinazugawa is the younger brother of fellow demon slayer and Wind Hashira Sanemi, although he’s considerably more belligerent and hostile than his sibling. Genya and Tanjiro ruffle feathers early on during their training in the Swordsmith Village.
Genya adopts a lone wolf mentality, which is not Tanjiro’s style. Still, Genya gradually softens, and his reactive attitude makes a lot more sense once his painful backstory comes to light. Demon Slayer’s third season really showcases Genya, so it’s not surprising that this character has finally made its way onto MyAnimeList’s character rankings.
14 Muzan Kibutsuji
629 Favorites
The strongest of the Upper Rank Demons and the one who’s ultimately responsible for the proliferation of these deadly monsters, Muzan Kibutsuji represents ultimate evil in Demon Slayer. Muzan’s presence has hung over Tanjiro’s actions right from the anime’s start, but Demon Slayer typically just offers teases of this monumental villain.
The Season 3 premiere for Demon Slayer spends an unprecedented period of time with Muzan, as well as the other Upper Rank Demons, as he begins to intensify his execution plans. The current season’s deeper look into Muzan has helped him become more of a fan-favorite character.
13 Sabito
719 Favorites
Sabito is a fringe figure from Demon Slayer who’s made a surprising impact and found greater popularity than even some of the series’ central characters. Sabito used to be Sakonji Urokodaki’s apprentice, who himself was the former Water Hashira, but the budding warrior lacks the necessary killer instinct for this line of work.
Sabito crumbles under pressure; when he’s given the opportunity to decapitate a demon, his hesitation on the matter costs him his life. Sabito passes under tragic circumstances, which likely also contributes to the character’s popularity.
12 Sanemi Shinazugawa
996 Favorites
Sanemi Shinazugawa is another prolific member of the Demon Slayer Corps who really comes into his own during the show’s third season at the height of the Swordsmith Village Arc. Sanemi holds the privilege of being the Demon Slayers’ Wind Hashira, and his guidance is instrumental in Tanjiro’s progress.
Sanemi stands out in the present, but his complicated past, where he’s sacrificed everything for his siblings to protect them from demons, makes him even more appealing among fans. He’s experienced true loss, yet he hasn’t let it corrupt him.
11 Muichirou Tokitou
2,462 Favorites
Muichirou Tokitou has the honor of being the Demon Slayer Corps’ current Mist Hashira. The Demon Slayer anime highlights how Muichirou can be absent-minded and lose himself in thought. He’s a warrior who lacks focus, which is why he seems to always juggle multiple tasks at the same time.
Despite these distractions, Muichirou is shown to be a logical Demon Slayer who’s not prone to his emotions getting the better of him. Muichirou also conveys this attitude through the inscrutable blank expression that’s usually on his face.
10 Mitsuri Kanroji
2,829 Favorites
As the Love Hashira of the Demon Slayer Corps, Mitsuri Kanroji is unsurprisingly one of the anime’s more emotional warriors. Mitsuri gets flustered easily, has a hard time interacting with new people, and enjoys keeping to herself. She often gets perceived as immature and childish, but there’s a lot of depth to Mitsuri.
Mitsuri shares a powerful bond with Obanai, and even though she’s someone who loves to love, she’s still able to act ruthlessly on the battlefield when it comes to demon slaughter. Mitsuri’s shy demeanor gives way to harsh expressions and a voice full of disdain.
9 Tengen Uzui
4,533 Favorites
Tengen Uzui is the Sound Pillar of the Demon Slayer Corps, and he’s certainly one of the more extroverted characters in Demon Slayer. Tengen’s knowledge and skills are instrumental to Tanjiro and company during the events of Season 2 within the dangerous Entertainment District.
Tengen’s brutal approach to combat inspires Tanjiro and company to surpass their limits. He’s also a character who’s found a lot of popularity because of his respectable treatment of his three wives, Hinatsuru, Suma, and Makio. The love shared between Tengen and his partners reflects some of Demon Slayer’s healthiest relationships.
8 Kanao Tsuyuri
5,253 Favorites
Like Muichirou, Kanao is an individual who knows how to wield a formidable poker face. However, after this ferocious female fighter witnesses demons hurting her loved ones, she grows a strong hatred toward them. Over the passage of time, she also defies her superiors, like she did with Shinobu, and takes part in the final selection.
Kanao may often come across as meek in nature, but she possesses a cruel side that comes out when she’s locked into demon combat. This is most obvious during her fight against Doma, where she’s forced to drop her calm demeanor in order to hold her own against the demon’s vicious verbal attacks.
7 Giyuu Tomioka
11,172 Favorites
Giyuu is a reserved person who always has a serious look on his face and prefers keeping to himself. He is also an extremely strict person, which results in constant admonishments toward those who “waste” their lives lost in “meaningless” activities.
Giyuu seems to be uncaring, but he’s guided by a strong sense of righteousness, which is evident when he allows Nezuko to live, despite how it strictly goes against the demon slayer code of conduct. Shinobu’s attempts to kill Nezuko once again bring forward Giyuu’s selfless desire to protect those who can’t defend themselves.
6 Shinobu Kochou
11,916 Favorites
Shinobu Kochou is one of the stronger female demon slayers in the series, but she sports a fun and easygoing personality, which leads to many people letting down their guards. Shinobu loves to pick on people, especially Giyuu, because of his inability to defend himself against her verbal attacks. Much like the series’ other demon slayers, Shinobu’s playful attitude quickly fades into the background whenever she needs to take on a demon.
Shinobu takes great pleasure in not just the defeat of demons but in intentionally being malicious to these monsters before their executions. However, it’s not until Shinobu meets Nezuko that her views on demons evolve, and she lets a little more compassion into her heart.
5 Kyojuro Rengoku
12,831 Favorites
Kyojuro Rengoku is the Flame Hashira of Demon Slayer Corps and one of the best components of Demon Slayer’s thrilling “Mugen Train Arc.” Kyojuro has a strong moral compass and a respectable idea of right versus wrong. He lives by his code of honor and can’t help but defend the weak, like when he steps up to help Tanjiro on the Mugen Train. These honorable qualities were instilled in Kyojuro by his mother.
Kyojuro Rengoku enjoys the stressful life of a Hashira, and he’s learned to make the most out of what might be limited time on this planet. Kyojuro is often seen lost in the comfort of others’ company. His kind, friendly nature is infectious, and it’s hard not to love and respect this dedicated warrior.
4 Nezuko Kamado
14,310 Favorites
An endless onslaught of Nezuko memes floods the internet, so it should come as no surprise that she remains one of Demon Slayer’s most popular characters. Nezuko’s infection into a half-demon girl is one of the major catalysts in the series, and the hope of curing her of this ailment remains Tanjiro’s North Star during his journey.
Nezuko is presented as a liability to protect during the earlier episodes of Demon Slayer, but she gradually exposes Demon Blood Art powers that put full-blood monsters to shame. Demon Slayer’s relationship with Nezuko continues to evolve, and fans are only more curious about where the supporting player is headed.
3 Inosuke Hashibira
14,417 Favorites
Shown as one of the more eccentric boys in Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba, Inosuke’s eccentricity is attributed to his being raised by boars since he was a child. This demon slayer is loud, aggressive, and prideful. He always brims with overconfidence; as a result, he believes that he’ll win any fight he participates in, whether it’s against a demon or otherwise.
Inosuke is short-tempered, hates losing, and doesn’t easily make friends. However, despite these shortcomings, Inosuke enjoys being praised even for the tiniest of things, and he eventually makes great friends with Zenitsu and Tanjiro.
2 Zenitsu Agatsuma
16,399 Favorites
Zenitsu Agatsuma is a popular Demon Slayer character whose most defining trait is that he’s a consistent coward who tends to flee from fights, which is ironic since he desires to be a demon slayer. Additionally, Zenitsu struggles with low self-esteem, which is why he goes out of his way to please those around him.
All of this being said, Zenitsu also shows unexpected bursts of courage, strength, and determination, like when he’s almost beaten to death by Inosuke because he wants to protect Tanjiro’s sister, Nezuko. Great accomplishments lie ahead for Zenitsu in Demon Slayer’s “Swordsmith Village Arc.”
1 Tanjiro Kamado
23,310 Favorites
Demon Slayer’s protagonist is also, unsurprisingly, the anime’s most popular character by quite a wide margin. Tanjiro is kind to his friends, but he also doesn’t hesitate to put them into place for their poor behavior, particularly when it comes to Inosuke and Zenitsu.
Tanjiro is also excessively generous, and with due time, he learns that not everyone — especially demons — deserves his kindness. Tanjiro grows stronger and slightly hardens in spirit as Demon Slayer goes on. Over time, Tanjiro becomes more logical and cunning when it comes to his strategies and battle decisions. Even so, he never lets go of the good that’s deep inside him.
Leave a Reply