Demon Slayer: Inosuke’s Comedic Subversion Made This Moment Even More Heartbreaking

Inosuke has become one of Demon Slayer’s most iconic characters — from his boar-head mask to his eccentric personality, everything about the wild boy is bound to leave a strong impression. Of the anime’s trio of protagonist Tanjiro Kamado, Inosuke Hashibira and Zenitsu Agatsuma, Inosuke’s introduction was the last, coming at the end of the “Tzuzumi Mansion” arc. However, his was also the most effective, immediately introducing the audience to his primary character traits: recklessness, a wild approach to fighting, and an affinity for forgetting people’s names.

Many of these traits are played up for comedic effect, making an otherwise heavy topic far easier to consume while clearly conveying Inosuke’s background. He was raised in the wild by boars so was mostly removed from other people, explaining his animalistic approach to fighting and poor people skills. Yet, it is the subversion of Inosuke’s characteristics that had him taking center stage in the manga’s most emotional moment.

Inosuke Cannot Remember Tanjiro’s Name in Demon Slayer

Thanks to his absolute self-assurance, Inosuke’s struggles to remember the names of those around him are often hilarious. Ranging from the boy earnestly calling after “Kentaro” when he and Tanjiro were separated by a spider demon on Mount Natagumo, to his iconic declaration that he will bring down “Kamaboko Gonpachiro”, Inosuke’s serious and confident demeanor is constantly contrasted by these slip-ups. These moments of goofiness contrasting his wild personality make the character easy to warm up to; had his role exclusively been the high-energy, aggressive rival, the boar-headed boy’s manner would be harder to swallow.

This aspect of Inosuke’s character is never dropped — he continuously uses incorrect names or descriptive nicknames for his peers. Even when meeting the Flame Hashira Kyojuro Rengoku, he referred to him as “old goggle eyes”, and took Sound Hashira Tengen Uzui’s “God of festivals” comment at face value. Inosuke’s moments are often needed in high-octane moments throughout Demon Slayer, and the audience has been conditioned to recognize them as such. This is why, when Inosuke strays from this characterization, his biggest moments in the anime or manga become far more hard-hitting.

When Inosuke Finally Got Tanjiro’s Name Right

Inosuke’s other primary trait is his aggressive need to prove his strength to Tanjiro. From the moment he was bested by a powerful headbutt, Inosuke dedicated himself to improving his strength to show he is better than Tanjiro. He openly provokes his friend, but is consistently thwarted by the protagonists eternal kindness and empathy. So, when the Demon Slayer manga is nearing its end, the sun is rising and the King of Demons, Muzan Kibutsuji, has been defeated, Inosuke’s comedic support is needed more than ever.

However, instead of a moment of peace, the surviving members of the Corps are forced to spring back into action. Tanjiro Kamado had become a demon able to withstand the light of day — so the Water Hashira Giyu calls the Kamaboko squad to action, and they are forced to go toe-to-toe with their friend and comrade.

Inosuke, a member of the Kamaboko squad, remembers the promise he and Tanjiro made to kill the other if they ever became a demon. But instead of a typical, clumsy Inosuke move where he declares he will finally defeat “Kamaboko Gonpachiro,” he responds by displaying raw emotion and using Tanjiro’s correct name. This moment is a complete reversal of Inosuke’s character traits thus far that shifts their rivalry, as it is now Inosuke refusing to fight.

This scene utilized both Inosuke’s characterization and audience expectations to up the emotional stakes of this moment. While it serves as a culmination of Tanjiro and Inosuke’s relationship, it would not have been anywhere near as hard-hitting had fans not expected levity from the Beast Breathing swordsman. Inosuke has tried to no avail to pick a fight with Tanjiro, and had long been renowned for his inability to place a name — but by subverting these traits, this scene from Demon Slayer’s manga achieved the maximum emotional impact.