Summary
Demon Slayerwould definitely not be the same without its lovable andpositive main characterTanjiro Kamado. In spite of his dark and difficult past riddled with loss and grief, he faces every challenge with optimism and persistent effort. He has lost family members, witnessed deaths before his eyes, and gone through physical and mental obstacles beyond belief, yet his spirit is never fully broken. However, fans may be shocked to discover thatTanjiro’s early design is the polar opposite of how he appears in the series.
Koyoharu Gotouge,Demon Slayer’smangaka, went through multiple different iterations of the popular hero before they landed on the Tanjiro design fans know so well today. Ina MANGA Plus interviewwithDemon Slayer’s editor Katayama, more details of Tanjiro’s original appearance were revealed.
BeforeDemon Slayer,Gotouge had created other manga series and one of their most popular was titledKa Gari Gari. This manga would becomethe biggest inspiration for Tanjiro Kamado’s character, featuring an early illustration that looks shockingly similar to the hero. Interestingly, the character’s look was much darker and more serious looking in the initial drawings.
Gotouge’s OriginalDemon SlayerDesign for Tanjiro Kamado Was Unbelievably Dark
Demon Slayer’s Editor Suggested a More Lighthearted Main Character Would Suit the Series Better
Demon Slayercan be quite dark at times, considering the fact that the series focuses on man-eating demons and heroes slaying them with Nichirin swords. The show is definitelyno stranger to gory and dark moments, but its predecessor,Ka Gari Gari,was much more somber with even heavier and more tragic themes thanDemon Slayer.Gotouge took inspiration from this manga and thus, the first concept forDemon Slayerwas born, originally calledKisatsu no Nagare.However, editor Katayama felt this original manga idea was a bit too intense for audiences andsuggested a lighter feel and more upbeat main characterinstead.
In Katayama’s words,Demon Slayercould only excel with"a brighter, more normal character"who would resonate with audiences more. X user,@the16thhokagaeposted these illustrations of how Tanjiro might have wound up looking, providing a stark contrast with his canon optimistic and peppy appearance. One of the images shows the young hero drawing a Nichirin blade out of its holder and staring ahead with a threatening facial expression. The second image shows the character grasping a sword at his side as a crow flies overhead, with a similar serious look on his face, showing the hero is not to be messed with.
“I Can’t Decide if He’s Interesting” - Demon Slayer’s Creator Had Major Concerns About Tanjiro
Demon Slayer creator Gotouge has described Tanjiro as “too normal” and not “interesting,” shocking fans who greatly admire the hero.
Tanjiro Is Optimistic Almost to a Fault, Despite His tragic Circumstances
Tanjiro’s Upbeat and Positive Nature Inspires Fans and Characters in the Series Alike
It is hard to imagine that the grave and almost terrifying character in these images could have beenDemon Slayer’smain character. The physical appearance of the boy does share some similarities with Tanjiro’s, however. Elements, such as their hairstyles, look almost identical and clearly come from the same artist, but it is undeniable thatTanjiro is a far more lighthearted and bubbly versionof this more serious character. It is interesting to imagine how differentDemon Slayer’sentire story and feel would have been had Gotouge stuck with this first main character concept, giving the series a much more dismal atmosphere.
Katayama’s suggestion to create a more fun and lively main character was a wise choice because Tanjiro has become one of anime’s most beloved heroes due to his positive and hopeful nature. Although he has definitely endured horrific events that would break anyone’s spirit, his optimism is a constant factor no matter what awful circumstances he finds himself in. He does experience moments of dismay and devastation like anyone else would in such a gruesome world filled with death and despair, buthe largely acts as a shining light of inspiration and hopeto the other characters and iseven merciful to villains.
Tanjiro’s Resilience and Positivity Make Him Stand Out Among Anime Protagonists
His Truly Unique Outlook is Motivational and Adds a Layer of Happiness to the Sometimes Dark Series
Tanjiro’s original dark design is undoubtedly cool, but the new design’s infectiously friendly and kind nature feels right at home inDemon Slayer,adding an edge of happiness to the otherwise distressing subject matter of the series. There are a number of dark shonen series out there, soDemon Slayerstands out as truly unique by portraying a protagonist who is kind and positive almost to a fault. His demeanor is motivating to fans who can follow his example of cheerfulness even in tough times. There arefew other anime protagonists who are comparable to Tanjiroin this way, making him distinctive.
Gotouge has shown that they are undoubtedly talented at creating both serious and upbeat characters, but heeding Katayama’s advice to go a more lighthearted route when creating Tanjiro was definitely a wise decision for this specific manga series. Many people find Tanjiro’s heroic nature and encouraging advice throughout the series to be very uplifting and applicable to their own lives as a source of hope and direction. Gotouge has definitely writtenone of anime’s most positive and resilient characters. Sometimes, an overwhelmingly positive hero is necessary to brighten up a darker shonen series, and Tanjiro Kamado’s character inDemon Slayerproves this.
Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba
Cast
Set in Japan’s Taisho Period, Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba follows Tanjiro, a young boy whose family is killed by demons. With his sister Nezuko transformed into a demon, Tanjiro embarks on a quest to become a demon slayer, seeking vengeance and a cure for his sister’s condition.
