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 causes them to interact with a variety of interesting people, some friends and some enemies.
The world of Demon Slayer is tragic, 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 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 fantastic background
Akaza may be a villain, but that doesn't stop fans from showing the character some love every now and then. While he certainly earned the ire of the fans for his actions during the Mugen Train Arc, you can't say he hasn't left a mark on the Demon Slayer fanbase.
Aakaza is an interesting character who, rather than just being portrayed as some maliciously evil enemy for Tanjiro or the 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 the fans.
Inosuke Hashibira
A wild yet lovable companion during Tanjiro's journey
Inosuke is a huge wild card, both as a Demon Slayer and in his daily life with Tanjiro, Nezuko and Zenitsu. Having grown up in the wild, you can never be sure 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.
Although uninteresting at first, we see Inosuke gradually grow closer to his companions as the series progresses. He gets good 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 in the story that long, Kyojuro has had a big impact on Demon Slayer fan base. In addition to being admired by several characters in 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 fight with Akaza, although it ended tragically, was one of the most explosive of all Demon Slayerand his impact on those around him continued to be felt long after his role in the series ended.
Shinobu Kocho — Insect Hashira
A bright smile that hides something darker
Shinobu may be one of the most important characters in the Demon Slayer outside his main quartet. As Insect Hashira, she is a key piece in the fight against the demons, and after the events of the Mount Natagumo Arc, she and the rest of the Butterfly Mansion residents take it upon themselves to help Tanjiro and the gang rehabilitate.
Shibobu plays a sort of older sister role for most of the series, advising and caring for the main characters at various times. Although she is outwardly friendly and happy, we eventually see another side of her that shows how much losing her parents and sister has affected her over the years. Strong, emotionally tough, and never willing to budge from her duty, Shinobu is a highlight every time she is included in Demon Slayers story.
Muzan Kibutsuji – The Demon King
Demon Slayer's Big Bad plays the part well
Every story needs a good villain, and when it comes demon slayer, Koyoharu Gotouge did a fantastic job of creating a myriad of interesting villains with different motives 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 whole Demon Slayer given 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 way they would with characters like Akaza or Daki and Gyutaro. He's a character you love to hate, making him a perfect final boss for the series.
Nezuko Kamado
Everyone's favorite little demon
Nezuko who turns into a demon after killing her family begins Demon Slayers story. The bond between the Kamado siblings is the driving force of the entire series, as we not only get to see how close the family was before the tragedy that started it all, but we also see how far one sibling would go to protect the other throughout the series.
Nezuko isn't just a character who sits idly by while waiting for others to rescue her. She has shown how powerful she can be while helping her brother throughout his journey as a Demon Slayer. Although her demonic personality can slip out at times, for the most part, Nezuko proves to be kind and caring to those around her, making her one of the easiest characters to root for.
Tanjiro Kamado
Demon Slayer's tenacious MC takes every challenge head on
It's easy to root for Tanjiro all the time Demon Slayer. His journey to save his sister while dealing with the loss of the rest of his family makes him an incredibly likable character, and the resilience he displays 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 how kind he is.
Yoriichi Tsugikuni
Demon Slayer's main character
While Tanjiro might be Demon Slayers main character, there is arguably no character as important to the series as Yoriichi. He was widely considered to be the most powerful Demon Slayer despite living 500 years before 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 make him a much more tragic character.
