Why Demon Slayer Is Overrated (And Why Fans Still Love It)

Whether you hate it or love it, there's no denying the massive impact that Demon Slayer series has had on the anime industry. Over the past few years, Tanjiro's quest to find the sinister Muzan and avenge his family has become an icon not only of the Shonen genre, but of the medium as a whole, thanks to its endearing cast, memorable moments, and stunning animation.

Over the years, many fans have found objective flaws that fans of the franchise tend to overlook. Although this does not mean that Demon Slayer has no redeeming qualities, as it has an outstanding number of positive qualities, there are more than a few reasons why one could argue that its popularity is largely overrated.

Overrated: The animation hides a missing action

Anime fans all over the world are aware of the fact that Demon Slayer anime has one of the most beautiful animations in the entire industry. Despite how admirable this achievement is, fans argue that it is often used to justify the formulaic, shallow plot. While it's not a bad story, there aren't many aspects that help it stand out.

Instead of enthralling fans with complex stories, deep philosophical dilemmas, or incredibly well-written characters, the anime relies heavily on bright colors and superior graphics to keep audiences engaged. Most of the positive comments about the series talk exclusively about the animation and how inspiring it can be.

Fans love it: The Animation is Beyond Stunning

As much as the over-reliance on its animation can become a problem for the show, even the most ardent haters have to admit that Demon Slayers animation is a real masterpiece. Each scene is created with a level of care and attention to detail that is hard to find, boldly showing the love and passion that went into creating this beloved series.

The use of color and contrast creates stunning images that will live forever in the minds and hearts of fans. More impressive of all is the use of advanced animation techniques during fights, helping them feel fluid and alive, almost as if viewers were witnessing these battles first hand. It's an almost flawless animation that can enchant even the harshest art critic.

Overrated: The power system doesn't feel grounded

One of the most important features of a fighting Shonen such as Demon Slayer can have is a power system that feels consistent, so the audience can understand it, and awesome enough to drive the plot forward. The abilities and supernatural powers demonstrated by both the demon variety and the slayers fail miserably at the first condition in almost every respect.

The skills used by the antagonists not only feel unfairly superior to the heroes, with the most powerful demons able to manipulate reality itself, but it also has no real justification. The origins of the Demon Blood or Breathing Styles are never properly explained, making them feel vague. It's also frustrating that the heroes get power-ups at the most opportune times for no real reason as to why.

Fans love it: the fights are superbly choreographed

While the power system in the series may not be the best designed, the team behind this incredible show found a way to still make the encounters between the Slayers and the Demons feel exciting and memorable. This feat was achieved by fully exploiting the skills the fighters possessed and adapting them to vivid and impressive performances.

The best battles in Demon Slayer is a masterclass in fluid and vivid animation, with not a single frame feeling out of place. Giving each breath style a unique and colorful aesthetic also did wonders for the series, taking the manga's already spectacular art style and elevating it with special effects that make every fight a feast for the eyes.

Overrated: Traits are overly exaggerated

Above all, Tanjiro and his friends are energetic and determined warriors whose sense of justice is as admirable as their swordsmanship. Even these inspiring heroes have traits that can often irritate the audience beyond a reasonable degree. One of the biggest examples of this is Zenitsu, a character whose cowardice and disturbing interest in women can quickly drive potential fans away.

Regrettably, this led to several forced and unfunny recurring jokes that can either break the pace of the series or simply annoy fans without achieving any real laughs. To a much lesser extent, Tanjiro's innocence and extremely heroic personality can feel somewhat forced, as the main character is often portrayed as a pure soul with no capacity for malice, which is highly unrealistic.

Fans love it: Tanjiro is a great role model

For a Shonen anime, epic fights and complex power systems aren't all it takes to succeed, because there's one quality that's far more important: the main character. A charming main character can be crucial for a show to become popular, as the main character becomes the first impression the audience will have. This is why Tanjiro is such an effective and beloved protagonist, as there are almost no negative qualities to the kind boy.

The feisty protagonist is much more than just a hopeful and optimistic soul; he is the light that healed many of the wounds that kept his friends and Hashira in agony. Tanjiro is a bastion of morality and kindness, even to those who don't always deserve it, like the demons. As such, it's nearly impossible for anyone to truly hate him as a protagonist.

Overrated: excessive reliance on tragic backstories

A good story is one that not only entertains fans but also speaks to them on an emotional level, allowing them to feel more than joy and laughter. Sadly, this idea can sometimes be taken to an unnecessary extreme, and Demon Slayer is living proof of this phenomenon. Across the series' many arcs, with few exceptions, fans will be informed of their backstory whenever a fight against a villain reaches its climax.

Most of the demons Tanjiro and his friends were sent to kill suffered a lot in life and became the monsters they are today. While this helped many viewers empathize with their struggles and see the villains as more than just emotionless killing machines, the constant repetition of this trope quickly became tiresome and no longer had the desired effect on audiences.

Fans love it: Excellent use of emotional scenes

Even if Demon Slayer comics had a hard time finding a balance between likable and compelling villains, this doesn't mean the story couldn't really portray strong emotional scenes effectively. The world that Tanjiro inhabits is a dangerous one, filled with monsters waiting around every corner to tear people apart without a second thought, whether they were simple civilians or powerful fighters.

This fact led to several poignant death scenes, such as Rengoku's final farewell during the Infinite Train arc, that moved millions of fans to tears. Moments of joy were also plentiful throughout the plot, such as Nezuko's first words after being cured of her deadly weakness to sunlight. These moments enchanted fans and proved that the series really could be deep and emotional at times.

Overrated: The world building is almost non-existent

While Tanjiro's story cannot be said to be centralized to a single location, as the hero traveled to several unique locations while growing stronger, it objectively failed to truly capture the magic of the world the characters inhabited. Aside from the few cities and training grounds the main cast traveled to or were sent out to protect, nothing much is known about the rest of the planet.

More infuriating of all is the seemingly blissful ignorance of demons that most of the world lives in, even though they have existed for centuries and likely spread far away from Muzan. Due to the series mostly focusing on a linear trajectory, involving training, sending the heroes on a mission and fighting a powerful enemy, there was almost no time for the world to develop effectively.

Fans Love It: Nezuko is one of Anime's greatest characters

Arguably one of the most beloved anime characters ever created, Nezuko is one of the main charms that this amazing series has to offer fans. For most of the series, Tanjiro's sister acts as an adorable and comedic supporting cast whose main contribution is to motivate the main character while enchanting the audience.

Yet, behind her cuteness, this brave girl hid a fierce warrior who became a great asset to the heroes during the Amusement District arc and beyond. The show found a way to turn its metaphorical mascot into an invaluable team member whose contribution was crucial to the main cast's victory during the finale, a feat not many franchises can claim.

Release date

April 6, 2019

Network

Adult swimming