Demon Slayer quickly became one of the biggest names in the modern anime world. It's all thanks to a winning combination of stellar animation from Studio UFOtable, thrilling action sequences, a wonderful soundtrack, and, most of all, a cast of memorable and beloved characters straight from the source manga.
Excellent characters make all the difference in a work of fiction, even in a shonen series like Demon Slayer where the action is the main attraction. When all factors are considered, such as combat power, personality, good dialogue, and sheer charm, the characters of Demon Slayer can be ranked according to how wonderful they are — and the best rise right to the top, including some new faces found in the Demon Slayer: To The Swordsmith Village movie.
Updated on May 20, 2023, by Louis Kemner: The Swordsmith Village story arc is in full swing, and that means fans can meet a handful of great new characters or see older characters in a whole new light. This is the perfect time for Demon Slayer fans to rethink who their favorite characters really are and appreciate every last cast member for who and what they are, even the villains.
20 Hantengu
Hantengu made his debut in Season 3 as the crafty Upper Moon 4 demon. He made a weak first impression as a crying, cowardly demon at the Upper Moon meeting at first, but in battle, he is actually quite formidable and has more compelling alternate forms.
Hantengu can split into several strong, aggressive forms that represent different emotions, including one body with an eagle's wings and talons. Even if Hantengu isn't personally likable, he's thrilling to watch and is giving Tanjiro, Nezuko, and Genya the fight of their lives.
19 Akaza
Akaza, the martial artist Upper Moon 3, burst onto the scene late in the Mugen Train story arc not long after Enmu's demise. Akaza terrified Demon Slayer fans as a foe far stronger than any Tanjiro had ever faced, and he proved it when he single-handedly killed Kyojuro Rengoku.
Akaza is a character that fans love to hate and reluctantly like as well. He is cool and engaging to watch, even if he's a brutal killer, and fans are intrigued to see where his new feud with Tanjiro will take him in future story arcs.
18 Gyutaro
Gyutaro was a vicious and cruel antagonist in the Entertainment District arc, and fans were glad when Tanjiro and Tengen finally took him down and slew him. Still, for all his faults as a nasty villain, Gyutaro has a surprisingly sympathetic side deep down.
Like all demons, Gyutaro was once human, and it wasn't his fault he was born to an uncaring mother in desperate poverty and filth. He also worked hard and risked his life to protect his beloved little sister, the beautiful Ume (Daki). After Ume got badly burned, Doma approached Gyutaro and made an offer to make them into demons, which Gyutaro accepted.
17 Daki
Demon Slayer's villainous Daki, Upper Moon Six, is a surprisingly complex and compelling villain who is more than just a boss battle for the main characters. She, like many other demons, has her vulnerable side.
Daki's vulnerability balances her character, and her flashback in Demon Slayer is a sympathetic one. Tanjiro felt bad for Daki as she died; fans might miss her, too, despite her many crimes. Daki also has a dazzling appearance, an energetic personality as an arrogant himedere, and a fascinating combat style to her name.
16 Tamayo
Tamayo is a benevolent demon who refuses to kill anyone to sustain herself. Tamayo has dedicated her long life to helping people and demons in her clinic; she promised to help Tanjiro restore Nezuko's humanity somehow.
Tamayo is a supporting character in Demon Slayer, but she is easy to like thanks to her gentle personality and her role in helping Nezuko restore her humanity. She also has a charming dynamic with her assistant, Yushiro, who is smitten with her.
15 Hotaru Haganezuka
Even if Demon Slayer fans don't know that much about Hotaru Haganezuka, including his actual face, he has become a fan-favorite character known for his excellent skills and his emotional outbursts. Hotaru is the one who brought Tanjiro his first sword, and he's greatly upset anytime Tanjiro damages or misuses that weapon.
Hotaru endlessly amuses Demon Slayer fans with his comedic antics and his fierce passion for all things katanas. He's also easy to spot from a mile away with his distinct red-faced mask, his wide straw hat, and the numerous windchimes hanging from that hat.
14 Genya Shinazugawa
Genya Shinazugawa made a bad first impression back in Season 1 as an aggressive, impatient demon slayer rookie whom Tanjiro didn't like that much. Now, Genya is a major player in the swordsmith village arc, and Demon Slayer fans can see what he's really all about.
Genya may be crude and rough, but he's also a dedicated demon slayer who creatively uses Buddhist chants and shotguns to fight the Upper Moons. He also has a tragic backstory similar to Tanjiro and Nezuko, making him more sympathetic as a heartbroken warrior seeking revenge against demon-kind.
13 Aoi Kanzaki
Aoi Kanzaki is a key member of the butterfly estate and is an associate of Shinobu Kocho and Kanao Tsuyuri. Aoi admitted that she's too afraid to fight demons despite her prior training, so she would rather focus on training other slayers, such as Tanjiro's heroic trio.
Aoi is a classic tsundere and a stern but effective teacher, and she's one of the few girls at the butterfly estate who's not afraid of Inosuke. This may be why Demon Slayer fans already ship them together, and time will tell if they go the distance in the Demon Slayer anime.
12 Muichiro Tokita
Muichiro Tokita is the petite Mist Hashira, and he made a minor appearance in the Swordsmith Village movie. Muichiro bears a white blade that represents the power of mist, and his breathing style is astonishingly fast in combat against the likes of Hantengu and Gyokko. However, dealing the finishing blow won't be easy.
Muichiro made a subtly strong impression as a quiet, confident, and oddly airheaded Hashira. He's totally different from the flashy Tengen and the passionate Kyojuro, with an enticing aura of near-silent mystery surrounding him as Tanjiro's newest Hashira ally.
11 Kagaya Ubuyashiki
Kagaya is the soft-spoken supreme commander of the Demon Slayer Corps. He doesn't have long to live, so he will spend that remaining time pushing himself to the brink to lead his troops to victory over Muzan's demonic hordes to protect humanity.
Kagaya is an effective and charismatic leader, and he can inspire and motivate anyone with carefully chosen and gently spoken words, which is a unique talent of his. He also accepted Nezuko as the demon she was, though he also allowed Sanemi to test her with a sample of blood.
10 Giyu Tomioka
Giyu Tomioka is the current Water Hashira, meaning he has a fighting style similar to Tanjiro. He has the distinction of being the first Hashira to ever appear in Demon Slayer; he tried to kill Nezuko until Tanjiro convinced him to stand down.
Luckily, Giyu graciously sheathed his Nichirin sword and spared Nezuko's life. Giyu may not be very friendly or charming, but Demon Slayer fans love him for his cool kuudere ways and his amusing dynamic with Shinobu Kocho, who enjoys teasing him.
9 Shinobu Kocho
Shinobu Kocho is the insect Hashira. Her butterfly theme helps make her stand out, from her butterfly hair accessory and robes to her role at the Butterfly Estate with Aoi, Kanao, and the others. Shinobu burst onto the scene during the fight against Rui, and she made a strong first impression.
Shinobu is an excellent character thanks to her unique fighting style, stylish appearance, and, most of all, her bizarre personality. She appears cheerful and playful on the outside, but that's a mask to hide her seething rage at all demon-kind.
8 Kanao Tsuyuri
Even if Kanao Tsuyuri hardly ever speaks a word, she is one of Demon Slayer's best and most popular characters so far. She may be petite and quiet, but Kanao has formidable skills and experience as a demon slayer, having received training from Shinobu Kocho herself.
Kanao is deadly but kind, and she helps make Tanjiro feel welcome at the butterfly estate. Already, fans are shipping her with Tanjiro, given their inspiring and wholesome moments together, and she even loudly spoke on Tanjiro's behalf in the Swordsmith Village movie, which impressed fans.
7 Zenitsu Agatsuma
When Demon Slayer fans were first introduced to the electric demon slayer Zenitsu Agatsuma, they found him to be a headache, as he complained loudly and was a coward. He did little good against Kyogai or the spider demons, but he has raised his stock a great deal since then.
Zenitsu learned to be braver, however, and has become much stronger. He wowed Demon Slayer fans with his incredible power when asleep. During the Entertainment District story arc, Zenitsu fell asleep and blew everyone away with his Thunder Breathing techniques.
6 Mitsuri Kanroji
Mitsuri Kanroji returned for more action in the Swordsmith Village movie, and Demon Slayer fans can't wait to see her in action as one of Tanjiro's newest Hashira allies. Mitsuri already made a good impression as a charming deredere earlier in the anime, and now fans are about to see her fight as well.
Mitsuri is easily likable with her wonderful personality, her unique theme as the Love Hashira, and her tolerance for Nezuko the demon. Mitsuri also has an amusing and personal goal, wishing to finally meet and marry a man who is even stronger than she is.
5 Inosuke Hashibira
Inosuke Hashibira was raised by animals, which is reflected in his sharp instincts, boar helmet, and his "bull in a china shop" behavior in the Entertainment District and aboard the Mugen Train. Inosuke is wild, but he's also surprisingly smart, and he has come in handy more than a few times.
Inosuke is one of Demon Slayer's best characters, thanks to his dazzling fighting style, excellent humor, and eccentric personality. He also truly shone in the Entertainment District Arc, where he made good use of his body's extreme flexibility to sneak into Daki's underground lair undetected.
4 Tanjiro Kamado
The shonen protagonist himself, Tanjiro Kamado, is naturally one of the best characters in Demon Slayer for many different reasons. He is compassionate, brave, smart, loyal, and strong-willed, even more so than his shonen rivals Izuku Midoriya from My Hero Academia and Yuji Itadori from Jujutsu Kaisen.
Tanjiro is also beloved for his remarkable compassion, including his sympathy for dying demons who show their vulnerable side. Tanjiro works hard not for his own sake but for Nezuko's, and now he's off to the Swordsmith Village to get a new weapon and defend his sister once again.
3 Tengen Uzui
The Sound Hashira, Tengen Uzui, made his big flashy debut in the Entertainment District story arc, and he quickly established himself as one of Demon Slayer's best characters. He's an incredibly powerful fighter who moves at the speed of sound, and he has not one but two swords.
Tengen's flashy persona and appearance are stylish without being tacky, and he's also a bona fide ninja, which makes him stand out even among the elite Hashira. His confidence and enthusiasm are also infectious to both other cast members and audiences.
2 Nezuko Kamado
Demon Slayer's Nezuko Kamado became a demon against her will, but despite her demonic hunger, she nobly refuses to harm people or even drink their blood. Instead, she spends most of her time in Tanjiro's wooden backpack, out of sight and far away from danger in most cases.
Nezuko is also a remarkably powerful fighter who employs fire, claw swipes, and kicks in battle. She recently showcased her stronger form, including a horn on her head. Nezuko is also beloved for her charming, classy appearance and her gentle but lovable sense of humor.
1 Kyojuro Rengoku
Despite his limited time in Demon Slayer, the Flame Hashira Kyojuro Rengoku established himself as the series' best character, and fans dearly miss him. He was the star of the Mugen Train story arc, though he also appeared in a double-length episode before that.
Kyojuro's courage, enthusiasm, and cheerful attitude are infectious. He has an iron will and nerves of steel in battle — even when battling the likes of Akaza. Despite his dire situation, Kyojuro nobly refused Akaza's offer to become a demon and died a human hero. He inspired Tanjiro's team and viewers alike, and his fiery legacy will live on for all time.