A new Demon Slayer cosplay proves that Buff Nezuko is real.
The new take on Tanjiro Kamado's beloved little sister was created by cosplayer Metalslimer, who accurately describes their look as "kawaii and brutal" in their Instagram profile. Buff Nezuko originally appeared in a single panel of Koyoharu Gotouge's manga, where Tanjiro dreams that Nezuko has suddenly become bigger and stronger than he is, with even her chin becoming muscular. Tanjiro awakens from the dream and is relieved to discover that his sister hasn't actually transformed into a hulking giant. A recent episode in the anime's second season also featured an animated adaptation of Tanjiro's nightmare. Despite only appearing once, Buff Nezuko has become a popular meme within the Demon Slayer fandom, inspiring countless pieces of fan art and of course, cosplay.
More of Metalslimer's creative cosplays can be seen on their Instagram profile, where they have also posted images of their equally memorable Exorcist costume. The cosplayer has also shown off their unique takes on several comic book characters, including Batman villain Bane and the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles anti-hero KC Jones. They have also cosplayed a wide variety of other characters, including Ryu from Street Fighter and a rather non-standard take on McDonald's wholesome clown mascot, Ronald.
Sadly, Buff Nezuko did not make any appearances at this year's Jump Festa, publisher Shueisha's yearly convention that celebrates the Shonen Jump magazine and all of the franchises it helped to launch, including Demon Slayer. Plain Nezuko did make an appearance, however, in new art that was showcased at the event. Buff Nezuko's creator, Koyoharu Gotouge, also showcased his take on the heroines from Bleach, as he joined six other acclaimed manga creators in contributing art for the 20th anniversary exhibition for Tite Kubo's classic shonen series.
Demon Slayer fans who are inspired to create a cosplay of their own can get started by picking up Premium Bandai's new replicas of Inosuke's unique pair of Nichirin swords. The swords recently went up for pre-order in Japan and feature an accurately modeled serrated blade, textured grip and play sound effects associated with the boar-headed swordsman's unique Beast Breathing style when their blades are crossed together.
The anime adaptation of the series is currently in the middle of its second season. The series is available for streaming from Crunchyroll and Funimation, while the manga is available in English from North American distributor VIZ Media.