Tanjiro Kamado and his sister Nezuko are a fan-favorite sibling anime duo, adored globally for their commitment to one another. Demon Slayer protagonist Tanjiro is particularly praised for his dedication to his younger sister, with the anime focusing on his journey to transform Nezuko back into her human form after she was turned into a demon.
Despite their young age, the pair have experienced serious loss in their battle against demons, but Nezuko's presence is often overlooked or brushed off. On the other hand, Tanjiro is commended for his diligent efforts, powering through despite his trauma -- so why is Nezuko's trauma so ignored?
The beginning of Demon Slayer shows the Kamados as a large and happy family. That is, until the Lord of Demons Muzan Kibutsuji targets them, massacring all members except Tanjiro and Nezuko. Tanjiro narrowly avoided the attack, and the only reason he survived was because he was not home. Nezuko, however, was there to witness the entire event.
There is no competition between Tanjiro and Nezuko regarding their trauma, but upon closer inspection it should be clear that Nezuko has suffered just as much -- if not more -- than Tanjiro. However, this never appears to be the case as the only character shown to struggle with their loss is Tanjiro.
Nezuko had to witness her entire family get brutally slaughtered and could do nothing about it. One moment, the family was enjoying a peaceful evening like any other; the next, a strange man entered the house and began killing the people Nezuko loved and valued most. That alone is a traumatic experience to be a part of -- but that's not where Nezuko's experience with Muzan ended in Demon Slayer.
After being forced to helplessly watch her own family's massacre, Nezuko was transformed into the very thing that caused their deaths. She was forced to live as a demon, constantly fighting her new, dark nature and losing her humanity. Nezuko was ostracized and mistreated for being a demon for years afterward, despite proving time and time again that she is protective over humans and remains pure at heart. She isn't, nor was she ever, a murderer or a monster but has to live as such while carrying the burden of not being able to protect her family when they most needed her.
Despite this, the only time the audience gets a chance to see Nezuko coping with her trauma is in her battle against Daki. When Nezuko finally gains access to her advanced demon form, a flood of emotions overtook her, shown through flashbacks and memories. She finally released her pent-up anger, frustration and feelings against Daki, and it was the first time Demon Slayer fans saw Nezuko struggling mentally.
Nezuko has always remained human, controlling her demon urges and protecting the people she was supposed to protect -- all while staying strong in the face of tragedy. However, the complexity of Nezuko's character is dramatically overlooked. Fans often view her as a cute or pretty side character -- granted she is adorable when she shrinks her size -- but Nezuko is so much more than this in reality.
While little of Nezuko's personality comes across throughout Demon Slayer, she has a story and complexities that are important to acknowledge. Nezuko Kamado has experienced enough loss to last a lifetime and has spent years battling herself, and therefore needs to be acknowledged as more than Tanjiro's cute little sister. Future arcs of the anime may yet demonstrate the complexity there is to Nezuko, giving her a character that does her backstory justice.