Shonen Jump's famed "Big Three" anime series are either over or nearly over, and the anime world was quick to fill in the gap. Popular series such as Demon Slayer and My Hero Academia are prime candidates to become new Big Three animes of the 2010s and early 2020s, and this is partly due to their compelling characters.

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What is it about Demon Slayer in particular? This series is set in early-1900s Japan, where country boy Tanjiro Kamado trains as a demon slayer to find the cure for his sister Nezuko, who herself was converted into a demon. Along the way, Tanjiro meets fellow demon slayers like Zenitsu and Inosuke, and they make for a great squad. Now we ask: is the protagonist Tanjiro the Best Boy around here, or is Inosuke the true best boy? Let's break it down, based on what we've seen in the anime's first season.

10 Tanjiro: Selfless Motives

In both real life and in works of fiction, acting for the benefit of someone else is a deeply admirable thing to do. Few actions make a lead character more likable than having them make sacrifices for someone else, and that's just what Tanjiro does.

He's fighting to protect his demon sister from the slayers, and he's desperate to find a cure for her. In fact, this is Tanjiro's central motive, and if Nezuko hadn't been made into a demon, he might not have started training at all.

9 Inosuke: Dramatic Entrance

Inosuke Hashibira

Inosuke doesn't quite have Tanjiro's heart of gold or pure motives, but then again, he sure does know how to make a show. We first met him as a chaotic third party during the claustrophobic battle against Kyogai, the demon who has drums on his chest.

We didn't know what to make of the boar-headed Inosuke: was he friend or foe? Noble or crazy? He chased Zenitsu all over the place, and he clashed with Tanjiro outside Kyogai's mansion soon after. Now that's how you make an impression!

8 Tanjiro: Cool Outfit

A number of characters in Demon Slayer are sharp dressers, wearing colorful and classy Japanese outfits that really take us back in time. And Muzan, who dresses somewhat like Michael Jackson, represents the ever-encroaching modernity.

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Tanjiro is old-school, and he wears a stylish green and black checkered robe over his demon slayer outfit, and he's got those cool earrings, too. He sometimes adds a blue scarf to the mix, and he looks good with that ANBU-style mask as well. It sure looks better than those tengu masks, at least.

7 Inosuke: Knows What He Likes

inosuke punching forward in demon slayer

Here is another trait that makes a character incredibly appealing: total confidence. A strong character is one who knows exactly what he or she wants, and it's refreshing to see someone with such clarity and purpose.

No wishy-washy business here! Insosuke loves to fight, and it practically defines him and his way of seeing the world. He's not the strongest character, but he acts like it, and we can't help but love his reliable passion for battle.

6 Tanjiro: Remorse

tanjiro is holding nezuko

Tanjiro is a deeper protagonist than most, and unlike the battle-loving Inosuke, Tanjiro fights because he must, not because it's fun. He, too, is confident in his skills, and he his heart of gold shines even during battles against hideous demons.

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He's 100% willing to slay demons, but at the same time, he sincerely regrets the need to do so, especially since most demons were once human, (with Nezuko as a constant reminder). It's really heart-wrenching to see Tanjiro tearing up right before killing a demon that used to be human, like him.

5 Inosuke: Unique Humor

Like many Shonen anime action series, Demon Slayer makes sure to break up the tension here and there with some great humor, which is also a chance to deepen the characters in an amusing way. Inosuke gets the lion's share.

Yes, Tanjiro and Zenitsu are funny too, and we all love chibi Nezuko. But Inosuke makes these hysterical noises of frustration when someone annoys him, and he'll comically headbutt people (like in the picture) or make creative and bizarre threats that (fortunately) he doesn't follow up on.

4 Tanjiro: Sheer Grit

Both Tanjiro and Inosuke are well-written characters who embody many of the best traits a character can have, and here is another one: grit. In fiction of any genre (action or not), a character must have grit, and strong will to persist and pursue their goals no matter what.

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We get that in Tanjiro, who faced steep odds and serious challenges early in his challenge. See that round boulder with a rope on it? Tanjiro had to slice that thing in half with a nichirin blade, and at first, this seemed an impossible task. But darn it all, Tanjiro hung on, and we cheered when he cleaved the boulder in half and reached new heights of power.

3 Inosuke: Independent Mindset

This ties into Inosuke's unique humor and his single-minded passion for a good fight. Not only is he a quirky tough guy, but he pay no attention to what anyone else thinks. He lives by his own rules, and it's admirable, in a way.

When Inosuke was handed two precious nichirin blades, he promptly chipped them with a rock (pictured), to create the jagged edges he favors. Everyone else was outraged, but Inosuke didn't seem to notice. He was wrapped up in his own little world, and it's kind of cool.

2 Tanjiro: Mastered Breathing

Just how does Tanjiro pull off those incredible combat moves? He has mastered water, and with it, he can find the perfect moment to strike. His breathing forms are impressive, though he's not at Hashira level yet.

And he's still growing. Near the end of season 1, Tanjiro and his friends undergo some more training with Shinobu and Kanao, which involves proper breathing methods (even while asleep). It was tough, to say the least, but Tanjiro mastered it first, and Inosuke and Zenitsu both worked hard to catch up and follow Tanjiro's example. He's a good student, all right!

1 Inosuke: Vulnerability

inosuke's face

Who is that guy? It's Inosuke! This isn't the face he wants you to see, though. It's sympathetic when a character has a vulnerability to deal with, and some are tragic while others are kind of funny. Inosuke is mostly the latter.

He doesn't like his real face, so he wears that distinctive boar mask, and we hardly ever see this mug. These deep-seated insecurities aren't just a gag, though; they add a little dimension to Inosuke's character, and we may see more vulnerability (and see Inosuke's attempts to address them) later on. We look forward to it.

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