Every great story needs a great hero, and Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba has one in Tanjiro Kamado. If that weren't enough, Tanjiro's also got a great supporting cast, too, like his demon-turned sister Nezuko, the wild and brash Inosuke, and, of course, poor Zenitsu.
While he may be a bit of a wannabe womanizer and an even bigger coward, Zenitsu is a good fighter and does have a few positive qualities that shouldn't be overlooked. So much so, in fact, that an argument could be made that Zenitsu should've been the main protagonist. Even so, Tanjiro is stiff competition.
10 Zenitsu: Lightening Fast
Learning from former Thunder Hashira, Jigoro Kuwajima, Zenistu's techniques come from the fighting style of "Thunder Breathing." While Zenitsu wasn't exactly a diligent student of this style, he is rather skilled in it. Admittedly, it's only one form of this fighting style, but using it makes Zenitsu a force to be reckoned with.
Despite that, the results are what matter most, and Zenitsu's speaks for itself. In a flash, Zenitsu can slice through a demon before they can even blink. Impressive, even if he has to be knocked out first.
9 Tanjiro: Fierce As Water
Tanjiro learned how to wield his sword from former Water Hashira Sakonji Urokodaki in the style of "Water Breathing." Tanjiro worked extremely hard to become as strong as he did, training for over a year until he was proficient enough to slice a boulder in half.
Time and time again, Tanjiro has been put to the test, and, if his skills were lacking, he would have never made it as far as he has. A combination of a great fighting style, a great teacher, and hard work paired with dedication is three parts of what make Tanjiro such a capable Demon Slayer.
8 Zenitsu: Personality
At first glance, Zenitsu is just a coward with a hint of pervert mixed in. He gets terrified if even the smallest of twigs is snapped near him, and, while he tries to be nicer and kinder around girls, he tends to flip out if even they refuse his proposals. He can be a loud crybaby, but there's something endearing about that underneath.
Zenitsu has such a wide range of emotions, all of which have their extremes. It's part of what helps make Zenitsu such a likable and memorable character, as well as making him really funny in the process.
7 Tanjiro: Respect
While Zenitsu and Inosuke can both let their emotions get the better of them, Tanjiro's the more level-headed one out of these three Demon Slayers. Tanjiro tends to have a level of respect for everyone unless they've hurt his friends or his sister, then all hell breaks loose.
Whereas a lot of other action-oriented anime protagonists, similar to Tanjiro, tend to be childish and a bit dimwitted in some cases—as well as cold and downright emo in others—Tanjiro stands out among the crown by being a more mindful individual that strives to improve however he can.
6 Zenitsu: A Worldly Traveler
Whereas Tanjiro grew up in the mountains with his family, Zenitsu has been traveling around for a lot longer. As such, he's got a clearer idea of finding his way and is more acclimated to certain settings thanks to his travels.
This even extends to things like vehicles since he was the only one aware of what a train was, while Inosuke and Tanjiro hadn't even seen one before. The wandering swordsman, though he doesn't always answer the call to adventure, has seen a great many things on his journey, and that in itself is a sort of virtue.
5 Tanjiro: The Bonds Of Family
One of the huge driving forces for Tanjiro is his connection to his sister, how that motivates him, and how that can give him strength. Being his last living family member, Tanjiro wants to keep Nezuko safe in a way to make up for not being able to protect his mother or other siblings.
It's not as though this is onesided, either; Nezuko is more than willing and capable of teaming up with her brother to win a tough fight during their quest to turn her back into a human. Together, they've managed to pull off some amazing stunts, all because of their strong familial bond.
4 Zenitsu: Cognisant Of His Own Shortcomings
Negative though he may seem, Zenitsu is at least aware of all of his flaws. He's pretty hard on himself, having something of a pessimistic side, which probably contributes greatly to his wimpier moments. That being said, it gives Zenitsu that much more to fight for.
Even if he's aware of his flaws and his own self-loathing, it's knowing that which can help him work towards becoming the best version of himself. He knows what his problems are, he just needs to find the way to tackle them. After that, Zenitsu could grow into an even greater Demon Slayer than before.
3 Tanjiro: A Gentle Soul
Tanjiro is a kind and compassionate person, to say the least. He has a willingness to help others, lending his sword to aid them however he can. He treats most people with a type of kindness that feels genuine, and this can even extend to his enemies, at times.
Often, when Tanjiro slays a demon, he feels sorrow for their passing rather than hatred—not for what they did as demons, of course, but for what they were before their turning, their regrets, and their own sorrows, too. It's a level of compassion that isn't often seen in even some of anime's most famous heroes.
2 Zenitsu: A True Underdog
Unlike Tanjiro, who had to lose everything before setting out on his quest, Zenitsu started with nothing. Parentless, penniless, and at the mercy of debt collectors, Zenitsu's life only started to change when Kuwajima decided to take him in as his student.
With that kind of start, his mastery of only one fighting form, and his seemingly weak-willed persona, Zenitsu is much more of an underdog who has to work just as hard or even harder than Tanjiro. As such, it makes the viewer want to see him get better and improve. Not just in strength, but in spirit, too.
1 Tanjiro: A Man On A Mission
Since Muzan Kibutsuji killed his family and turned Nezuko into a demon, Tanjiro ties into the main villain of the anime, as well as having a more compelling mission. Seeing him struggle feels more meaningful because he's already lost so much and he's risking a lot for the sake of his sister.
Tanjiro's mission to avenge his family and cure his sister is both a noble and compelling goal, and watching him get stronger and develop feels rewarding to watch, too. Tanjiro doesn't just fight hard for his own sake, but for the sake of others too—truly the qualities of a great protagonist!