One of the most popular Shonen anime series out there is Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba, which is on track to become one of the new "Big Three" of this generation. It is the story of Tanjiro Kamado, a country boy who learns the way of the sword so he can vanquish demons... and save the life of his little sister-turned-demon, Nezuko.
In the space of one season, Demon Slayer has already introduced us to a whole cast of fun characters, heroes and villains alike, and season 2 promises to bring even more, such as the Upper Moon demons and the nine Hashira demon slayers (the elite). We can measure a character's true nature with the Dungeons & Dragons moral alignment chart, in terms of good, neutral, and evil, then lawful, neutral, and chaotic. How do they measure up?
10 Tanjiro Kamado: Neutral Good
This is the hero himself, and Shonen heroes nearly always fall on the "good" axis. Some of them follow a strict code of honor or rules, and others are wild guys who will do anything to get the job done. Tanjiro falls somewhere in the middle.
He is a bit of a loner; he's part of the demon slayer corps, but his mission to restore Nezuko's humanity sets him apart and puts him at odds with his peers. He is a noble guy who dislikes killing, and he sincerely regrets having to kill demons (since they were once human). But his will is strong.
9 Nezuko Kamado: Chaotic Good
For the most part, Nezuko's character has been defined by her newfound demon status, and this is why she has a mouth restraint and must travel in Tanjiro's magic backpack. She really doesn't mean any harm... but her demon side is strong.
Nezuko proved her dual nature when Tanjiro met the head of the demon slayers. She was freed and sorely tempted to devour human flesh, but she fought her demonic hunger and clung to her pacifist ways. Now that makes for a compelling character.
8 Inosuke Hashibira: Chaotic Neutral
We met Inosuke early on, when Tanjiro stormed the mansion of Kyogai. At first, we didn't know if Inosuke was friend or foe; he wasn't a demon, but he also challenged Zenitsu to a battle, and he loves a good fight.
Overall, Inosuke is part of the demon slayer cause, but he wants to live and fight on his own terms, and he'll get angered quickly if anyone gets in his way or looks down on him. He's reckless but sharp in combat, too, and he has a lot of potential.
7 Zenitsu Agatsuma: Neutral Good
Zenitsu has a heart of gold, but he doesn't always get a chance to prove it. He can use lightning powers in combat and he took down a fearsome spider demon, though he really had to push himself to get that far.
As a whole, is quick to retreat and doesn't like long odds, which sets him apart from Inosuke. He means well... but he's not a noble knight nor a wild rogue. He just does what he must, much like Tanjiro will (and complain about it a whole lot more).
6 Shinobu Kocho: Lawful Good
This gorgeous young woman is one of the nine Hashira, and she represents insects in battle (each Hashira has their own combat style). She has a butterfly theme and a poison theme, using wisterias to poison demons and kill them with ease.
Shinobu is a proper big sister figure, being a protective, disciplined, and responsible figure among the demon slayers. She secretly rages against all demons, but she makes an exception for Nezuko once the two meet. She's also happy to help train greenhorn demon slayers.
5 Muzan Kibutsuji: Neutral Evil
In some ways, Muzan is a lawful character, and at other times, he is more chaotic, so we split the difference and classified him as neutral evil. His lawful side is represented by his patient and diligent plans to create better and more advanced demons for his own cause, and his tight rein on the Twelve Demon Moons.
But he's chaotic too, and his temper is not to be taken lightly. Don't forget that time he killed a few humans in a back alley after just minor provocation, and in a fit of frustration, he even killed the Six Lower Moon demons all at once.
4 Rui: Lawful Evil
Rui is one of the toughest demons whom Tanjiro has fought, and he needed some help to take down the entire spider demon clan. In fact, Rui is part of a "family" of these spider demons, with each member being a demon whom Rui created himself.
Rui is methodical and likes to be in control, and he is precise and deliberate in everything he does. He exudes calm, cruel confidence, and he will strictly punish any member of his "family" if they fail him somehow. He's lawful evil for sure.
3 Kanao Tsuyuri: Lawful Neutral
Kanao grew up with a rough childhood and was even once on the market as a slave, until Shinobu freed her. Now, she owes everything to Shinobu and is a loyal part of the demon slayer corps, but she doesn't seem to believe in a higher cause. She just does what people tell her.
She is perfectly willing to train Tanjiro and his friends, and if she needs to make a decision, she will get out a coin, Two-Face style, and decide what to do based on the results.
2 Giyu Tomioka: Lawful Neutral
This is the first demon slayer we ever see on screen. His first encounter with the Kamados was a bloody one, where he tried to slay Nezuko until Tanjiro stopped him. Giyu is also the water Hashira (he doesn't feel qualified), and he took down Rui coldly and efficiently.
Giyu has a pretty chilly personality as a whole, focusing more on the job at hand and maintaining discipline more than anything. He doesn't have much inclination to improvise or get creative; he's just a soldier. A good one too.
1 Kyogai: Neutral Evil
This is one of the first "boss battles" Tanjiro ever had. He was once a human writer down on his luck, until he became a demon and one of the Twelve Moons. But he fell from grace and was cast out, and now he lives in a mansion.
He's desperate to reclaim his rank, and he can fight with tsuzumi drums embedded on his body. Striking them can rotate the rooms in his house, and he can also create long-ranged slash attacks that gave Tanjiro a serious fight.