Tanjiro Kamado and Izuku Midoriya, Deku for short, are from Demon Slayer and My Hero Academia respectively. These are both powerhouse series, which have gained a large following thanks to their engaging stories and beautiful animation. Having a good protagonist is crucial to any successful story, which is something that both series deliver.

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Tanjiro and Deku both go through struggles that fans can sympathize with, with a similar demeanor but with different tools in their kit. Surprisingly, fans seem to like Tanjiro much more, having little criticism for the character, while Deku is not so lucky.

10 Similar: They Went Through Harsh Training Before Taking A Test

Deku dragging around litter with All Might On it

Before Tanjiro could be recognized as a demon slayer, he had to go through some brutal training under the tutelage of Sakonji Urokodaki, a former Water Pillar. Every day, Tanjiro had to scale up and down a mountain, adjusting to the thin air and avoiding dangerous traps. He also had to swing his sword repeatedly, practice his breathing, and practice falling. His final test was to break a boulder with only his sword, and only then was he allowed to take the test to become a Demon Slayer.

Deku was subjected to harsh training as well, although not as deadly. All Might forced him to clean up a beach that was covered in all sorts of litter, which pushed his physical strength to its limits. This training prepared his body to handle One For All, which he never would have passed the entrance exam without.

9 Different: Tanjiro's Motivations Were Centered Around His Sister

Tanjiro angrily gestures towards Nezuko

There are different things that drive Tanjiro and Deku. Tanjiro's primary reason for working as a demon slayer was to find a way to turn his sister Nezuko back into a human. After Muzan attacked his family, Nezuko was the only one who survived, making him desperate to keep her safe and give her back her normal life.

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He is also eager to protect others who cannot protect themselves from demons, as he sees his own past weakness in them and understands the pain of loss. Much of Deku's motivation to become a hero was thanks to All Might, who served as the pinnacle of what heroes should be. Deku sometimes got carried away with his adulation for his mentor, but had always had the desire to save others, often moving to help those in need without thinking.

8 Similar: They Both Had Caring Mentors

Sakonji tells Tanjiro to cut a boulder

Sakonji and All Might were both caring mentors. Sakonji was particularly strict on Tanjiro, putting him in life and death situations in their training in order to prepare him for the merciless brutality of demons. He did not want to send Tanjiro to take the Final Selection because he had lost many students that way.

When they reunited afterward, Sakonji revealed more of his softer side, shedding tears of relief that Tanjiro had survived. All Might was like a father to Deku, offering him advice and listening to his problems patiently. As he promised Deku's mother, All Might did everything in his power to be there for Deku, even when he himself was powerless.

7 Different: They Had A Different Take On How To Handle Villains

Deku flies through the air

Tanjiro and Deku handled villains very differently because the villains that they faced were different. Tanjiro never showed demons any mercy, because they all ate humans, with the exception of Nezuko. The extent of his mercy was offering demons a quick, painless death. However, after defeating a demon, he almost always showed the demons kindness and sympathy, as they were all originally humans, who were used by Muzan.

Deku lived in a society where nearly everyone had powers, but were still human. Pro Heroes were discouraged from killing, and Deku never had any desire to, no matter who he fought. He has only considered the possibility of killing Tomura Shigaraki, as the villain may leave him no choice, but would still rather save him despite the fact that he killed as many people as a demon would.

6 Similar: They Have Similar Personalities

Tanjiro smiles sadly

Both Tanjiro and Deku are very kind people. They have offered a hand to many people who needed it and brought comfort as a result. When they set their mind to something, they do everything in their power to achieve it.

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Even when faced with an enemy far stronger than they are, they do not hesitate to fight regardless. Both characters have succumbed to their own rage when fighting villains like Muzan and Tomura, who were both bloodthirsty and willing to hurt anyone in order to achieve their own selfish goals.

5 Different: Tanjiro Is Portrayed As The Best Of Humanity, While Deku Is More Than Human

Deku throwing a punch MHA

While Demon Slayer focused on Tanjiro's humanity, My Hero Academia focused on Deku's ability to be more than human. Becoming a demon was a seed of temptation for those who wished to become stronger, as it granted them incredibly healing abilities and strength at the cost of their morals. However, by uniting, all of the strongest demons were defeated by humans, proving that humans were in no way inferior.

Deku was expected to be more than human, as his goal had always been to become as powerful as All Might, who was so powerful that he became a pillar of hope for an entire country. A hero was expected to be morally upstanding, and even able to detect danger and save people in the blink of an eye.

4 Similar: They Were Surrounded By Friends

Inosuke goads Tanjiro to no avail

Thanks to their kind natures, people are naturally drawn to both Tanjiro and Deku, although admittedly, not everyone likes them. They are both reliable allies in battle, who work their hardest to be the best protectors that they can be. This earned them the respect of many.

Even outside of battle, they take the time to talk to people about things other than battle, listening to their troubles and even offering advice that lift hearts.

3 Different: Deku Struggled To Work With Others For A Short Time

Deku as a vigilante

Tanjiro never really struggled to work alongside his allies, excluding the moment in which he met Inosuke Hashibira, who was willing to fight anything that moved. Fighting alongside allies was always crucial, especially against the Upper Moons, as these demons usually could not be defeated by a single Hashira.

Deku, for a short time, decided to do hero work on his own, wanting to prevent his friends from getting hurt. All For One was targeting him, which would put anyone close to him in danger. He distanced himself from his classmates and even fought them to keep them away. However, none of his attempts worked, proving that he had wonderful comrades.

2 Similar: They Saved Many Lives But Got Injured In The Process

Deku looks at his injured arms

Both Tanjiro and Deku were responsible for saving countless lives. Tanjiro defeated many demons and even had a hand in Muzan's downfall, putting an end to human-eating demons.

Deku defeated a fair share of villains, including those who had killed before, such as Stain and Muscular. Both characters fought characters who were far stronger than they were, making it impossible for them to escape from battle unscathed. While Deku's wounds looked more serious, Tanjiro did not have the luxury of having Recovery Girl nearby.

1 Different: Tanjiro Was Never Considered To Be Overpowered

Tanjiro attacks a demon

Tanjiro may have had visions of the past and a powerful nose, but Tanjiro wasn't overpowered. His growth felt natural, as he not only learned from his own experiences, but received training from the Hashira. He earned his power through hard work and utilizing every resource possible to expand his abilities.

While Deku has worked hard as well, it is easy to see why fans consider him to be overpowered. He is rapidly gaining the Quirks of previous successors and learning to effectively use them at a rapid pace. He already had one of the most powerful strength-based Quirks in the world, and his gaining so many new powers at once doesn't feel quite as earned.

NEXT: Demon Slayer: 5 My Hero Academia Characters Tanjiro Could Beat (& 5 He Couldn't)