Culture news The author of Demon Slayer has a real problem with his hero: this is what the fans prefer
Where many appreciate the hero Tanjiro Kamado for various reasons, his creator is a little less impressed by what he has created. She even wonders if her main character is really interesting.
The anime Demon Slayer is extremely well known. Between its animation by Ufotable, its cinema screenings, as well as the love of fans, this work is one of the greatest successes of Japanese animation in recent years. That said, its creator made some surprising comments regarding her main character. Where admirers love Tanjiro for his optimism and his convictions, Koyoharu Gotoge finds him too simple and wonders if she would not have created an uninteresting character.
To be or not to be original
Tanjiro Kamado, Demon Slayer’s remarkably courageous protagonist, has won the admiration of legions of fans, profoundly reshaping the series’ narrative. His absence would undoubtedly leave a significant void, as it would take away the optimistic and hopeful outlook he brings. Despite Tanjiro’s popularity as a character, it’s surprising to discover that series creator Koyoharu Gotoge has a somewhat different take on the iconic demon slayer.
While fans generally perceive Tanjiro as a formidable character with unparalleled abilities and a truly kind and quirky personality, Gotoge’s opinion deviates from this consensus. In an interview titled “The Making of a Jump Manga! Vol. 5” on the MANGA Plus website, editor Katayama sheds light on the latter’s true feelings towards the central character of the series.
He’s too “normal”. I wonder if I’ve created a deeply interesting character.
His ideas undoubtedly come from a certain humility, but also from the introspection shown by the Japanese. It is important to remember that in Japan, it is rather frowned upon to be full of oneself. The culture of this country requires us to be humble, but above all not to be vain. You always have to do better than before, because improving is the key word in Japan.
The power of the ordinary
However, this recipe works very well. A character who remains smiling despite the trials he has had to overcome, mysterious powers that grow from fight to fight… Put like that, we understand where Gotoge is coming from. If we boil Tanjiro down to what he is, he resembles a lot of anime protagonists, but that didn’t stop Tanjiro from being appreciated by the community. However, what makes this character a truly unique hero is how strongly the viewer can identify with him. Whether it is his humanity, the emotions he feels or even his honesty, Tanjiro is a realistic character. His skills and strength don’t stop him from being himself. Being able to identify with the hero is a strength, not a weakness. Many of the main characters are archetypal representations of certain personalities. This makes these figures understandable, but harder to appreciate because they don’t speak to us as well as a protagonist like Tanjiro Kamado.