Demon Slayer’s Final Arc is Ruining Tanjiro in Real Time

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The anime frequently shifts between fast-moving storylines to stay exciting, but Tanjiro Kamado, the main character, has always been consistently compassionate – even towards the demons he fights. Initially, this felt a bit unusual compared to other anime heroes who don’t often show such sympathy. However, fans have grown to adore Tanjiro’s kindness, seeing it as his most important quality. Now, the latest story arc, the Infinity Castle Arc, is challenging that defining trait.

The current arc of *Demon Slayer* marks the story’s climax, with the highest levels of danger yet. Some viewers have noticed that Tanjiro primarily focuses on fighting in this part of the anime, and doesn’t show his usual compassion towards his opponents. While there are likely explanations within the story for this change, it unfortunately makes Tanjiro feel less like the well-rounded character fans have come to know, and more like a typical action hero.

Tanjiro’s Kindness Is a Vital Part of His Character

Tanjiro Kamado’s character design, both simple and memorable, reflects the overall style of the *Demon Slayer* anime. While *Demon Slayer* largely follows the familiar formula of action-packed shonen anime – heroes battling monsters with unique abilities – it needed something extra to succeed in a crowded market. Studio UFOtable delivered with stunning animation, but visual flair can only go so far. The original manga doesn’t necessarily benefit from these visuals. Ultimately, *Demon Slayer’s* strength lies in its emotional core. The anime offers a refreshing and realistic portrayal of masculinity, showcasing characters who are strong and capable, yet also openly vulnerable and willing to express their emotions – both for themselves and for others.

I think Tanjiro really *is* the heart of *Demon Slayer*. He’s just a naturally kind person, always believing there’s good in everyone, even the demons he fights. He sees them as victims too, and it’s incredibly inspiring to watch him approach his enemies with that kind of empathy. He’s a truly humanitarian hero, and it shows in everything he does.

While some anime viewers haven’t fully embraced the sensitive and caring nature of *Demon Slayer*’s main character, the show doubled down on it, and it ultimately proved effective. Tanjiro’s development went beyond simply trying to turn his sister, Nezuko, back into a human or overcoming his sadness. He truly grew when he began to see his enemies as flawed people with past lives. This not only made Tanjiro a relatable and emotionally genuine character for fans, but it also allowed *Demon Slayer* to subtly challenge typical monster-hunting tropes. Unlike series like *Fire Force*, *Chainsaw Man*, and *Kaiju No. 8*, and while *Bleach* and *D.Gray-Man* touched on this idea, *Demon Slayer* explores it in a more significant way.

Unlike most anime about monster hunters, *Demon Slayer* focuses on Tanjiro’s compassion to highlight the sadness of fighting demons, rather than portraying it as heroic or a path to power. Tanjiro doesn’t just protect people from demons; he also shows empathy towards the demons themselves, allowing characters like the Hand Demon, Daki, Gyutaro, and Rui to find some peace in death. The show suggests that even when good triumphs over evil, there are no real winners, because the need to fight in the first place is tragic for everyone involved – violence is the true enemy, not the demons themselves. This added a surprisingly emotional and thought-provoking dimension to *Demon Slayer*, especially as it felt like a modern take on *Bleach*, with Tanjiro leading the way. However, the latest story arc, focusing on the Infinity Castle, seems to have largely abandoned this compassionate approach for Tanjiro, which is disappointing.

Demon Slayer’s Final Arc Doesn’t Indulge Tanjiro’s Empathetic Side

Fans who only watch the anime version of *Demon Slayer* should be warned: the final Infinity Castle arc doesn’t give Tanjiro many opportunities to show his kindness and understanding. It’s not that Tanjiro becomes a different person, but the villains in this last part of the story don’t allow for his usual compassionate approach. Throughout the series, Tanjiro has connected with his enemies on a human level – like holding the Hand Demon’s hand as it faded away, acknowledging Kyogai’s dreams of being a writer, and even encouraging the dying Daki and Gyutaro to reconcile as siblings. This arc, however, offers far fewer moments like those.

I’ve noticed a shift in Tanjiro’s character in *Demon Slayer*. It feels like a part of him is missing lately. While he hasn’t necessarily *changed* as a person, he hasn’t been showing the same level of compassion towards his enemies that he used to. I think it’s simply because the opponents he’s facing don’t *deserve* kindness. For example, during Season 3, Tanjiro didn’t shed a tear or offer any sympathy to Hantengu – and honestly, Hantengu didn’t warrant it. It was all about finishing the job. Then, in the *Infinity Castle* movie, his fight with Akaza was businesslike, but also felt intensely personal. As the one who killed Kyojuro Rengoku, Akaza wasn’t going to get any sympathy from Tanjiro. Instead, the story asked *us*, the viewers, to feel pity for Akaza, showing his backstory as Hakuji.

Tanjiro’s remaining opponents won’t evoke the same emotional response from him as previous battles. Viewers who haven’t read the manga can rest assured that these upcoming fights won’t lead to Tanjiro showing a particularly vulnerable or compassionate side. This is unfortunate, as a climax is usually when heroes reaffirm their core values, providing a satisfying sense of character consistency. It would have been powerful to see Tanjiro act as he did with the Hand Demon, connecting with and understanding his enemy, but that won’t happen. Tanjiro won’t be moved to tears by characters like Nakime, Doma, Kokushibo, or Muzan, effectively ending his arc of empathizing with demons. The Infinity Castle arc simply isn’t the right setting for that kind of emotional connection, and Tanjiro has lost a key aspect of what made him a compelling hero.

Infinity Castle’s Final Arc is Action For the Sake of It

For a lot of its run, *Demon Slayer* has focused on action, which is typical for anime about monster hunting. But it also stood out because Tanjiro was unusually kind to his enemies, which highlighted the sadness of the endless fighting and suggested that violence is the true tragedy. Tanjiro perfectly embodied this message. That’s why the recent Infinity Castle arc feels less impactful and more predictable, even though *Demon Slayer* has always followed a fairly standard action formula. With Tanjiro now putting his empathy aside, it’s become even clearer that the show is primarily driven by action.

Just because the final arc of *Demon Slayer* is here doesn’t mean it’s not important – fans are excited to see the story conclude, and it’s good that villains like Akaza and Doma have some relatable qualities, even if Tanjiro doesn’t see them. However, the rest of the story feels a bit repetitive, with Tanjiro now mainly existing to drive the action forward as he strives for a final victory. In this situation, all Tanjiro has left is fighting, which makes him feel a bit like a less interesting version of Ichigo Kurosaki from *Bleach* – a powerful swordsman battling monsters, but without any unique abilities or flair.

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2025-10-11 05:10