Demon Slayer’s author, Koyoharu Gotouge, has proven that they are not afraid to eliminate major characters from the story, even those that happen to be fan-favorites. According to a recent interview, the Demon Slayer creator stated that they are extremely picky about what characters they choose to stay in the story long-term.
Although it may break fans’ hearts to see their favorite heroes removed from the series so soon, Gotouge is very intentional about which characters appear in any given arc of the story. The author’s primary focus is always on advancing the plot and progressing Tanjiro’s story, even if that comes at the expense of other incredible characters.
Demon Slayer’s Mangaka Reveals Why He Eliminates Characters From the Story
If They Are Not Contributing to the Overarching Plot, Gotouge Removes Them From Demon Slayer
In the interview, posted on FandomWire, Gotouge stated, “I’ll even cut whole characters if they don’t seem to advance the story,” making their commitment to only including characters who benefit the plot clear. Once a character stops serving a purpose, they are not hesitant to cut them out entirely, which could explain some of the series’ major deaths, like Kyojuro Rengoku’s in the Mugen Train arc, or other characters gradually fading into the shadows, like Tengen Uzui’s retirement from being a Hashira. While writing Demon Slayer, Gotouge was extremely focused on advancing Tanjiro’s main story, and wouldn’t let anything stand in front of that.
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Demon Slayer is a fast-paced story with a vibrant, ever-changing cast of heroes and villains, reflecting Gotouge’s linear storytelling that gradually brings Tanjiro closer to his goal of restoring Nezuko’s humanity and defeating Muzan with every new chapter. Some characters, like Tanjiro’s fellow demon slayers, Zenitsu Agatsuma and Inosuke Hashibira, stick around in the story for much longer, but others, like certain Hashira and the demons Tanjiro fights, are not key components in Demon Slayer and only appear for a few chapters, leaving once they have left their mark on Tanjiro’s life and served their purpose.
Every Arc and Character in Demon Slayer is Intended to Drive the Plot Forward
Tanjiro’s Primary Goal Is Saving Nezuko, Meaning the Story Must Gradually Head Towards That Point at All Times
Kyojuro Rengoku’s death was one of Demon Slayer’s most sorrowful deaths, but his experiences with Rengoku made Tanjiro a better demon slayer and losing his mentor caused his anger towards demons to increase, making him a more effective fighter going forward. Although fans would have liked for Rengoku to have remained in Demon Slayer for more arcs, Gotouge argues that every character has an intended role in the story, and once they have fulfilled it, they would rather take them out of Demon Slayer, rather than risk losing sight of what Tanjiro has set out to accomplish and overcomplicating the narrative.
Although other characters are impactful, wise, and help Tanjiro learn and succeed, the protagonist was always Demon Slayer’s true focal point. In Gotouge’s own words, “It’s best to minimize parts that have nothing to do with your main character or the central plot.” Learning more details about the Hashira, other demon slayers, and villains is interesting, but if these facets of the story distracted from Tanjiro’s character arc, they would be doing the story a disservice. Demon Slayer is such a phenomenal story because Gotouge knows just when to devote attention to side characters, and when to pull back and refocus on the central plot of Tanjiro’s mission.
Source: FandomWire
Demon Slayer
- Created by
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Koyoharu Gotouge
Summary
Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba is a wildly popular anime and manga franchise created by Koyoharu Gotouge. Set in Taishō-era Japan, it follows Tanjiro Kamado as he battles demons and seeks a cure for his sister, Nezuko, who was turned into one. The franchise includes a manga, anime TV series, films, video games, and spin-offs. Known for its stunning animation and gripping storyline, Demon Slayer is one of the highest-grossing media franchises of all time.
