You Can't Escape Demon Slayer in Japan

[@10scheherazade01]

I think the fact that the Demon Slayer manga is complete, and not ridiculously long, is one of the things that makes it accessible to a wider audience. A guaranteed ending, and you don't have to commit to reading thousands of chapters to get there.

[@mysteryman9488]

For sure the fact that the manga is like barely 200 manga chapters long when usually shonens tend to go up above at least 300 makes it easier to just read through and enjoy, like if DS had gone on longer than that I think it would have felt too dragged on and it's formulaic shonen style would show more but the fact that it's fairly short makes it easier to sit through.

[@veffiesdda965]

And yet long running series like One Piece, Dragon Ball, and Detective Conan are far more popular than Demon Slayer.

[@shivamsneh7168]

@@veffiesdda965 i do think one piece and DBZ are more famous, but detective Conan.... Nah. As much as I love the series and it's better than kny don't get me wrong but it isn't more famous

[@veffiesdda965]

@@shivamsneh7168 It's the 5th best selling manga right behind dragon ball and almost everyone in Japan know about it. DS is only more popular than DC in the west where the majority of the audience only care to watch Shonen with supernatural powers and cool fight scenes instead of real-life crimes and mystery solving.

[@mysteryman9488]

@@veffiesdda965 DS's manga still makes it at top 10 despite only being around for less than a quarter of the time those anime you mentioned have been around. If you compare actual mounthly sales and not total sales you'll see DS dwarfs pretty much every manga you mentioned in sales. Those series have literally been around for decades and have jad time to accumulate manga sales, so obviously DS who's only been popular for like 2-3 years isn't gonna beat that, but the series is still literally everywhere in Japan.

[@Bluekirby208]

I mean the first OP was literally played at the Tokyo olympics

[@F1ll1nTh3Blanks]

I meant to put here that Demon Slayer is like Japan's magnum opus for animation but like, the moments gone.

[@dankmoon949]

@@F1ll1nTh3Blanks I dont understand why its considered the magnum opus of animation when space dandy exists I'd even say the stories are on par if not demon slayer is a bit better but animation wise space dandy wins by a long shot

[@A.Liar.]

Really?

[@A.Liar.]

@@dankmoon949 you just said it, animation, it is superior, but story wise, its mid

[@Yuu-it1zk]

It was played because it is family friendly like marvel, Disney and Star Wars.

[@sed9385]

I think what is appealing to ALL ages is that it's about family. Specially with Asian countries, that shit sells well. With older people who most likely sacrificed their dreams for their family? That shit sells well. My mom loves Tanjiro. She's 51. I think she loves the show like she loved Supernatural which also is about family.

[@Yuu-it1zk]

It’s popular here in japan because it is family-friendly unlike AoT or Jujutsu or Mushoku or 86. It has the same appeal as Star Wars and marvel. Even kindergarteners are allowed to watch Demon slayer, minus the bloody or violent scenes of course AoT will never be as big as Demon Slayer in Japan because it is about genocide and nothing about that is family friendly

[@kylesmith987]

Yeah I was about to say the same thing that you commented. Even though it has its violent aspects the core of the story is about family and the relationship between Tanjiro and Nezuko and so it kind of secretly gives it the same appeal as a Disney movie just not quite as wide scale as a Disney film obviously. I also think that was demon slayer does good it does soo insanely good that its easy to forgive or ignore the more tropey/less good stuff that you inherently get with it being a Shonen.

[@noobmasterruben5167]

I saw a Tanjiro picture during my school seminar (they were teaching etiquette) so even young teachers love Demon Slayer

[@aussieseal9979]

Supernatural being about family. Fuck

[@NaNa-wy2tk]

Yes, exactly. Family stories particularly about protecting/caring for family is HUGE in asian cultures. I like to add that I have a feeling, Tanjiro personality is a big appeal in japanese culture as well. I think they love that he's this upright, principled, kind and filial boy. It's like the personality asian parents hope their kids would turn out to be or aspire to be.

[@mostamazingrace]

My dad was reading The Economist at dinner one night a few months ago, and turned to me and asked "Have you heard of Kimetsu no Yaiba?" The article he was reading was about how Demon Slayer became popular in Japan. It claimed that the timing of the manga ending during COVID had everyone reading and catching up on the anime as a family, and then the movie came out as quarantine was ending and so the entire family, who was stuck together and enjoying this show, got to go out together and see the movie. Also the article cited a survey of I think second graders and asked them who their favorite PERSON was. The top 3 results: 1. Mom 2. Tanjiro 3. Dad

[@hodorhodor6925]

Lmfaoo Tanjiro>dad💀

[@jackthelucario]

Imagine ranking Tanjiro higher than your own father

[@Zefpyhr]

Brooo 💀

[@sussybakamogus]

these men got done dirty

[@AM-ko4pi]

Bro, I’m dead. That’s too funny.

[@maxgohagen7489]

I think KNY domination pre-animation in Japan can be primarily attributed to 3 things: 1. Everything about the series is intense Japanese culture. This series is set in a real historical era in Japan…the Taisho Period. It’s an easy for the Japanese to reconnect with their roots & look back to a very defining time in the history of the nation. It’s also easy for Non-Japanese to get into because everyone outside of Japan is fascinated by Japanese culture. And as we’ve seen lately in the manga world, the easiest path to getting popular is to have your series set in Japan. It’s unoriginal, but it gets instant attention. 2. It’s a series that all ages can easily get into while still holding enough interest for everyone. Lighthearted enough for kids, edgy enough for teens, family-themed enough for adults. It has it all. 3. At its heart, KNY is a Japanese Fairytale. It’s the spiritual successor to Inuyasha with a bigger audience since it was published in WSJ…which is funny because Inuyasha’s sequel Yashahime is ratings gold on TV in Japan right now. Add on nearly the perfect pacing the series had--think along the lines of FMA-& the perfect timing of the COVID-19 Pandemic shutting down Earth, & that’s more or less how an anomaly of epic proportions came to be.

[@Edagui97]

Adding to your first point, I don't think I have seen that many Taisho series, so it stands out thanks to that as well. The show is super Japanese, but you can see bits of western influence in bigger towns and among the richer folks, such as Muzan himself and his host family.

[@mistamista8595]

I agree with everything, but Kny was mega huge far before COVID hit so I don't think that's a factor in it's massive popularity.

[@maxgohagen7489]

@@Edagui97 Yeah the western influence on Japan is what helped made the Taisho period such an important time there. Thinking about the rapid growth of metropolitan cities like London & New York, the backdrop of WWI, and the worst natural disaster in the history of Japan that was the Great Kanto Earthquake of 1923…man, it must have been a dizzying time for the locals to experience! Japan had no choice but to adapt to modern times

[@Rizwaan122]

I agree massively with ur second point. I've started to find mha boring af the last season or two cuz ots just been too predictable and happy. They didn't even kill off lemillion when overhaul put a bunch of big holes in him.

[@ghostofwrath3114]

I wouldn't really call it for all ages, specifically for little kids. I mean, in the first episode, Tanjiro's entire family died and THEY DO NOT SHY AWAY FROM THE REALISM FOR THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE SEEN THAT PART.

[@ammarbaagu]

as Dominic Toretto once said "The most important thing in life is Family". And Demon Slayer is the only shounen as far as i can remember where the MC main drive is not friendship, it is his family, his own blood. Naruto (friendship), Bleach (friendship), Jujutsu (dont know coz Itadori is barely fleshed out), Fairy Tail (friendship) while in Demon Slayer, Tanjiro main drive is to save his only living family, Nezuko and she is his source of strenght. When things got tough, Tanjiro wasn't insipired by the images of his friends, he is inspired by his family, Nezuko, his brothers and sisters, his father and his mother. That is pretty unique weirdly in the shounen genre

Oh that's a very good point!

[@rizlosamtelaire9271]

Ok where is Hunter X Hunter, main drive of Gon is also family, his father and has one of the best fights with the best power system and also best duo character friendship with Killua. Far better than Demon Slayer, just copying Kurapika's plot, just your typical cliche shounen but with great animation.

[@ChiguireBelgrano]

@@rizlosamtelaire9271 To your point, while Ging is technically Gon's father, Gon never treated him or saw him as one. At most, he saw him as an interesting person to look up to and to chase, who conveniently happens to be his father. While Gon's motivation throughout the series is to search for Ging, it's more so about wanting to meet him to know what would cause his father to choose his profession as a Hunter over being a parent. Hunter X Hunter isn't a story that explores the idea of 'family' in the sense you're referring to. It explores other themes such as growing up (a.k.a., responsibility), recovery from trauma, discovery, the importance of connection, and human nature. Demon Slayer deals with the theme of 'family' more directly and, as you have stated, has a less nuanced, more straightforward plot. This has the effect of it being more appealing to a broader audience. This doesn't mean it's a narratively better series than Hunter X Hunter, but it ALSO doesn't mean the series isn't deserving of the success it has gained in comparison.

[@JoystickJockie]

@@ChiguireBelgrano you had me in the first half not gonna lie.

[@taqiyukenji]

Bleach is both actually, family & friend.

[@Rizwaan122]

Watching the fights in demon slayer s2 put a smile on my face because You could tell they were really pushing themselves to do better than the previous arcs. The effort and passion really shows

[@simplyrohith2163]

Ufotable goats😎

[@mmmdawe]

they must have a lot of passion in being overworked

[@taqiyukenji]

@@simplyrohith2163 They should give Ufotable the credit not Demon Slayer. If U read Demon Slayer manga, the artstyle are terrible.

[@meishogun8032]

and the drug that you are using is probably cocaine cause you're motivation for sniffing leftover hate statement is so high

[@skullknight4579]

For joey, I think it’s because demon slayer has that “iconic” look to it, the character designs are consistent and unique that any of them can be anyone favourite character, the breathing techniques are basically fun think to think about, like justu from naruto, or shouting bankai from bleach lol

[@Yuu-it1zk]

It’s popular because it is the only kid-friendly Shonen out right now. It is the only Shonen anime that even toddlers are allowed to watch, minus the bloody scenes of course. That’s why it is so big in Japan.

[@Jun-ch5tc]

@@Yuu-it1zk Not with the Mitsuri scene coming soon lol

[@billymaguire5769]

But thats the weird part comes in It could be A really popular maybe even a era defining show But It became more than just that I could still vividly remember my jaw dropping when I saw One piece- 8 million copies Demon Slayer-82 million copies

[@AlexMonzon1995]

@@billymaguire5769 jesus that big of a gap ? Shesssh my jaw dropped too rn 😂

[@chichichichichichiOwO]

@@Yuu-it1zk no, no, there's a lot of kid friendly shounne that's out rn

[@shamanazakura]

"How do they step it up in animation?" Well, that last fight scene definitely did

[@F1ll1nTh3Blanks]

It's like it's their magnum opus.

[@itzwolfkun8623]

just amazing

[@kammerdude4928]

Watch the fight scene between Saber and Rider in the third Heaven's Feel film. It's basically that fight but on a film budget.

[@A1000-b9s]

@@kammerdude4928 well it,s the same studio for demon slayer

[@josemena649]

@@F1ll1nTh3Blanks nah, heaven's feel is Ufotable's magnum opus

[@NaNa-wy2tk]

My best guess why japan absurdly loves Demon Slayer is the FAMILY aspect. protecting family, taking responsibility for family, sacrifice for the family, care for the family, so on.. The other reason is I have this strong intuition that Tanjiro is the type of boy that a country like Japan value. He is the type that moms and dads want their kids to aspire to be. The kind of personality that's principled, responsible, kind, upright and virtuous. I think this type of personality tend to become popular in east asia countries. It's a personality that valued in many asian cultures, and there's a touch of innocent/endearment when it's a young boy who has that upright personality. Tanjiro is the main protagonist so they want to tune in to his story, then you add the fact that it opens with his family in danger, and him wanting to protect his family. That's it, you hooked the japanese audience. And on top of that, in a traditional japanese setting? much much better! lol I only seen a few episodes though lol, but from what I know it has a good tight foundation in terms of the execution, pacing, great animation, and all the other shit you need for a decent story. (many anime has this too, but the topic about what DS has that other popular anime don't have or don't focus on)

[@SippingVino]

It’s literally the perfect concoction at the perfect time

[@davidpoa7775]

And the fact it came popular around when covid started and still is helps since alot of families were staying home so watching alot of anime demon slayer a family like Shonen show is perfect and yes Tanjiro is a great role model/main protagonist too ❤

[@Dharengo]

Thankfully I was not the only one who figured this out. Whoda thunk. A story about family that resonates with the whole family?

[@colindowden2182]

Or it's just the pretty colour.

[@Dharengo]

@@colindowden2182 The manga is black and white.

[@brooke9798]

Even though the pure main character trope is overused… with Tanjiro it feels so genuine. His respect and love for humanity even in demons adds another layer. And his emphasis on friendship and family. Reminds me of Sailor Moon in that sense.

[@FaerieHijacker]

"I don't hate you, but I need to kill you. I'm sorry" I love that mentality for action-shounen series' rn. Just look at Yuuji Itadori, the dynamic couple of Spy x Family, and many more that defined a new character format from talk no jutsus or 'fight me coz you're strong' protagonists.

[@jhawkshaw]

Many shows nowadays try to make the mc kind of a loser/asshole to subvert expectations or so that they're "relatable". Of course, that's not necessarily a bad thing, take Gintoki for example. But I still firmly believe that a character doesn't necessarily need to go AGAINST a certain trope to be interesting (it will just create another trope anyway). The important thing to do is to go deeper into each character.

[@Soybean13]

And then there's Denji Spoiler alert!!!! Who become a cannibal by cooking and eating his final villain lol

[@royalfun1031]

Trash

[@MrEdit-ic7th]

@@FaerieHijacker sounds like that's Eren's mindset right now.

[@yurineri2227]

my guess for why demon slayer is so popular in Japan as a family show with people of all ages would be the heavy focus on themes of bonds between families heavily present in the show (Tanjiro literally caries his sister in his back), the themes of living a moral life and implementation of Japanese folklore, spiritualism and faith also helps (and yeah, the fights are fucking awesome)

[@newp0rt]

i think the biggest thing is def the folklore and history accuracy too. like the whole oiran stuff they did the walk animation and design so fucking well. the show feels very grounded in japans history. it was one of the biggest reasons that saga of tanya the evil stuck with me so hard. like you have this girl shooting fucking magic bombs but they still use REAL tactics that happened in previous wars. tons of the shows plot points actually happened in the past and i could recognize them because i learned about it before in school or whatever.

[@tucker2197]

i thinks it’s popularity is just from how well it “satisfies” plot points. A lot of things have payoffs and intrigue and never seems to get boring.

[@Edagui97]

Color coded characters also leave a strong impression, my japanese teacher even used them when we were learning colors in the basics class.

[@yarko9877]

are we watched same show? or u miss part when nezuko get demon art something that obtainable by demons after killing 100 of people and now she has regeneration of moon. still can't believe people didn't drop show after that garbage fight with boob moon(i dont remember her name)

[@ggdatboi]

@@yarko9877 LMAO u a straight hater. It's explained that Nezuko got to skip most of the requirements by sleeping for 2 years. I don't even fuck with the show like that and I still remember this. You're in the minority for ppl that hate the show. Deal with it.

[@mysteryman9488]

I think Demon Slayer being based on traditional Japanese mythology and culture also helps it spread more on Japan, if you think about it most anime nowday are either about modern day Japan or a completely fictional setting.

[@peacefulbystander847]

I don't hate the show, but once you've read a good few shounen, there's little reason to add demon slayer on top if you're looking for a show that's truly special. It's your usual shounen, but with incredible animation. 10/10 if you're going into it with a "have fun" mindset, but it's average if you're seriously looking for a "top 10 storytelling" kind of mindset.

[@Yuu-it1zk]

I’m Japanese and I can confirm it is EVERYWHERE because it is FAMILY FRIENDLY unlike “Mushoku Tensei” or “86”. Basically, it has the same appeal as Star Wars or Marvel movies, meaning it doesn’t have sex or excessive violence or themes that are too heavy like “genocide” or “racism” or “rape”. The Demons and Demon Slayers in the anime have “dark” pasts but nothing like “rape” or “racism”. The only “evil” things the villains do is eat people. They don’t send people to concentration camps or turn them into slaves. It is a jump anime, which means that it is for everyone (relatively speaking). Even kindergarteners watch demon slayer, though parents might skip the scenes with gore. I’ve seen many kids running around the street pretending to be Inosuke. The biggest reason it is big is because it is popular among little kids, unlike Shingeki or Jujutsu which are popular among middle schoolers and above. Shingeki or Mushoku Tensei or Jujutsu will NEVER be as big as Demon Slayer because they aren’t suitable for little kids, both aesthetically and thematically. However, please don’t mistake “POPULARITY” for “QUALITY” because those things are completely different. Anpanman is the superhero franchise worth most on this planet, but that doesn’t make it better than the Dark Knight, for example.

[@Praestantia]

> Family friendly > Shows demons getting their heads cut, gruesome injuries, a prostitute entertainment district, etc Yeah that checks out

[@asianpersuasion4901]

family friendly...literally the last episode has a demon holding a beheaded female head, and holding a pair of legs with a huge bit mark...ok definitely better than more "adult" concepts like rape and slavery, but still....it's quite gory

[@FM-dm8xj]

how is jjk not suitable for kids/?

[@noobmasterruben5167]

@@asianpersuasion4901 I mean if I was a 9 year old, I would watch Demon Slayer or Fairy Tail than something like Tokyo ghoul or Made in Abyss

[@haydenwiitanen8473]

@@FM-dm8xj If you go off the first season of jjk you can make a statement that it can be for kids. But when they watch the show they go get the manga and start to see that it starts tackling heavier themes ,more gore and there is a lot of text that can turn off little kids. For example: A kid just got eaten from the inside out by bugs in the recent chapter.

[@TELECHUBBIE]

I began watching Demon Slayer once I found out my family members got hooked on it when they saw it in their netflix account. After that, we all got together every weekend to watch an episode or two. It has been mentioned in other comments already, and I agree that "family" being such a big plot point in the story really did resonate with everyone.

[@ComeOnPelican91]

I didn't realize Nezuko was the main character's little sister, under a curse. I thought she was Tanjiro's girlfriend and my mind went to weird places because of the muzzle, but it turns out the muzzle is there to stop her from chewing peoples' faces off. The show became much more approachable after I dropped the judgmental attitude.

[@yazzy3177]

@@ComeOnPelican91 AYO GF??? you're going to hell

[@ComeOnPelican91]

@@yazzy3177 have mercy milord! I saw just the OP and decided to never watch such a weird show. Then my buddy said to give it a chance, and it's become my favorite all time show.

[@tranductinh2742]

I don't know about others but I love DS for its emotion and morality. There's some minor details in ss1 that really touched my heart and I don't see many animes does that. Tanjiro is one of the best MC, he's kind but not kind in a blind way that can be used by bad people. That's the most ideal personality I and many people out there want to be irl

[@xo4709]

This

[@taqiyukenji]

It already done by Bleach. DS inspired from Bleach so I'm not surprised to see some similarity in it.

[@rachitpiwlatkar772]

@@taqiyukenji I mean after 20-25 years of good anime. Originality will drop. Each and every story cannot be unique. It’s like shuffling songs, you are bound to hear one of the songs you have already heard again. Imagine the animes another 20 years later. When we say ‘Oh Naruto already did that type of story 45 years ago. Why bother seeing it?’

[@Dharengo]

When he showed mercy to the spidermom... By killing her with a less painful move. That's when I thought to myself, what other shonen protagonist would do this?

[@Apostle_47]

Dr. Tenma is the best when it comes to that kind of protagonist. I am going to die on that pedestal

[@dansari0007]

I don’t watch animes (apart from Pokemon) but I’m obsessed with Demon Slayer, I think it’s a mix of characters, music, family themes, Japanese setting and just the overall quality. Some of the character provide me such comfort even though they’re fictional characters - specifically Tanjiro & Nezuko. I feel for these characters and even feel for the demons when they reveal their sad background stories (Rui, Daki etc.) Moreover it’s not as heavy or dark like Attack on Titan, it’s got serious themes but it’s still somewhat light in some ways, and the animation quality is the best I’ve seen - especially the fight between Tengen & Gyutaro!

[@hybridsstudio8088]

The visual appeal of the animation along with the fact that the story is so digestible yet so interesting is what I think makes KNY so popular among all ages. Its easy enough for a kid to follow and enjoy but still has enough meat and maturity for an adult to take interest as well.

[@putrijoyceirawati2638]

I had read the Demon Slayer manga and held off for some time watching the anime thinking there's nothing I wouldn't have seen before. But holy s**t when I saw how the breathing techniques and the blood demon arts were animated in such a beautifully way, it really hit different.

[@taqiyukenji]

DS us typical Shonen. Weak MC to strong, the Villian always had a history with MC family or relative, had no parents. DS idea & concept already done by Bleach. Using Katana tu kill Demon, there's a special association to kill Demon. I'm surprised because DS took inspiration from Bleach. What make DS so famous because of pacing, animation & simple storyline. Plus the marketing also make DS so mainstream. But overall DS is good Anime but still not reach the level of Legend Anime like Dragon Ball, One Piece, Naruto & Bleach. (They are many factor like good Manga selling, how many chapter of Manga, artstyle of Manga, mind-blowing idea/new or fresh idea & many more) The only Anime that closet to that level I would say Attack On Titan.

[@alexwolf5d]

For me, when I watch AOT, I love discussing it, but sometimes it can get emotionally tiring. With Jujutsu Kaisen, I really enjoy the show but I still don't understand curse technique. With Demon Slayer, I get great animation, a great story, and I follow it easily. I think that's why it's so popular because it has a nice balance of almost everything for a good anime.

[@Anti3D-0]

It's also everywhere here in Taiwan, literally. Convenience store, supermarket, claw machine, even most restaurants have some sort of DS merchandise or figurine on display

[@SMA2343]

I’ll bite into why it’s popular. I got the first volume, and knowing nothing, I was assuming it was “oh..the main character’s love interest becomes a demon and he’s going to fight to try and get her back to normal. Okay whatever. It’ll be mid probably” But then the first episode hits you with the, nope. It’s his younger sister. And that for me made invested. It’s more important than a love interest. Because anyone can put themselves in his shoes of wanting to save his sister, his only remaining family member.

[@ammarbaagu]

funny thing is, while that premise is pretty basic, not one recent shounen anime actually focuses on family values.

[@taqiyukenji]

It's a typical Shonen Anime start with Weak MC to strong, the Villian always had a history with MC family or relative, had no parents. DS idea & concept already done by Bleach. Using Katana tu kill Demon, there's a special association to kill Demon. I'm surprised because DS took inspiration from Bleach. What make DS so famous because of pacing, animation & simple storyline. Plus the advertisement also make DS so mainstream. But overall DS is good Anime but still not reach the level of Legend Anime like Dragon Ball, One Piece, Naruto & Bleach. The only Anime that closet to that level I would say Attack On Titan.

[@sweetamishbutter7]

I don't understand how this makes the show good. Maybe that is a good place to base your story on but having that girl not speak a single line of dialogue the entire time makes me not care. I don't even know who Nezuko is as a character because she doesn't really have one. Its kinda trash. I watch Anime for the characters and demon slayer doesn't have characters. You could define every character in demon slayer with maybe one short sentence. They're all incredibly one dimensional and boring.

[@ammarbaagu]

@@sweetamishbutter7 we do know that while being a demon, Nezuko still genuinely cares about her brother. We also know that family hold a very special place for her, especially her mom. Remember that scene where she went full rage mode, only her mom's lullaby was able to calm her down.

[@ammarbaagu]

@@taqiyukenji this is purely a nostalgic take tbh. Demon slayer movie breaking records worldwide easily dispelled you baf take of DS being less famous than those big 3

[@fernandodecarlosmalcher7977]

for me what makes demon slayer special it's the execution is true that is nothing we haven't seen before, but what it does, it does amazingly good, it knows what it is and plays it's strengths at it's fullest without trying to be something it isn't, during the great ninja war naruto tried to go to big, here in demon slayer they stay close to the ground and do it great

[@formula1340]

Ufotable in a nutshell.

[@fallenlegend8888]

I wonder if it wasn't Ufotable who animated Demon Slayer. Would it be as hype and popular.

[@shivamsneh7168]

@@fallenlegend8888 dude i was thinking the same thing, but in truth we all know ufotable carried the series.

[@PriyanshuDotCom]

@@shivamsneh7168 yes, just look at Sds, it was pretty popular and in 2015 it was 2nd most selling manga behind one piece. And then, it suddenly dropped..

[@formula1340]

@@fallenlegend8888 nope. It will not even remotely close. Highest gross film of all time is a rare achievement. Spirited away held it for 20 years.

[@Lazuley_]

Demon slayer's literally gotten so big even my sister who have only watched your name and know absolutely nothing about anime, have watched demon slayer. It's crazy

[@jhawkshaw]

COVID is part of the reason why it got so big to this level in Japan. Demon Slayer was already very popular amongst anime watchers and a lot of the general public reads Shonen Jump. However, it was during the midst of the pandemic where its popularity really started to set off to unimaginable levels. Many kids were watching Demon Slayer on streaming services like Amazon Prime and their parents and grandparents, who were all at home, sort of watched it too. Edit: It is also easy for the media to promote this because despite how violent the show itself is, Tanjiro and Nezuko have a clean and family-friendly image just like other shows that are HEAVILY marketed (*cough* One Piece).

[@D_Jilla]

That's a great point about the image of the characters. Having a clean but likeable image is very marketable

[@boppinboyz]

Ehhh I say it’s half . Demon slayer came out in 2019 (before the pandemic) and episode 19 really broke the internet . Everybody was watching that fight scene.

[@D_Jilla]

@@boppinboyz It really has been a snowball effect for Kimetsu and Im happy for everyone involved in the project that it has become that way

[@Yuu-it1zk]

Reasons why Demon Slayer is far more popular and widely known in Japan compared to other Shonen explained by a Japanese 1. It is far more family friendly than other Shonen (lack or perverted scenes or overly violent scenes) 2. The characters are easy for kids to distinguish (green coat boy, yellow coat boy, boar head boy etc…) 3. It doesn’t deal with themes that are too heavy (nothing about slavery or racism or concentration camps) 4. The superpowers are easy for little kids to understand (water, fire, lightning etc…) 5. Bloody scenes are few and can easily be skipped when toddlers are watching it (many parents say they skip the bloody scenes) 6. All the kids in elementary school and kindergarten are talking about it (kids demand their parents to let them watch the show) 7. Parents use Tanjiro as a “role model” for kids who are 4~8 years old to “be kind” to everyone (it is this generation’s Anpanman and Shimajiro) 8. It came out right before the pandemic, so when COVID came, parents turned on netflix and made kids watch demon slayer so they could focus on working at home This is why TV shows are constantly talking about the Demon Slayer and why kid’s snacks feature Demon slayer characters. Demon slayer is close to Disney, Marvel, Power Rangers and Star Wars rather than Shingeki, Mushoku, 86 or Jujutsu. It is a “safe” anime that little kids can enjoy (if bloody scenes are skipped). This is why Demon Slayer is far more popular among little kids and normies in japan.

[@Yuu-it1zk]

I have a cousin in middle school, and she stopped watching demon slayer when she turned 14. Because even 4 years olds watch demon slayer, middle schoolers are kind of “turning away” from the show. Something stops being “cool” once todlers and little kids begin watching it. I think Demon Slayer will continue being popular, but the bulk of the fan base has shifted from “otaku and young people” to “normies” and “very small children”. Kids in middle school have mostly moved on to Jujutsu, AoT, Tokyo Revengers etc… The whole Demon slayer phenomenon in japan reminds me of the Frozen phenomenon when all the kids in elementary school were singing “let it go” in Japanese.

[@ComeOnPelican91]

DS was trending on Netflix for so long, for months it seems.

[@FM-dm8xj]

no

[@rohitkamble3568]

Its overrated

[@FM-dm8xj]

ur forgetting the patriotism of japan.

[@micheller3251]

Demon Slayer is the only anime that manages to keep my attention during every fight scene. I usually skip huge chunks of battles because I get bored, but DS fight scenes are strangely hypnotizing it's like I can't look away

[@MadMax22]

I think the appeal of demon slayer comes from how dark the start of the series is and yet it has an extreme tone shift when zenitzu and Inosuke are introduced with genuinely funny scenes. So it gives a massive breath of relief to anyone watching the show so far and yet the show is still just as dark.

[@MrBonzeMedal]

Idk about Japan. But Demon Slayer got popular around the time Anime in the West became universally accessible. It also helps that the action/animation/style is so great and unique. And I’d argue Demon Slayer’s more generic Shonen style is why it’s so enjoyable. Hard work, Sibling love, Friendship, and Good vs. Evil is universally appealing to everybody. And all of the characters are likable in some degree.

[@Ash_Wen-li]

Universally accessible + good production values is a winning combo every time

[@salted5284]

Even zenitsu

[@Petrichorus-]

Zenitsu grated my ears at his introduction but he became tolerable lol

[@keerthan3891]

@@Petrichorus- now zenitsu will not be the zenitsu unlike sesaon 1 nxt arc will gonna change every characters

[@anuragmedidi1582]

There's literally a demon slayer themed commercial flight flying around in Japan 😂😂

[@GoatLuffy_97]

Demon Slayer is a great Shounen but also tailor made for audiences worldwide. It has a simple plot, consistently high production value, and sakuga that is among the best in the business. I also think that the success of AoT for the past decade has paved the way for anime to be basically mainstream enough that something like Demon Slayer can take off. It isn't doing much new within the Shounen genre, it's just doing everything you'd expect really well.

[@FlareOfLegacy]

Watching this right after seeing Garnt get screwed by Demon Slayer during his Chilli live stream predictions on Crunchyroll Award winners is rather amusing.

[@Rizwaan122]

17:13 I totally agree. I thought I was the only one. Mha just got so boring cuz there's 0 stakes. They killed off 1 character and it was someone they only introduced in the start of the season he was killed in. The only actual cool thing is deku coming to grips with the idea of the different powers of his quirk, but that doesn't make up for the snoozefest that is the rest of the show. Shows like demon slayer and jjk and just better paced, better animated, more eventful and have higher stakes, always keeping the viewer on edge. Having said that there were some characters in demon slayer s2 who definitely, certainly undeniably were dead but then magically respawned so that was a bit stupid, but other than that its just an all round better show than mha

[@jodanjo4295]

If later MHA manga arcs get animated, MHA could be better than DS. I read MHA manga but don't read DS tho, because some people say that DS manga sucks

[@jarlballinofswagrun4229]

@@jodanjo4295 The art is alright. The story is amazing but the ending of DS is eh personally.

[@asianpersuasion4901]

*rearranging my organs is child's play!*

[@Rizwaan122]

@@asianpersuasion4901 I was so close to just turning the ep off at that part

[@punpun7164]

Yeah I feel like the author missed the opportunity to kill All Might, that All for One fight would've been the perfect way to end his Era as the #1 Hero and that would've made that scene much more impactful. But naaah author wanted him to be the frail normal old man that hangs around the school lol.

[@Rio.7_]

Season 2 was phenomenal

[@lukepereirarox]

Demon slayer is just the best anime to get into anime. It does everything right and has all the clichés but not to the extreme that it feels cringy.

[@royalfun1031]

It's pure cringe

[@royalfun1031]

And nah

[@lukepereirarox]

@@КристиянТрънбашев-м9о yes i meant clichés . but the clichés in demon slyer didn't feel cringy to me.

[@seekified]

For me, Demon Slayer is the new Fullmetal Alchemist. It knows what it is, it's executed well, doesn't have unnecessary ecchi every five frames, and most importantly - it knows when it will end. I cannot deal with these seemingly never-ending, several hundred episode shows, but I also crave something more than what most 12-24 episode shows give me, so shows like FMA and DS provide an excellent middle ground.

[@Apostle_47]

As much as I respect your opinion, The differnece between them is one of them actually is good, while the other is mid. One has a genuine plot and hooking storyline, while the other runs on animation.

[@seekified]

@@Apostle_47 Y'know, I think I must've been in some serious season 2 hype when I wrote that. Reading my own comment now, it sounds ridiculous to equate them, so yeah, I absolutely agree with you 😂

[@Apostle_47]

@@seekified you are the first person to lose and win my respect back to back in such less time

[@realkingofantarctica]

That makes it even more immersive, because the demons can't escape Demon Slayer either.

[@ComeOnPelican91]

The hand demon had a good run though. He was the demon slayer slayer

[@johnsalchichon3605]

Who would want to escape demon slayer, that shit is amazing

[@Just_Some_Guy_with_a_Mustache]

It’s pretty much over when a series’ OP ends up in the Olympics.

[@Luissv72]

Joey's situation reminds me of the MCU. My mom loves Captain America, my little cousin loves Iron Man, & my Grandma loves Dr Strange. All my friends watch the tv shows, every month a new mcu show/movie gets a trailer or some shit, and NO ONE shuts up about it.

[@Six2Ten]

I dont speak for everybody but me personally have this notion on how shounen generally goes i.e naruto, bleach, 1p, mha, etc. And without spoiling anything kimetsu just breaks that(for me atleast) , on top of being well written it is also well paced and to top it off the amazing animation.

[@taqiyukenji]

DS us typical Shonen. Weak MC to strong, the Villian always had a history with MC family or relative, had no parents. DS idea & concept already done by Bleach. Using Katana tu kill Demon, there's a special association to kill Demon. I'm surprised because DS took inspiration from Bleach. What make DS so famous because of pacing, animation & simple storyline. Plus the marketing also make DS so mainstream. But overall DS is good Anime but still not reach the level of Legend Anime like Dragon Ball, One Piece, Naruto & Bleach. (They are many factor like good Manga selling, how many chapter of Manga, artstyle of Manga, mind-blowing idea/new or fresh idea & many more) The only Anime that closet to that level I would say Attack On Titan.

[@abhijitpadhi625]

@@taqiyukenji For me DS is better than Naruto and Bleach as it has WAY better pacing and better animation which are a must for battle shonen type anime....

[@taqiyukenji]

@@abhijitpadhi625 That what I said, DS are good with pacing, animation are amazing. Overall they did a very good job But they many factor to consider any Anime to be consider a Legend. Manga also one of the factor. One similarity of these 3 Big that they are very long series. For example Bleach had more than 600 chapter, Naruto more than 700& One Piece more than 1000. Mostly in Manga their pacing are better than Anime. The artsyle also play a major role. For me Bleach artsyle is the best because it make the character look cool & mature. The detail of the character & many more.

[@abhijitpadhi625]

@@taqiyukenji yeah DS is not a legend YET. But it will most CERTAINLY become a classic anime series. The problem with naruto and bleach is that most fans have seen the anime not the manga, but the manga of both is better. With DS which has the better ANIME, it gives most fans a much better experience. I personally think DS is already better than both naruto and bleach (in ANIME)

[@taqiyukenji]

@@abhijitpadhi625 👍❤️

[@fian9]

I think Demon Slayer is this big because it has a fairly traditional plot that it executes incredibly well, the animation is god tier, but also it doesn't have all the dumb shit (fanservice) that so many anime's have that puts people off or for people like me would make me not recommend a show to someone.

[@nicolasleroux5302]

You make a good point about the lack of fan service. Unfortunately, however, Demon Slayer fills the void left by a lack of fan service with Zenitsu’s incessant screaming and boar boy’s lame one liners.

[@fian9]

@@nicolasleroux5302 LOL, 100%

[@War_Maker]

Maybe no fanservice, but the comedy sucks ass and the chibi faces are damn annoying.

[@syahmioziar5290]

@@nicolasleroux5302 Zenitsu is the most popular character in Japan.

[@A.Liar.]

@@nicolasleroux5302 agreed

[@siddharthgaur2205]

The one thing I love about Demon Slayer is even if you have read the manga you will still enjoy the anime because of great animated and actions ❤️

[@justinjeffries1554]

The hype was real. I taught in a MIDDLE OF NOWHERE school, I'm talking surrounded on two sides by rice field, one side by old mountain cemetary and one side by...mountain forest with a BEAR CROSSING sign in front of the school's gate country. And this school with a graduating class of like 5 played the Kimetsu theme for their graduation performance. INESCAPABLE Pretty sure some old dude in one of the american Consulates for Japan celebrated "Japanese culture mixing with american culture" by playing the theme on guitar for a promo video. Its insane

[@vwoeng7477]

One thing to note is that Tanjiro is an MC who is not a pervert or approving the usual anime perversion shenanigans. He's very respectful to all the ladies and chastise Zenitsu when he goes too far. Put that on top of his family first values and kindness, no wonder parents like him as role model for kids (I also love how in the post story he doesn't chase away zenitsu from getting close to nezuko but advises the guy to improve on himself to be worthy of her. Tanjiro respects his sister and friend, what a guy)

[@jasonjones3328]

The thing with MHA is I don't think the adaptation is bad per se(though season five comes close) especially compared to older shounen adaptation it's just Mappa and Ufotoble are giving such god tier quality to their series while Bones isn't bad(especially in the first few seasons) it does feel like they aren't putting the same effort that they could

[@jme6036]

I’d say it’s more lack of time than effort. Mha releases 25 episode seasons yearly which is more than than basically all other seasonal shows

[@mistamista8595]

The problem is, Mha was a tad too early. It blew up competing against the likes of AOT and OPM. Then got overshadowed by the Kny storm. It IS very big, but I honestly think it would've been much bigger if it was released nowadays. Also, as much as i hate to say it. Bones dropped the ball since the end of S4. Direction has been pathetic, pacing of the manga ruined, and animation has been extremely subpar.

[@Crispeaks]

Yeah, from the other shows that were rolling at the time to the adaptation itself having a really noticeable drop in quality and faithfulness to the source material with each passing season, MHA just couldn’t keep itself as highly relevant as it was back in Season 2 or 3. Unless Season 6 blows the next arc out of the water, I don’t think it’ll find itself in the “Spotlight” in terms of popularity for a while.

[@PriyanshuDotCom]

"25 episodes and a movie each year." Definitely, there will be production and directional problems

[@shyguy5473]

This was the year that MHA could have went against the likes of Attack on titan and they dropped the ball hard. I guess it was because of the movie but even S4 was atleast hype in the 1st half. S5 was so boring and it felt like the animators lost the passion for the series

[@richatdastkey3555]

on top characters I wanna say (I think it was scamboli reviews that said this) all of the characters actually like each other so its hard to find a character that one can truly hate. I cant pick a favorite personally bc even the most annoying of characters have these relatable moments or redeemable moments that warm my heart lol

[@lamia9182]

I really love Zenitsu cause he's really cool when he fights and his thunder breathing is also very cool. But his awake mode Though, its quite annoying. Dude got split personality and im a fan of that sleeping thunder mode

[@aternialaffsalot]

Everybody is a fan of sleepy zenitsu

[@theredeyes10489]

Bro I can't stand Zenitsu, Like when he asleep like ok, so he goes god mode, what else is there? And then when he's awake there's no character development. Its been two frigging seasons already, just shut the Frick up about Nezuko and actually fight, for crying out loud!!!!

[@HiannDNorris]

12:00 It's the charisma of the main cast, formidable animation and a lot of marketing Tanjiro is just a ball of charisma, even compared to others shonen protags

[@cjirwin867]

Idk man, Tanjiro seems kinda basic in terms of what a shounen protagonist is. What I will say, is that he does do his "role" well.

[@HiannDNorris]

@@cjirwin867 maybe it’s just me then

[@billymaguire5769]

@@HiannDNorris Yeah But I guess Every Other Charismatic main character Seems To have a Big Disadvantage in Series They are Just too long NO new fan wants A 70 or 150 episode of anime even If its shonen And The new Zen shonens Don't have that Old Shonen main character charisma L

[@aur3nnnn]

Naaah man, I love the show but Tanjiro es a little bland at times.

[@asianpersuasion4901]

@@cjirwin867 I think you just proved his point. many veterans don't like the classic shounen mc trope, but tanjiro definitely does that very well, and I think that's why he's so popular among those who are fine with the trope

[@Strangeguy07]

The reason why zenitsu is so popular is pretty simple. It's because he uses thunder breathing. In literally every single piece of fiction, thunder or lightning has always been one of the coolest powers to have. Just the drip he has when he goes sleep mode is enough to ignore all the whining. Also him being the literal embodiment of "hardwork beats talent" is pretty fucking cool

[@Raivon]

Every time I think Demon Slayer has peaked in terms of animation UFOtable just shatters my expectations like its fragile glass

[@macias5091]

Here form Poland, i'm watching demon slayer with my younger sister and dad, so yeah, it's just universal between generations, i just dont understand why

[@macias5091]

also my dad before that never understood anime, always thought that it's stupid and strange and was really ignorant about it

[@austinstewart5517]

My favorite anime is demon slayer, I starting loving it after the movie. I feel the appeal comes from the characters, the designs, their morals, and their powers.

[@taqiyukenji]

DS us typical Shonen. Weak MC to strong, the Villian always had a history with MC family or relative, had no parents. DS idea & concept already done by Bleach. Using Katana tu kill Demon, there's a special association to kill Demon. I'm surprised because DS took inspiration from Bleach. What make DS so famous because of pacing, animation & simple storyline. Plus the marketing also make DS so mainstream. But overall DS is good Anime but still not reach the level of Legend Anime like Dragon Ball, One Piece, Naruto & Bleach. (They are many factor like good Manga selling, how many chapter of Manga, artstyle of Manga, mind-blowing idea/new or fresh idea & many more) The only Anime that closet to that level I would say Attack On Titan.

[@grandpa6065]

Demon Slayer started trending real hard by the end of 2019 and going into quarantine 2020. So a lot of its staying power is a confluence of people having less activity outside and Demon Slayer being recently enough popular (and finished its season) that it seemed like a good pick to binge through quarantine.

[@G.F.SF55]

The likable characters + a lot of idealistic traditional Japan is my bet on why it's so popular

[@ack153]

I think what shocks me about Demon Slayer is how families let their kids watch it despite how violent it is. My husband and I both could not get into the first season but my husband has been watching the second season more, and we both shocked as to how families could let their kids watch this with such heavy themes being portrayed throughout it. Our son is only 20 months but I think ages 4-9 are too young for this show personally.

[@piyushjain8100]

Mark my words, after SWORDSMITH VILLAGE ARC and INFINITY CASTLE ARC gets animated, KNY will go down as one of the greatest show ever!!

Or at least, one of the historic landmark in animation technologies & talents.

[@xo4709]

Agree. No doubt!

[@rbkylebacabis6684]

More like the greatest ufotable showcase

[@SNSTR]

Fuck infinity castle arc...

[@saifsaif8352]

Kokushibo's backstory his fight as well as yoriichi's life are gonna break the internet when they're animated alright This series is amazing

[@darthzayexeet3653]

“Who is your favorite KnY Character?” Normies: Nezuko, Tanjiro, Zenitsu, Inosuke etc. Me, a -intellectual- manga reader: *Akaza*

[@алексейпугачев-л9й]

Yeah Rengoku and Akaza are probably my favorite characters even in manga ( and maybe Gyomei)

[@giggachad82]

My brother.

[@ax8124]

For me, he's probably the most interesting character in Demon Slayer and the best one

[@coniwiiuwu5578]

It’s always funny to hear edgy people feeling special for liking Akaza, the most popular demon character lmao

[@алексейпугачев-л9й]

@@coniwiiuwu5578 heh......not without the reason tho

[@DelusionalDarcy]

I think Tanjiro's motivation might play apart in why the Demon Slayer is popular with older people. Tanjiro isn't driven by the need to become the leader or the be the best___. He just wants to save his younger sister. Demon Slayer has a lot of heart, the characters are charming, and the anime visually beautiful.

[@PintheElfKingdom]

I think It most likely has something to do with ep19. It was popular before the episode aired, but it then absolutely BLEW the whole internet after then. So it already had a good amount of audience base due to its animation quality and accessibility etc., then after ep19 EVERYONE watching it was tweeting/spreading good words, bringing in more and more audience. Once it reached a certain level, it became unstoppable. One other reason might be the consistency of its quality in both animation and story/pacing so that it keeps (most of) the audience from dropping.

[@TurnOneYeti]

I’ve watched anime since the old toonami days but never picked up manga until Demon Slayer. I of course started because season one of the anime got me interested but I started mostly because the manga had already been completed and it wasn’t tremendously long compared to other series. I loved it and even more excited for future arcs in the anime.

[@taqiyukenji]

DS us typical Shonen. Weak MC to strong, the Villian always had a history with MC family or relative, had no parents. DS idea & concept already done by Bleach. Using Katana tu kill Demon, there's a special association to kill Demon. I'm surprised because DS took inspiration from Bleach. What make DS so famous because of pacing, animation & simple storyline. Plus the marketing also make DS so mainstream. But overall DS is good Anime but still not reach the level of Legend Anime like Dragon Ball, One Piece, Naruto & Bleach. (They are many factor like good Manga selling, how many chapter of Manga, artstyle of Manga, mind-blowing idea/new or fresh idea & many more) The only Anime that closet to that level I would say Attack On Titan.

[@kafalotofeao462]

Haikyuu. I remember in 2015, it was EVERYWHERE. The host family I stayed with almost everyone played volleyball. Whether it was in a communal hobby group, school or job, everyone played...

[@modder15]

The main contributor to Demon Slayers success is its an inherently Japanese story with many Japanese cultural signifiers. It's also a very accessible show to people with almost no barriers to entry. The Show is no filler and the story is actually over in under 250 chapters.

[@Soyo_Nagasaki07]

Tanjiro having a soft spot to demons & even cried for their cruel fate, understanding on how do they became like that because of their cursed life is one of the great values of Demon Slayer. I think that the story of the siblings, Tanjiro & Nezuko together with 2 hilarious comedians like Inosuke & Zenitsu in a Demon Infested World is also a balance of funny & dark moments. Then the Unique Characters of the Weird Hashiras, the Sly & Cruel Muzan combined with the Top Tier Action Animations is really amazing....let alone the Drama when Rengoku (best char) died which is impactful.

[@SuluXuluS]

What I think is amazing about demon slayer is that its just pure shounen, nothing special, but its among the best at almost everything. Villains are rly hype, you have multiple "elder teacher" like characters that are all amazing personalities (hashiras), we dont have to talk about animation, the pacing is great (there are actually things that happen unlike JJK s1), the main characters are really likable but also not bland (as you can see in Zenitsu simultaneous hype and hate), the fight cinematography is just amazing and and and If there was one thing to critique it would be the world building as we barely see anything about the world, demon slayer relies on its characters 100% to generate hype and drive story but man it is right to do so

[@taqiyukenji]

Not pure Shonen but typical Shonen. Weak MC to strong, the Villian always had a history with MC family or relative, had no parents. DS idea & concept already done by Bleach. Using Katana tu kill Demon, there's a special association to kill Demon. I'm surprised because DS took inspiration from Bleach. What make DS so famous because of pacing, animation & simple storyline. Plus the advertisement also make DS so mainstream. But overall DS is good Anime but still not reach the level of Legend Anime like Dragon Ball, One Piece, Naruto & Bleach. The only Anime that closet to that level I would say Attack On Titan.

[@slendydie1267]

Look i love Demon Slayer but lets not get ahead of ourselves. This season's villains were annoying and boring. And the rest are not that memorable (except Akaza i like him). The Hashiras have very distinctive personalities but they are very surface level. Pacing, choreography and animation are sick i'll definitely give you that. The main characters are colorful but shallow and Zenitsu is annoying, he is just a badly written character. The world building does lack; but how much can you build with Demons and people that kill demons? Mainly because the other demon slayers besides main characters and Hashira are just literal nameless fodder except a few. With all it's flaws its still worth the watch and overall very entertaining i cant wait for the next season.

[@sxyli]

with this typa animation i cant wait for the rest of the manga to be animated

[@darkren88]

DONT SAY ITS NOT UNIQUE WHEN YOU BARELY KNOW THE PLOT AND WATCHED THE STORY. just saying

[@AM-ko4pi]

The reason demon slayer is so popular is because there’s literally no media anymore where you can find a young man who is both wholesome and heroic.

[@ismaelmartinezcastillo247]

Demon slayer is peak. One of my favs and I’ve seen a lot of great anime. The warm-hearted anime always have a special place in my heart.

[@taqiyukenji]

DS us typical Shonen. Weak MC to strong, the Villian always had a history with MC family or relative, had no parents. DS idea & concept already done by Bleach. Using Katana tu kill Demon, there's a special association to kill Demon. I'm surprised because DS took inspiration from Bleach. What make DS so famous because of pacing, animation & simple storyline. Plus the advertisement also make DS so mainstream. But overall DS is good Anime but still not reach the level of Legend Anime like Dragon Ball, One Piece, Naruto & Bleach. (They are many factor like good Manga selling, how many chapter of Manga, artstyle of Manga, mind-blowing idea/new or fresh idea & many more) The only Anime that closet to that level I would say Attack On Titan.

[@splathermp1341]

It's nowhere near peak but it's easily accessible

[@REChronic54]

Demon Slayer is a lot of familiar things presented well, I think. Even though the story may not be the best when compared to others, it’s certainly not a bad one. A decent story can go really far with the audience just by how it’s presented and how much everything else elevates it.

[@billk516]

DS is both basic and unique. Basic in the sense that it doesn't have complicated plot or setting and has all the generic shounen tropes. It is also unique because it is the only shounen in recent memory that mainly focuses on FAMILY as the theme, on the top of that, it has a shounen MC that isnt stupid or perverted or hot-headed or edgy or timid...the list goes on, in some way Tanjiro is a very unique shounen MC.

[@amanchaudhary3340]

I think one of the most important factor SPECIFICALLY about demon slayer that makes it so likeable is its absolutely UNIQUE and gorgeous art form. Never has the community seen an anime as vivid and vibrant with colors popping out of it as demon slayer.

[@nidohime6233]

It looks good, the music is good, the action scenes are good, the humour is good, the characters are likeable, is set in Japan but instead of the overused Edo or Sengoku Jidai is set in the Taisho period, so is even new for many people who like japanese settings... In general it makes sense it became popular. 13:30 Isn't that obvious? the most popular character is Inosuke, the boar dude with a pretty girl face. There is no one who dislike this character.

[@jodanjo4295]

Idk about the humor tho, I need to skip couple seconds whenever ever the comedy scenes come out

[@masteralik7226]

Connor only on episode 7, can’t wait to see him watch the next three episodes

[@adroitws1367]

actually, because its not so unique it has the MASS APPEAL the more unique a thing the more it will only fit a niche or becoming cult classic

[@D_Jilla]

I've watched a good bit of anime and Shonen and the really unique thing about Demon Slayer is how important family is to the main character and The Sibling relationship in the show is very wholesome. It's a real and relatable familial relationship. Tanjiro's empathy is also unique among Shonen MCs. It's just a wholesome show that's easy for people to adore. Also the show has many themes of overcoming sadness, grief and struggle and moving forward from it. These themes AR echoed constantly in the show AND the music.

[@adroitws1367]

@@D_Jilla yeah, the emotional and empathetic part does stand out, but its not so unique, at least for me. Avatar did that for me first. I guess the more show we watch the less unique anything new become

[@SNSTR]

@@adroitws1367 theres no shonen that makes you feel depressed like demon slayer

[@masterj2cool2000]

Zenitstu is a underdog who is look down on. The fact they dont understand and dislike him, is what him more liked by a niche fan because no one else will understand his true quality that he has hidden.

[@GoodBoySifsHuman]

I still follow one of my highschool teacher on instagram and recently they had a baby and they've already made an instagram for her lmao what you guys said is actually true.

[@glennmejorada7395]

I may have thought that demon slayer and my hero academia are at the same level of quality overall. but I am not so sure why when Gigguk said they are, I just suddenly felt very furious that demon slayer had just been insulted.

[@cloudsRniceC0M3]

Demon slayer just doesn't fuck around...

[@1Piecer]

You can't escape Demon Slayer outside Japan.

[@propain8936]

It’s just THAT DAMN GOOD! Everything about the show is done beautifully, the setting, the characters, the animations and the music. God the music is brilliant.

[@abhijitpadhi625]

yeah but the concept of DS in itself isn't that unique. There are a lot of shows with great setting, characters and animations that never become as popular. That's what is baffling.

[@rbkylebacabis6684]

U mean the adaptation is flawless

[@meurer13daniel]

DS is like a humburguer. It's not inovative, new or groundbreaking. But when it's GOOD, it's really good. That's how I like to think. Also, I have read the manga and the anime is far superior in quality. There isn't anything special in the manga, but the show is peak animation and it's what it sells for me

[@digijune5323]

I feel like its why journey to the west is kinda still a good book (atleast what sarcastic production has summarized) Each character is simple, to the point. It gives messages when these sort of people interact and react. What to do when you've lost hope or can't keep fighting. Theres no convoluted power system to "symbolize the power imbalance" Each one of us used to be a Tanjiro, a Zenitsu, a crazy Inosuke. You might've met a love hashira in your life, or met that one person who was the flame in your life to keep going like Rengoku. They're not there to just be the strongest but also to show what happens if you're facing your own demons, you can call to a hashira and let them inspire you and pull you forward.

[@gavynsmith4555]

I simply checked out KNY in October of 2020 because my Japanese friends would not stop talking about it. The moment I saw the first episode, I knew right then and there that this would be a legendary series! It certainly has not disappointed. This franchise stays making history, and for good reason! That's why when anybody tries to downplay it or insult people who enjoys it, I can never take them seriously.

[@justacuteonigiri]

History in animation mainly, story not so much

[@gavynsmith4555]

@@justacuteonigiri you can like or dislike the story as much as you want. People can have a second opinion. Just as long as you don't put down anybody else who does enjoy it

[@controllermaniac]

Wait until you come to Taiwan, demon slayer is literally everywhere

[@gettingmytherapyfrombangch909]

As a zenitsu fan i also don’t know why i love this crybaby we just do 😭 he’s not the overly kind selfless Mc or the emo angsty black haired genius and his va also plays in his popularity I think he did an AMAZING job

[@Boirudo]

Its probably because demon slayer has such great character designs

[@nishasafiah]

i acknowledge that the story is pretty simple, but i just, absolutely love it? Like, it's pretty darn simple but maybe the aesthetic, the characters, the tropes i know all too well, the trio and villains pulled me in. Set in a fantasy Japanese world with pretty, customizable katanas, beautiful soundtrack and wisteria trees glowing at night? Please, It's gorgeous. The story does so well being simple and absurd at the same time. Though, no lie, there are some plot armors and cringey moments. But still, I adore the manga to bits. It hurts that people dislike it because of the art, but yeah, the art isn't like OPM or MHA or AOT or anything, it's simple but gets the story across well. In fact, I feel like the mangaka improved themself throughout the manga and you can see it pretty clearly when reading it. It's also very satisfying to see a manga I've finished animated into god-tier animation by ufotable. Even though the manga is complete and I know about what's going to happen next, I still get excited watching the adaption.

[@wpninja83]

DemonSlayer is the equivalent to what would happen if the Good kind of Disney you watched as a kid grew up and matured just as you did.

[@chadsealey3055]

I don’t think a show needs to subvert expectations to be good. Sometimes I just want an enjoyable story with good characters and great action. I compare KNY a lot to Marvel and Star Wars. With both, I know I am going to be entertained and not feel like I am wasting my time. Its good wholesome content. Then when I want something with a little more substance that does subvert my expectations I will watch something like Mushoku Tensei. My point is that I hate limiting myself and becoming an anime snob. It’s like food. I love eating at a great restaurant that is ranked as one of the best in my city, but I could easily enjoy a home cooked meal or some fast food if I felt like it.

[@_BenJaminCroft_]

I think the reason behind why Demon Slayer is so popular is _culture._ This show really nails the folklore of Japan.

[@arkekkers]

Demon slayer and Seven Deadly Sins are the perfect examples that animation can in fact make or break an anime series.

[@shironasama0445]

Kimetsu also executes exceptionally well, not just animation being superb. It has an emotional core, tangible goals for the characters, unique and gorgeous soundtrack, and incredible voice acting performances.

[@mmm-lv3mo]

yoo thats a pretty accurate sentence lmao

[@xo4709]

Nah I’m disagree. Before Ufotable pick Demon Slayer. The manga is already popular. The story and the ending was done beautifully. But if you said Ufotable make the manga more more popular yes I’m agree

[@mmm-lv3mo]

@@xo4709 bro hes saying that if the animation had been bad for demon slayer, it wldnt have been as popular as it is rn

[@rbkylebacabis6684]

@@xo4709 ending was trash

[@FM-dm8xj]

When i went to my japanese highschool exchange back when DS first came out, my japanese HS friends who never watch anime started to fanboy out of it OUT OF KNOWWHERE.

[@brtn3231]

i think because It is well advertised in Japan. And movie was saver in quarantine. That why popularity blows up. And it is actually good show.

[@randyng8409]

At that point connor only watched up to ep7 and not ep9 imagine his reaction after that

[@romajimamulo]

I have a suspicion that part of it has to do with it reflecting a somewhat fictionalized "simpler time" in Japan, where warriors with unshakable morals could just, be in the right. Japan is a country that loves its escapist fiction after all

[@23Lgirl]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/hZbUcmuslrhsY5o

[@jeremygrandison1040]

The Swordsmith Village Arc is about to pop off next year, you'll love this series even more than you should!

[@Yuu-it1zk]

Shows that became social phenomenon in Japan: (meaning they caused a craze in society) Space Battleship Yamato Gundam Evangelion Doraemon Anpanman Your Name Demon Slayer Shows that did not become social phenomenon: (these shows are popular but haven’t caused a craze or industry change) AoT MHA Jujutsu Naruto ONE PIECE Bleach HxH Haruhi K-on! Death note Code Geass FMA The shows that because social phenomenon are mostly: 1) safe for kids to watch 2) not perverted 3)came out at the right timing 4)don’t contain themes that are too depressing for kids to watch 5)have safe characters whose images can be put on candy snacks in supermarkets 6) dont have morally questionable protagonists 7) are politically and culturally “correct” relatively speaking

[@Arassar]

Yeah it really feels like Evangelion is none of those XD

[@friendlyneighbourhooddegen4739]

You’re wrong on One Piece. It’s literally the most popular anime/manga of all time in Japan and is as mainstream as it gets.

[@NaNa-wy2tk]

where is Slam Dunk, and One piece is so mainstream in Japan wdym?

[@veffiesdda965]

One Piece is literally all over in Japan lol

[@user-up4bi7kd5b]

Miyazaki Film is popular

[@Buddyrtc]

I’m pretty sure the demon slayer manga ranking jump was AFTER the first season of the anime - I don’t think it was that hyped pre-anime

[@psychomantis7836]

as much as I think demon slayer has it's moments, so far I'd say it's being held up by it's production. Like the story and characters are decently written at best, but its animation and sound design is out of this world

[@katyakotkat]

My theory is this: Older-Middle Aged people like it cause there’s a strong emphasis on traditional Japanese culture and probably reminds them of their childhoods in some ways. Millennials like it because a lot of the characters have that classic anime style that we all grew up with. Younger people and kids cause of all the bright colors, music, funny characters, etc. All the beautiful, bright and colorful animation with use of CGI and amazing music just makes everyone love it. Plus, it’s a family centered anime showing different family dynamics with all the characters. It’s just got everything you like in an anime.