The following contains spoilers for the Demon Slayer manga.
Over time, the Demon Slayer anime series has rotated major characters in and out to keep the story fresh and fun. Early on, villains like Rui and Enmu of the Twelve Demon Moons were a big deal, and heroes like Kyojuro Rengoku and Tengen Uzui did the heavy lifting in the plot. Now, the final war against Muzan has begun, with the Infinity Castle movie kicking things off in stunning fashion. That means Demon Slayer fans want to know who's playing a central role in this phase of the story, and who's getting sidelined.
In the Infinity Castle movie, it was easy to name the most important and prominent characters, including protagonist Tanjiro Kamado, his friend Zenitsu Agatsuma, and Akaza the villain. Now that those battles have been wrapped up, Tanjiro will be less important for the time being, and Demon Slayer will rotate in other cast members who will matter much more. Of course, Tanjiro will be central to the story by the time the third movie comes along when it's time to fight Muzan, but at the moment, Demon Slayer fans ought to keep track of other cast members instead.
Doma is Daring Kanao to Avenge Her Hashira Mentor
No One Can Defeat the Upper Moon 2 Alone
Now that Akaza has been slain, only a few members of the Upper Moons are still out there, and they are all critically important in this phase of Demon Slayer's story. Each of these Moons must be vanquished before Tanjiro and the other heroes can get anywhere near Muzan, and those Moons will fight to the bitter end. One of them is the creepy Upper Moon 2, Doma, who horrified Demon Slayer fans when he killed and absorbed Shinobu during their duel.
After Muichiro and Mitsuri survived fighting Hantengu and Gyokko, fans clung to hope that the Hashira would escape Kyojuro Rengoku's fate going forward, but those hopes have been dashed. Muzan's remaining minions are too strong for any single Hashira to defeat, and even 2 vs 1 feels like a grim proposition. All the same, someone has to fight and slay Doma before the endgame with Muzan may commence. There is no doubt that round 2 against Doma will dominate the next Demon Slayer movie, alongside a similar showdown against Kokushibo.
Kokushibo Looms as the Strongest Demon Serving Under Muzan
It Will Take Multiple Hashira to Vanquish the Upper Moon 1
Just like his eerie counterpart Doma, the Upper Moon 1 Kokushibo stands as a formidable barrier between the heroes and Muzan himself. Naturally, the loyal Kokushibo will give it his all to defy the Demon Slayer Corps and shield his demon king, and given shonen logic, that's guaranteed to be the case. It would be odd if the Hashira fought Muzan first, so Muzan has to wait his turn in movie #3 while Kokushibo rises to prominence in movie #2.
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Not much has been seen of Kokushibo's fighting style just yet, but anime-only fans have high expectations for him. With his lofty rank, visible demon slayer mark, and his blend of demonic power and a katana, Kokushibo is ready to take on anyone and win. What is more, he bears a strong resemblance to Yoriichi Tsugikuni, and there's little doubt Kokushibo will get a flashback sequence to elaborate on all that. The full truth of Kokushibo's life story will shed light on the entire history of demons and the slayers who fight them, filling in a vital gap in the overall Demon Slayer lore.
Kanao Tsuyuri is Finally About to Shine in Battle
Kanao Will Show Everyone What Flower Breathing Can Do
A number of Demon Slayer characters have yet to actually fight seriously in the anime. Even most of the Hashira had to wait a while before unveiling their powers and skills in battle, with Gyomei and Obanai waiting until the late game to reveal their breathing styles. Something similar can be said about Kanao Tsuyuri, the quiet student of both Kanae and Shinobi Kocho. She has done no real fighting yet, but now is Kanao's chance to make up for lost time. She's done hiding -- she has a friend and mentor to avenge.
Find all 10 pairs
Find all 10 pairs
As manga readers have already seen in Demon Slayer's pages, Kanao is fiercely determined to slay the foul demon who killed the Kocho sisters, and she would sooner die in the attempt than flee. Kanao and Doma are about to face off with Inosuke thrown into the mix, and all eyes will be on Kanao. Demon Slayer fans can take Inosuke's power for granted in a clash like this, so the spotlight is on Kanao as a Flower Breathing user who will define that 2 vs 1 showdown in the next movie.
Nakime Has a Unique Home Field Advantage in the Infinity Castle
Mitsuri and Obanai Aren't Ready For an Opponent Like This
With the downfall of both Kaigaku and Akaza, just three Upper Moons remain on the field of battle, with Nakime having the lowest rank among them. She may not match Doma or Kokushibo in raw power, but the elite Hashira would still be wise to take her seriously. Nakime has hardly said a word in the Demon Slayer anime and hasn't yet fought, but that just makes her more exciting as she prepares to take center stage.
Nakime enjoys a unique home field advantage in Muzan's Infinity Castle, using her biwa and other abilities to control the building's layout. She can block enemy attacks or launch blunt assaults by rapidly rearranging the walls, ceiling, and floors of Muzan's domain, and that's a real challenge even for Hashira like Mitsuri and Obanai. That means Nakime is important for the same reasons as Doma and Kokushibo: a powerhouse obstacle who won't let any demon slayer near Muzan until slain.
Gyomei Himejima is the Demon Slayer Corps' Best Hope Against Kokushibo
The Stone Hashira is About to Pull His Weight in a Big Way
The Twelve Demon Moons have suffered many bloody losses, but so have the Hashira, so only a few Hashira are ready to fight as important characters in movie #2. The single biggest example is the hulking and tearful Stone Hashira, Gyomei Himejima, who can do much more than train people to use Repetitive Action. Gyomei was once important as the Hashira who taught Genya and Tanjiro to use Repetitive Action, but now it's time to fight.
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Kokushibo beckons as the single scariest obstacle standing between the heroes and Muzan, so anyone who can properly challenge him will be vital in this phase of the story. As manga readers have seen, Gyomei won't fight Kokushibo alone, but he will do most of the heavy lifting as the strongest Hashira of all. It's because of him and Sanemi that Kokushibo was pushed to the brink before Kokushibo had a terrible revelation about his own nature.
Muichiro Tokito is the Key to Fighting Someone Like Kokushibo
Muichiro's Blade Will Make All the Difference at a Critical Moment
Back in the Swordsmith Village Arc, Mist Hashira Muichiro Tokito was a key player in the battle for the village as he faced the Upper Moon 5, Gyokko. Thanks to Muichiro, the village was saved, and he also helped prompt the rest of the Hashira to awaken their own demon slayer marks as well. Muichiro's importance declined in the following arc, with him being just one of several Hashira to train Tanjiro's trio, but now he's about to be a critical cast member once again.
Manga readers know exactly what Muichiro is about to do as the demon slayers take on the final few Upper Moons. While Muichiro cannot solo Kokushibo the way he soloed Gyokko, he can use his bright red blade to tip the scales in the Corps' favor. That alone didn't win the fight, but it did make a much-needed difference to help Gyomei and Sanemi deal the final blows. Muichiro might not even survive the fight, but his contribution will live on either way.
Demon Slayer
- Release Date
- April 6, 2019
- Network
- Adult Swim
Based on Koyoharu Gotouge's shonen manga, Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba is an action anime set in Japan during the early 20th century. Seeking revenge for the murder of his family while also looking to save his sister, Tanjiro joins the Demon Slayer Corps as they try to eradicate Demons led by Muzan.
- Based On
- Manga
- Number of Episodes
- 63
- Streaming Service(s)
- Crunchyroll, Hulu, Netflix
- MyAnimeList Score
- 8.26 (Hashira Training Arc)
