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Discover 10 stoic characters like Giyu Tomioka from Demon Slayer. Explore the different facets of their personalities as well.
Giyu Tomioka is the embodiment of stoicism in Demon Slayer, always carrying the same expression and remaining calm even in the face of danger. While he is reserved yet dependable, there is more to his personality than we see at first glance. Giyu suffers from an inferiority complex, carrying the burden of those who died for his survival.
This came out in the Infinity Castle Arc when those close to him were dying. However, he was able to quickly gain composure with the help of Tanjiro and other allies. This speaks volumes of the complexity of this character, where he may seem detached but is very caring. Similar to the Water Hashira, there are other characters throughout the anime who share his traits.
Here are 10 stoic characters like Giyu Tomioka from Demon Slayer. Much like Giyu himself, these characters often have an unchanging expression but display intense emotions.
1) Levi – Attack on Titan
Levi is a fan-favorite character who often receives more attention than the protagonist, Eren. The reason for his popularity can be attributed to his nature as a stoic warrior. As humanity’s strongest soldier, Levi is constantly on the front lines fighting against Titans.
He displays immense prowess in battle, sending shivers down the spines of powerful antagonists like the Beast Titan. However, Levi does not carry his feelings on his face. He had been raised underground, used to death and disease. This hardened his personality.
Even after growing up, he got used to losing the soldiers near him. Rather than abandon hope under these conditions, Levi’s resolve strengthened. He focuses solely on eradicating Titans, drawing the loyalty of those under him. He still cares deeply about his allies, mourning their deaths in silence and avenging them. Hence, fans of Giyu Tomioka will deeply resonate with this character.
2) Megumi – Jujutsu Kaisen
As the deuteragonist of Jujutsu Kaisen, Megumi’s personality contrasts with the bubbly nature of Itadori. Megumi is practical, serious, and quiet, taking his role as a sorcerer very seriously. He often puts others over himself, risking his life for their sake.
Megumi’s fighting style reflects his personality, showcasing calculative strategies that are never clouded by his emotions. Even in dire situations, he maintains composure, thinking of the next steps. This allowed him to eventually unlock his Domain Expansion when defeat seemed inevitable.
Finally, Megumi’s bond with Yuji Itadori and Nobara Kugisaki shows his hidden warmth. It proves that behind his cold exterior lies a deeply caring individual.
3) Itachi – Naruto
Itachi Uchiha is one of Naruto’s most enigmatic and stoic characters. Ever since he was a kid, he displayed maturity and wisdom far beyond his years. His calm appearance made him seem distant, but he was carrying a huge burden on his shoulders.
For the sake of protecting his village, Itachi annihilated his whole clan. He attracted the hatred of Sasuke in a bid to make him stronger. This made him seem like a cold-blooded murderer to most other characters and fans. In contrast, Itachi was a caring figure who made immense sacrifices to protect his loved ones.
Even in his death, he encouraged Sasuke to traverse the path of peace. Hence, the unbelievable pain and tragedy faced by Itachi was hidden behind his stagnant face.
4) Killua – Hunter x Hunter
Killua is a deadly assassin from Hunter x Hunter who had been trained to take lives from a young age. He emotionlessly killed those in front of him, prioritizing the completion of missions. At the same time, after meeting Gon, Killua began to feel the value of a friend.
He shares an innocent bond with the protagonist, exploring happiness, fun, and a variety of other emotions. However, this doesn’t make him hesitate in battle. On the contrary, since he has loved ones now, Killua works even harder and more tactically to achieve victory.
Like Giyu, Killua can distance himself from others when he believes he can harm them. Despite this, his loyalty and deep emotional connections make him one of the most compelling characters in the series.
5) Zoro – One Piece
Zoro is the swordsman of the Straw Hat Pirates and a figure of calm intensity in One Piece. Being a warrior aiming to become the strongest swordsman, Zoro is immensely dedicated to his craft. Additionally, as a follower of Luffy, he helps his captain lead the crew, showing seriousness when necessary.
Zoro’s stoicism comes from his unyielding sense of honor. He rarely shows weakness, taking on immense burdens to protect his crew. This was best seen when he risked his life to protect Luffy from Kuma in Thriller Bark.
Hence, Zoro is one of the most straight-laced characters from the main cast. At the same time, he is also Luffy’s most loyal supporter.
6) Aki – Chainsaw Man
Much like Giyu Tomioka, Aki is a man carved by tragedy. Having lost his entire family to the Gun Devil, Aki’s singular purpose is to gain revenge. For its sake, he isolates himself, sacrificing many things to gain more power.
Despite his aloof expression, Aki is deeply caring about others. He mourned Himeno’s death and shared a close bond with Denji and Power. While he did not wish to associate with them originally for their devil connections, he came to recognize their worth.
Over time, his bond with his friends reveals cracks in his exterior, showing that even the most reserved individuals have deep emotional layers. Hence, a major portion of Aki’s character arc follows him being chained down by his past and wishing to move forward to the future.
7) Kageyama – Haikyuu
Tobio Kageyama is a prodigious volleyball player who is the main setter of the Karasuno team. He is an intense and unapproachable boy who is feared by those around him for his coldness. His distant nature also causes many to assume him to be arrogant.
However, this is far from Kageyama’s true nature. He is a deeply passionate volleyball player who cannot communicate with others properly. He can get easily frustrated, taking it out on himself and those around him.
Upon working with Hinata, he learns to channel his feelings in a more respectful way. Kageyama is still very stoic but relies on his teammates more.
8) Genos – One Punch Man
Genos, the cyborg disciple of Saitama in One Punch Man, is a character who embodies discipline, focus, and unwavering determination. Having lost his family at a young age, he is dedicated to becoming stronger and upholding justice.
While harboring intense emotions, Genos’ expression rarely changes. He remains serious and composed at every instance, leading to several hilarious interactions with the protagonist. Nonetheless, Genos remains one of the most dedicated and emotionally restrained characters in anime. This makes him a clear parallel to Giyu Tomioka’s unwavering sense of duty.
9) L – Death Note
Unlike others in this list influenced by their history, L is a different kind of stoicism. He is an inexpressive and introverted man with unparalleled genius and a no-nonsense personality. As the world’s greatest detective, L maintains unnatural composure during high-stakes situations, doing whatever it takes to win.
He realizes the cost of success, emotionally detaching himself from others. While this makes him seem conceited, he is caring. L ensured that the investigators working with him and their families would be cared for should anything happen during the Kira investigation.
L also displayed moments of genuine lonesomeness, expressing his wishes to be friendly with Light. While most of these emotions were conveyed through words, L’s expression never changed throughout the series.
10) Shoto – My Hero Academia
Shoto Todoroki in My Hero Academia is another example of a character shaped by his trauma. The son of the powerful Pro Hero Endeavor, Shoto grew up in an abusive household, leading him to develop a cold and distant personality. He initially rejected the fire-based half of his Quirk, symbolizing his rejection of his father’s influence. This internal struggle contributed to his detached and serious demeanor.
As the series proceeded, Shoto gradually opened up. He became influenced by the personalities of Midoriya and his classmates, learning to accept his heritage. Combined with the redemption arc of Endeavor, Shoto ends up becoming a dependable and powerful hero. He retains his calm and composed nature but is much more approachable by the end of the story.
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