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Discover the 8 best Demon Slayer backstories. Explore the significance of each one and where they rank amongst others.
As one of the most popular anime of all time, Demon Slayer presents an intricate view into the tensions between evil demons and the warriors who fight them. A major reason for the series’ renown is its emotional storytelling, getting us attached to the cast.
After initially introducing a character, be it a hero or villain, the series adds depth to them through masterfully crafted backstories. This helps us understand their motivations and personalities, often making audience opinions regarding individuals overturn.
Hence, here are the 8 best Demon Slayer backstories, ranked.
8) Inosuke
The wild and boisterous Inosuke is one of the main characters of Demon Slayer, accompanying Tanjiro on his journey. Ever since his introduction, he has been a rough and beast-like individual, revealed to have been raised by boars.
Due to this, many fans believed there were no further layers to Inosuke, and that he was merely an energetic person. However, during his battle against Doma in the Infinity Castle Arc, the truth was revealed. The demon expressed how Inosuke’s mother, Kotoha, had run from an abusive household with her baby, taking refuge in Doma’s cult.
While initially happy, she soon discovered how Doma ate his worshippers. In a panic, she ran away with Inosuke, being fiercely chased by the demon. To ensure her son survived, she dropped him from a cliff for him to be discovered and raised by boars. Unfortunately, Kotoha faced a tragic end at the hands of Doma.
This backstory came out of nowhere, shocking both fans and Inosuke. It added intensity to the final battle while letting us appreciate his growth into a dependable fighter even more.
7) Mitsuri
In the world of Demon Slayer, a backstory riddled with tragedy and bloodshed is not uncommon. However, Mitsuri’s past comes as a more refreshing and relatable tale. As a child, the Love Hashira was a bundle of joy who was loved by her parents.
However, her appetite and strength far surpassed others. Due to this, once Mitsuri grew up, she faced an inferiority complex due to how she stood out. Facing rejection from potential marriage partners, she hid her true personality and even colored her hair.
Thankfully, soon after this, she ran into Kagaya Ubayashiki. The leader of the Demon Slayer Corps convinced her to take pride in her uniqueness while using her strength for good. This helped Mitsuri regain her self-confidence while making her kind-hearted nature prevail.
6) Gyomei
The strongest Hashira, Gyomei, has been a fascinating figure ever since his first appearance. Despite his blindness, he has risen to the top through sheer resilience and strength. Regrettably, the circumstances surrounding Gyomei’s growth are heartbreaking.
Having lost his family immediately after birth, Gyomei lived as an orphan with other children in a rundown temple. He took responsibility for raising those around him, living a poor but happy life. This changed when one of the orphans was threatened by a demon and betrayed his friends to save his life.
Hence, the demon attacked Gyomei and the others, killing most of them who were in a panic. When only Gyomei and another girl named Sayo remained, the boy was enraged by his own weakness. Wishing to protect Sayo, he brutally beat down the demon.
Later, when other people came to the site of the incident, they questioned Sayo and misunderstood the traumatized girl. They believed Gyomei was the murderer and captured him for execution. Kagaya Ubayashiki intervened in the nick of time, saving and mentoring the future Stone Hashira. This backstory, though sad, helps give us insight into Gyomei’s unwavering relentlessness. He is driven by his desire to protect others, even at the cost of his life.
5) Rui
The Lower Rank Five Demon Rui may not be as prominent as the others on this list, but his backstory is one of the most painful moments in Demon Slayer. While Rui was born in a loving and caring home, he was a child plagued by sickness.
Wishing to live normally, he was approached by Muzan and accepted being turned into a demon. The young boy did not realize the consequences of his actions, as he was soon forced into killing humans for sustenance.
His parents, who witnessed the scene, were shocked. Later, the boy’s father attempted to kill him, while his mother was nearby. Rui immediately retaliated by fatally harming them. Though initially believing his parents did not care about him, he was speechless when his dying mother apologized for not giving him a healthy body.
The boy then recalled how his father had planned on killing Rui and then both he and his mother would take their own lives to atone. This immensely distressed Rui, as he knew his parents loved him too much to let him live as a monster. However, to prevent his mental breakdown, he accepted serving Muzan, convincing himself that it was not his fault.
This scene was the first glimpse showing us the complex pasts of demons. It added a layer of sympathy for a menacing character, displaying how he was a victim of circumstance rather than pure evil.
4) Sanemi
Sanemi might be a heroic Hashira, but he was hated for a long time due to his treatment of Tanjiro, Nezuko, and brother Genya. However, his past as a child helped us understand why he was so intense.
Living as a family of seven siblings and their parents, Sanemi’s household was troubled by an abusive father. After his untimely death, Sanemi and Genya took it upon themselves to support their family. Unfortunately, their life came crashing down when their mother turned into a demon and killed most of their siblings.
When she attempted to kill Genya, Sanemi intervened and killed her. Genya, who was shocked, accused Sanemi of murdering their mother. This caused a rift between the brothers, as Sanemi soon isolated himself. Nevertheless, he continued loving Genya, though his personality hardened through several more losses he faced as a Demon Slayer.
3) Daki and Gyutaro
The demon siblings Daki and Gyutaro were one of the most memorable additions to the Entertainment District Arc, and their backstories played a huge role in this. Born into extreme poverty, Gyutaro suffered a life of constant abuse at the hands of his family.
His only shining light was his sister Ume (later known as Daki), who was admired for her beauty. The siblings found comfort in each other, but their lives were overturned when Daki was burned nearly to death by a vengeful samurai. The same samurai harmed Gyutaro too, though the brother retaliated quickly by killing him.
Despite his own injuries, Gyutaro was desperate to save his sister. While he sought help, the world was too cruel to assist them. Left with nothing but crushing guilt, he was approached by Doma, a demon. With the offer of saving himself and Daki by turning into demons, Gyutaro had no choice but to accept.
This backstory depicted how the siblings’ cruel situation forced them into the lives of demons. They continued supporting each other to the very end, giving a bittersweet parting to the “villains”.
2) Kokushibo
As the Upper Rank One Demon, Kokushibo has drawn the intrigue of fans ever since his first appearance. His fearsome design and ambiguous motivations made viewers wish to learn more about him. Much like the other demons, Demon Slayer finally revealed his past in the Infinity Castle Arc.
This spoke of how Kokushibo was the older twin of Yoriichi, the strongest Demon Slayer in history. Despite his best efforts to grow stronger, he was constantly outshined by Yoriichi’s talent. His younger brother’s seeming nonchalance only annoyed Kokushibo more, as he eventually fell to his envy and became a demon serving Muzan.
However, even after gaining immortality, Kokushibo failed to surpass his brother. When he ran into an aged Yoriichi several years later, the two expressed their disappointment in each other’s forms. As they fought, Kokushibo was stunned that his opponent was still stronger than him. Yoriichi landed a near-fatal blow to Kokushibo, before dying of old age.
This left a permanent scar on Kokushibo, as he couldn’t overtake his brother till the end. It served as the core of his character arc, where he struggled to balance his regret over abandoning his humanity and spirit as a warrior.
1) Akaza
Among the plethora of well-written backstories in Demon Slayer, the majority of fans agree that Akaza’s is the best and most heart-wrenching. During his battle against Tanjiro and Giyu, we got to experience his life as a human, filled with poverty and misery as a boy named Hakuji.
However, a kind martial artist named Keizo saved him and took him in, asking him to care for his daughter, Koyuki, while also training him in the Soryu style of martial arts. Just when Hakuji’s life seemed to be falling into place and he was set to marry Koyuki, tragedy struck.
Members of a rival dojo poisoned his loved ones, resulting in their deaths. Consumed by grief and rage, Hakuji brutally killed all his enemies, left with nothing to live for. He was scouted by Muzan at this point and convinced to become a demon, taking the name Akaza.
Akaza’s backstory gives us a perfect understanding of his character. It is directly tied to his eventual defeat in the series while leaving a long-lasting impact on our minds.
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