Tanjiro Is Anime’s Modern Version of Goku

Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle Part 1 has completely crushed the global box office, outperforming some of the year’s biggest Hollywood blockbusters while breaking longstanding anime records. The entire worldwide anime community seemingly cannot stop discussing Demon Slayer and its influence on the industry and other popular anime and manga titles.

In terms of popularity and monetary success, few other anime series are able to rival what Demon Slayer has accomplished over only a few short years, putting it in the company of other legendary names in the scene, like Dragon Ball and One Piece.

When diving into Demon Slayer, however, it quickly becomes apparent that the series has more in common with those titles than simple overwhelming success, and it all starts with the protagonist. Tanjiro, as a character, isn’t anything all that special, but that’s exactly what puts him in a tier with legendary heroes like Goku.

Tanjiro Is the Modern Goku

Demon Slayer’s Protagonist Shares More in Common With the Anime Heroes of Old

The current state of shōnen anime fandom is defined partly by fans comparing their favorite shows and characters, arguing over which is better written or who is most powerful. In a sense, not much has changed over the years, despite the ever evolving state of the anime industry and culture.

When it comes to discussions about complex characters, Tanjiro fans aren’t likely to win many arguments. He’s a rather standard, naturally good, totally unproblematic protagonist who has a knack for greatly influencing others while being a ray of sunshine. He doesn’t have the sort of layers that have made a character like Chainsaw Man‘s Denji so popular.

However, that isn’t a bad thing in the slightest. Tanjiro shares more in common with the legendary anime heroes of old, like Dragon Ball‘s Goku, than he does today’s more popular nuanced protagonists. Goku, the blueprint of battle shōnen’s main characters for years, is similarly lighthearted, naturally good, and a hard worker.

Rather than coming off outdated or shallow, Demon Slayer‘s success and Tanjiro’s popularity is proof that the old tried and true shōnen anime tropes still work just as well today as they did decades ago. He doesn’t have the sort of depth many of his peers share, but it’s arguable that Tanjiro is better off that way, and Infinity Castle‘s historic run would back that notion up.

Demon Slayer’s Success May Never Be Replicated

The Smash-Hit Shōnen’s Recent Box Office Performance Is Unprecedented

Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle Part 1 has grossed an estimated $650 million at the global box office, surpassing the previous record also held by Demon Slayer, with the incredibly popular and successful 2020 film, Mugen Train.

The mainstream appeal of the series, combined with the general anime fan’s interest in what the Kamado siblings will get up to next, has allowed Demon Slayer to reach unprecedented levels of success, and the naturally good, kindhearted Tanjiro is at the center of all of it.

If anime and manga creators wish to match the performance of Demon Slayer at the box office, they may be better off sticking to the classic tropes that allowed heroes such as Goku, Luffy, and now Tanjiro, to become such titans in the industry.