Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba is definitely a vibe, with a compelling storyline, Ufotable’s insane animation, and characters you will not forget. If you are invested in Tanjiro Kamado’s mission to save his demon sister Nezuko, then the Hashira from the elite Demon Slayer Corps are a big reason for that.

But when we first meet the Hashira, they aren’t exactly welcoming and warm. So what gives? It is because they aren’t those cliche anime mentors who are all wise and flawless.

Demon Slayer stans can’t stop discussing how Koyoharu Gotouge made these mentors unique by making them a little unlikable at first, showing their messy quirks. And it all makes them real, human characters that it is impossible not to root for.

Hashira’s first impressions? Not the best

The thing is, when the Hashira came on the scene in Episode 22, they’re not exactly winning us over. They all seemed a bit rude and made it tough for Tanjiro and Nezuko when they first met. Sanemi Shinazugawa even stabs Nezuko to prove she’s a demon.

Related: ‘Demon Slayer’s List of Plot Holes Increases When You Realise Just How Many Characters Died for Nothing

Obanai Iguro takes a shot at Tanjiro, and Shinobu Kocho even has this snarky smirk, to the point that we side-eye her. It is really interesting how Gotouge left no stone unturned in making these characters seem cold or just straight-up mean.

What were your first impressions of the Hashiras? byu/GopBoss29 inKimetsuNoYaiba

A lot of Demon Slayer fans said they didn’t really feel like mentors until later episodes. And that’s the idea! Certainly, some wise, perfect anime mentors exist in other anime series, but these Hashira are just flawed adults. Giyu is distant, Mitsuri is a bit of a mess emotionally, and Sanemi is just aggressive.

They all feel like you’re meeting real people with real issues. This got the audience invested and curious to see what happens to these characters hiding behind the attitude, and ultimately sets them up to really flourish in the Hashira Training Arc.

Making them human makes a difference

Rengoku from Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – The Movie: Mugen Train [Credit: Ufotable]

Hashira’s flaws develop into something rich. The Hashira Training Arc and the later Infinity Castle events in the series peel back their characters’ layers. Iguro’s cold vibe hides petty jealousy related to Tanjiro and Mitsuri’s friendship.

Related: The Scene That Got Nearly Deleted From Demon Slayer Would’ve Made Every Tanjiro Fan Riot

Demon Slayer fans can relate, as we are all a little insecure. Gyomei, the stoic giant, has a heartbreaking story relating to the orphanage children he lost, and this definitely shows his other human side.

Comment byu/GopBoss29 from discussion inKimetsuNoYaiba

And even Shinobu, the sassy insect Hashira, is driven by her sister’s death, proving she has a tragic past like every other human. The backstories were dropped throughout training or for dramatic effect in battles, and ultimately added depth that showed the Hashira were not just strong warriors, but rather struggling, flawed people carrying baggage.

While Gotouge didn’t really work around the perfect, wise mentor trope, these Hashira were interesting people who inspired Tanjiro (and us) because their struggles and hearts just felt so real.

Demon Slayer is currently available to stream on Crunchyroll.
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