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The dark and depressing themes of Koyoharu Gotouge’sDemon Slayerfeature only one ray of light that shines brighter than anything else in the story. And this ray of light is the protagonist of the series, Kamado Tanjiro. Despite being the victim of some of the most tragic moments of the series, Tanjiro is always cheerful and brings positivity to the entire series.
If it wasn’t for him, the series would have turned into a horror show and probably wouldn’t have been popular among fans. But the happy and excited Tanjiro was not always like this. The original design of Tanjiro by the manga creator was parallel to the dark theme of the series. TheDemon Slayerprotagonist had a grim presence that was totally opposite of his current personality.
A fan account shared the original design of Tanjiro on X(Formerly Twitter), and theDemon Slayerfans were not ready for it. Their reaction to Tanjiro’s original design proves that if Koyoharu had gone with the original design, the series could have failed.
The Dark Side of Kamado Tanjiro
@the16thhokagae shared the original design of Tanjiro, and it is entirely different from what Tanjiro looks like today.
Tanjiro’s OG design in the manga looks like he’d say ‘See you in hell’ with the most disgusted look on his face before striking the final blow without an ounce of pity on the demon☠️pic.twitter.com/ZoPDcfQWRI
— Shadow👑🦁 (@the16thhokagae)July 14, 2025
The original design features a character who has scars all over his face and a different hairstyle. Even the attire that he wears in the series is completely different from what is seen in the original design.
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The main change is in the expressions of the character. In the anime and manga series, Tanjiro feels hopeful and positive, no matter what kind of problem he is going through. He even gets motivated by the mishaps that happen to him. Besides fighting, he is generally happy, which boosts the morale of his team.
However, the original design of Tanjiro looks grim and scary. His expression feels like he is on his way to taking revenge on the Demons instead of saving his sister Nezuko. Therefore, in a way, it is a good thing thatKoyoharu Gotougedid not proceed with his original decision about Tanjiro.
Fans Are Terrified of Tanjiro’s Original Design
There is a high possibility that Tanjiro’s original design could have changed the entire narrative of the series. It would have followed a more shady theme, and the narrative would have been much more terrifying than it already is.
Even the fans ofDemon Slayerare not too excited to see Tanjiro’s initial outline. Many believed that this would not havebeen good for the series.
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Some fans even expressed relief that the manga creator did not go with his original design and changed it into a much happier and more positive character.
I’m happy they didn’t go with this💀
— PAIN.💮 (@bankaichopper)June 06, 2025
Am I the only one that prefers current tanjiro
— YAMI 👑 (@itsxyami)July 08, 2025
Glad they changed it, looks like a sasuke clone
— ant (@wavey_weaboo)June 04, 2025
he look like a demon in human form😂
— Kado🐉 (@KadoDerozan)August 24, 2025
https://twitter.com/dekusiins/status/1658517826741600273
Tanjiro’s current design is the best-suited design for him as he is highly motivated and understands the power of positivity even in the face of horror and in no way it levels down his motivation to save the world and his sister from the clutches of Demons.
You can watchDemon Slayeron Crunchyroll.
Tarun Kohli
Senior Writer
Articles Published :2959
Tarun Kohli is the Senior Anime Writer at FandomWire, with over 2,900 published articles. He currently specializes in critiquing One Piece and other Shonen anime. A passionate fan of the genre, his love for thoughtful analysis reflects his genuine appreciation for the art of anime. His deep understanding of anime culture has earned recognition from industry figures such as Adi Shankar and the creators of Blood of Zeus.
