Demon Slayer’s Most Controversial Character Is Actually Its Most Realistic Hero (2024)

The world of Demon Slayer is not at all an easy one to survive in. Many of the series' Demon Slayers are exceptionally courageous, rarely letting their inner fear show and focusing on the task at hand when slaughtering a demon. Some of the newer heroes, such as the protagonist, Tanjiro Kamado, do have moments of worry and anxiety when faced with a bloodthirsty opponent, but no character in the show is more outwardly afraid than Zenitsu Agatsuma.

For those who go out after dark, man-eating demons pose a serious risk, since these cruel villains lurk around every corner and prey on humans. Thankfully, a group of righteous defenders of humanity exists to shield the innocent from this impending threat. These brave heroes are aptly titled Demon Slayers.

One of the most prominent components of Zenitsu's personality is his sheer terror, most present when a demon appears before him and causes him to instantly erupt into thundering screams of dread and disbelief.

Zenitsu Faces Criticism for His Nervous Nature, But His Behavior Is Quite Realistic

Demons are Terrifying and Threatening, Making Zenitsu's Reactions Seem Relatable to Most People

Many people criticize Zenitsu for his anxious outbursts and terrified exclamations when he encounters demons. These qualities of his personality definitely annoy some Demon Slayer fans, but in reality, anyone who was pushed into such a scary situation would likely react in a similar fearful manner. Most of the popular shonen anime heroes out there seem infallibly bold and often act virtually fearless, so it is somewhat refreshing to see a character who is visibly frightened but continues to fight bravely anyway. Time and time again, Zenitsu pushes past his fear to become a true hero and protector of those in danger.

Zenitsu is definitely a capable and talented demon slayer, so his fear does not stem from his lack of ability or competence. Although he was inexperienced at the beginning of his journey, he has grown into a mighty hero with an excellent grasp on his own unique Breathing Style titled Thunder Breathing. This technique allows him to blast enemies with bolts of lightning, making it very threatening to those who oppose Zenitsu. One might expect someone with such an undeniably cool and useful skill to be more self-assured and confident, but this is not the case with Zenitsu at all.

Zenitsu's Fear Is Actually a Secret Strength That Unlocks His Thunder Breathing Powers

He Is Uniquely Capable of Defeating Enemies While Sleeping, Making His Terror Useful

See Also

Demon Slayer: Every Fight We’ve Seen in the Harisha Training Arc (So Far)Top Best Moments of Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba - The Movie Mugen Train - OtakuKart10 Biggest Parallels Between Demon Slayer's Tanjiro Kamado & His VillainsY/N one shots and Smut - Chapter 33 - Lirix

Unfortunately, Zenitsu does not see his own value and feels he hinders everyone around him, despite holding his own in battle in quite a few instances. In order to fight, he becomes knocked unconscious by his own distress, which causes his amazing powers to take over and defend him. The way he fights demons in his sleep seems to be a strange form of sleepwalking. This phenomenon occurred during his one on one battles with both the Spider Demon Son and the Tongue Demon, allowing him to achieve victory in both of those tumultuous battles, even though he was sound asleep the entire time.

Zenitsu is often heavily judged by fans and characters in the series alike for his terror-ridden demeanor and noisy bouts of dismay, but as much as these characteristics hold him back in some ways, they improve his fighting skills too. Zenitsu's fright is a help, not a hindrance in battle, because his sleeping state seems to heighten his inherent abilities and unlock a new side of the hero. It is also difficult to fault Zenitsu for being concerned at the very real threat demons pose to humans, because most rational people would have similar thoughts and worries as he does.

As the Series Progresses, Zenitsu Does Become More Brave

Zenitsu Not Letting His Terror Stop Him Is Truly Motivating

One could easily lose their life or suffer grave physical injuries in a fight with one of the petrifying creatures, so his fears are definitely not unfounded. Although Zenitsu is indeed panicked, he continues to face demons and never quits his job, even though he could at any time if he chose to. His remarkable persistence in the face of unending horror is inspirational, proving that he is a lot more brave than he is given credit for. Despite his terror, Zenitsu also wins most of the battles he participates in thanks to his skills with a Nichirin sword and Thunder Breathing.

As the series progresses, he gains more self-assurance and begins to stand up for both innocent bystanders and beloved friends more fervently. His strength is on full display during the battle with Kaigaku in the Infinity Fortress arc, when he really begins to display his full potential as a swordsman and demon slayer. At this point in Demon Slayer, he is seeking revenge for his beloved master's death at Kaigaku's hands, making him much more stoic and persistent in his demon slaying. He seems to have inspiringly overcome his frightened outlook and grown into the hero he was meant to be.

Zenitsu's Perseverance Is an Incredible Lesson, Causing Him to Shine as a Demon Slayer

Zenitsu Experience Realistic Fear But Never Stops Fighting

Considering his true talent as a demon slayer and bold displays of courageousness despite his distress, Zenitsu is one of the most relatable and realistic heroes in the entire series. It is easy to judge the character for his oftentimes comedic and overdramatic outbursts, but the source of his fears makes perfect sense. His reactions are more on par with how any average person would respond, making it easy to feel sympathy and understanding for him. Zenitsu's overall character arc in Demon Slayer is incredibly motivational because, although he is afraid, he perseveres anyway and refuses to give up.

Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba

TV-MA

Animation

Action

Adventure

Cast

Natsuki Hanae , Zach Aguilar , Abby Trott , Akari Kitō , Yosh*tsugu Matsuoka

Release Date

January 22, 2021

Seasons

4

Main Genre

Animation