Tanjiro Was Originally Planned to Have a Missing Arm Like Guts from Berserk
Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba is a highly popular anime that has pitched in rapidly since its release. Based on manga written and illustrated by Koyoharu Gotōge, the story follows a boy who becomes demon slayer after his family is attacked by demons. Along his way to defeat all demons and save humanity, he meets and alliances with other characters, including his demon sister, Nezuko.
People adore Demon Slayer for many reasons, including its amazing animation by Ufotable studio and its spectacular fighting scenes. Additionally, Demon Slayer features a captivating story about human connection and the strength found in fighting for beliefs. The characters are all flawed and complex, making their struggles relatable.
Among Demon Slayer’s diverse characters, because he’s kind and helpful to both humans and demons. But did you know that Tanjiro initially was supposed to be a ruthless killer who was very different from the kind of character he is in the series? He was even planned to have a missing arm, similar to Guts from Berserk.
Demon Slayer Original Concept: Heartless and Armless Tanjiro
According to Anime Senpai, Tatsuhiko Katayama, an editor who worked on Koyoharu Gotouge’s Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba, mentioned in an interview that they originally planned Tanjiro to be a ruthless and merciless killer.
In the initial artwork, Tanjiro had a cold and emotionless expression, and he was missing an arm. This was quite different from the kind-hearted character we see in the actual story.
The editor also mentioned that if they had stuck with the original design, the series might never have been successful. So, he asked the mangaka to transform the seemingly heartless protagonist into someone who would be more appealing to fans. This transformation resulted in the beloved character we know today as Kamado Tanjiro.
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According to Katayama, the original one-shot manga by Gotouge, initially called Kagarigari but later renamed Kisatsu no Nagare, was based on the Japanese concept of swords and demons.
However, it had a plot that was devoid of comedy, had a serious tone, and was very dark, which is why Kisatsu no Nagare didn’t get serialized. This version of the story was much more brutal and focused primarily on revenge.
Despite this, the one-shot manga of Demon Slayer still introduced important characters like Tamayo, Yushiro, Tanjiro, and Kibutsuji Muzan.
The Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba anime is available on Netflix and Crunchyroll.
Source: Anime Senpai
