Demon Slayer is one of the most popular currently running shonen anime series, reaching diverse audiences with its inspirational heroes and stunning action. The series was one of the first animes I ever watched, and I was honestly not sure if I liked it or not just based on the first few episodes. However, as I got deeper into the anime, I really began to appreciate it because of a special quality I did not see in most other shonens.

Shonen series are, for the most part, focused on action and fight scenes, and this is still the core of Demon Slayer’s premise too. The story follows Tanjiro Kamado, a young aspiring demon slayer who hopes to avenge his family’s deaths and turn his younger sister back human again after a vicious demon attack ripped his life apart.

As can be imagined, the series is packed with beautifully animated but intense battles between humans and demons. I grew to enjoy these sequences, but the story can get incredibly dark and horrifying, as it is filled with murders and insurmountable grief.

Demon Slayer’s Clever Use of Humor Differentiates It From Other Shonens

These Brief Respites From the Intense Action Improved My Experience as a Viewer

Despite all the heavy and dark content, one aspect of Demon Slayer stood out to me and set the series apart from all other shonen I had watched previously. This quality is quite simple, but important: humor. To me, Demon Slayer’s humor saves the series, lightening up the overall tone of the show and improving the viewing experience tremendously. Some of the most gruesome and emotionally devastating scenes in anime occur in Demon Slayer, but I think what keeps it from being too depressing overall is the excellent balance the series has struck between serious and funny moments.

Demon Slayer is a perfect model for how an anime can effectively blend hilarious moments with those that are more intense and emotional without an excessive amount of either. I gravitate more towards Demon Slayer for this reason. My all-time favorite series is another shonen (but people often consider it a seinen, as it’s targeted at more mature audiences): Attack on Titan. However, that series is undeniably devastating and, although one of the best-written stories of all time in my opinion, certainly does not spark chuckles or smiles with its bloody, depressing narrative. This is what differentiates Demon Slayer, every running joke or silly gag provides a brief respite from the extreme action.

The Blend of Humor and Dark Moments in Demon Slayer Works Phenomenally Well

Characters Like Zenitsu and Inosuke Represent Bold Fighters, but Also Crucial Comedic Relief

Demon Slayer is filled with truly emotional and depressing scenes that tug at viewers’ heartstrings. Some of these circumstances include Flame Hashira Rengoku’s heartbreaking sacrifice, the murder of Tanjiro’s entire family, Nezuko’s transformation into a demon, and characters like Giyu and Muichiro who possess tragic backstories. Fights also abound in the series, which makes sense because the story is quite literally centered around brave fighters taking on demons and slaying them. For this reason, I went into the series expecting just another run-of-the-mill action shonen, but discovered the series actually contained hysterical scenes amid all the more saddening and violent ones.

Shockingly, the series’ running jokes and humorous interactions with characters like Zenitsu and Inosuke keep it pretty upbeat despite the dark premise. One of the first times I remember ever laughing out loud watching an anime series was during Demon Slayer, when Inosuke was unable to pronounce Tanjiro’s name the right way despite constant corrections from Tanjiro, producing many silly and laughably incorrect versions of the main character’s pretty straightforward name. The introduction of Zenitsu and Inosuke to the series added a large chunk of the humor, as both of these characters, apart from being strong fighters, fit the comedic relief role too.

Demon Slayer’s Jokes and Running Gags Flow Seamlessly Into the Story

The Series’ Humor Isn’t Just Funny, It’s Crucial for Character Development

The banter between Zenitsu, Inosuke, and Tanjiro is always refreshingly hilarious. For me, seeing this group of close friends argue, joke, and interact is a welcome lull in the action. While other shonen series are equally amazing in plot and premise, they can get very upsetting to watch with no breaks from all the violence and death. Even other shonens that do occasionally integrate humor, like Jujutsu Kaisen, do not rely on funny moments as frequently as Demon Slayer seems to. However, these jokes never feel forced or awkwardly written into the narrative, they always come at the right time.

Another positive aspect of Demon Slayer’s humor is that it makes the series more accessible to a wider audience, including children, people who don’t enjoy strictly serious series, and those new to the action shonen genre who are just getting accustomed. I have always been someone who primarily enjoys more optimistic shows, and although there are darker themes in Demon Slayer, the lighter moments brighten up the show for me. Humorous interactions between characters also do wonders for character development, helping viewers get more attached to these heroes and understand their bonds with one another through their casual, lighthearted conversations.

Demon Slayer Is Very Intentionally Written, With Jokes That Contribute to the Story

Demon Slayer Is Beautifully Versatile, Sparking Laughter One Moment and Tears the Next

Jokes like Zenitsu’s desperation to find a wife and outbursts of terror and Inosuke crashing through walls are not just one-off jokes with no purpose, they help make up these characters’ unique personalities and give insight into who they are. In Zenitsu’s case they add realism to the character, making it easier to relate to him. That is what I love about Demon Slayer. Everything is very intentional down to the simplest joke and even moments that might seem mundane develop the characters further and add necessary charm and laughter to what can be a pretty dark story.

I know that when I turn on an episode of Demon Slayer, I may cry, but I will laugh too, and that keeps me coming back, and it’s also one of the key reasons behind the global success of the series.