7 Most Unlikable Demon Slayer Characters Fans Can’t Stand

For years, Demon Slayer has been incredibly popular in the anime world, and it’s hard to overstate just how much. In 2020, the franchise earned almost $9 billion and attracted a lot of new fans to both manga and anime, especially after becoming available in Western countries. The series is known for its many distinct and well-designed characters – heroes and villains alike – and fans frequently share their strong opinions about who they like best, whether it’s a powerful Hashira or a compelling villain, all over social media.

The saying goes that one person’s trash is another’s treasure, but with anime characters, it’s often the reverse. Fans of Demon Slayer frequently disagree about which characters are the most unlikeable, though a few names consistently come up. While opinions vary, many dedicated viewers and readers of the series tend to strongly dislike these seven characters, often due to their actions, personality, or even just how they look.

Kaigaku

Kaigaku used to be a Demon Slayer and was once Zenitsu’s teacher under the Thunder Hashira, Jigoro. He’s a stark reminder that even those who start strong can fall. During a mission, he met the powerful demon Kokushibo and, instead of fighting, chose to surrender to save himself. While understandable, fans dislike him because his actions stemmed from selfishness. He wasn’t interested in helping others or fighting demons—he only cared about gaining power and finding a comfortable place to live.

Kaigaku appears arrogant and self-assured, but underneath, he’s actually a coward. Fans quickly disliked him because he’s selfish and judges others harshly. He lacks empathy and believes anyone who disagrees with him is wrong. While his fight against Zenitsu in Infinity Castle is exciting, Kaigaku doesn’t have many likable qualities overall.

Zenitsu Agatsuma

Zenitsu has been a struggling character throughout the series. As a Demon Slayer and Tanjiro’s friend, he fights using Thunder Breathing, resulting in some fantastic battles in both the anime and manga. Despite often being fearful, he’s surprisingly resourceful and eventually becomes a reliable ally both in and out of combat. Because he’s a central character, he appears frequently, which has unfortunately highlighted some of his weaknesses.

While Zenitsu has some appealing qualities, his personality has drawn a lot of criticism from fans of Demon Slayer. Many find his constant complaining irritating, and his obsession with Nezuko and tendency to pursue women aren’t well-received. Early on, his fearfulness and negativity also slowed down the pace of some episodes. Although he did improve during the Infinity Castle arc, he may need to develop even more to become a more popular character.

Gyokko

Some characters are so well-designed they can genuinely scare audiences, and Gyokko, introduced in the third season of Demon Slayer, did just that for many fans. As one of the Twelve Kizuki, his strange body and disturbing ability to heal quickly made a strong first impression. While he wasn’t a major player in the story and wasn’t particularly powerful, his personality struck many viewers as truly villainous, leading them to consider him one of the most evil demons in the series.

Honestly, Gyokko is just… disturbing. He’s totally obsessed with pleasing Muzan, and doesn’t even blink at hurting anyone. He’s incredibly arrogant and thinks way too highly of himself, but his idea of ‘beauty’ is just twisted and horrifying. It started way back when he was human – he actually thought his dead parents looked beautiful, which led him down this awful path of killing animals and turning them into… art. Eventually, he even murdered a child and kept the body in a vase! Seriously, the guy is just gross, and I totally get why so many Demon Slayer fans want nothing to do with him. He’s genuinely unsettling.

Shinjuro Rengoku

Kyojuro Rengoku is a fan favorite in Demon Slayer, but his father, Shinjuro, isn’t as well-liked. Unlike his brave and kind son, Shinjuro struggles with insecurity and has a quick temper. He’s also an alcoholic who mistreats his son, and doesn’t appreciate Kyojuro’s heroism until Tanjiro intervenes. Once a dedicated member of the Demon Slayer Corps, Shinjuro eventually becomes a broken and disheartened man.

Many fans dislike Shinjuro because of his harsh personality, and his shortcomings are highlighted when contrasted with his son. Kyojuro is known for being incredibly cheerful, honorable in combat, and dedicated to protecting others, even at great personal risk. It was especially touching for viewers to see Kyojuro’s continued respect for his father, despite the pain Shinjuro had inflicted.

Doma

Doma is a deceptively charming and dangerous villain. As the leader of the Eternal Paradise Faith – a position he’s held since his human days – he’s built a devoted following based on a completely fabricated personality. While appearing friendly, enthusiastic, and helpful, Doma is actually a psychopath who believes he’s mercifully ending the suffering of his followers by consuming them. He enjoys inflicting pain, even on himself, making him a threat in any situation.

Doma, a powerful member of the Twelve Kizuki, is a cold and calculating strategist who fights with sharp fans. He can create ice and mist to make battles more chaotic and dangerous. He’s responsible for several key murders throughout the series, and when his crimes were revealed, viewers felt even stronger hatred and revulsion towards him.

Sanemi Shinazugawa

Okay, so Sanemi, Genya’s brother and a super powerful Hashira, really rubbed a lot of fans the wrong way when he first met Nezuko. He was instantly suspicious and even tried to provoke her, offering his own blood to see if she’d lose control – it was a really intense moment! Honestly, he’s just… abrasive. He’s incredibly rude to pretty much everyone he meets. But after learning more about his backstory, you start to understand why. He’s lost so many people he cared about, and it’s made him build up walls and push others away. It doesn’t excuse his behavior, but it definitely makes him a more tragic, if still frustrating, character.

Sanemi already had many detractors due to his temper and difficulty interacting with others, but his harsh treatment of his brother has drawn even more criticism from fans. Though he clearly cares for Genya, this isn’t apparent at first, as Sanemi is initially very cold and distant towards him when they both join the Demon Slayer Corps. Ultimately, his negative attitude is his biggest weakness.

Muzan Kibutsuji

Okay, I’ll admit, Muzan’s design is really cool – it’s honestly the only thing I can appreciate about him! Seriously, the guy is just pure evil. People jokingly call him ‘Demon Michael Jackson’ because of how he looks, but underneath that is a completely heartless and terrifying villain, even to his own demons! It’s tragic, actually – he became a demon almost a thousand years ago as part of a desperate attempt to cure a deadly illness. But all that did was fuel his obsession with achieving true immortality, and he’ll crush anyone who stands in his way. He’s unbelievably ruthless and intimidating, and frankly, he doesn’t see any worth in anyone except himself.

Viewers strongly dislike Muzan for many reasons, going beyond just his role as the main villain. Whether it’s his extreme self-absorption, enjoyment of cruelty, deceptive behavior, or simply his overall heartlessness, it’s difficult to feel any sympathy for him.

2026-01-10 00:35