“Demon Slayer” is a fictional world set in Taisho-era Japan when man-eating demons roamed the land. It follows the story of 13-year-old Tanjiro Kamado, who returns home one morning to find his entire family murdered except for his sister Nezuko, who has been turned into a demon.
The anime is about Tanjuro’s determination to avenge his family’s deaths and find a cure to transform Nezuko into a human. The story follows him as he joins the ranks of the Demon Slayer Organization, which trains fighters to protect humans from roaming demons.
The manga-turned-anime series-turned-movie amassed a huge fan following. Time magazine reports that after the “Demon Slayer” animated movie aired in October 2020 in Japan, it became the country’s highest-grossing film (1) and, a month later, the highest-grossing anime film of all time in the world.
In the spirit of this wildly popular series, we’ve collected the best and funniest “Demon Slayer” memes. These quirky and thought-provoking memes will have you letting out your best demonic laugh as you follow the drama and twists of the demonic underworld. Don’t forget to vote and comment on your favorite meme below!
#1 No One Seems to Be Impressed
Image credits: bigolnumber3
#2 Episode 15
Image credits: rattyhealy102
#3 “When the Breath Techniques Aren't for Everyone”
Image credits: giljson
Why Does “Demon Slayer” Have Lots of Fans?
While the anime exists in the realm of magic and demons, the storylines in the “Demon Slayer” anime series are rooted in the hard-hitting themes of real life. It’s like watching a live-action soap with all the drama of family love, revenge, camaraderie, and resilience.
Jehan Fernando raves about the series in a 2023 feature for Game Rant, saying that the emotional depth and character relationships make the journey of the “Demon Slayer” characters more engaging and relatable (2). Fans latch on to the dramatic storyline and see themselves in the animated characters as they maneuver through their complex emotions.
#4 “If You Can Catch a Breath…”
Image credits: lnsaneJarvis
#5 “What Complicated Mission?”
Image credits: rattyhealy102
Why Do We Empathize with the Demons?
As much as the series portrays demonic drama, “Demon Slayer” attracts fans with its ability to humanize the demonic characters. In a 2022 article on Comic Book Resources, writer Xandalee Joseph explains that Demon Slayer makes it challenging to maintain animosity against the demon characters even though they set out to assassinate the show’s heroes (3).
During battle or after their defeat, fans learn more about the demons, understand who they were as humans, and what led them to their demonic afterlife. This makes the demons — and the show — multidimensional in appeal and engagement.
#6 “Are You Challenging Me?”
Image credits: HellishPassion2021
#7 The Nose Never Lies
Image credits: shadowdrake67
#8 “Mom, That’s Not a Real Thor!”
Image credits: CapinPawhook
“Demon Slayer” Marks are like Real-Life Tattoos
People get tattoos for various reasons, such as marking milestones, adhering to peer pressure, or celebrating overcoming a hardship. In a 2019 feature for Psychology Today, Vinita Mita says that 25% of those who get tattoos choose a symbol with a personal meaning pointing to their marking a significant experience or struggle (4).
The anime review portal Otaku Box explains that tattoos are similar to the marks in “Demon Slayer,” which always appear on a slayer after experiencing life-threatening conditions, usually when a demon attacks (5).
In Slayer Tanjiro’s case, his mark awakened after he was attacked by a demon called Gyutaro. The Demon Slayer “tattoos” are more remarkable because they grant the bearer extra abilities to help them in battle, like increased speed, strength, and agility. Unfortunately, demon marks come with a price, as most mark owners die by age 25.
#9 It’s Called “Water Breathing”
Image credits: Eballer223
#10 Sensory Confusion
Image credits: thinkfilpz
#11 A Dumb Move by Tanjiro
Image credits: Siddhu312
#12 “If Nezuko Was a Demon Slayer”
Image credits: H4xolotl
#13 “What in the Demon Slayer World?!”
Image credits: xynnnnnnn
#14 “Hmmm...”
Image credits: ConanCimmerian
#15 Friend Zone
Image credits: WithThisPenIBeWed
#16 “When 'No' Would Have Been Better”
Image credits: Mario_Kebab357
#17
Image credits: V75TheVoid
#18 Every Demon Has a Backstory
Image credits: Rethegoth
#19 Cute Dragon Slayer
Image credits: Senninriki
#20 The Secret to Tanjiro's Smile: Math Edition
Image credits: _animegate_
#21 Slayer Motivation
Image credits: demonslayer.page
#22 Surrounded by Problems and Anxiety
Image credits: @mysketches15
#23 “Possesive Much?“
Image credits: @NoWonder_Woman
#24 The Demons Are Awake
Image credits: _demon_slayer_meme_
#25 Zenitsu’s Sleep-Fighting Skills
Image credits: Ok_Solid_6820
References
- Kat Moon. “Everything to Know About Demon Slayer: The Manga, TV Series and Record-Breaking Film.” Time, February 24, 2021. | https://time.com/5941594/what-is-demon-slayer-about/
- Jehan Fernando. “How Did The Demon Slayer Anime Become So Popular?” Game Rant, November 15, 2023. | https://gamerant.com/how-did-the-demon-slayer-anime-become-so-popular/#:~:text=It+explores+themes+of+family,the+success+of+the+series.
- Xandalee Joseph. “10 Reasons Why Demon Slayer Is The Best Anime Of All Time.” Comic Book Resources, March 23, 2022. | https://www.cbr.com/reasons-demon-slayer-is-best-anime/
- Vinita Mehta, Ph.D. “Why People Get Tattoos.” Psychology Today, September 3, 2019. | https://www.psychologytoday.com/intl/blog/head-games/201909/why-people-get-tattoos?amp
- Otaku Box. “Fun Facts About Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba.” The Otaku Box, 2023. | https://theotakubox.com/blogs/articles/fun-facts-about-demon-slayer-kimetsu-no-yaiba
