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The Demon Slayer series has plenty of powerful women who are incredibly skilled on the battlefield. In fact, some of the most important characters in the series are women, and the concluding events in the manga will speak volumes about this.
However, some parts of the animanga community fail to understand their importance and often resort to viewing them as elements contributing to “fan service." This is a poor outlook since they fail to understand the true purpose of the characters in the first place.
One character that has often been viewed as fan service is none other than Mitsuri Kanroji. Despite being a Love Hashira, some fans often view her as fan service, which is quite disrespectful to the character.
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Disclaimer: This article could contain spoilers from the Demon Slayer manga chapters.
Demon Slayer: Why Mitsuri Kanroji shouldn’t be reduced to just fan service
Mitsuri Kanroji is the Love Hashira who is known for her superhuman strength. Her raw strength can only be rivaled by the likes of Gyomei among the Hashira. Furthermore, she was Kyojuro Rengoku’s Tsukugo. She was primed to take on some of the toughest demons by the Flame Hashira, known for his vigor, unwavering sense of justice, and ability to impart knowledge to other demon hunters.
This impressive list is further enhanced by her feats in the anime and manga series. She played a crucial role in defeating the Upper Moon 4 demon, Hantengu. She took on the strongest avatar of the demon and also unlocked the Demon Slayer Mark, something only a handful of people can do. She also played her part in the fight against Kibutsuji Muzan towards the end of the series.
It’s clearer that this character is not a tool for fan service since she has an extremely active role in the overall story. Furthermore, there are plenty of important themes that are explored through her character. Before she became a demon hunter, all she wanted was a loving husband. But, her pink-colored hair and her eating habits weren’t appreciated by suitors. She changed her appearance and starved herself, hoping that she would appeal to a suitor.
However, she embraced her strength, and her appearance, and used her powers to help people in need. As it was stated by Kagaya Ubuyashiki, her strength was a sign of God’s blessing. Her character teaches an important lesson - embrace your uniqueness and use your strength for the greater good. Standing out can be quite unsettling, but it can also be a source of strength. It is quite important to accept oneself and at the same time, work hard towards their goals.
She is also a character who is an embodiment of perseverance. She worked exceptionally hard and attained the title of Hashira. The icing on the cake was that she found someone who loved her dearly for the way she was. These are important lessons that Mitsuri teaches the viewers, making her far more complex a character than just fan service.
Stay tuned for more anime and manga news as 2024 progresses.
Related Links:
- 4 reasons Demon Slayer Infinity Castle arc should be a film trilogy (& 4 reasons it may be a mistake)
- Demon Slayer's story would've been much shorter if only it was set two decades later
- Demon Slayer fans shouldn't expect any realism at all, and Mitsuri's character design proves it
