Why Tanjiro wasn't born with a curse mark in Demon Slayer, explored

Tanjiro Kamado is the protagonist of the Demon Slayer animanga series, who has managed to captivate millions of people around the world. He is a character that fans unanimously love, and there are very complaints against him. Not only is he loveable, but he is also very important to the plot as well.

His contribution to the story cannot be overstated. Most shonen titles often use subtle ways to make the protagonist stand out. In this case, Tanjiro’s appearance was unique since he had an odd scar on his forehead.

There were plenty of debates and discussions with respect to this mark. However, the manga clearly stated that the mark on his forehead was due to an accident when he was small. Fans might often wonder, why wasn’t Tanjiro born with the mark, despite being the protagonist of the series. The fresh perspective given to his character by the author could be the reason for the same.

Let’s analyze the character and the story from the lens of the writer.

Disclaimer: This article could contain spoilers from the manga chapters and the writer's opinion.

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Tanjiro’s Demon Slayer Mark and why he wasn’t born with one in the animanga series

The Demon Slayer Mark is one of the crucial elements in the series because of the powers it grants to the demon hunter. The legendary swordsman, Yoriichi Tsukiguni was born with the Mark and he was someone who nearly defeated Muzan all by himself. Most shonen titles often find a way to connect the current generation protagonist to someone legendary back in the day. In this case, we can see a minor resemblance in the appearances when we compare Yoriichi and Tanjiro.

Therefore, it would have been the perfect opportunity to give Tanjiro the Mark since the time of his birth. But that wasn’t the case. Why was Tanjiro not born with the Mark? This is because he is a unique protagonist who will not be killing Muzan all by himself. This is when the themes explored in the anime come into the picture because they stray from the trends followed in popular Shonen titles.

Tanjiro, unlike most Shonen titles, isn’t strong enough to beat all major villains by himself. One of the main themes in this series is teamwork, and this can be seen at every juncture of the story. There isn’t a single Upper Moon demon that Tanjiro beat on his own.

Furthermore, there have been plenty of instances where he was saved in the nick of time by a Hashira. The writer did a brilliant job in giving more importance to the theme of teamwork and not just an individual.

Had the author given him the Mark since his birth, he would have followed Yoriichi’s footsteps defeating all demons by himself. This is a formula that has been used way too many times. Seeing demon hunters fall short and rely on each others’ help makes this series fresh.

The stakes are high and there is a constant sense of danger in the series. This could be the main reason why Tanjiro Kamado was not born with the Mark in the animanga series. If this was the case, it would have trumped the theme of teamwork which is one of the most important leitmotifs in this show.

Stay tuned for more anime and manga news as 2024 progresses.

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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
• Demon Slayer may have foreshadowed Tanjiro's three Breathing Styles with his black nichirin blade