Demon Slayer: What if Muzan Had Never Killed the Kamado Family?

Anime has become a dominant force in global entertainment, offering a varied set of stories that fire up the imagination of millions. From epic battle tales down to heartbreaking moments of sacrifice, anime alone can uniquely mingle fantasy with human emotions. Coming into one of the most loved series in recent years is Demon Slayer, narrating the story of Tanjiro Kamado and his fight against demons.

One turning point in the story is the tragic massacre of the Kamado family that gets the tale in motion. What if this event never occurred? What if Muzan never targeted the Kamado family at all? In that case, this would presuppose that the whole action of Demon Slayer would have gone in an absolutely different direction.

No Tragedy, No Demon Slayer

Muzan Would Never Face Yoriichi Reincarnation

If Muzan Kibutsuji had never killed the Kamado family, Tanjiro’s life would have remained peaceful in the mountains. Then, Tanjiro would not have put himself into a journey of revenge and demon-slaying. Tanjiro would be living his life by continuing to sell charcoal to help his family survive in that distant place.

Nezuko would never have been turned into a demon, nor would the tragic chain of events that followed, including Tanjiro’s training under Sakonji Urokodaki. Without the massacre, the very reason for Tanjiro joining the Demon Slayer Corps is gone, and the Kamado family is still complete, living an unpretentious but happy life. This serene scenario, as touching, would have released the world at large to the growing threat that was Muzan and had no determined hero to stop him in his tracks.

Gaining Immortality

Muzan’s Focus Shifts to the Blue Spider Lilies

Were it not for his fateful encounter with the Kamado family, and Muzan had succeeded in finding the Blue Spider Lily, then his goal would have been different. This would make it quite instrumental in Muzan’s search for immortality. This would also insinuate that, with the Blue Spider Lily, Muzan might have honed his demonic powers even further, making him much harder to kill. This would increase the threat to humanity by a long shot, since Muzan’s insatiable hunger to control everything would always rein.

But without Tanjiro being a direct adversary, there could have been other members of the Demon Slayer Corps that needed to rise to this new challenge. Maybe in this version, it was Giyu Tomioka or another Hashira who was to take center stage in the struggle against Muzan’s terror.

Another Plausible Scenario

More Than One Survivor of the Kamado Family

What if more than one of the Kamado family survived the attack of Muzan? The complete opposite storyline would have unfolded if it were possible for Tanjiro, Nezuko, or one of the siblings to survive the killing. A situation including many survivors could finally give Tanjiro more emotional support on his journey into the Demon Slayer world. Most likely, having one more family member alongside him would work with Tanjiro’s determination and motivation, probably giving a whole new perspective on why he fights. For example, Nezuko might not have been the only demon in the family; that would mean others shared her fate. A plot such as that would be fraught with singular complications, like how Tanjiro could possibly protect multiple demon family members from the various attacks by Muzan’s forces.

In contrast to that, the other survivors would have forged new alliances and demon blood art abilities in the process. The Kamado family could have found hidden strengths and various skills passed down through blood relationships. The development would expand the family’s connection with the story; maybe the ones who survived would find that a latent power connected with their bloodline was the one that could have beaten Muzan.

A Different Path to Tanjiro’s Powers

Sun Breathing Passed Down Generations Though Ritual

The powers of Tanjiro could have developed completely differently; it is possible he was still destined to be Yoriichi Reincarnation’s, so one way or another he might still have awakened his demon slayer mark and gained the same powers even if it wasn’t for the tragedy that befell his family. With the rich history behind the Kamado family, in a world where they would not have been harmed, there is the possibility that Tanjiro would still be able to tap into his Sun Breathing techniques under different circumstances. Instead of desperation and loss, Tanjiro might have learned them through family tradition and passed on the ancient knowledge from generation to generation. In that different trajectory, perhaps Tanjiro comes into his powers in a much less traumatic and more considered manner, fashioning a different kind of hero, motivated not by vengeance but by duty.

They could have lived with the Kamado family still alive and learned to utilize breathing techniques related to Sun Breathing, among other powers unique to their bloodlines. They all could have been figures in the war against demons, contributing different things to the table. Together, standing against Muzan, they would have been a massive force, and that would have changed the balance in this war between humans and demons.

Infinite Possibilities In Infinite Castle

The Impact on the Ending

The ending of Demon Slayer may also have been greatly different in the event that Muzan had not killed the Kamado family or if there were several survivors of that family. Much of the drive for Tanjiro to want to defeat Muzan is based on his desire for revenge, stirred up by his love for Nezuko. In this parallel universe, where such personal tragedy did not occur, Tanjiro’s motives might shift-maybe to protect the remaining members of his family or continue some family legacy. The final battle against Muzan might have taken a different form, with the Kamado family playing a more prominent role in the fight. It might still be Tanjiro who could have delivered the finishing blow, but it would have been under completely different influences-family bonds rather than revenge.

Furthermore, the survival of the Kamado family or their gaining of new powers could have brought new dimensions to the series’ ending. Maybe the combined strength of the Kamado family held the secret to how to beat Muzan and thus would have come up with a different final battle, with an even stronger resolution to the story, and maybe some of the Hashira that sacrificed their lives would have been saved, and even Kanao might not have had to suffer so much to protect Tanjiro; there’s a chance Lady Tamayo was saved too.

The Kamado family slaughter was one of the most pivotal moments that really created the premise for Tanjiro’s journey throughout Demon Slayer. Had it never been the case that Muzan killed them, or if multiple members were to survive, then the series would have gone down a path that is extremely different from what exists. The growth that Tanjiro would have experienced, the involvement his family would have with him, and the final fight against Muzan would all change due to these contrary events. While the tragedy molded him into the hero he became, it is something one could argue was interesting—how things might have been different if Kamado’s family were in a place to be able to stand as one and face anything that came from the demon world.

Based on Koyoharu Gotouge’s shonen manga, Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba is an action anime set in Japan during the early 20th century. Seeking revenge for the murder of his family while also looking to save his sister, Tanjiro joins the Demon Slayer Corps as they try to eradicate Demons led by Muzan.

Release Date

April 6, 2019

Main Genre

Animation

Seasons

4

Studio

ufotable

Japanese Title

Kimetsu no Yaiba

Based On

Manga

Creator

Koyoharu Gotoge

Number of Episodes

63

Network

Adult Swim

MyAnimeList Score

8.26 (Hashira Training Arc)

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