Shonen Anime Scenes That Went Too Far – Looper

If any genre knows how to portray a brutal sacrifice, it’s anime. “Demon Slayer” is a great example of this as Tanjiro makes some questionable moves between Seasons 1 and 2. With Season 1 leaving viewers with a tease of just how far the demon Enmu will go, Tanjiro is caught in its spell of putting people to sleep before eating them. In his dreams, viewers see Tanjiro beheading himself with a sword in a snow-covered forest in order to try and wake up. Repeating the process many times leads to him almost mistaking reality for dreams, nearly killing himself before Season 2 properly kicks off.

The act of awakening by suicide is a shrewd move on Tanjiro’s behalf, but the process isn’t exactly enticing to watch. Tanjiro faces away from the screen as he brings his sword to his neck, with the inevitable blood spurt effectively contrasting with the forest’s white background. It’s enough to make your throat close up and stomach feel queasy, with the added teariness of potentially losing his friends and family adding up to a beautiful mess. As well as visually, the scene provides a mess in a different sense, highlighting a character flaw in Tanjiro that doesn’t bode well for fighting stronger demons in Season 2.

If you or anyone you know is having suicidal thoughts, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline by dialing 988 or by calling 1-800-273-TALK (8255)​.