Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba - The Movie: Infinity Castle (2025)

​“Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba - The Movie: Infinity Castle” stars Natsuki Hanae, Akari Kito, Hiro Shimono, Yoshitsugu Matsuoka, Reina Ueda, and Nobuhiko Okamoto.  Released in Japan on July 18, 2025, followed by a United States release on September 12, 2025, the film has Tanjiro and the Hashira clan battling Muzan's demon army in the Infinity Castle.

The film was directed by Haruo Sotozaki, known for directing “Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba” and its 2020 film “Mugen Train”.  Sotozaki is also known for directing anime shows like “Ninja Nonsense”, “Tales of Symphonia: The Animation”, and “Tales of Zestiria the X”.  It is the fourth film adaptation of the manga series of the same name by Koyoharu Gotouge.  Since its launch in 2016, “Demon Slayer” has captivated manga enthusiasts with its gripping journey involving a teenager joining a team of demon-killing samurai to protect Taisho-era Japan and save his cursed sister.  Through its captivating storyline, distinctive artwork, and exhilarating action sequences, it has slayed its way to become one of the best-selling and most acclaimed manga of all time.  The anime adaptation has also enjoyed remarkable success, particularly due to Ufotable’s exceptional animation quality that brings the action and art to life on the screens.  Regardless of the media, audiences, whether long-time fans or newcomers, could not get enough of young Tanjiro’s life-changing adventure alongside the Demon Slayer Corps.

However, every adventure must eventually come to a close, and Tanjiro’s journey is no exception, especially since the series concluded last year.  This brings us to the latest film adaptation of the “Demon Slayer” anime, which picks up where the final season left off, with the Corps members reluctantly drawn into their ultimate battle on Muzan’s home turf.  Given the expansive nature of the manga’s concluding arc, one film cannot encompass the entirety of the Corps’ final showdown with Muzan and his Upper Ranks.  Instead, the “Infinity Castle” arc is developed as a trilogy of films to cover every single detail imaginable, plot elements and all, with the first chapter already kickstarting its thrilling climax in Japan back in July.  Following its record-breaking success there, the film has now expanded to various countries, including the United States, aiming to replicate that excitement for fans worldwide.  Does it offer a thrilling beginning of the endgame, or should we slice it into a million pieces?  Let’s find out.

The story unfolds right after the show’s season four finale.  Following the invasion of the Demon Slayer Corps’ headquarters, the demon lord Muzan Kibutsuji (Toshihiko Seki) retreats into his dimensional stronghold, the Infinity Castle.  In the process, he traps the Corps members, including Tanjiro Kamado (Hanae), within the endless lair and divides them to gain the upper hand.  Now separated into different groups, the Demon Slayer Corps must battle through a plethora of powerful demons to locate Muzan, leading them to fight some of the Upper Ranks with everything they've got.  During Tanjiro’s venture into the Infinity Castle, he and Giyu Tomioka (Takahiro Sakurai) encounter the return of Upper Rank Three Akaza (Akira Ishida), who was responsible for killing Kyojuro Rengoku during the Mugen Train incident.  Tanjiro now needs to hone his skills from his Hashira Training to assist Giyu in defeating Akaza and avenging Kyojuro’s death.

I still find it hard to believe that I didn’t get into the “Demon Slayer” anime until the theatrical release of “Mugen Train”.  Even though I didn’t get to see it in the theater, I appreciate the film for shedding light on the excitement surrounding the series.  Four years later, I have no regrets about following the anime, which ultimately allowed me to experience its compilation movies on the big screen.  While many people may have different opinions regarding whether its success is “carried” by its animation, I firmly stand by my admiration for “Demon Slayer” due to the ambitious presentation by Ufotable and compelling narrative arcs.  No lie, the finale of the “Swordsmith Village” arc left me in tears not once, but twice, especially during the “Hashira Training” compilation film.  That experience is further proof of how grateful I am to be part of this bloody yet emotional journey.  Although it’s bittersweet that the “Demon Slayer” anime is already nearing its end, I was still very excited for the first chapter of the “Infinity Castle” saga, which promises to elevate both its cinematic scope and narrative stakes for our final confrontation with Muzan Kibutsuji.

Similar to the “Mugen Train” film, “Infinity Castle” presents a storyline that requires audiences to be familiar with the anime, as it picks up where a specific season concluded.  While “Mugen Train” continued from the end of the show’s first season, “Infinity Castle” progresses the narrative from its series finale.  Although it offers moments that aid casual viewers in understanding the characters and their motivations, it’s still essential to watch the preceding series beforehand to get the full picture.  The only difference between the two films is that “Infinity Castle” provides only a segment of a much larger story, reminiscent of the “Lord of the Rings” trilogy, as opposed to “Mugen Train”, which delivered a complete narrative bridging two seasons.  So, if you’re hoping for a film with a definitive beginning, middle, and end, you’ll only get the beginning part of its story, which could understandably lead to some frustration among specific audiences.  Despite differing opinions on its structure, “Infinity Castle” still delivered the similar expectations we’d hoped for from a “Demon Slayer” movie.  It’s exhilarating, emotionally charged, and miraculously animated, resulting in another cinematic hit for the franchise.

But before I explain why the film was terrific, I do want to point out some issues first.  As a “Demon Slayer” film, “Infinity Castle” is undoubtedly another incredible experience that excels in its character arcs and delivers a rewarding scope and ambitious presentation.  However, when viewed as an ordinary movie, it’s also a strikingly chaotic burst of action-packed stylization that’s both entertaining and somewhat exhausting.  The previous “Demon Slayer” movies managed to balance their under-two-hour runtimes with flamboyant action and sentimental narratives, whereas “Infinity Castle” took a huge leap forward by making it over two and a half hours long.  This makes it the longest animated film I’ve seen since “Across the Spider-Verse”.  However, it wasn’t enough to surpass “In This Corner of the World” (the extended version) and “30,000 Miles from Chang’an” as the longest animated feature to date.  When combined with its relentless stylized action and flashback sequences involving the Upper Ranks, the film might make audiences feel as if they are trapped in the Infinity Castle, though not always in a favorable way.  The pacing and emotional payoffs were commendable in retaining my interest between the violence, but the length may be a bit too much for an intense anime like “Demon Slayer”, especially for those who aren’t into the series to begin with.

Nonetheless, I still had a blast watching “Infinity Castle”, even though it doesn’t quite achieve most of the narrative heights of the “Mugen Train” movie.  One of its strengths was its commitment to raising the stakes for its characters.  This is evident not only through their intense battles against the formidable Upper Rank Demons but also through their personal struggles that fuel their determination to defeat them.  The movie highlights Shinobu Kocho’s (Saori Hayami) confrontation with Upper Rank Two, Doma (Mamoru Miyano), as she seeks retribution for her sister’s death, while Zenitsu (Hiro Shimono) finds himself in a personal showdown against his former senior-turned-Upper Rank Six, Kaigaku (Yoshimasa Hosoya).  However, the core plot of “Infinity Castle” centers on Tanjiro and Giyu’s extensive fight against Akaza, who followed a tragic path that led him to become a demon.  In a way, this serves as a continuation of “Mugen Train” regarding its third act, which would easily satisfy that movie’s fans with its long-awaited rematch.  It may have suffered a bit from the screenplay’s repetition, flashback structures, and a sense of incompletion, the latter being mainly for the Upper Rank Two battle.  Fortunately, director Haruo Sotozaki successfully retained the emotional core that propelled the show’s success through its inspiring themes of humanity and strength, further indicating his worthiness in adapting the manga for the screen.

In keeping with my tradition of watching anime films in theaters, I opted for the Japanese dub of “Infinity Castle” over the English version to ensure an authentic experience.  While I didn’t mind the show’s English dub and was intrigued by Channing Tatum’s involvement in "Infinity Castle", I figured I would continue this tradition with this film.  Much of the Japanese cast from the anime reprised their roles once more, delivering some solid performances as usual.  One such case is Natsuki Hanae, who continues to effectively embody Tanjiro’s kindheartedness and rage towards his demonic adversaries through his vocal performance.  Akira Ishida also excelled in his compelling performance as Akaza after voicing him in the “Mugen Train” movie.  Akaza has once again proven himself to be very formidable, but it was his tragic past that won me over the most, not just because of his closure but also due to the range provided by Ishida’s voice work.

But, of course, I can’t forget about the movie’s animation, which is the key reason why the anime deserves the cinematic treatment.  Everyone who saw it early has been raving about the animation as if it were sent by the gods or something along those lines.  Based on the clips I saw beforehand, I can see why people are loving this art style, but witnessing it on the big screen managed to amplify my appreciation tenfold.  Similar to “Mugen Train”, the animation in “Infinity Castle” truly felt larger than life with its vibrant color palettes, Yuichi Terao’s cinematography, and sophisticated shading effects.  Additionally, it’s another exemplary example of masterfully balancing 2D animation with CGI, avoiding any sense of uncanniness in its designs and action sequences.  The design for the Infinity Castle was remarkable in conveying its vastness, while the visuals for the explosions and camera movements enhanced the film’s cinematic flair with its CGI effects.  As for the action sequences, they’re once again extremely intense to the point where every impact felt raw and enticing, capturing the slickness and dynamically stylized energy of the visuals and choreography.  It also isn’t without some amusing visual gags that provide levity amidst its darker tone, though they may not please everyone with the characters’ cartoony expressions.  If this isn’t enough to convince you of Ufotable’s dedication to excellence in anime, I’m not sure what will.

Overall, “Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba - The Movie: Infinity Castle” launches the anime’s final showdown in an exciting and visually captivating manner, even though its length may feel as infinite as the demons’ home turf.  Like the previous “Demon Slayer” movies, this film will largely depend on the viewer’s familiarity with the anime and its source material.  Some casual moviegoers might find its narrative structure and beefy runtime overwhelming, perhaps even frustrated, especially since it’s just part one of the anime’s high-stakes conclusion.  While some fans of the source material, myself included, may feel the same way towards its length, they will undoubtedly feel satisfied with what this latest “Demon Slayer” experience offered.  It preserves the emotional depth through its themes, voice cast, and character arcs while showcasing some of the finest animation I’ve seen from Ufotable.  Although it doesn’t surpass “Mugen Train” as my favorite “Demon Slayer” movie, excluding the compilation films, it further demonstrates that with special care and effort, an anime like “Demon Slayer” can truly slay on the big screen just as it does on television.  Bring on part two!!

B+