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Following the explosive conclusion of Demon Slayer’s fourth season, Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle drops audiences immediately into a stunning labyrinth of action.
As the first of a trilogy of films set to bring the beloved anime to an end, Infinity Castle wastes little time to illustrate that the movie begins at the climax of the series. Much like Tanjiro Kamado (Natsuki Hanae / Zach Aguilar) and his fellow Demon Slayers suddenly transported to the demons’ twisted base of operations, viewers new to the franchise will likely find the film a disorientating spectacle. But for longtime fans, Infinity Castle is sure to be a pulse pounding, crowd-pleasing start of the narrative’s endgame.
Despite the grotesque demons and gory carnage throughout the film’s 155-minute runtime, Infinity Castle’s art and animation are absolutely gorgeous. Ufotable, the animation studio behind the series, has a history of producing incredible action set pieces but managed to surpass its already incredibly high standard. The titular infinity castle itself is a feat of animation that instantly stands as the film’s most unforgettable feature.
Each of the film’s three primary battles are staggering and distinct due to each characters’ different techniques. Zenitsu Agatsuma’s (Hiro Shimono / Aleks Le) duel with Kaigaku (Yoshimasa Hosoya / Alejandro Saab) is especially exhilarating due to their electrifying fighting styles, though Shinobu Kocho’s (Saori Hayami / Erika Harlacher) battle with Doma (Mamoru Miyano / Stephen Fu) isn’t far behind in terms of its stunning visuals. But Giyu Tomioka (Takahiro Sakurai / Johnny Yong Bosch) and Tanjiro’s battle with Akaza (Akira Ishida / Lucien Dodge) is the real showstopper thanks to the fluid and explosive movements of their combat.
Meanwhile, the music from Yuki Kajiura and Go Shiina perfectly accompanies the movie’s fearsome battles and heart-rending moments. The combination of electronic music, operatic vocals, and traditional Japanese instruments provides a sense of menacing grandeur to the demonic dimension and exhilarating energy to every confrontation. Songs from J-pop stars Aimer and LiSA also serve as head bopping bookends to the film.
One aspect of the franchise that suffers from the transition between television and film, however, is the pacing. Between the battles and accompanying flashbacks, Infinity Castle often feels like a sportscar racing through city streets but abruptly pausing at every stop sign. The events of the film would likely have flowed better in the series’ typical episodic format, but it’s difficult to argue with the decision to go for a feature-length film when the content is so cinematic.
Those viewers looking for a complete narrative with a traditional act structure may also find themselves frustrated. Despite the film only covering a fraction of the manga’s final arc, Infinity Castle still proves to be just as heartbreaking as it is breathtaking. For a franchise built on lovable characters coping with horrific trauma, Infinity Castle is one of the most emotionally evocative entries yet. Equal parts tragic and triumphant, the first entry of this trilogy proves that one of the most popular anime of all time is coming to the cathartic end it deserves.
