by ECI Released : 2025-09-12
Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle, directed by Haruo Sotozaki, is not only one of the year’s best films, but also one of the most ambitious anime adaptations to date. Coming after the monumental Mugen Train, my expectations were sky-high, and ufotable once again surpassed them. The animation is simply breathtaking—fluid, vibrant, and cinematic in scale. Every clash in the Infinity Castle feels like a painting brought to life, and it’s the kind of spectacle that deserves to be seen on a towering theater screen or at a drive-in where the scale and sound can truly overwhelm the senses.
Beyond the action, what gives Infinity Castle its weight is the emotional undercurrent. The battles are not just spectacle; they carry the personal histories of each demon, forcing the audience to reckon with tragedy behind the monstrous. At times, however, this episodic structure—fight, backstory, resolution—slows the pacing in a way that works beautifully on television but occasionally disrupts the flow across the film’s two-and-a-half hours. Still, that’s a minor quibble in an otherwise extraordinary experience.
The only other limitation is that this is just the first installment in a planned trilogy, so the story is left incomplete. Even so, what we get here is monumental and fully satisfying as a theatrical event.
I watched the English dub, and the cast deserves special praise. Zach Aguilar (Tanjiro), Abby Trott (Nezuko), Aleks Le (Zenitsu), Bryce Papenbrook (Inosuke), Brianna Knickerbocker (Kanao), and Johnny Yong Bosch (Giyu) deliver layered, heartfelt performances. Channing Tatum (Keizo) was a surprisingly inspired addition, bringing nuance to a pivotal backstory role. Together, they elevate the script beyond simple translation, making the emotional beats hit just as hard as the visuals.
Overall, Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle is a triumph—visually stunning, emotionally resonant, and a true showcase of anime as cinematic art. Go see it at a drive-in or theater near you.
