By Salil Karkhanis
Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – Infinity Castle was honestly one of the most insane anime movies I have ever watched. This is the beginning of the final arc of the series that started back in 2019, so the expectations were sky high, and Ufotable completely delivered. The movie came out in Japan this July and in the U.S. on September 12, and it instantly became a box office monster, breaking records with one of the biggest anime debuts ever. The second-highest-grossing Japanese movie is a must-see for fans of action and peak cinema.
First off, the Infinity Castle itself blew me away. It was drawn with such ridiculous detail that it felt alive, like a maze upon maze twisting in every direction. The shifting floors, endless hallways, and impossible geometry gave me goosebumps. It was like the animators just flexed on everyone else in the industry. Honestly, the Infinity Castle might be the most breathtaking anime setting I have ever seen.
Plot-wise, this movie did not hold back. Shinobu’s death hit hard, setting up Doma as a force to be reckoned with. Then there was Zenitsu, finally getting revenge for his sensei, which felt so satisfying after all his growth. And of course, Tanjiro reaching a new level by mastering the Transparent World and fighting with no killing intent was one of the most powerful scenes of the entire series. Seeing him stand there calm and deadly, almost like a completely different person, was unreal.
Akaza’s backstory was another highlight. It was tragic and emotional, and I was genuinely touched by it. At the same time, I am a little worried that the series is going to try to give every single Upper Moon a sad backstory. That works for someone like Akaza, but I am not sure I want to feel sympathy for every villain, especially the ones who are straight-up monsters.
The action scenes were absolutely top-notch, as expected. Every fight was animated with insane fluidity and attention to detail. It is no exaggeration to say Ufotable has raised the bar for what anime battles can look like. The movie kept me hooked from start to almost the very end. The only issue was the last thirty minutes, where the pacing slowed down a lot. After such an action-packed middle stretch, it dragged a little too much. I get that this is just part one of three movies, but still, I wish they had kept the intensity rolling all the way through.
Overall, this was an unforgettable start to the final arc. The Infinity Castle looked astounding, the fights were incredible, and the story delivered huge emotional punches. Shinobu’s sacrifice, Zenitsu’s revenge, Tanjiro’s transformation, and Akaza’s tragic past all came together to make this movie something special. I am giving it a solid 9/10. It was not perfect because of the pacing dip at the end, but honestly, this is a must-watch for anyone who has followed Demon Slayer since the beginning. The only bad part is knowing I have to wait for the next movie, because I am already dying to see the rest of the Upper Moon fights and the final showdown with Muzan.