REVIEW: ‘Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – The Movie: Infinity Castle’ Is Focused On Existing Fans

As someone who enjoys binging their favorite shows, I’ve struggled with the recent trend of converting entire seasons of anime into films. While it’s nice to be able to watch a complete-ish story arc in one sitting – sans commercials, filler episodes, etc.—the fragmented nature of these movies often leaves a lot to be desired. This is especially true of the otherwise excellent Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – The Movie: Infinity Castle.

The film features gorgeous animation, a strong cast, and some of the best action scenes the series has ever produced. Unfortunately, some of these highlights are marred by their condensed plot and poor pacing. Unlike the most recent Demon Slayer films, which were compilations of the anime series, Infinity Castle acts as a direct sequel to Demon Slayer Season 4.

Moments after the Demon Slayer Corps’ leader Kagaya’s trap is sprung and lord Muzan retreats to his extra-dimensional stronghold, the Hashira (high-ranking demon slayers)—along with fan favorites Tanjiro, Zenitsu, and Inosuke – give chase. 

Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – The Movie: Infinity Castle gets audiences ready for Season 4.

The film is essentially the beginning of the end for the popular series. Meaning, there isn’t much in the way of informative exposition. At least, not in a way that fully addresses who these characters are beyond their current struggles; Infinity Castle is strictly for those of us who’ve watched the anime and/or read the manga.

To be fair, the fact that Infinity Castle isn’t welcoming to newcomers isn’t surprising. As the fourth Demon Slayer movie, and the first film in a trilogy devoted to the final story arc, it was always going to be this way. What is surprising, however, is how off-putting the film can be for long-time fans.

It’s the near-constant fighting that produces some exciting moments, most of which are elevated by the severity of a given situation; seeing the Hashira with their backs against the wall as they battle a horde of demons is certainly a treat. But too many of Infinity Castle’s key events are hindered by poor pacing. When Zenistu (Hiro Shimono) finally confronts his apparent rival Kaigaku (Yoshimasa Hosoya), the encounter is undercut by untimely flashbacks and a flashy, albeit rushed conclusion.

The latest Demon Slayer movie continues to set the animation bar high.

I say apparent rival because this is the first time we’ve seen Kaigaku in animated form. There isn’t any mention of him prior to Infinity Castle. He just pops up as a foil to Zenistu, with his background information saved for the aforementioned flashbacks. And while this sort of thing isn’t new for the anime/manga, his inclusion still feels abrupt here.

There aren’t multiple episodes or pages dedicated to this fight, and we don’t get the luxury of sitting with the revelations that are showcased during the encounter. Kaigaku is introduced, some of his past is shared, the fight ends, and his meaningful contribution to the plot is seemingly tossed aside as the film quickly moves on to the next major event. 

This start-and-stop approach to storytelling is indicative of shonen anime as a whole. One Piece is notorious for pausing in the middle of a fight to spend dozens of episodes showcasing past happenings. The difference is that the relative information is presented in a manner that allows viewers time to process its significance; the present-day battles often benefit from these key historical events.

Infinity Castle features a fantastic voice cast, showcasing Zenitsu in a different light. 

Only a few of Infinity Castle’s flashbacks help in this regard, as most of them seem just to drag down the pace. And since the film only deals with a portion of the final arc – its existence justified by the amount of story it can fit into its roughly 155-minute runtime—its plot simultaneously feels rushed.

Thankfully, just about everything else saves Infinity Castle from mediocracy. Ufotable continues to impress as a top-notch animation studio. The extremely vibrant color palette, strong line work, and awesome choreography (especially during fights) all contribute to creating the visual spectacle that is Demon Slayer.

The soundtrack was damn near perfect. So was the casting, which was mainly composed of series vets; Natsuki Hanae, Saori Hayami, and Akira Ishida are still wonderful as heroes Tanjiro, Shinobu, and villain Akaza, respectively. 

While it’s beautiful, the narrative quality continues to feel empty, like the other “films” before it.

The same can be said of Shimono’s depiction of Zenitsu. Even Hosoya provides a solid performance for the seemingly one-note Kaigaku. And while I didn’t get to see the dubbed version of Infinity Castle, given the talent that’s involved, I’m sure its depictions of these characters were just as impactful.

Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – The Movie: Infinity Castle is a good film. Exclusively catered to fans of its associated anime/manga, it depicts the early moments of a final chapter. This alone necessitates some exciting moments as key characters face one another in deadly combat. There are pacing issues that drain away some of the fun.

And its condensed plot—being part of the Demon Slayer trilogy—negatively reinforces the fact that it doesn’t tell a complete story. That said, fans will still be pleased with Infinity Castle. If not for the awesome animation and talented voice cast, then for the thrilling portions that reflect what’s to come.

Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – The Movie: Infinity Castle is in theaters nationwide now, distributed by Crunchyroll.

Want to catch up before Demon Slayer Season 4?

Mugen Train (Original Film) | Mugen Train Arc Season 2 Cour 1

  Entertainment District Arc Season 2 Cour 2

To the Swordsmith Village Movie | To the Swordsmith Village Arc – Season 3 Cour 1

To The Hashira Training Arc Movie | Hashira Training Arc – Season 3 Cour 2