‘Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – The Movie: Infinity Castle’: A Strong Beginning To The End
They say all good things must eventually come to an end, and while the latest entry in the Demon Slayer series is not quite that very end, it is nonetheless a very strong beginning to it. Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – The Movie: Infinity Castle is a Japanese animated dark fantasy film adapted from the “Infinity Castle” arc of the manga upon which the series is based, which was created by Koyoharu Gotouge. It serves as a direct sequel to the series’ fourth season. Much like the previous theatrical release Mugen Train, the film is directed by Haruo Sotozaki and produced by Ufotable. The voice cast from the series returns as well, and the film stars Natsuki Hanae, Akari Kitō, Hiro Shimono, and Yoshitsugu Matsuoka.
The plot follows on from the series’ final episode where Tanjiro, his fellow Demon Slayers, and the Hashira are all drawn into the Infinity Castle, the stronghold of both the demons and the series’ antagonist, Muzan Kibutsuji. The Demon Slayer Corps must fight for their lives against hordes of demons whilst confronting several Upper Rank demons. The first half sees the chaos of battle ensue between Hashira and demons, whilst the second half sees series protagonist Tanjiro and Hashira Tomioka battle with the Upper Rank demon Akaza, whom Tanjiro has a personal grudge against.
Suffice to say, this film has a lot to cover, with many characters and plotlines to balance in its monolithic 155-minute runtime. Anyone looking to watch this film must have seen the series beforehand, as anyone wishing to enjoy this film as a casual viewer will likely be completely lost. The film wastes no time in diving into the action and thus provides zero explanation or backstory for casual viewers. This is a film for fans of the series.
Despite its long runtime, the film’s pace is brisk and swift. The plot constantly moves from one battle to another, leaving little time in terms of true character development. This is less of a problem, however, as most characters are fully fleshed out thanks to the series. However, the pacing is somewhat disrupted by the constant jumps between the past and present. Flashbacks occur every few minutes, either adding context to critical moments at best, or disrupting the flow at worst. Breakneck fights are often intercut with flashbacks, and unfortunately, this can be immersion breaking. The film’s daunting runtime could have been shortened with just either less flashbacks or ones that have stronger pacing; both would result in a film that seamlessly flows. However, the filmmakers more often than not strike the right balance between present day action and context from the past.
As the first in a trilogy meant to round out the series, this film must not only deliver a fully rounded story but must also setup for the following entry. While the film achieves this fairly well, it does result in many characters and plotlines with little to do, often disappearing from the story entirely. In particular, Inosuke and Nezuko are rarely seen, only really getting one or two scenes throughout the entire film despite being main characters. This is likely because they will have larger roles in the following two instalments, and thankfully, their absence is not too noticeable. What is noticeable is a lack of payoff for battles that begin in this film, but are not resolved come its end. Primarily, the battle against the Upper Rank demon Doma takes place in the first half of the film but is left unresolved as the focus pivots to Tanjiro and his battle with Akaza. The rest of the Hashira are quite literally left running through the castle for the entire runtime. The film’s ending also does not resolve much either, feeling more like an abrupt finish than a proper conclusion. As a result, this film works best when viewed as the first third of a trilogy and follow-up to the series, but is a failure in regard to being a standalone film.
Of course, as a follow-up to the series, the film is a complete success. The characters that are focused on, mainly Tanjiro, Zenitsu, Akaza, and Tomioka, are all given excellent development. Akaza stands as one of the best antagonists of the series, combining a unique design, a threatening presence, and a genuinely emotional backstory. He arguably provides the film’s emotional core and is the star of the second half. But despite the violence and the tragedy, the film still carries the series’ comedic moments, with exaggerated expressions and recurring gags to break the tension at just the right times.
But if there is one thing the series and previous film is renowned for, it’s the animated spectacle. Infinity Castle delivers arguably the finest spectacle of the entire series, with multiple extraordinary fights with gorgeous animation. The castle itself is a fascinating location that the filmmakers take full advantage of, delivering euphoric action set pieces that are a feast for the eyes. The constantly shifting environment and vast infinite space results in a location that can sustain an entire film. The choreography and direction remain consistently impressive and go a long way in maintaining the film’s blistering pace.
The animators masterfully blend 2D and CG elements to deliver amazing visuals in every fight, resulting in every battle feeling distinct with something new to offer. Every frame is dripping with detail and there is no moment where the animation quality drops or a CG element sticks out. Even during scenes of conversation, characters and backgrounds are all drawn with such care and immense detail that even during quiet moments, it is always pleasurable to simply look at. The filmmakers clearly have a strong eye for visual storytelling, meaning moments with zero dialogue can still get across character emotions and development. Though many of the characters lack true depth, their designs make up for it and leave an instant impression in the audience’s mind.
The music and sound design throughout is also excellent. It is loud and bombastic during fights, subdued in moments of great tension, and beautiful in quiet, tender, and tragic character moments. It does all a viewer could want to uplift the already superb visuals and at no point does it break immersion.
In keeping with the high quality of animation, the voice acting is also excellent. The standouts are certainly Akira Ishida as Akaza and Natsuki Hanae as Tanjiro. While they certainly bring the loud energy often associated with the series, both really come to life in the quiet moments. Akaza’s backstory hits hard because of the subtle shifts in Ishida’s voice, drawing a distinct line between the character’s human past and demon present. Even actors whose characters have little screentime still bring their best, resulting in every character leaving some form of impact.
Overall, while it certainly falls short as a standalone film and thus cannot be enjoyed by casual viewers, Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – The Movie: Infinity Castle is an absolute treat for fans of animation and of Demon Slayer. It has a great antagonist, wonderful fights, and a strong emotional core that, despite the film’s rough edges and frequent flashbacks, manage to shine through splendidly. It is a more than worthy first chapter of a trilogy that is meant to cap off the series and will likely only get better once the story is well and truly complete.