Sometimes, I get a little depressed when our local theater doesn’t get a movie I’ve been eagerly waiting to see.
But, that was not the case last week!
I’ve been waiting for “Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba - The Movie: Infinity Castle” to make its way stateside from Japan since July.
Its broken records overseas and I’m a fan of the Japanese anime, so it was only natural for me to check it out as soon as we got it locally.
Now, fans of the anime and manga series won’t be disappointed one bit by the epic fight scenes, mesmerizing transitions, and music.
However, I really enjoyed how the animators translated the manga drawings into fluid motions and added depth to the overall story.
Honestly, the only complaint that I’ve got is that I only got to see part one of three!
Now, I watched in its native Japanese with English subtitles, but it is available in English language as well.
As such, all of the voice actors mentioned in my review are Japanese as well.
Infinity Castle is a Japanese animated dark fantasy action film based on the “Infinity Castle” arc of the 2016–20 manga series Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba by Koyoharu Gotouge.
It is a direct sequel to the fourth season of the anime television series as well as the manga fourth, fifth, and sixth adaptations, following the film “Mugen Train” (2020) and the feature-length compilations “To the Swordsmith Village” (2023) and “To the Hashira Training” (2024).
It is directed by Haruo Sotozaki, produced by Ufotable, and written by the studio’s staff members.
Infinity Castle stars voice actors Natsuki Hanae, Hiro Shimono, Toshihiko Seki, Akari Kitō, Yoshitsugu Matsuoka, Reina Ueda, Takahiro Sakurai, Katsuyuki Konishi, Kengo Kawanishi, Maaya Sakamoto, Saori Hayami, Kenichi Suzumura, Tomokazu Seki, Mamoru Miyano, Akira Ishida, Yoshimasa Hosoya, Yuichi Nakamura, Toshiyuki Morikawa, Aoi Yûki, Marika Kōno, Shiori Izawa, Rikiya Koyama, Ai Kayano, Ryōtarō Okiayu, Daiki Yamashita, Hōchū Ōtsuka, and Lynn.
The movie is rated R for bloody violence throughout and 155 minutes long.
After recovering from Kagaya Ubuyashiki’s (Morikawa) trap and subduing Tamayo (Sakamoto), Muzan Kibutsuji (Seki) retreats into his dimensional stronghold, the Infinity Castle, and traps the Demon Slayer Corps inside.
The Demon Slayers are separated and begin battling numerous powerful demons as they search for Muzan.
Kagaya’s son Kiriya (Yûki) and daughters Kuina (Kōno) and Kanata (Izawa) lead the operation by mapping the Infinity Castle with the Kasugai crows and locating its inhabitants, with former Hashiras Tengen Uzui (Konishi) and Shinjuro Rengoku (Koyama) standing guard.
Shinobu Kocho (Hayami) encounters Upper Rank Two Douma (Miyano), realizing he was responsible for her sister Kanae’s (Kayano) death.
Despite her use of poisons, Doma develops immunity to her attacks, ultimately killing and consuming her.
Shinobu’s adoptive younger sister Kanao Tsuyuri (Ueda) arrives too late to save her and takes her place in the battle against him.
Zenitsu Agatsuma (Shimono) fights his former senior Kaigaku (Hosoya), who became the new Upper Rank Six after an encounter with Upper Rank One Kokushibo (Okiayu).
Angered by Kaigaku’s lack of guilt over his betrayal, which led to their master committing suicide, he unleashes a self-taught seventh form of Thunder Breathing and kills Kaigaku before passing out.
Then there’s the biggest showdown that everyone’s been waiting for - Tanjiro Kamado (Hanae) and Giyu Tomioka (Sakurai) fighting Upper Rank Three Akaza (Ishida).
All I have to say is that waiting for the second and third installments of this film are going to be a true test of my patience.
If you’re a fan of Demon Slayer, definitely catch this on the big screen for the best experience – just make sure you’re caught up on the series first!
