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Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle Review
Image Credit: Crunchyroll, Sony Pictures
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Directed By: Haruo Sotozaki
Written By: Ufotable; Based on the original story and manga by Koyoharu Gotoge
Runtime: 155 minutes
MPA Rating: Rated R for bloody violence throughout.
Zach Aguilar – Tanjiro Kamado
Aleks Le – Zenitsu Agatsuma
Johnny Yong Bosch – Giyu Tomioka
Lucien Dodge – Akaza
Alejandro Saab – Kaigaku
Channing Tatum – Keizo
Rebecca Wang – Koyuki
Steven Fu – Doma
Erika Harlacher – Shinobu Kocho
Brianna Knickerbocker – Kanao Tsuyuri
Bryce Papenbrook – Inosuke Hashibira
Crispin Freeman – Gyomei Himejima
Griffin Burns – Muichiro Tokito
Erik Scott Kimerer – Obanai Iguro
Kira Buckland – Mitsuru Kanroji
Kaiji Tang – Sanemi Shinazugawa
Zeno Robinson – Genya Shinazugawa
Kyle McCarley – Yushiro
Lauren Post – Tamayo
John DeMita – Jigoro Kuwajima
Rebecca Trott – Nezuko Kamado
Kirk Thornton – Tanjuro Kamado
Matthew Mercer – Kagaya Ubuyashiki
Greg Chun – Muzan Kibutsuji
The curtain rises on the final act of the animated adaptation of Koyoharu Gotoge’s epic Demon Slayer saga, Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle. Infinity Castle kicks off the first of a three-part theatrical trilogy that will definitively conclude the anime series, which ended with a giant cliffhanger in its latest season.
When last seen, Muzan Kibutsuji (Chun) confronted his descendant, Kagaya Ubuyashiki (Mercer), the leader of the Demon Slayer Corps. However, Master Kagaya triggered an explosion to enact his plan to end the Demon Lord’s curse. The incident leaves our plucky trio of main Demon Slayer characters, Tanjiro Kamado (Aguilar), Zenitsu Agatsuma (Le), and Inosuke Hashibira (Papenbrook), plus a cadre of other slayers, caught in Muzan’s evil web. The young swordsmen, along with the remaining members of the Demon Slayer Corps’ elite ranks, the Hashira, are also ensnared in Muzan’s unending labyrinth, the Infinity Castle. A kaleidoscope of terror, the Infinity Castle is controlled by one of Muzan’s elite Upper Rank demons, Nakime, who can constantly change and shift the space at will. Muzan remains hidden and heavily protected inside the dimension, plus, he is enforced by his most elite lieutenants, not to mention legions upon legions of lower rank demons who are ravenous to consume human flesh.
Even in the Demon Slayers’ darkest hour, their resolve remains unshaken. Their chief advantage is that Muzan has been weakened, thanks to a poison created by Lady Tamayo (Post). Although Muzan traps the Demon Slayers on his home turf, the Demon Lord has finally been driven out of the shadows, and he is vulnerable. Now, Tanjiro and his allies must set their hearts and fighting spirits ablaze and lay their lives on the line because their last battle is nearly upon them. It’s all or nothing to defeat Muzan, or the Demon Slayers will perish in the process.
During Part 1, Tanjiro, Zenitsu, and Shinobu Kocho (Harlacher) confront literal demons of their past, and it’s time to settle up some old scores. Tanjiro, together with his senior sempai, Giyu (Bosch), confronts Akaza (Dodge), the Upper Rank Demon who killed Kyojuro Rengoku in Mugen Train. Zenitsu faces off with Kaigaku (Saab), who, during his life as a human, was Zenitsu’s sword brother under their kindly teacher Jigoro (DeMita). It’s finally time for Tanjiro and Zenitsu to prove their mettle, push beyond their limits, and vanquish the Demon threat to humanity for good.
Infinity Castle definitely showcases the pros and cons of adapting the finale of Gotouge’s manga as a multi-part theatrical experience. Although Mugen Train featured a much leaner, tighter narrative, Infinity Castle seeks to continue faithfully adapting Gotouge’s serialized manga storyline, which was originally published weekly in Shueisha’s Weekly Shōnen Jump. As such, Infinity Castle does not follow the most conventional, traditional, and audience-friendly narrative. Additionally, the artisanal animators at Ufotable do not hold the audience’s hand to make the experience more of an entry point for moviegoers who have not kept up with the series. Infinity Castle picks up shortly after the end of the last season and dives right in.
The drawback to the first part’s narrative style lies in its heavy emphasis on flashbacks and the backstories of many of the lead characters that take up a significant amount of the runtime. However, the flashback sequences are ultimately beneficial since they provide some of the story’s most emotionally gut-wrenching, heartbreaking, yet deeply moving moments. Demon Slayer usually depicts the villains as tragic, multi-layered figures, and that remains true in Infinity Castle. Akaza receives a fleshed-out backstory that might very well paint him as the most tragic and pitiable figure of Muzan’s elite Upper Ranks.
Infinity Castle finally gives Zenitsu his time to shine. Zenitsu initially entered the story as a pitiful comic relief character, an awkward and scaredy-cat crybaby who constantly whines and complains. More keenly invested viewers recognized Zenitsu’s worth and potential from the outset. Zenitsu wears his emotions on his sleeves, and he is fully aware of the mortal danger he routinely finds himself in. Infinity Castle depicts Zenitsu’s incredible growth when confronted by his former brethren, Kaigaku, a one-time Demon Slayer and Zenitsu’s co-successor under their beloved teacher, Jigoro, who instructed his students in the way of Thunder Breathing. However, fearing his imminent death, Kaigaku agreed to become a Demon, betraying humanity.
Zenitsu confronts a villain who views him much like many of his critics did at the outset, and Zenitsu proves his true talent and worth. Zenitsu’s storyline features the culmination of his development up to this point, showing that he is a genuine swordsman capable of growth. His journey underscores that the plight of the apprentice is not merely to learn from your master, but to eventually surpass him. The overall Zenitsu arc in Infinity Castle provides a treat for Zenitsu fans who have been watching patiently and enjoying the character’s compelling journey for years.
It has always been striking that Tanjiro, as a protagonist, maintains his steadfast purity of mind and spirit. Tanjiro Kamado embodies kindness and generosity, and the anime series has always adapted those aspects of the character from Gotouge’s manga with aplomb. In Demon Slayer, Tanjiro experiences extreme torment as he is exposed to the world’s cruelty and darkness, refusing to let go of his kindness, even in the face of insurmountable misery and hardship. Demon Slayer excels in depicting a downright saint-like and pure protagonist, whom some might even call naive, but Tanjiro’s goody two-shoes persona does not make him boring. If anything, seeing Tanjiro’s kind demeanor challenged by hatred and malice and his ultimate defiance and resilience in the face of such cruelty makes him more interesting.
Tanjiro’s integrity and resolve stand out in Infinity Castle when he and Giyu confront Tanjiro’s old enemy, Akaza. It’s also great to see Giyu and Tanjiro paired up for most of the story due to their shared history. It was Giyu who first recognized that Nezuko (Trott) was not like other demons following her transformation and suggested Tanjiro join the Demon Slayer Corp. Giyu and Tanjiro share an amusing sibling-like bond and make a formidable fighting duo.
The other main narrative drawback of Infinity Castle comes from many characters not having much to do, since this is merely the first part of a longer story. Typically, serialized manga storylines contain a long, protracted narrative event with multiple sets of characters segmented into their own specific areas, each engaging in their own subplots or mini-battles. Infinity Castle sets up and checks in with various characters to show where they are, but they do not play much of a role in the first part because their battles have not yet arrived. That is another byproduct of faithfully adapting Gotouge’s manga. The other characters’ parts are coming, but not until Infinity Castle: Part 2. Ultimately, the Infinity Castle saga will form a cohesive whole, but not until the trilogy is complete.
The theatrical format serves to provide director Haruo Sotozaki and the animators at Ufotable a bigger budget and more resources to fully adapt Gotouge’s iconic manga series without cutting corners. The film showcases the entirety of the Infinity Castle labyrinth, an alternate dimension of death and terror, but Ufotable still depicts it with visual splendor onscreen. The Infinity Castle, in its full glory, is a sight to behold. The action and fight sequences have never looked better, and Ufotable’s immersion into Gotouge’s world has never appeared more vibrant and stupendous. If Part 1 looks this impressive, it’s exciting to imagine how Ufotable will adapt and visualize the coming chapters, with major battles and confrontations yet to come.
Infinity Castle is not a quick and easy entry point into the Demon Slayer saga, but it still provides one of the most epic entries of the animated adaptation of Gotouge’s iconic manga. Longtime fans and viewers should not miss viewing this breathtaking theatrical event on the big screen. Yes, watching the whole series before experiencing the movie certainly helps, but the payoff of the longtime favorite characters taking center stage in some of their most crucial battles, plus the fleshed-out backstories of various characters, makes the experience worth it.
The Demon Slayers have arrived for their final battle, but their finest hour is still on the horizon.
