Cinema from the Spectrum

With the Toronto International Film Festival having wrapped just the day before, I did what any self-respecting film lover would on their first day off: head straight back to the theatre. While TIFF 50 was still commanding attention with its final screenings, history was quietly being made at the local multiplex.

Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – The Movie: Infinity Castle made its North American debut and shattered a 26-year-old record, pulling in 70 million dollars and surpassing the domestic opening of Pokémon: The First Movie back in 1999. I still remember my father pulling me out of school to see that one. It is surreal to witness another anime moment of that scale today.

Plenty of industry experts seemed caught off guard, but the signs were always there. Demon Slayer has long been a juggernaut, ranking among the top-grossing manga-based franchises alongside Dragon Ball. Over the past year, it has broken fully into the cultural mainstream. The MLB x Demon Slayer collaboration earlier this season produced a short anime film for the Opening Series in Tokyo featuring Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto of the Dodgers alongside Shota Imanaga and Seiya Suzuki of the Cubs. Both the Dodgers and Rangers hosted Demon Slayer Nights at their ballparks, and even the Red Sox joined in with a One Piece celebration.

What is happening is not just box office hype. It marks a shift in how anime is embraced in North American pop culture. As a longtime fan who recently caught up with the series, I felt that shift most clearly walking into Infinity Castle.

Up to this point, the saga has carried audiences through Tanjiro’s (Zach Aguilar) evolution from grieving brother to seasoned warrior. The Mugen Train film, a direct sequel to the anime’s first season, delivered an unforgettable emotional blow, while the Entertainment District and Swordsmith Village arcs, adapted as TV seasons, steadily raised the stakes. With Infinity Castle, everything converges. The Demon Slayer Corps stands at the edge of its greatest battle, Muzan Kibutsuji (Greg Chun), the leader of all demons and the series’ primary antagonist, finally makes his move, and the stage is set for a confrontation that feels tailor-made for the big screen.

The film wastes no time, opening directly where the Hashira Training arc left off. For the uninitiated, the Hashira are the Corps’ most elite swordsmen, and this arc was the most recent storyline before the movie. Their leader, Kagaya Ubuyashiki, already on the brink of death, sacrifices himself in an attempt to destroy Muzan. Muzan survives, retreating into the Infinity Castle, a vast, ever-shifting labyrinth that swallows the Demon Slayer Corps and sets the stage for the final showdown.

From there, the story divides into three major battles. The first pits the Insect Hashira Shinobu Kocho (Erika Harlacher) against Doma (Stephen Fu), the Upper Rank Two demon and one of Muzan’s most powerful lieutenants. His sadism is introduced mid-feast on fallen warriors. The sequence is disturbing and gripping, peeling back Shinobu’s outward calm to reveal a far more complex character. Longtime fans will find it especially rewarding, as it deepens her connection to her late sister Kanae.

The second battle belongs to Zenitsu Agatsuma (Aleks Le), who faces Kaigaku (Alejandro Saab), his former senior turned Upper Rank Six. Le’s performance shows remarkable growth. Once known for Zenitsu’s shrill cowardice, he brings a steadier, more determined energy that recalls his recent work in Solo Leveling, another hit anime. It is a satisfying evolution for a character who has long divided audiences.

Finally comes the film’s centerpiece. Tanjiro and Giyu (Johnny Yong Bosch) square off against Akaza (Lucien Dodge), returning from Mugen Train. The battle unlocks one of the series’ best-written backstories, with Akaza’s tragic human past revealed through his mentor Keizo (voiced with surprising gravitas by Channing Tatum) and Keizo’s daughter Koyuki (Rebecca Wang). It is a risky casting choice that pays off in emotional impact, though it has sparked debate about Hollywood stars taking roles in anime dubbing.

By the time this clash ends, the film has set the stage for the second installment of the trilogy. Teasers promise the long-awaited appearance of Kokushibo (Jonah Scott), the Upper Rank One, while Muzan’s looming regeneration raises the urgency even further.

Infinity Castle is not flawless. The reliance on flashbacks slows its pacing, and at nearly two and a half hours it tests patience. Yet these choices come from a commitment to adapting the manga faithfully, and the payoff is worth it. With breathtaking animation, rich character work, and genuine emotional heft, this may be the best-animated film of the year. Given its box office dominance, it would not be surprising to see it in the running for Best Animated Feature.

Watch the trailer right here.

All images via Sony Pictures Releasing.

Directed by Haruo Sotozaki
Screenplay by Hikaru Kondo from the manga Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba by Koyoharu Gotouge
Produced by Akifumi Fujio, Masanori Miyake, Yuma Takahashi
Starring Natsuki Hanae, Takahiro Sakurai, Akira Ishida, Mamoru Miyano, Saori Hayami, Reina Ueda, Hiro Shimono, Yoshimasa Hoyosa, Yuichi Nakamura, Lynn (Japanese)
Starring Zach Aguilar, Johnny Yong Bosch, Lucien Dodge, Stephen Fu, Erika Harlacher, Brianna Knickerbocker, Aleks Le, Alejandro Saab, Channing Tatum, Rebecca Wang (English)
Premiere Date: July 18, 2025
Running Time: 155 minutes