Releasing Sep. 12 in the United States, the long-awaited movie Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle is projected to become one of the biggest blockbuster films of the decade.
Based on the Demon Slayer manga, the movie is the first of a trilogy, covering the Infinity Castle and Sunrise Countdown Arcs. Both the manga and anime have already garnered worldwide acclaim, with millions of fans eagerly awaiting the next release. Demon Slayer’s previous movie, Mugen Train, grossed over $507 million, making it the biggest animated film of 2020.
Nevertheless, Infinity Castle is already on a trajectory to blow it out of the water. Ufotable, the animation studio for Demon Slayer, successfully built up the hype through numerous teasers and promotions. The official trailer, released just a month ago, has already amassed over seven million views on YouTube, and popular chains like 7-Eleven sold Demon Slayer-themed merchandise. Most impressively, local farmers in Saitama planted 28,000 square meters of rice to create a giant mural of Tanjiro, Demon Slayer’s main character.
I was lucky enough to have watched it in Japan, and the experience was surreal. Theaters were filled with Demon Slayer merchandise, with every seat boasting a unique decoration, creating a buzzing and suspenseful atmosphere.
Although Demon Slayer is widely considered to have the best animation out of any anime series, Infinity Castle takes it to a whole new level. Even though the setting is literally an infinite castle, Ufotable has successfully managed to animate every nuance and detail of it. Moreover, the animation style in Infinity Castle felt more fluid than in previous episodes, giving it a much more “premium” feel, distancing it from any regular anime.
Combined with amazing sound design and voice acting, the movie was an immersive and emotional experience. Saori Hayami, Shinobu Kocho’s voice actor, was widely praised for her performance, capturing Kocho’s emotional state with her voice acting flawlessly. She herself, after watching the finished film, admitted that she was moved to tears.
My favorite part of the movie was during Zenitsu’s Thunder Breathing scenes, where lightning crackles layer on top of his theme song. During this moment, I could feel the suspense and intensity in the theater bringing everyone to the edge of their seats.
Sadly, the release of the movie has not been smooth sailing for Ufotable and Sony. Within days of its release in Japan, full versions of the movie were leaked online, shared, and distributed by international fans who were eager to watch, resulting in Sony taking legal action against leakers. Though the vast majority of fans still opt to watch it in theaters, it is undeniable that piracy has hindered the movie’s potential box office success.
Nevertheless, the animation and buzzing atmosphere of Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle is sure to be remembered. As the US release approaches on Sep. 12, audiences here will finally get to partake in a surreal experience. With breathtaking visuals and powerful performances, Demon Slayer will cement a place in cinematic history.