After months of anticipation and teaser trailers, Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – The Movie: Infinity Castle – Part 1: Akaza Returns has finally stormed into theaters. This movie jumpstarts the first of the Infinity Castle trilogy and the beginning of the end of this grand series. With its masterful animation, majestic music playlist, and its overwhelming storytelling, Demon Slayer’s Infinity Castle: Part 1 has broken numerous records, including becoming one of the highest-grossing Japanese films of all time, beating its predecessor Demon Slayer: Mugen Train, and raking in a whopping $630 million while having a modest $20 million budget. Critics and fans have praised its visuals, action, audio, emotional depth, and storytelling, though some have noted pacing issues as the story juggles many characters and plot lines.
Created by Japanese manga artist and author Koyoharu Gotouge, Demon Slayer takes place during Japan’s Taisho period. In this world, demons rule the night and rue the day, terrorizing and eating innocent people and plaguing the world with their presence. The only way to kill these demons is by cutting their heads off with specialized Nirichin swords or exposing them to daylight. Muzan is the ultimate creator and king who dictates all demons, including the Kizuki; the most powerful demons other than Muzan. Due to the demons’ reign of terror, the Demon Slayer Corps was created with the sole purpose to extinguish demons and protect mankind, additionally creating the Hashiras, the most skillful and powerful demon slayers within the corps, assigned with the main goal of killing Muzan and the Kizuki. With the introduction of main protagonists Tanjiro and Nezuko, the entirety of this war between demons and humans and the fate of mankind was shifted. The movie picks off from the fourth season of the series and takes place in Muzan’s Infinity Castle, which is completely under his control. All the Demon Slayer Corps are transported into this Infinity Castle to fight their final and most gruesome battle of their lives to assassinate Muzan and end this long period of bloodshed and fear. Will they win? Who will die? Will Tanjiro ever live to see the first ray of sunshine again?
Ufotable definitely utilized the $20 million budget exceptionally well. I especially noticed that the sounds and audio were very well executed. The music and sound-effects in the Demon Slayer series have always been top-notch, but this movie brought it to a whole new level and standard. Usually, in movies, the sound-effects and music clash together and become ineligible, loud, and overstimulating for viewers, but Ufotable nicely separates the sounds from each other so you could enjoy each audio individually. I also noticed that the animation style had significantly improved when comparing its earlier seasons. The attention to detail was genuinely impressive and the backgrounds were just so intricate and contained so much depth that I was tempted to pause the movie and just appreciate each backdrop. I admire that while Ufotable did elevate their animation quality they were true to the original art style and kept the overall vibe of Demon Slayer consistent. Additionally, the voice-acting was just so expressive and endearing, making it so much more investive for all the watchers. Each of the voice actors perfectly personified each of their characters, and I felt this was true especially with Douma’s voice actor. Overall, I definitely felt that production quality was a much appreciated upgrade and I’m very much looking forward to the last two movies of this trilogy.
What truly stood out to me was how alive every emotion felt. Throughout the film you could feel the tension and fear in the air that pierces straight through the screen, making you hold your breath as you wait in anticipation for every event to unfold. When the characters fought, you could feel the desperation behind each swing. When they cried, you cried with them, when they stopped, you stopped too, and when they screamed in agony and despair you couldn’t help but be on the edge of your seat. The voice acting and soundtrack worked perfectly together, which only amplified the heartache and adrenaline that define Demon Slayer. I was personally excited for Akaza’s return and really enjoyed watching and learning more about his interesting backstory, which I couldn’t help but empathize with, despite his demon roots. His presence on screen brought up all the complex emotions tied to his story, his strength, his regrets, and his humanity, all buried beneath the surface.
Overall, Infinity Castle: Part 1 is a stunning masterpiece that captures everything fans love about Demon Slayer, which is why it gets a 5/5. From its breathtaking visuals, unique and distinctive characters, to its emotionally scarring storytelling; everything was executed to perfection. The production quality alone is enough to make this a watch-worthy film, but its true power lies in its ability to make audiences feel every moment. It’s an overwhelming and emotional experience that leaves you both satisfied and longing for more. As the first of the trilogy, it sets the stage and standard for what promises to be a heartbreaking conclusion. For long-time fans, this isn’t just another anime movie. It’s the beginning of a farewell, a love letter to everything Demon Slayer has built upon since the very beginning.
