I stumbled upon Demon Slayer when it first premiered in America back in 2019, thanks to a friend who was obsessed with anime. While I cut my teeth on series such as Pokémon, Digimon, and Sailor Moon as an adolescent, it had been decades since I actively chose an anime to watch in my leisure time. However, there was a period where my friend would come over and we’d binge-watch one anime series after another, which brought us to Demon Slayer. We devoured that first season in one sitting; however, when the pandemic rolled around, so did the anime nights, and Demon Slayer fell off my radar. It wasn’t until my nephews grew older that the name resurfaced, which they talked about obsessively leading up to the announcement and release of Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle.
Attending this screener offered an interesting perspective: I hadn’t touched the series since the first season, so I was practically going into the series blind. However, I was attending with one of my nephews, who hadn’t stopped monologuing about the show since I asked him if he wanted to go. His love for the series runs deep, and his desire to see what the next chapter of the franchise would bring was strong. Together, we were entering into Demon Slayers: Infinity Castle with two very different desires; he wanted the film to continue the quality he’s come to expect from the franchise, and I wanted to both not fall asleep and not be confused beyond belief by what’s happening on screen.
That’s a lot of pressure to put on one film, although my nephew firmly believed that Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle could provide all that and more. Therefore, it’s time to drop ourselves into the Infinity Castle and see just what this latest film in the Demon Slayer franchise has to offer.
[Warning: light spoilers and impressions from Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle are below!]
Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle wastes no time dropping into the action
As my nephew excitedly informed me as the film began, Infinity Castle picks up exactly where the last season left off. Tanjiro Kamado (Natsuki Hanae), the narrator of the series, and his fellow comrades at the Demon Slayer Corps are dropped into the stronghold of Muzan, the most powerful demon in the series. Muzan, weakened from his previous battle and having captured Tamayo, has retreated to his fortress, attempting to reserve his power for when he needs it most.
Tanjiro and his friends, trapped inside the castle, decide to use this moment to put an end to their adversaries. Perhaps they can take out the Upper ranks of demons, although that is almost easier said than done. The Demon Slayer Corps aren’t in Kansas anymore, and the demons have the home court advantage. Surviving in a dimension that puts the moving staircases at Hogwarts to shame, the Demon Slayer Corps will have to be at the top of their game to save the world from impending doom.
Separated, all the members will have to keep on their toes, as they are confronted with leagues of demons of every kind, including those from their pasts. Nothing and no one is safe in The Infinity Castle, as Tanjiro and the rest of the crew are about to learn. Every choice has consequences, especially when evil demons are serving as the judge, jury, and executioner here in a never-ending labyrinth that they call home. Will the entire time make it out alive? Time will only tell, as Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle is only the first chapter of a trilogy of films that will close out this chapter of the franchise.
Beautiful art knows no bounds in this Sony Pictures Releasing film
What is perhaps the most striking feature of Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle is just how beautiful the film looked. This film remains true to the art style of the series, but there was something more polished and cinematic about this animated film. Infinity Castle blends quite a few styles and techniques, creating something so unique and absolutely beautiful. Most of the film appeared to be 2D drawings; however, every once in a while, some 3D elements were blended into the scene, elevating the action, or depending on whose backstory was being told, the art style would shift.
These artistic transitions and styles were visually stunning in almost every frame, leaving the crowd audibly gasping as the colors and images felt ripped right out of a gallery. Having watched a plethora of animated films over the years, there’s a clear difference between an average run-of-the-mill animated movie and Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle. At times, it felt indescribable just how impressive the film was in terms of the art and animation, and I couldn’t understand how it could achieve visuals unlike anything I’ve ever seen before.
This sentiment was echoed not just by my nephew, but by many of the theater-goers exiting the film. So many of us seemed in awe at the visual masterpiece that Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle was. Whatever secret sauce they are using to cook up an animated film like this should be bottled and studied by other studios.
However, my opinion differs from many others in attendance about the film in a major way. With a runtime of two and a half hours, Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle felt just a tad long. For those, like my nephew, who have been following the show religiously, Infinity Castle was exactly what they wanted and needed from the first entry in this trilogy. That being said, for me, there were some aspects of the story that could have been trimmed, as they were just excess fat that distracted from the larger story.
Particularly, there are loads of flashbacks for so many major players in the film, to add context or humanize the characters, both of which weren’t necessarily needed for the narrative that Infinity Castle was telling. It felt like watching the extended editions of The Lord of the Rings film, still largely entertaining; however, there’s a more direct narrative line that could have made better use of the time.
Final thoughts on Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle
That isn’t to say that Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle wasn’t fun. I ultimately enjoyed myself, as the fight choreography was epic and kept me on the edge of my seat while the story was engaging enough that I didn’t drift off. However, there was a point at which I became very aware of how tired my body felt, and I started checking my watch with about half an hour left.
There’s no doubt that this film is aimed at fans of the series, as those who aren’t slightly familiar with the show might not enjoy it as much as those who are. The story itself is relatively easy to follow and rather self-contained, although there’s a deeper appreciation for the characters having been on the journey with them. With Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle seeing commercial success globally, I fully anticipate it doing just as well here in the States, and I can’t wait to see the next installment with my nephew when it arrives in theaters.
It’s also worth noting that this film is rather graphic and earns the R rating it was given. This is definitely not an animated film for young children, as the story is heavy and there’s an intense amount of violence and blood that takes some maturity to handle.
Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle arrives in theaters Friday!
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