Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle Part 1 is the first film of the three-part saga that will conclude the anime, picking up right from the end of the Hashira Training Arc when everyone falls into the Infinity Castle.
Note : This is not a standalone film, so anyone stepping in needs to have seen the anime before watching.
From the very first frame, the movie builds momentum with high stakes, powerful music, and breathtaking action sequences. But it didn’t fully meet my expectations because just when scenes would reach their peak, they were abruptly cut short by flashbacks. Since this kept repeating, it started to feel distracting. The idea of showing the demons’ pasts has always been one of the strengths of Demon Slayer, but here it often disrupted the intensity of the battles. It would have worked much better if those moments came after a fight ended rather than right in the middle.
Still, I have to say Akaza’s flashback as well as fight stood out as one of the most powerful moments while Zenitsu’s fight was another highlight I truly loved. . It was devastating and reminded me of Gyutaro’s flashback from the Entertainment District Arc. Now I understand what Akaza meant by the line “demons are not born, they are created” .
As expected, Ufotable’s animation was on another levelin the movie as well. The Infinity Castle itself was a spectacle, alive and shifting in ways that only animation can capture. The fights looked stunning, especially the final one, and once again Ufotable proved why their work is considered the best in the industry. The sound design elevated it even further, creating the right mix of tension and adrenaline.The camera angles added depth to each scene and seeing so many colours on screen was a therapy to my eyes.
I watched this in 4DX and it was fun, but I truly believe IMAX 2D with LASER is the format to go for. Since the film uses a flat 1.85:1 ratio, IMAX makes the visuals pop in the most immersive way possible. The runtime of two and a half hours did feel a bit stretched, and trimming some of the repeated flashbacks could have made it tighter without losing impact.
In the end, Infinity Castle Part 1 is still a good watch and sets the stage for the final battle, even if it doesn’t fully hit the heights it promises. It leaves you curious for what’s coming next, and that’s enough to keep me excited for the remaining parts.
Rating: 3.5/5
Did You Know?
- This is the first part of a three-film finale adapting the Infinity Castle Arc from the manga.
- Mugen Train (2020), the first Demon Slayer movie, is still the highest-grossing Japanese film of all time.
- Akaza’s flashback was adapted almost panel-to-frame from the manga, with added emotional depth by Ufotable.
Note:
Watch the trailer here : Watch Here
Book your tickets now : Book Here
