©Courtesy of Sony Pictures
Instead of ghost-busting, demon-slaying could be the top movie profession of the 2020’s. Five years before the KPop Demons Hunters became a breakout sensation, the Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba anime franchise (based on Koyoharu Gotouge’s manga) released the #1 global box-office champion of 2020. Admittedly, that year came with an asterisk, but the receipts were still impressive.
Of course, demon slaying is more than just a profession. It is a calling. For junior slayer Tanjiro Kamado, the heroically tragic conclusion of the previous feature film, Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba—The Movie: Mugen Train inspired him to boost his slaying prowess. Unfortunately, the demon who killed his slayer role-model is also a relentless self-improver in “chief director” Hikaru Kondo’s Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba—Infinity Castle, produced by the Ufotable animation house, which opens this Friday in theaters.
Two and a half seasons of the anime series have passed since the end of the Mugen Train feature, but in some ways, Infinity Castle functions as a sequel to first feature. If you enjoy exposition, the new feature will sorely disappoint, because it essentially picks up the action in mid-air, as Kamado and his fellow demon slayers literally fall into the titular realm controlled by the Muzan Kibutsuji, the original demon, who subsequently transformed all those who follow him. The demon lord manipulates the Escher-like liminal space to disorient the Demon Slayer Corps, planning to score a decisively deadly victory over his pursuers, but their Kasugai Crows help them maintain their bearings.
©Courtesy of Sony Pictures
Infinity Castle shares a kinship with the Solo Leveling franchise, because it also reflects a gaming structure and aesthetic. Indeed, the Demon Slayers quickly find themselves divided into small groups, confronting powerful demons. For instance, Zenitsu Agatsuma (who slept away most of Mugen Train, but to be fair, that is how he does his best demon-fighting) must face off against his former Slayer Corps mentor, Kaigaku, who betrayed his comrades, joining the demonic ranks.
However, the main event will be Kamado’s fight against the third-level demon Akaza. The young slayer barely survived their first meeting in Mugen Train, thanks to the sacrifice of a revered Hashira, one of the Corps’ mystical masters of elemental powers. This time around, he teams-up with Giyu Tomioka, the Water Hashira. Kamado’s slaying skills greatly improved since their last encounter. However, Akaza exhibits an uncanny ability to anticipate attacks and adapt to new strategies. Consequently, Kamado must dig deep within his memories and psyche to find an answer.
Ironically, one of his epiphanies comes from fond memories of his friend Inosuke Hashibira, who might look a little demonic to outsiders, thanks to his bare-chest and boar’s head mask (a tribute to his wild upbringing). Despite his eccentric fashion choices, Hashibira stands tall in battle, having claimed many demons’ heads. In fact, his lessons represent some of the franchise’s best written sequences, which should appeal to old school fans of martial arts mysticism.
Without question, Kondo and co-director Haruo Sotozaki (who helmed Mugen Train) position Akaza’s showdown with Kamado and Tomioka as the film’s centerpiece—and it does not disappoint. The fantastical martial arts choreography frequently dazzles, but Kamado’s interior struggle is just as important, which the animators render in a strikingly cinematic fashion.
©Courtesy of Sony Pictures
There are other subplots that could potentially alter the course of the characters’ destiny, like the possible medical treatment for Nezuko, Kamado’s younger sister, who was partially transformed into a demon, but retains her human consciousness and loyalties. However, they mostly appear to be afterthoughts in Infinity Castle, because they are only briefly shoehorned in-between major demon battles.
Arguably, Mugen Train stands alone more accessibly for franchise new-comers than Infinity Castle, because it devotes more time to establishing the characters and their relationships. It is also much more self-contained. However, for returning series loyalists, Infinity Castle finally pays-off on several long-term storylines.
Infinity Castle will be like a rollercoaster for viewers who already emotionally invested in the characters. Newbies might need time to develop their sea-legs, but the otherworldly animation should still impress. Kondo, Sotozaki, and the Ufotable staffers collectively credited for the screenplay deserve credit for seriously addressing big edifying themes, like heroism and sacrifice. As a result, both Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba features have been more satisfying than many recent Hollywood superhero movies. Essential for the loyal fanbase and also recommended for anime fans who will appreciate the animation and mysticism, Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba—Infinity Castle opens in theaters this Friday (9/12), from Crunchyroll.
©Courtesy of Sony Pictures
Grade: B
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Here’s the trailer of then film.