Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle – Part 1: Akaza Returns is the first movie of a trilogy based on the manga’s Infinity Castle arc. Picking up right after the events of season four, which covered the Hashira Training arc, Akaza Returns is a must-watch if you’re a fan of the franchise!
The 155-minute feature-length movie brings us into Muzan Kibutsuji’s Infinity Castle, his dimensional stronghold. Tanjiro and the rest of the Demon Slayer Corps are trapped in there with him and every other demon on earth, presumably with the sole objective of finding and killing Muzan whilst trying not to get killed themselves, especially by the upper-ranked demons.
Speaking of upper-ranked demons, Doma makes a lengthy appearance in this movie as a Hashira encounters him in a thrilling battle. Aside from the action-packed fight scene, what I found most interesting was finding out more about the character and his background to a certain extent. The accurate and thinly veiled commentary on religion in this particular section was not something I expected in a Demon Slayer movie; it was simultaneously both comedic and intriguing.
We also meet Akaza again, the slayer of Hashira Kyojuro Rengoku (from way back in Mugen Train). The movie dives into his very detailed backstory, from his lived past to his demon days.
The audience is drawn into his life and experiences that shaped him into the person he was and demon he is. A considerable time is spent on this character, giving the audience a glimpse into the character’s formation and motivation.
A couple of main characters get their fair share of the spotlight in this movie, and we delve a little into Tanjiro’s past before he embarked on his demon-slaying journey. Zenitsu Agatsuma is given the chance to get serious here, too–albeit his comedic masterclass continues to shine through amidst the chaos.
We find out a little about Hashira Shinobu Kocho’s past and how her family background ties into the Demon Slayer Corps. Hashira Giyu Tomioka, who’s usually the calm and collected one, lets loose in this movie, so that’s something fans can look forward to as well.
Overall, this still felt like each character or a group of characters had their own episode, all stitched into a movie format. Certain parts of the movie feel a little draggy–even some fight scenes, not just the flashbacks and exposition.
Discounting the minor flaws in storytelling and formatting, the movie brings the audience through an emotional rollercoaster packed with action, adventure, and meaningful interactions between characters, more so than other entries of the franchise.
If you’re a fan of the Demon Slayer franchise, this is not a movie you want to miss. Even if you’re a general anime fan, I’d say the animation style alone, combined with the action and soundtrack in the movie, is something worth experiencing in theatres!
Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle – Part 1: Akaza Returns comes out on August 14th–which is sooner than you can finish saying the film’s entire title.