Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle might have solidified its place in anime history with its record-breaking box office numbers, but that still cannot absolve it of its mistakes. The movie has captivated audiences globally, but it does stumble due to pacing issues, a dragged ending, and more.
The movie’s issues aren’t just minor ones; they undermine the credibility of the entire final arc. The required character development feels boring, and the delicate arc feels shattered. The crescendo of the arc has been disjointed into three separate movies, resulting in a near-disaster.
Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle Is a Movie That Should Have Been an Anime
At its core, Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle seems like an anime that has been forced into a movie format. Ufotable’s decision to adapt the final arc of the manga into a movie trilogy may be loved by the money makers of the franchise, but for the audience who watched the movie in theaters, it is clear that the plot was never suited for the big screen.
Movies demand a self-contained and tight narrative. However, Demon Slayer has battles sprawling all over the plot, with interconnected arcs and characters. Thus, the first movie feels like an accumulation of battles, flashbacks, drama, and then more battles. An anime adaptation would have allowed a more consistent pace, and each episode could have focused on a single fight or a character.
Infinity Castle might have been a visual triumph, but the plot of a single arc cannot stretch itself into three movies. While adapting a single arc into a film ensures there is a single climax, dividing the plot into three parts means that the films would need three separate climaxes, which is very uneven.
Infinity Castle‘s Pacing Issues Plague Its Reputation
Beneath the visual spectacle and box office records lies a glaring issue, which is inconsistent pacing. The movie feels like it drags out the plot for excessive flashbacks and prolonged monologues from characters. These moments, while intended to add depth, can become boring too soon.
Flashbacks have always been a key tool in anime and manga to bring more attention to characters. Yet, an entire movie of just flashbacks and battles should not work on its own. It seems like Ufotable’s breathtaking animation is the movie’s biggest saving grace.
The anime stretches out lots of moments, especially its ending, which creates an overall disjointed feeling. Infinity Castle, part 1, might be flawed, but it has still delivered some precious moments. With two more movies to go, the studio might learn its lesson and implement them better down the road.
Here are the ratings that Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle Part 1 has received:
What do you think about this? Did you enjoy the movie? Or do you think the movie could have been a better anime season? Let us know in the comments below.
Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle is currently being shown in theaters. Demon Slayer anime is streaming on Crunchyroll.