The “Demon Slayer” brand is currently a license to print money. The anime for the manga of the same name by Koyoharu Gotōge has been running since 2019 and now has a global fan base that celebrates every new season of the series. It has long been diligent in the cinemas to see the associated event films on the large screen. “Demon Slayer – The Movie: Mugen Train” was even the most successful film in Japanese cinema history in 2021 – and thus still in the middle of the aftermath of Corona. “Demon Slayer: Kimetsu No Yaiba Infinity Castle – Part 1” goes one step further internationally – and will not only write record numbers in the USA, but also in Germany.
Because even two rather weak seasons such as “Swordsmith Village Arc” and “Hashira Training ARC”, of which the latter in particular felt like a series of Filler episodes, obviously could not let the enthusiasm. No wonder-after all, we are now heading for the grand finale of the demon hunter saga. “Demon Slayer: Kimetsu No Yaiba Infinity Castle – Part 1” heralds the last battle against the Muzan Kibutsuji demon lord on the big screen. The start of a total of three films is a real action spectacle that works according to well-known patterns, but looks fantastic and benefits immensely from a streamlined story.
In the headquarters of the demons, the heroes quickly lose track.
The journey of the demon hunter Tanjiro Kamado (original voice: Natsuki Hanae / German version: Constantin von Jascheroff) is coming to an end. To survive the ability of his sister Nezuko (Akari Kito / Julia Meynen) despite her demonic existence in the sunlight, has brought movement into the fight between the pillars and the sinister forces of Demonian Muzan Kibutsuji (Toshihiko Seki / Norman Matt). He not only dared to go from his hiding place, but also searched the open confrontation with demon hunter Kagaya Ubuyashiki (Toshiyuki Morikawa / Oliver Feld), who sacrificed himself and his family in a heroic act to weaken Kibutsuji.
But the prince of darkness does not even think of adding small and teleporting Tanjiro Kamado and the pillars simply in the fortress of the demons – the Infinity Castle. In this confused labyrinth of rooms, corridors and doors, the warriors have to face all sorts of things. But there is an offer, because the remaining increasing half -mone gathered here. Powerful opponents who are directly under Muzan Kibutsuji – and do not know any mercy in combat.
Anime knowledge is mandatory!
One thing in advance: Anyone who has never seen an episode of the anime has a lot of homework to do it before a visit to the cinema should be considered. “Demon Slayer: Kimetsu No Yaiba Infinity Castle – Part 1” requires enormous prior knowledge and also dispenses with a clear protagonist. Tanjiro Kamado is the linchpin of the events- but with it the pillars, the strongest of the demon hunters, have penetrated into the heart of the sinister fortress. The figures presented to the audience in the recent series relay grades take up a lot of space. On the one hand, one of the greatest strengths of the film is one of the greatest strengths of the film that the action anime is not afraid to solve itself from its actual main character in order to explore exciting stories at side war locations-but makes it difficult for newcomers to follow the wild hustle and bustle.
If you want to blame “Demon Slayer: Kimetsu No Yaiba Infinity Castle – Part 1”, it is the extreme formula of the story. A confrontation with a powerful opponent always follows a flashback that enables an insight into the dramatic history of the individual characters. Although these give the characters more depth, the narrative flow suffers from this approach. After all, these inserts can take over 20 minutes. Anyone who is familiar with the series already knows this structure- including its advantages and disadvantages. But why there was so rigidly captured on the established episodic narrative formula and this was not broken up for the cinema trilogy again.
Column murderers Akaza has to struggle with his tragic past
Nevertheless, the demonic adversaries in particular benefit extremely from the flashbacks. All figures in the “Demon Slayer” universe must suffer suffering and tragedy. While the demon hunters are in response to the atrocity experienced, however, of justice and the sense of community, these cold -blooded killers dominate uncontrolled emotions and self -addiction – which gives them an overly human component. According to the events in “Demon Slayer-The Movie: Mugen Train”, the fact that the history of the pillar killer Akaza (Akira Ishida / Gerrit Schmidt-Foß) could particularly touch no fan would have suspected.
But if you go to a “Demon Slayer” film, you can of course expect one: rousing action in addition to the usual dramatic background stories. In fact, the confrontations held here are definitely the highlight of “Demon Slayer: Kimetsu No Yaiba Infinity Castle – Part 1”. Because these are not only excellently staged and look impressively good, they also benefit enormously from the somewhat streamlined narrative style. Instead of rolling a fight forever – such as the never -ending battle with Hantgu in the “Swordsmith Village Arc” – these quickly come to the climax, without losing drama. Because what is missing in length is made up for by the large canvas and the massive sounds that make every goal noticeable in the audience.
Finally Zenitsu action again!
In total, there is a total of three stinging action sequences in the course of the 156 -minute season of “Demon Slayer: Kimetsu No Yaiba Infinity Castle – Part 1”, of which only Zenitsu Agatsumas (Hiro Shimono / Dirk Petrick) confrontation with your own past falls off in comparison. This cannot keep up with the others both in the emotional depth and the image power – and is still a profit. After all, Zenitsu fans will be happy to finally experience the lively blond head in action again. In the past seasons, it has almost become almost deteriorated to the edge figure and was only used for the same gag. Here he can finally demonstrate that he is more than a cholerian scream that starts to slotten with the slightest danger. His examination of his own demons shows why he quickly rose to the absolute fan favorite at the beginning of the series.
Conclusion: “Demon Slayer: Kimetsu No Yaiba Infinity Castle – Part 1” is an epic final start that not only looks fantastic, but also benefits from a streamlined narrative structure. Only the true flashback storm brakes the animation actioner again and again.