Lauren Moore (panel host), Mikey McNamara (interpreter), Haruo Sotozaki (Director, ufotable), Yuichi Terao (Director of Photography, ufotable), Natsuki Hanae (Japanese voice of Tanjiro Kamado), Aleks Le (English voice of Zenitsu Agatsuma). Photo credit: Matthew Coleto for Crunchyroll. ©Koyoharu Gotoge / SHUEISHA, Aniplex, ufotable
Crunchyroll and Sony Pictures Entertainment will Bring the First Film of the Epic Trilogy to Movie Theatres in North America on September 12, 2025
Source: Crunchyroll
Special Thanks to Lizzie Osterkamp
LiSA performs the theme song. Photo credit: Matthew Coleto for Crunchyroll. ©Koyoharu Gotoge / SHUEISHA, Aniplex, ufotable
Last Saturday at San Diego Comic-Con, Crunchyroll hosted a Hall H Panel for DEMON SLAYER: KIMETSU NO YAIBA INFINITY CASTLE (劇場版「鬼滅の刃」無限城編, Gekijō-ban `Kimetsu no Yaiba' Mugen-jō Hen). In attendance were Haruo Sotozaki (Director, ufotable), Yuichi Terao (Director of Photography, ufotable), Natsuki Hanae (Japanese voice of Tanjiro Kamado), Aleks Le (English voice of Zenitsu Agatsuma) and LiSA (Music artist of DEMON SLAYER: KIMETSU NO YAIBA INFINITY CASTLE theme song)
The first feature film in the three-part cinematic trilogy will come to IMAX and premium large format theatres in the United States and Canada on September 12, 2025, distributed by Crunchyroll and Sony Pictures Entertainment. Tickets for North America will go on sale on Friday, August 15.
DEMON SLAYER: KIMETSU NO YAIBA INFINITY CASTLE opened in Japan last weekend, breaking three box office opening weekend records, including the highest opening day, first day, and single day results of all time for Japan! The film, distributed by Toho and Aniplex, generated 7.31 billion yen (US$49.55 million) in the box office revenue in the first four-days of release. For more detailed information, please visit the Crunchyroll News article.
During the panel, LiSA kicked off Hall H with an electric performance of Gurenge, and for the first time ever, performed the new theme song "Shine in the Cruel Night". Director Haruo Sotozaki and Director of Photography Yuichi Terao debuted a new film visual from the stage as well as announced the ticket on sale date for the United States (August 15). Fans were also treated to the epic action-packed footage of the beginning of the film – the first 13 minutes! – featuring striking visual animation from famed animation studio ufotable, the first time International audiences saw it outside of Japan.
View the video of LiSA performing "Shine in the Cruel Night" (SACRA MUSIC / Sony Music Labels Inc.) here: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/AquLz_ecaO8
San Diego Comic Con Hall H Panel Quotes
Haruo Sotozaki (regarding bringing the manga to screen): "I paid very close attention to the thickness of the lines from the manga. I want to make sure that that information was preserved when we took it from manga to anime. So it took a lot of trial and error, playing with the thickness of the lines in the anime itself – with my director of photography – to finally land on the anime visuals that you see in the water breathing technique. We drew inspiration from ancient Japanese ukiyo-e style artwork."
Yuichi Terao (regarding his role in the film): "As the director of photography in anime, we get all these different materials from different team members. So we'll have the character animation, the background, the effects, and they'll all land on my desk. I take all of these different elements and then compile them in a single shot. Then, we will do the lighting and make the final look and any 2D effects that might be needed. So, we will go through and do the color, the lighting -- maybe rain, snow, smoke, that type of effect. Ultimately translating that into the world setting that you have in DEMON SLAYER. At ufotable and DEMON SLAYER, we are going for the most epic and the most gorgeous animation you can get."
Photo credit: Matthew Coleto for Crunchyroll. ©Koyoharu Gotoge / SHUEISHA, Aniplex, ufotable
Natsuki Hanae (regarding the new versus image): "So, I know I can't tell you what's going to happen in the movie, but perhaps this visual gave us a few hints. You know, maybe Tanjiro is going to go up against Akaza. I know in MUGEN TRAIN, Tanjiro couldn't do anything, so it's going to be a spectacle to see how much Tanjiro has grown since the last film."
Aleks Le (regarding Zenitsu Agatsuma): "I've been voicing this character for a long time, and how I would describe him to a lot of people is that he's very extreme on all ends. He's very extreme on the comedic side. On the focus side. We have seen these two sides of him, but something that we haven't seen yet is his more vulnerable side, truly. And, I feel that this film is going to bring out a whole new version of things that nobody is prepared for."
Yuichi Terao (regarding San Diego Comic Con): "Thank you guys so much for all the cheering, all the energy. I am so glad I took the trip all the way from Japan to San Diego to see this. I think what makes movies so amazing is how they transport you to another world. So on September 12, the INFINITY CASTLE is coming to you guys. So I hope you all see it in the movie theaters."
Haruo Sotozaki (regarding San Diego Comic-Con): "Thank you guys so much for today, I'm going to take what I experienced here at Hall H, bring it back to ufotable and share it with staff."
Film Synopsis
Tanjiro Kamado – a boy who joined an organization dedicated to hunting down demons called the Demon Slayer Corps after his younger sister Nezuko was turned into a demon.
While growing stronger and deepening his friendships and bonds with fellow corps members, Tanjiro has battled many demons with his comrades – Zenitsu Agatsuma and Inosuke Hashibira. Along the way, his journey has led him to fight alongside the Demon Slayer Corps’ highest-ranking swordsmen, the Hashira, including Flame Hashira Kyojuro Rengoku aboard the Mugen Train, Sound Hashira Tengen Uzui within the Entertainment District, as well as Mist Hashira Muichiro Tokito and Love Hashira Mitsuri Kanroji at the Swordsmith Village.
As the Demon Slayer Corps members and Hashira engaged in a group strength training program, the Hashira Training, in preparation for the forthcoming battle against the demons, Muzan Kibutsuji appears at the Ubuyashiki Mansion. With the head of the Demon Corps in danger, Tanjiro and the Hashira rush to the headquarters but are plunged into a deep descent to a mysterious space by the hands of Muzan Kibutsuji.
The destination of where Tanjiro and Demon Slayer Corps have fallen is the demons’ stronghold – the Infinity Castle. And so, the battleground is set as the final battle between the Demon Slayer Corps and the demons ignites.
Director: Haruo Sotozaki
Original Story: Koyoharu Gotoge (JUMP COMICS / SHUEISHA)
Screenplay and Animation Production: ufotable
Photo credit: Matthew Coleto for Crunchyroll. ©Koyoharu Gotoge / SHUEISHA, Aniplex, ufotable
About DEMON SLAYER: KIMETSU NO YAIBA
DEMON SLAYER: KIMETSU NO YAIBA is based on the manga series by Koyoharu Gotoge published under SHUEISHA's JUMP COMICS, which consists of 23 volumes and over 150 million copies in publication. The franchise has won the admiration of millions of fans around the globe since its debut in 2019. The story begins when Tanjiro Kamado, a boy whose family is killed by a demon, joins the Demon Slayer Corps to turn his younger sister Nezuko back into a human after she is transformed into a demon.
DEMON SLAYER: KIMETSU NO YAIBA first premiered in April 2019 with the TANJIRO KAMADO, UNWAVERING RESOLVE ARC, followed by the feature film MUGEN TRAIN in October 2020, and the TV series MUGEN TRAIN ARC and ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICT ARC from 2021 through 2022. In 2023, the SWORDSMITH VILLAGE ARC debuted on Crunchyroll, shortly after the DEMON SLAYER: KIMETSU NO YAIBA -TO THE SWORDSMITH VILLAGE- theatrical release. In 2024, the HASHIRA TRAINING ARC debuted, shortly after the DEMON SLAYER: KIMETSU NO YAIBA -TO HASHIRA TRAINING- theatrical release. The animation production is by ufotable.
The latest films – MUGEN TRAIN, -TO THE SWORDSMITH VILLAGE-, and -TO THE HASHIRA TRAINING- – have received both commercial and critical success. MUGEN TRAIN currently holds the record as the highest-grossing anime movie of all time and the highest-grossing Japanese film at the global box office, garnering over 500 million USD to date. It currently ranks as the second-highest grossing anime film in U.S. box office history. It also garnered a 98% critic score and 99% audience score (with 10,000+ verified ratings) on Rotten Tomatoes.
DEMON SLAYER: KIMETSU NO YAIBA is currently available to stream on Crunchyroll.
Original story: Koyoharu Gotoge
Animation Production: ufotable
Official Website: demonslayer-anime.com
Official Facebook: facebook.com/DemonSlayer.anime
Official X: x.com/DemonSlayerUSA
About Crunchyroll
Crunchyroll, LLC is an independently operated joint venture between U.S.-based Sony Pictures Entertainment and Japan’s Aniplex, a subsidiary of Sony Music Entertainment (Japan) Inc., both subsidiaries of Tokyo-based Sony Group.
Films distributed and marketed by Crunchyroll—domestically and internationally—have a proven track record of both box office and critical success. Crunchyroll’s theatrical team has been behind 10 of the Top 20 best-performing anime films in U.S. box office history, including DEMON SLAYER -KIMETSU NO YAIBA- THE MOVIE: MUGEN TRAIN, DEMON SLAYER: KIMETSU NO YAIBA -TO THE SWORDSMITH VILLAGE-, and DEMON SLAYER: KIMETSU NO YAIBA -TO THE HASHIRA TRAINING-. Not only have Crunchyroll films seen box office success, but have also been recognized with numerous awards and accolades and been accepted and screened at international film festivals around the globe.
About Aniplex Inc.
Aniplex Inc. (ANX) is a diversified entertainment company operating worldwide with focus on the planning and production of anime video and music content, its distribution in theaters and broadcast syndication as well as their respective physical and digital products, development of related game apps and merchandise such as figurines and apparel, stage production of musicals and live events, and operating the online store “Aniplex Online” which provides hand-picked items for sale.
About Sony Pictures Entertainment
Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE) is a subsidiary of Tokyo-based Sony Group Corporation. SPE's global operations encompass motion picture production, acquisition, and distribution; television production, acquisition, and distribution; television networks; digital content creation and distribution; operation of studio facilities; and development of new entertainment products, services and technologies. Sony Pictures Television operates dozens of wholly-owned or joint-venture production companies around the world. SPE’s Motion Picture Group production organizations include Columbia Pictures, Screen Gems, TriStar Pictures, 3000 Pictures, Sony Pictures Animation, Stage 6 Films, AFFIRM Films, Sony Pictures International Productions, and Sony Pictures Classics.