Crunchyroll to send Demon Slayer Infinity Castle for the Oscars after the film breaks yet another US record

Movie poster
Movie poster (Image Credits: Ufotable)

Demon Slayer Infinity Castle is one of the most discussed anime movies in recent history, surpassing worldwide distribution records with its impressive visuals and emotional storyline.

Demon Slayer Infinity Castle transports the viewers to the center of the world of Muzan, where Tanjiro, the Hashira, and friends confront insurmountable demonic forces. Its colossal box office success has been met with arguments on how far anime can go in the world of cinema.

With its business success and its imperative buzz, the question is: will Crunchyroll enter Demon Slayer Infinity Castle in the Oscars? The answer is yes! The company is submitting the film for consideration in the Best Animated Feature category.

Shinobu Kocho (Image Credits: Ufotable)
Shinobu Kocho (Image Credits: Ufotable)

The film had a record-breaking U.S. opening weekend, during which Demon Slayer Infinity Castle made approximately $70 million, the highest opening ever of an animated movie in America. The presence of Crunchyroll is an indicator that it believes the movie can step out of the niche anime market and compete on a wider platform like the Oscars.

Technically, there is a cinematic quality to Demon Slayer Infinity Castle that qualifies it as a viable Oscar nominee. The Ufotable animation is refined, the battle choreography is energetic, and the emotional nature of Tanjiro dealing with loss, responsibility, and sacrifice is universal. The critics have hailed the visual immersion and narrative stakes. All these elevate the film in awards discussions.

Gyomei Himejima (Image Credits: Ufotable)
Gyomei Himejima (Image Credits: Ufotable)

The next aspect in favor of the campaign is that Demon Slayer Infinity Castle already has the vibe of a legacy one. It adapts one of the peaks of the manga, providing it with both narrative gravity and fan anticipation. Its thematic richness - its commentary on sacrifice, legacy, mortality, and heroism is not confined to fandom. The movie is close to the conclusion of the Demon Slayer story, and its cultural influence is not limited to one anime film.


Demon Slayer Infinity Castle and Its Oscar Ambitions

Although they are obliged to meet eligibility requirements, especially with theatrical release windows and qualifying runs, Crunchyroll's commitment reveals their desire to make the film more of a mainstream animation than a niche genre film. By doing that, it becomes open to criticism, juries, and institutions that would have ignored anime otherwise.

Beyond Oscar hopes, the campaign can also target other big prizes, including the Annie Awards, International Animation Film prizes, and festivals. Every victory or nomination will serve to confirm further the role of anime in world cinema, and Demon Slayer Infinity Castle has the box office and critical acclaim to back such a goal.

Tanjiro falling in Muzan's Castle (Image Credits: Ufotable)
Tanjiro falling in Muzan's Castle (Image Credits: Ufotable)

However, challenges remain. Anime has not fared well in the Oscars, and the animation division of the Academy traditionally tends towards non-anime and Western work. Demon Slayer Infinity Castle will need to compete with high-budget international animations with big studios supporting them. The success of the campaign will depend not only on the artistic value of the film, but also on the ability of Crunchyroll to push the film to the Academy and wider critics.

Doma (Image Credits: Ufotable)
Doma (Image Credits: Ufotable)

The other possible obstacle is time. The campaign should make the film eligible for run time and qualifying markets. The strategy of Crunchyroll should strike a balance between the success of the film at the box office and the necessity to shift towards awards season when the movie is still in the spotlight.


Demon Slayer Infinity Castle could have a strong run in awards because of its historic box office revenue in the U.S., quality production, moving story, and international appeal. Although there are barriers to anime due to the historical underrepresentation and eligibility regulations, the Crunchyroll campaign implies that they think Infinity Castle has earned its place on the top table of the cinema.

Edited by Nimisha