Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle's huge success has really opened doors in the future to many other anime films that have yet to hit theatres. The Hollywood Creative Alliance finally recognised and celebrated the highly anticipated movie that came from one of the most popular anime franchises ever. It is now able to compete in an arena where most Anime films have experienced difficulty.The fact that Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle is nominated for the Nine Astra Film Awards in the Best Animated Feature category proves that there's been support from within the industry for this animated film. This gives it a huge chance at competing with other big-budget studios.Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle Competing Against Strong ContendersAkaza's Blood Demon Art (Image Source: Studio Ufotable)Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle has some serious competition when trying to win the award for Best Animated Feature. The film is competing with five other nominees, including Disney's Zootopia 2, which is a continuation of the acclaimed franchise. Netflix has its entries In Your Dreams and KPop Demon Hunters that also made the nomination list.The other nominees this year consist of Arco from Neon and Little Amélie or the Character of Rain from GKids. All of these titles represent a different way to tell interactive stories with animation, so it shows how diverse animation is becoming as a medium on a worldwide level nowadays.Award Season Momentum BuildsThe animation beauty of Demon Slayer Infinity Castle (Image Source: Studio Ufotable)The Astra Film Awards announcement comes at an important time in regards to the awards season. The nomination may end up giving Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle much-needed visibility as voting entities begin to evaluate and recognize animated films. The Hollywood Creative Alliance has a unique submission methodology with 310 members across different industry sectors.Industry specialists believe that early nominations provide potential insight into where a film could go. The Astra Awards ceremony will be held on January 9, 2026, in Los Angeles, and the winners will be announced approximately one month before the Academy Awards nominations are released at the end of January 2026.Oscar Implications and Shortlist StatusCreative art of the Infinity Castle movie (Image Source: Studio Ufotable)With such a busy award season ahead, it's only natural that the nomination would have increased importance when it comes to being considered for a potential Oscar. There are currently 35 animated features eligible for nomination for the 98th Academy Awards; only five of those films will eventually receive Oscar nominations for Best Animated Feature.Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle will need to maintain its momentum to earn other accolades in addition to its Astra Awards nomination. Unlike the Academy's five-slots limited structure, the Astra Awards' six-nominations format gives more animated films more chances to be recognized during the competitive nominations season.What's Next for the FilmAs awards season progresses, Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle will continue to pursue accolades from various critic groups and guilds, based on how well it did at the Astra Awards and how it may affect how certain voting organizations vote. As a supporter of anime exportation globally, Crunchyroll was able to distribute the film through its distribution channels.Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle will find out if it can convert its Astra Awards nomination into a win on January 31. Regardless of the outcome, the nomination provides further validation of the film's artistic achievements and cultural significance to millions of fans around the world.