Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle trilogy’s first film has finally been released worldwide, and with a runtime longer than many Avengers films, it delivers everything fans had hoped for. The movie initiates the series’ climax, setting up the main hero, Tanjiro Kamado, to face the final villain, Kibutsuji Muzan. The first film is titled Part 1: Akaza, and while the title suggests the focus will primarily be on the Upper Moon Rank Three demon, Akaza, it also features several other major battles. In total, there are two additional fights, placing the Demon Slayers against other Upper Moon Rank demons.
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The first fight depicts Shinobu Kocho confronting the Upper Moon Rank Two demon, Doma, where it is revealed that Doma killed Shinobu’s sister, Kanae Kocho. The second fight, which fans did not expect, shows Zenitsu facing the new Upper Moon Rank Six demon, Kaigaku. The main event, however, is Tanjiro and Giyu teaming up against Akaza. Despite these three major battles and the backing of a large film budget, the movie still does not surpass the fight against the former Upper Moon Six demons, Gyutaro and Daki. That battle remains the best in the series, built on strong foundations that the film’s three fights simply could not match. Warning! Massive spoilers for Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle to follow!
Fights in Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle Lack Proper Foundations
Up until Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle, whenever a demon was introduced in the series, they were given proper foundations, often exploring their backstory or their influence in the world of Demon Slayer. However, in the first Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle movie, even though there are three major fights, two of which are concluded, they lack the same impact as the one in the Entertainment District Arc. In that arc, the story carefully set up the environment, the main characters, and the villains, showing how important it was to defeat Daki, the Upper Moon Six, before the fighting even began.
While it is even more important to defeat the Upper Ranks, in the movie, Shinobu’s confrontation with Doma has little groundwork laid in real time, with only minimal backstory. While Shinobu gives her all in the battle, it ends almost immediately. Similarly, Zenitsu’s fight with Kaigaku had no prior hints and is only explained once Zenitsu directly confronts him. Although Zenitsu impresses with his Seventh Form technique and Ufotable once again delivers with stunning lightning visuals, the fight is also short-lived. As for the final battle with Akaza, while it showcases some of the most amazing techniques and carries emotional weight, by the end of the film, fans are left adjusting to the rapid pacing, with little room for the action to develop.
Demon Slayer: Entertainment District’s Final Fight Is Still The Best
The fight against the Upper Moon Rank Six demons, Gyutaro and Daki, at the end of the Entertainment District is built on strong foundations, multiple characters, and twists that keep fans on the edge of their seats. The first major twist comes with Gyutaro’s entrance, revealing that he and Daki are connected and can only be killed if both are beheaded together. The battle escalates with Gyutaro’s scythe attacks, animated in crimson red to emphasize his demonic power and elevate the fight thematically. What makes this fight stand out even more is the sheer number of characters involved, not only the Sound Hashira, Tengen Uzui, but also his three wives alongside the series’ main trio.
When it first seems that Tanjiro and the others succeed in beheading Daki, waiting only for Uzui to defeat Gyutaro, the shocking twist reveals that the Hashira has been critically wounded, losing his left hand. Just as it becomes clear the demons hold the upper hand, Tanjiro delivers a desperate headbutt to Gyutaro, infusing him with poison for one last strike, while Zenitsu pushes his technique to the limit in an attempt to behead Daki. Yet Gyutaro still overpowers Tanjiro until Uzui reappears. Despite losing a hand and sustaining grave injuries, including damage to his left eye, Uzui’s adrenaline-fueled resolve drives him forward.
His battle cries heighten the intensity as he suppresses Gyutaro long enough for Tanjiro to deliver the decisive blow, while Zenitsu and Inosuke manage to decapitate Daki at the same time. The fight doesn’t end there, as Gyutaro unleashes a final suicidal attack, exploding his body with circular slashes that devastate the entire area. The episode closes with the last couple of minutes featuring only silence and settling ashes, amplifying the tension until the very end. This battle stands in a league of its own, highlighting how Ufotable went above and beyond, even adding anime-original scenes to intensify the spectacle.
Unfortunately, this also shows how much more impactful the fights in the first Infinity Castle movie could have been had they been adapted into the anime format. The film’s decision to cut several manga scenes reflects Ufotable’s chosen approach with these installments. Had they expanded the intricate Infinity Castle arc for the anime, similar to the Hashira Training arc, the battles, especially Tanjiro and Giyu versus Akaza, could have reached an even higher level, showcasing Akaza’s unparalleled hand-to-hand combat and one of the saddest backstories in Demon Slayer.
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