If you heard distant screams coming from San Diego on July 26, don’t worry. It was just every anime fan collectively losing their minds in Hall H. Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba made an unforgettable splash at Comic-Con 2025, treating fans to an exclusive deep dive into Infinity Castle, the highly anticipated first film in a cinematic trilogy adapting the anime’s final arc.
With Crunchyroll and Sony Pictures Entertainment leading the charge, this panel wasn’t just a celebration. It was a full-on declaration that Demon Slayer is going out with the biggest bang possible.
Behind the Animation Magic
The panel kicked off with director Haruo Sotozaki and director of photography Yuichi Terao revealing just how intricate and collaborative the animation process has become at ufotable. Sotozaki spoke about preserving the integrity of the manga’s original art, right down to line thickness and elemental technique styles. Water Breathing, for example, draws from traditional ukiyo-e art, combining 3D modeling with 2D hand-drawn flourishes. It’s equal parts animation and alchemy.
Terao compared his work to assembling a puzzle with dozens of unique pieces from multiple departments: character animation, backgrounds, effects, and more. The challenge? Making it all look seamless on the big screen. And based on the teaser footage shown, they’ve more than succeeded.
The First 15 Minutes: A No-Leak Miracle
In a shocking twist for modern fandom, the first 15 minutes of Infinity Castle were screened exclusively for the Hall H crowd and didn’t leak. That alone felt like a Comic-Con miracle.
The opening pulls no punches. A solemn flashback introduces a sickly Ubuyashiki warning of Muzan’s looming arrival. We then watch Tanjiro fall through the shifting, kaleidoscopic void of the Infinity Castle as LiSA’s new theme, Shine in the Cruel Night, plays. Yes, she performed it live. More on that in a second.
The footage showcased a chaotic, emotional battle sequence with several Hashira already in combat. Giyu rescues Tanjiro mid-fall, Gyomei and Tokito team up, and Mitsuri and Obanai fight in perfect harmony. Zenitsu’s transformation is teased as well. He’s no longer the panic-stricken sidekick. He’s angry and focused.
Voice Stars Tease Emotional Arcs
Natsuki Hanae, the Japanese voice of Tanjiro, and Aleks Le, the English voice of Zenitsu, joined the panel to reflect on their characters’ growth. Aleks hinted that fans would see a new, more vulnerable side of Zenitsu in the film.
“I’ve been voicing this character for a long time,” Le said. “But something that we haven’t seen yet is his more vulnerable side. This film is going to bring out a whole new version of him that nobody’s prepared for” (ComicBook.com).
LiSA’s Surprise Performance Sends Fans Into Orbit
Just when we thought the panel couldn’t get more dramatic, J-pop sensation LiSA herself stepped out to perform Shine in the Cruel Night, the brand-new theme song for the upcoming film. LiSA, best known for her powerhouse vocals on Gurenge (the original Demon Slayer opening that basically became an anthem), is no stranger to bringing emotional weight to anime through music. Her voice has become inseparable from the heart and soul of Kimetsu no Yaiba, so to have her return and perform live for the first time at SDCC was nothing short of iconic.
Why This Trilogy Matters
Infinity Castle isn’t just the beginning of the end—it’s a landmark moment for anime in cinema. With a reported runtime of over two hours and an IMAX release in the works, this film pushes the limits of what anime finales can be. The emotional stakes are higher, the visuals are richer, and the battles are more brutal than ever. According to current reports, Chapters 2 and 3 of the trilogy are expected sometime around 2027 and 2029, though official dates haven’t been confirmed.
Director Sotozaki said it best: “I absolutely hope that the American moviegoing audience will have the opportunity to go to theaters and experience Infinity Castle on the big screen” (Crunchyroll News). Spoiler: we absolutely will. Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – Infinity Castle hits U.S. theaters on September 12, 2025, with tickets going on sale August 15.
