Atsuhiro Iwakamipresident of Aniplex and recognized as one of the key planners behind the global success of the anime franchise “Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba,” expressed his optimism about the impact of the upcoming film “Infinity Castle” on the international market. In a recent interview with The Hollywood Reporter (THR), Iwakami stated: “Since the previous release, Kimetsu no Yaiba’s global fanbase has grown significantly, so we expect the new film to outperform that performance in international markets.».
The immediate reference is “Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – Mugen Train”, which managed to gross $507 million at the global box office, of which 90% ($457 million) came from abroad. Interest in the franchise has grown exponentially since then. Likewise, its inclusion on Netflix further expanded its reach, managing to debut at #5 in the ranking of series not spoken in English on the platform, even after having previously been broadcast in Asian territories.
Netflix has also proven to be a major player in anime distribution, generating greater revenue from anime streaming globally than Crunchyroll and Hulu combined. This growth in the viewer base could play a crucial role in the performance of the upcoming film.
During CES 2025, Iwakami also mentioned: “There are many more opportunities for Sony companies to collaborate on a global scale around anime». This was demonstrated with the announcement of an anime adaptation of “Ghost of Tsushima”, a project that involves four Sony Group companies: Crunchyroll, Aniplex, Sony Music and PlayStation Productions.
The first Infinity Castle film, scheduled for release in 2025, will adapt Volumes 16 and 17 of Koyoharu Gotouge’s manga. The story follows the demon hunters as they enter the castle to confront the powerful Muzan. Featured battles include Shinobu’s fierce fight against Doma, the Upper Moon 2, as well as a crucial showdown for Zenitsu.
Fountain: The Hollywood Reporter
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