The first Demon Slayer movie of new Infinity Castle trilogy arrives this fall

Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle, the highly anticipated adaptation of the shonen manga’s finale arc, is finally headed to theaters. After Crunchyroll unveiled plans for a trilogy of films bringing the story to screen, the anime streamer announced on Wednesday that Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle would hit U.S. theaters on Sept. 12.

Crunchyroll and Sony Pictures are planning a global rollout of the film, which is the first of three movies that will tell the Infinity Castle arc. Here’s the complete rundown of dates:

• Aug. 14: Malaysia, Singapore, Pakistan
• Aug. 15: Cambodia, Indonesia, Vietnam
• Aug. 20: Philippines
• Sept. 11: Mexico, Chile, Peru, Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Caribbean (Jamaica, Aruba, Suriname, Trinidad & Tobago, Curacao), Central America, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Paraguay, Uruguay, Venezuela, Australia, New Zealand, Thailand, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Egypt, Ethiopia, Georgia, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Iraq, Israel, Italy, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Lithuania, Macedonia, Netherlands, Oman, Portugal, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Switzerland (Italian-speaking), Syria, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates
• Sept. 12: India, Mongolia, Spain, Bulgaria, Estonia, Finland, Kenya, Latvia, Nigeria, Norway, Poland, Romania, Southern Africa, Sweden, Turkey, United Kingdom
• Sept. 17: Belgium, France, French-speaking Africa, Luxembourg, Switzerland (French-speaking)
• Sept. 18: Moldova
• Sept. 25: Austria, Germany, Switzerland (German-speaking)

The launch of Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle will be a particularly fascinating inflection point for Sony, which is investing heavily not only in anime, but in places to show anime. In June 2024, the Sony acquired the American theater chain Alamo Drafthouse with the express purpose of platforming more theatrical anime releases. The gamble makes financial sense: In 2020, Demon Slayer: Mugen Train became the highest-grossing anime movie of all time, the highest-grossing Japanese film at the global box office of all time, and the second-highest grossing anime film in U.S. box office history with a gross of $49.5 million. Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle could be bigger, as popularity in anime escalates.

Crunchyroll had few other details about the film, but did provide a new synopsis, which won’t surprise manga readers — but hopefully tides them over for the next few months:

Tanjiro Kamado – a boy who joined an organization dedicated to hunting down demons called the Demon Slayer Corps after his younger sister Nezuko was turned into a demon. 

While growing stronger and deepening his friendships and bonds with fellow corps members, Tanjiro has battled many demons with his comrades – Zenitsu Agatsuma and Inosuke Hashibira. Along the way, his journey has led him to fight alongside the Demon Slayer Corps’ highest-ranking swordsmen, the Hashira, including Flame Hashira Kyojuro Rengoku aboard the Mugen Train, Sound Hashira Tengen Uzui within the Entertainment District, as well as Mist Hashira Muichiro Tokito and Love Hashira Mitsuri Kanroji at the Swordsmith Village.

As the Demon Slayer Corps members and Hashira engaged in a group strength training program, the Hashira Training, in preparation for the forthcoming battle against the demons, Muzan Kibutsuji appears at the Ubuyashiki Mansion. With the head of the Demon Corps in danger, Tanjiro and the Hashira rush to the headquarters but are plunged into a deep descent to a mysterious space by the hands of Muzan Kibutsuji.

The destination of where Tanjiro and Demon Slayer Corps have fallen is the demons’ stronghold – the Infinity Castle. And so, the battleground is set as the final battle between the Demon Slayer Corps and the demons ignites.