What once felt like an anime fan’s dream is quickly becoming a legitimate awards-season reality. Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle has officially entered the conversation for Best Animated Feature at the Academy Awards, with awards insiders like Gold Derby fueling speculation that it could secure a nomination. And if that happens, it wouldn’t just be a win for one movie it could permanently shift how anime is recognized by Hollywood. The film, which has already crossed ¥25.7 billion at the Japanese box office roughly $175 million in just one month, is also expected to dominate globally. That kind of momentum is impossible for the Academy to ignore.
For a film to even qualify for Oscar consideration in the animation category, it needs to clear several hurdles set by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. First, it must have a theatrical release in Los Angeles County between January 1 and December 31 of the qualifying year. With a U.S. debut scheduled for September 12, Infinity Castle lands right in the middle of the eligibility window. Another rule is runtime: the film must run over 40 minutes and be at least 75 percent animated. This is a non-issue for Infinity Castle, which is a fully animated feature with the kind of visual intensity and narrative scale that defines the Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba franchise. Perhaps the most important logistical hurdle is the requirement for a seven-day consecutive theatrical run with paid admission. In the past, this is where many anime films have faltered, often limited to one-night-only special events or short Fathom-style releases. But Infinity Castle is getting a proper wide release in the U.S. a major shift that reflects its mainstream appeal and gives it a real shot at staying in the awards conversation.
Even more encouraging for international films is the Academy’s updated rule that requires all members to watch every film nominated in the animated category before voting. In previous years, many worthy foreign entries were overlooked simply because voters didn’t bother to watch them. That won’t be the case anymore. If Demon Slayer secures a nomination, voters will be sitting down to experience the full spectacle, Tanjiro, Nezuko, and the Demon Slayer Corps battling through Muzan Kibutsuji’s hellish fortress in explosive, big-screen glory. That exposure alone could change perceptions.
Still, eligibility is only the beginning. Securing a nomination requires a focused, strategic Oscar campaign. This is where Crunchyroll and Aniplex will need to step up, and all signs point to a serious push. Think special Academy screenings, “For Your Consideration” billboards around Los Angeles, industry Q&As with animators, and targeted outreach to voters. With a fanbase as passionate and global as Demon Slayer’s, paired with an increasingly anime-literate film industry, the groundwork is already there. Now it just needs to be activated.
Anime has, of course, already earned a place in Oscar history. Hayao Miyazaki’s Spirited Away broke through in 2003, winning Best Animated Feature and forcing Hollywood to take notice. Two decades later, Miyazaki did it again with THE BOY AND THE HERON, which won the same award in 2024 and reaffirmed anime’s artistic value in the eyes of the Academy. But while both of those films were standalone, auteur-driven projects, Infinity Castle represents something entirely different. It’s not a one-off art film it’s a juggernaut. It’s serialized storytelling from a shonen manga turned global phenomenon, proof that ongoing franchises can deliver emotional stakes and cinematic spectacle at the highest level.
If Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle makes it to the Oscars, it could signal a major cultural shift. It would show that anime doesn’t need to be standalone or niche to be recognized. It doesn’t have to come from Studio Ghibli to be considered worthy. It can be franchise-based, action-packed, and serialized and still be art. That shift could have major ripple effects: longer theatrical runs for anime films in the U.S., more respect from critics and awards voters, and a stronger pipeline for other fan-favorite series like JUJUTSU KAISEN, Chainsaw Man, or One Piece to gain traction in the awards circuit. It could also push American distributors to treat anime as serious cinema, not just fandom content.
This moment feels pivotal. A nomination for Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle wouldn’t just celebrate the work of one studio or one franchise it would send a broader message that anime is no longer on the outside looking in. It’s here, it’s mainstream, and it’s capable of standing shoulder-to-shoulder with the best of Hollywood. And if the Academy takes notice, it might just open the floodgates for a new era of anime recognition in the United States.
Demon Slayer:Kimetsu no Yaiba anime is currently streaming on Crunchyroll. The first Infinity Castle movie opens in U.S. theaters on September 12. For the list for international theatrical dates, check here.
Key Visual:
Crunchyroll describes the movie:
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.
© Koyoharu Gotoge / SHUEISHA, Aniplex, ufotable
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