2025 has been a heated year for anime releases. This year saw the return of many incredible series, such as Solo Leveling and The Apothecary Diaries, and some others finally began their journey, like Gachiakuta. While anime seasons dominated from the beginning to the end, anime movies enjoyed quite a big year as well. 2025 has definitely been one of the best years for anime movies in quite a while.
Demon Slayer: Every Demon in the Infinity Castle
The demons are ruthless in the Infinity Castle and ready to take on the Demon Slayers.
Recently, Japan also went on to decide the best anime movie of 2025. The 50th Hochi Film Awards just concluded in Japan, and it officially revealed the best anime movie of the year to the fans. To no one's surprise, Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle Part 1 — Akaza’s Return ended up as the winner. Demon Slayer keeps making history, so for it to win this award after an unprecedented year is a given. Its domination over anime isn’t going to slow down anytime soon either, and fans await the next two movies in this soon-to-be legendary trilogy.
Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle Part 1 Wins 50th Hochi Film Awards For Best Animated Feature
2025 featured quite a lot of incredible anime movie releases, but if there’s one that truly stood out from the rest, it’s Demon Slayer’s new hit release. Following its success with Mugen Train back in 2020, Demon Slayer returned in 2025 with an even bigger movie, titled Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle Part 1 - Akaza’s Return.
This movie was first released in Japan in July, and since then, it has truly taken over the world. Breaking multiple records both in Japan and abroad, the movie has definitely gotten on everybody’s radars.
With that in mind, fans won’t be surprised to learn that Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle Part 1 — Akaza’s Return has been officially decided as Japan’s best animated movie. Indeed, during the 50th Hochi Film Awards, Infinity Castle won the title of best animated feature.
Infinity Castle Beats Chainsaw Man: Reze Arc And Scarlet
Demon Slayer won the 50th Hochi Film Awards as the best anime movie of the year, but it faced some heated competition from other big anime movie releases.
Also nominated for the same award was Chainsaw Man: Reze Arc, and it was quite easily the biggest rival for Demon Slayer. While Chainsaw Man didn’t achieve box office numbers anywhere close to Demon Slayer, it was rated far higher by the fans.
Reze Arc received such high ratings by fans that it is the highest-rated anime movie of all time on MAL, which is incredibly impressive. It is also the second-highest rated anime of all time, just behind Frieren, and this is definitely no small achievement.
Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle Won’t Be The End Of The Series
Demon Slayer is a major series, and it won't end with the Infinity Castle movies.
Aside from Reze Arc, Scarlet was also nominated for this award. Scarlet isn’t really a mainstream anime movie outside of Japan, so many fans would be surprised to see it nominated for such a huge award.
Regardless, Scarlet was a stunning movie that more fans overseas should give a chance to. A movie based on Hamlet and produced by Studio Chizu, it was definitely an experience in theaters for many.
Demon Slayer Will Continue To Be Successful With Infinity Castle Parts 2 And 3 Release
Demon Slayer experienced unprecedented levels of success with its Infinity Castle movie in 2025, but the series is truthfully just getting started.
Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle Part 1 is the first of three movies aimed to conclude the story of the franchise. Out of the three, the first one might actually be the smallest.
The next step for Demon Slayer is Infinity Castle Part 2. This upcoming movie will feature even more intense battles, with animation just as good as the first one, if not better. It doesn’t have a release date yet, but a fair assumption would be sometime around 2027.
And after that, Demon Slayer will prepare for its conclusion, which comes with Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle Part 3. This movie will cover the last battle of humanity to take down the king of demons, Muzan, once and for all. The stakes will be higher than ever before, and fans will hold their breath for what’s to unfold.
Just like Infinity Castle Part 2, it has no release date, but fans assume it will be released around 2029.