Demon Slayer’s Biggest Threat Isn’t Muzan; It’s Infinity Castle’s Pacing

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Demon Slayer is a popular anime celebrated for its touching story, endearing characters, and stunning animation by Ufotable. The close relationship between the siblings Tanjiro and Nezuko Kamado is a major reason why it’s connected with so many fans. Despite its huge success, the series isn’t flawless, and one particular weakness prevents it from being a true standout in the anime world.

Many viewers have criticized *Demon Slayer* for its straightforward plot, simple characters, and predictable story. The film *Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle* shares these weaknesses, feeling fragmented and repetitive. The movie spends too much time on characters’ backstories, slowing down the action. Ironically, the biggest problem with *Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle* isn’t the villain Muzan – who appears briefly – but the way the story is told.

Demon Slayer Refuses to Drop Shonen Anime’s Worst Battle Trope

Many action anime heroes announce their attacks and talk to their opponents during battles, and *Demon Slayer* uses this technique quite a bit, particularly in the *Infinity Castle* arc. While the fight between Akaza, Tanjiro, and Giyu looked fantastic, it felt unnecessarily long because of constant flashbacks and endless talking during the action.

Seeing glimpses of his human side is what made the latter part of *Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle* so moving. Remembering his father’s skills also helps Tanjiro, the main character, figure out how to defeat Akaza. Though, the story could have been more fast-paced if Tanjiro’s thoughts weren’t so lengthy.

The fight between Doma and Shinobu felt more like a dramatic performance than a real battle, leaving the scene feeling disjointed. This isn’t limited to the Infinity Castle arc, though; the series as a whole struggles with this. For example, Rengoku and Akaza spent a lot of time talking before their final attacks in the Mugen Train arc. In contrast, the fight between Tengen and Gyutaro in the Entertainment District arc was one of the best in *Demon Slayer* because the action took center stage and there wasn’t much unnecessary explanation. A few well-timed moments of silence could have improved the movie, but *Demon Slayer* didn’t choose to use them.

Demon Slayer’s Movie Trilogy Saga Is Killing a Good Story With Bad Pacing

The final arc of *Demon Slayer*, known as the Infinity Castle saga, will be adapted into three movies. While the first film is already planned, the second and third are currently expected in 2027 and 2029. However, this approach could be a mistake if the story isn’t well-suited for a movie format. The original manga was released weekly, with a pace and cliffhangers designed for that schedule. Things like lengthy internal thoughts and extended dialogue that worked fine in the series might feel slow and drag down the action when presented as a film.

The movie *Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle* has a pacing issue, and unless the story is changed, future films will likely suffer from the same problem. With a TV series, fans only have to wait a week for a new episode, which is much easier when you’re invested in a story like this, especially wanting to know how the conflict with Muzan will resolve. But releasing the story as movies means *Demon Slayer* fans could be waiting four years to see how everything ends.

While movies usually have bigger budgets and more polished production, Ufotable consistently delivers incredible animation even for TV series. The fight between Tengen and Gyutaro is a prime example, widely considered one of the best animated scenes in anime. However, *Demon Slayer* often slows down with lengthy flashbacks during crucial moments, which holds it back from being a truly perfect shonen anime. Ultimately, the biggest problem with *Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle* isn’t any particular enemy, but rather the story’s uneven pacing.

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2025-10-09 18:38