The final battle has begun in “Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – The Movie: Infinity Castle,” the first of a three-part film series which was released globally in August and September 2025. As Tanjiro and his friends find themselves dropped into the heart of the Mugen Castle after finally encountering Muzan Kibutsuji, the ultimate showdown with the demons begins.
To mark this momentous occasion, we sat down with Takahiro Sakurai, the voice actor for Giyu Tomioka, who shares that the film's "overwhelmingly high-quality animation" is a testament to the creators' commitment and a pivotal moment for both the fans and characters.
"Finally," "At last," "It's here"
— "Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba the Movie: The Infinity Castle, Part 1: Akaza Returns" was released (in Japan) on Friday, July 18th. The anime series, which first aired in April 2019, is now in its sixth year and has finally reached the "Infinity Castle Arc". How do you feel about reaching this point?
Takahiro Sakurai (hereinafter Sakurai), voice of Giyu Tomioka: Words like "finally," "at last," and "it's here" come to mind. Those phrases really express how I'm feeling right now. Giyu has been in the series since the first episode of the "Tanjiro Kamado, Unwavering Resolve Arc," but his appearances were sporadic after that. In the "Hashira Training Arc," his past was thoroughly explored, which was a significant development. The "Infinity Castle Arc" starts with the momentum of the "Hashira Training Arc," and I had the sensation of being swallowed up by the massive vortex of Master’s (Ubuyashiki) grand plan and falling into the Infinity Castle. In that sense, "at last" probably fits best.
— In that case, did you feel any pressure going into the recording for the "Infinity Castle Arc"?
Sakurai: Not at all, I was just my usual self. It's the same with other projects, rather than tension or pressure, the atmosphere is just filled with a sense of focus on the recording and the performance. There were no discussions with Hanae-kun (Natsuki Hanae, who plays Tanjiro) or Ishida-san (Akira Ishira, who plays Akaza), everyone was simply focused on the story. I think the atmosphere was one where everyone was simply fulfilling their roles.
— Please share your honest thoughts after watching “Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba the Movie: The Infinity Castle, Part 1: Akaza Returns.”
Sakurai: The visual quality of “Demon Slayer: Kimetsu No Yaiba” has always been amazing, but for the "Infinity Castle Arc," it felt like it went up another level or two. The movie is a series of death battles, one after another, creating a constant, piercing tension and giving you no time to catch your breath.
— What were some of the most memorable visual scenes for you?
Sakurai: The depiction of the Infinity Castle itself was absolutely incredible. The Kasugai Crows flying through the castle and its infinite, endless design had a huge impact. And, of course, the battles with the Upper Ranks were incredibly exciting. The animation was packed with so much appeal that there were many moments where I was just mesmerized. I personally thought the Thunder Breathing was especially cool, and the light effects were very memorable.
— Giyu Tomioka fights alongside Tanjiro Kamado in the Infinity Castle, and we finally get to see them fight together. How did you feel about their battle scenes?
Sakurai: Giyu and Tanjiro have a master-disciple relationship, so seeing them fight together was very moving. They have a seamless, unspoken understanding.
Giyu, who has known Tanjiro from the beginning, sees the remarkable progress Tanjiro has made in the "Infinity Castle Arc". There's a monologue where Tanjiro talks about Giyu's strength, and the fact that he could figure out and articulate the difference in their abilities after just a single exchange of techniques makes me think Tanjiro's skill is now close to Giyu's. Meanwhile, Giyu, in his own mind, re-evaluates Tanjiro's strength after seeing it firsthand. I think Giyu has come to realize that Tanjiro's abilities are on par with his own. It's like a conversation between two masters. I think they understand and resonate with each other's power.
— Did that synergy between the two characters happen naturally in the recording studio?
Sakurai: Everyone involved with “Demon Slayer:Kimetsu no Yaiba” has been working on the series for a long time now. There is only one thing we have to do, so I think we were able to naturally create a performance where we could resonate with each other.
I've been involved with the series for many years, and I also work with Hanae-kun and Ishida-san on other projects. I have a lot of information about their acting in my mind, so it's natural to be able to sync up with them. It might be a sensation unique to our profession. It's truly a matter of "breathing".
— Giyu Tomioka and Tanjiro Kamado encounter Upper Rank 3, Akaza. What was your impression of Akaza?
Sakurai: Akaza is a character who single-mindedly pursues strength, and he possesses a formidable power that he has obtained as a result. Ishida-san did a superb job of portraying Akaza's terrifying nature. His control over the performance and the shifts in intensity, as well as the pure enjoyment of battle and the embodiment of madness, were so incredible that I genuinely wondered if they could win.
Of course, I know Giyu isn't weak, but I felt that confronting an opponent who specializes in close-quarters combat with punches and kicks would be very difficult with a sword.
— As a viewer, you could really feel the intimidating presence in Ishida-san's performance.
Sakurai: Akaza is constantly seeking the pinnacle of strength and enjoys fighting powerful opponents.
In the recording, Ishida-san's overwhelming command, or rather, his powerful performance, was amazing. I went into the recording session feeling Ishida's power intensely. In a way, I may have been looking at Akira Ishida in the same way Tanjiro was looking at Giyu.
Tanjiro's Growth and Giyu's Liberation
— Could you tell us about your impression of Giyu Tomioka's character again?
Sakurai: He doesn't say much, but he reacts with his inner voice. I wanted to give that inner voice a wider range of expression, so I tried to broaden my performance more than before.
— Giyu is also a character whose loneliness is portrayed in a memorable way, isn't he?
Sakurai: I think there's a part of him that has decided he doesn't deserve to be a Hashira since the incident with Sabito. I find the core of Giyu's character in his line, "I am not disliked by people."
When Kocho says, "That's why no one likes you," he doesn't apologize or get angry, he just replies, "I am not disliked by people." This is a completely different response from his usual reserved, unemotional demeanor. I think this is where his true personality lies, and this line feels like a glimpse of the honest person he was when he was training and honing his skills with Sabito.
— In the previous story, the "Hashira Training Arc," Giyu's "pain" was a major focus. For the "Infinity Castle Arc," did you consciously change his portrayal?
Sakurai: Giyu's story really became clear in the "Hashira Training Arc". In his scenes with Tanjiro in that arc, Giyu, who had been tormented by self-reproach, remembered an important message and was liberated. I went into the recording for the "Infinity Castle Arc" with a feeling that he had finally gotten himself back.
In the "Infinity Castle Arc," when Akaza talks to him during their fight, Giyu replies, "I don't like to talk, so don't talk to me". I think it's very Giyu-like that he doesn't ignore the person who talks to him, showing a serious, honest side of him. It's similar to how he responds without any real basis that he is "not disliked". When I try to describe Giyu's character with words like "cool" or "shy," it just feels wrong and incomplete.
— What are your thoughts on Tanjiro in the "Infinity Castle Arc"?
Sakurai: In the beginning of the story, Giyu extended a helping hand to Tanjiro and, in a way, saved him, but in doing so, he actually saved himself.
Thinking about that makes me feel very emotional. I feel the bond between the two of them, and the time and path they have walked together. Giyu must have sensed some kind of potential in Tanjiro, so it's a very touching feeling.
I wonder if their meeting was by chance or by fate. He probably never imagined that the boy he harshly scolded would grow into a beacon of possibility. Giyu's intuition might be another part of his character.
— The joint battle between Tanjiro and Giyu is also something to watch out for.
Sakurai: The encounter with Akaza is Giyu's first battle against an Upper Rank. Although Giyu, as a Hashira, may have a natural advantage in terms of ability, Tanjiro has the advantage of having fought Akaza before. It's very moving to see them fight side-by-side, protecting each other's backs.
— It seems like you really deeply analyze the work and have your own interpretation of it.
Sakurai: It's true, there are times when I tend to view the work from that perspective. However, this is just my interpretation, and it might be different from what the original creator had in mind.
I've always loved movies, and that's how I developed this habit. As a voice actor, I wanted to look even more closely at the inside of the work. From a performer's perspective, I believe that the quickest way to deeply understand your own character is to deepen your understanding of the other characters. That being said, I often grasp things instinctively, so it's less about "understanding" and more like "interpretation" or "paraphrasing".
— The series has a lot of international fans, do you feel that passion?
Sakurai: Last year, I was able to travel abroad for “Demon Slayer:Kimetsu no Yaiba” promotions, and no matter where I went, the atmosphere was so welcoming and the passion was incredible.
The fans actively participated in cosplay and openly showed their enthusiasm and affection for the series. They really enjoy the work.
— What do you keep in mind when you are involved in a project?
Sakurai: I am mindful of what I say in interviews because my words might be a reason for someone to watch the work, or a hint for them to enjoy it more. However, I don't want my words to become an absolute truth, so I always present them as just one perspective.
We value the order of things, first, the original work, then the anime adaptation, and only after that comes the voice actor. We portray the characters based on our own reading and interpretation of the work.
Akaza's Past and the Birth of the Mark: The Battle Reaches its Climax [Spoiler Alert]
— During the fight with Akaza, Giyu's mark appears. Did you change your performance of Giyu before and after the mark's appearance?
Sakurai: I was conscious of expressing things according to the visuals. I performed while picking up on the changes in his facial expressions and the tone of his lines. He uses Water Breathing techniques to fight, but Akaza simply sorts his opponents into "saw it" and "didn't see". I thought this exchange was incredibly cruel. Akaza praises Giyu's strength, but there's a complete gap between them.
— How did you approach Giyu's fighting style as the battle against Upper Rank 3, Akaza, intensified and headed towards its climax?
Sakurai: I was just desperate. Demons can regenerate, so the longer the fight lasts, the more disadvantageous it becomes for the Demon Slayers. However, there is also the possibility of finding a way to survive even in death. I went into the fight with the resolve to not give up, even if it meant dying.
I also tried to minimize my breathing. Adding too much breathing during a fight scene can make the character seem weaker. Even if I was pushed into a difficult situation, I wanted to express it not with a physical breath, but, in my mind, with "Breathing" as a technique.
— Akaza's past is shown in a flashback. What were your thoughts on it?
Sakurai: I thought it was a tragedy that made it understandable for him to let go of his heart and not care about what happened to him.
By becoming a Demon, Akaza had lost his memories from when he was human, but he had also sealed them away because he didn't want to remember. Tanjiro becomes the catalyst for him to confront that sealed past. Tanjiro and Keizo overlap, causing Akaza to remember his past. Similarly, in the "Hashira Training Arc," Tanjiro was the reason Giyu remembered his past with Sabito. Tanjiro himself doesn't know about Keizo or the relationship between Sabito and Giyu, but he becomes the catalyst for Giyu and Akaza's hearts to be moved. What's interesting is that the audience is the only one who can know about this underlying drama. I find that storytelling structure to be very compelling.
— The “Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba” anime is now heading into its seventh year and moving toward a new phase. Do you have a message for the fans?
Sakurai: The charm of this series is, first and foremost, its beautiful visuals. The overwhelming quality of the animation is a crystallization of the creators' determination and feelings. I hope everyone watches it with the feeling of jumping into the screen. If you can enjoy the characters and also feel the hearts and emotions of the creators, as a performer involved in this project, there is nothing that would make me happier. Please enjoy the intense battle at Infinity Castle through its powerful animation.
[Interview by Taira]
About “Demon Slayer: Kimetsu No Yaiba The Movie: Infinity Castle”
Synopsis
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.
Cast
Tanjiro Kamado: Natsuki Hanae
Nezuko Kamado: Akari Kito
Zenitsu Agatsuma: Hiro Shimono
Inosuke Hashibira: Yoshitsugu Matsuoka
Kanao Tsuyuri: Reina Ueda
Genya Shinazugawa: Nobuhiko Okamoto
Giyu Tomioka: Takahiro Sakurai
Tengen Uzui: Katsuyuki Konishi
Muichiro Tokito: Kengo Kawanishi
Shinobu Kocho: Saori Hayami
Mitsuri Kanroji: Kana Hanazawa
Obanai Iguro: Kenichi Suzumura
Sanemi Shinazugawa: Tomokazu Seki
Gyomei Himejima: Tomokazu Sugita
Akaza (Upper Rank Three): Akira Ishida
Dōma (Upper Rank Two): Mamoru Miyano
Kaigaku: Yoshimasa Hosoya
Keizō: Yuichi Nakamura
Koyuki: Lynn
IMAX(R) is a registered trademark of IMAX Corporation.
©Koyoharu Gotoge / SHUEISHA, Aniplex, ufotable
*Some parts of this text have been translated using machine translation
