The first chapter of the upcoming anime film trilogy, "Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – Infinity Castle Arc," has been officially confirmed for release on July 18. The announcement, made on March 1, also unveiled a brand-new key visual and trailer. Remarkably, this film will premiere in 443 theaters across Japan—exceeding the record set by the 2020 "Mugen Train Arc"—and will screen simultaneously in 150 countries and regions worldwide. Online discussions have particularly centered around the prominently featured character Shinobu Kocho.

Shinobu Kocho's Prominence Fuels Speculation About Chapter 1's Plot

The newly released key visual depicts Tanjiro Kamado and his fellow Demon Slayers standing against the backdrop of the endless Infinity Castle, indicating the decisive battle is about to begin. Although Tanjiro is front and center, Shinobu Kocho is notably depicted larger than any other character, leading many fans to speculate that Chapter 1 will center around her climactic confrontation with Upper Moon demon Doma.

Social media buzz includes comments like:

"Shinobu-san is so prominently featured; is Chapter 1 covering the fight against Doma?"
"Does Shinobu’s large presence in the visual imply the film will focus primarily on her?"
"Seeing Shinobu's heartbreaking expression in this key visual already makes me emotional."

About Demon Slayer

Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba is based on the manga of the same name, which was serialized in Weekly Shonen Jump from February 2016 to May 2020. With over 150 million copies in circulation, the series has become a major hit. Set in the Taisho era, it follows Tanjiro Kamado, a boy who joins the Demon Slayer Corps to avenge his family and find a cure for his sister Nezuko, who was turned into a demon.

The TV anime adaptation began airing in April 2019 with the Tanjiro Kamado, Unwavering Resolve Arc, followed by the movie Demon Slayer: Mugen Train Arc in October 2020. Subsequent TV arcs include the Entertainment District Arc (December 2021), the Swordsmith Village Arc (April 2023), and the Hashira Training Arc (May–June 2024). The Infinity Castle Arc will be a three-part film series.

Teaser Trailer

Source : ORICON NEWS