All eyes are on Demon Slayer as the Infinity Castle movie continues to break box office records not just in Japan but across the globe. It recently surpassed the 2025 Superman film and even dethroned the Mugen Train film to claim the highest-grossing anime movie in Japan. This is another historic milestone for Demon Slayer, but fans believe Infinity Castle could even become a contender at the 2026 Oscars.
While Demon Slayer has proven its box office power time and time again, no movie in the franchise has ever managed to break into the Academy Awards. This time, Crunchyroll has high hopes for the first Infinity Castle movie, pushing an ambitious campaign that could help secure nominations in all possible categories. If successful, it would be one of the biggest achievements of the series created by Koyoharu Gotouge.
Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle Movie Expected To Break All Records
Demon Slayer's newest movie might break all records and dethrone the previous Demon Slayer movie, Mugen Train.
Demon Slayer Has Yet to Win an Oscar
Demon Slayer Still Has No Oscar Nomination
- Demon Slayer has box-office power but fails to break into the Oscars.
- Infinity Castle is Demon Slayer's best chance to gain an Oscar nomination.
Without a doubt, Demon Slayer is one of the most highly successful anime series of all time, and the first Infinity Castle movie, Akaza Returns, only strengthens its massive reputation as a worldwide sensation. The film continues to dominate box-office charts, and fans are still lining up at theaters just to rewatch the first chapter in the Infinity Castle story arc, proving the series’ staying power.
However, it’s no secret that Demon Slayer has never earned a nomination in the Academy Awards despite its immense success. In fact, the Mugen Train film, which was released in 2020, failed to secure any recognition from the Academy, leaving many international fans disappointed that such a cultural phenomenon was overlooked. This only led to fans pushing the Infinity Castle movie as Demon Slayer’s best chance to finally break into the Oscars.
So far, two anime films have already won the Oscar for the Best Animated Feature category, and both were produced by Studio Ghibli: Spirited Away and, more recently, The Boy and the Heron. With fans now rallying behind Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle, many hope, along with Crunchyroll, that it could be the next anime film to win the Oscar for the same category or, at the very least, secure a nomination.
Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle Gets Oscar Push From Crunchyroll
Crunchyroll’s Ambitious Hopes for Infinity Castle at the 2026 Oscars
- Crunchyroll campaigns for Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle at the Oscars.
With the domestic and international box office success of Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle, Crunchyroll is positioning the film as a serious contender at the 2026 Oscars. Fans around the world believe that it’s about time for a non-Ghibli film to be considered for the Academy Awards, citing reasons why Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle deserves to win or even earn a nomination.
On top of the financial success of Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle, the film is also a visual spectacle, showcasing Ufotable’s high-quality animation, from breathtaking battles to detailed backdrops that could increase its chances for Oscar recognition. Crunchyroll’s President, Rahul Purini, feels the same way as fans, believing that Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle deserves an Oscar win.
We think the movie is incredible — the animation, the story, the quality on all fronts. So yes, the fans absolutely deserve for the movie to be considered for awards. We’ll do our part to make sure it gets the right level of support to be considered in all of the categories it could be eligible for.
-Crunchyroll President, Rahul Purini
With Crunchyroll promising to give Infinity Castle the necessary support to be considered across all eligible categories, there’s a renewed hope that Demon Slayer can follow in the footsteps of Spirited Away and The Boy and the Heron.
Could Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle Earn an Oscar Nomination?
It Will Be Difficult, But Not Impossible
Similar to the Mugen Train movie, Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle might struggle to get an Oscar nomination, considering it’s not a standalone film, and anime in general usually fails to gain traction once submitted, often losing out to more mainstream animated projects that appeal to broader audiences.
I'll find a way, no matter what!—Tanjiro Kamado
In fact, animated features like K-Pop Demon Hunters, In Your Dreams, and Little Amélie or the Character of Rain could potentially attract more attention than Infinity Castle next year. Still, with Crunchyroll campaigning behind Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle, there’s always a chance that its global success and cultural influence could help push it into the awards spotlight.
Source: The Hollywood Reporter
- Release Date
- April 6, 2019
- Network
- Adult Swim
