Here is something that nobody expected: Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle did not just win Film of the Year at the 10th Crunchyroll Anime Awards on May 23, 2026. It dominated the ceremony in a way that left fans and critics speechless. Held at the Grand Prince Hotel Takanawa in Tokyo and hosted by Sally Amaki and Jon Kabira, this year’s anime awards drew over 73 million votes worldwide, and the results were nothing short of explosive.
The biggest shocker? Infinity Castle did not take home just one trophy. The film won in multiple categories, proving that Ufotable’s cinematic adaptation of the Infinity Castle arc was not just a box office phenomenon but a genuine artistic achievement that resonated with audiences across every metric.
A Night That Belonged to Demon Slayer
Let’s talk numbers, because they are staggering. Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle walked away with at least six major awards including Film of the Year and Best Score for composers Yuki Kajiura and Go Shiina, whose haunting musical arrangements elevated every battle sequence to pure operatic intensity. The film also dominated the international voice acting categories, with Lucien Dodge (English), Charles Emmanuel (Brazilian Portuguese), Carles Teruel (Castilian Spanish), and Gerrit Schmidt-Foss (German) all winning for their portrayal of Akaza, the Upper Moon Three demon.
That is four language-specific voice acting awards for a single character. Four. If that does not prove how impactful Akaza’s arc in Infinity Castle was on a global scale, nothing will.
How Infinity Castle Broke Every Record Before the Awards
Before we even got to the ceremony, Infinity Castle had already shattered records. It became the highest-grossing anime film of all time and the highest-grossing Japanese film ever in North America. The Infinity Castle trilogy was always going to be huge, but this first film exceeded even the most optimistic projections from industry analysts at Crunchyroll and Aniplex.
The film’s success was not just financial. Critics praised Ufotable’s decision to stretch the Infinity Castle arc into a trilogy of films rather than a standard TV season. The theatrical format gave the animation team room to create fight sequences that were simply impossible to render on a television budget. Tanjiro’s confrontation with Upper Moon demons, Inosuke’s wild battle choreography, and Akaza’s tragic backstory were all elevated to a level of visual storytelling that made even veteran anime critics sit back and take notice.
The Competition Was Fierce
Infinity Castle did not win by default. The 10th Crunchyroll Anime Awards featured a loaded field. My Hero Academia’s final season took home Anime of the Year in what felt like a fitting farewell to one of the big three of the modern era. Studio MAPPA’s Lazarus won Best Original Anime, vindicating Shinichiro Watanabe after the initial backlash. One Piece claimed Best Continuing Series, and newcomer Gachiakuta dominated the visual categories with Best Background Art and Best Character Design.
DAN DA DAN Season 2 scored both Best Opening Sequence and Best Comedy, while The Apothecary Diaries Season 2 cleaned up with Best Drama, Best Director, and Best Main Character for Maomao. Solo Leveling Season 2 won Best Animation and Best Action, proving that A-1 Pictures was still in top form.
In a field that packed, for Infinity Castle to still come out on top speaks volumes about the film’s cultural impact.
Yuki Kajiura and Go Shiina’s Score Deserved Every Award
One aspect of Infinity Castle that deserves its own spotlight is the score. Yuki Kajiura, returning to the Demon Slayer franchise, teamed up with Go Shiina to create a soundtrack that blended orchestral grandeur with the series’ signature emotional beats. The music during the Upper Moon battles was not just accompaniment, it was narrative. Every crescendo told a story, every quiet moment between notes carried the weight of characters who knew they were fighting for everything they loved.
When Best Score went to Demon Slayer, it felt inevitable. You cannot separate Infinity Castle from its music, and Kajiura and Shiina proved once again why they are among the most celebrated composers in anime.
What This Means for the Next Two Films
If Infinity Castle Part 1 was this dominant, what does that mean for Parts 2 and 3? The pressure on Ufotable is now astronomical. Fans worldwide are expecting not just quality but excellence, and the precedent set by this film’s awards sweep means every subsequent release will be measured against an impossibly high bar.
But if the first film is any indication, Ufotable is not just ready for the challenge. They built a film that won 73 million people’s hearts, and they are only getting started.
What Do You Think?
Was Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle’s dominance at the Crunchyroll Anime Awards 2026 deserved, or do you think another film should have taken Film of the Year? Are you more excited now for Parts 2 and 3 of the trilogy? And which voice performance was your favorite, Lucien Dodge’s English Akaza or one of the international winners? Drop your thoughts in the comments, because this is a conversation that is just getting started.
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