Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – The Movie: Infinity Castle is a direct continuation of season 4 of the anime, itself an adaptation of the manga created by Koyoharu Gotouge. While it’s only the second Demon Slayer film to hit theaters worldwide, there are also two compilation movies that recap the second part of season 2 and season 3. The first film, Mugen Train, adapted season 2’s storyline but was actually released before the season aired. If all that sounds confusing, you’re not wrong, which is why we’re here to break it all down, so you can head into Infinity Castle without second-guessing a thing.
The best place to begin, of course, is season 1 of Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba. This is where audiences first meet Tanjiro, Nezuko, and the rest of the core cast, while also learning the series’ overall setup.
Next comes the 2020 film Mugen Train, which is still the highest-grossing anime movie of all time. Although marketed as the franchise’s first movie, it’s really a direct continuation of season 1 of the anime. Only later did the story return in an extended season 2, which retold Mugen Train with added context and new scenes before moving into the Entertainment District arc. If you are a completionist, you can watch both Mugen Train and the first seven episodes of season 2, but either will suffice.
From there, things get a little more layered with the compilation films. In 2023, Demon Slayer: To the Swordsmith Village arrived, combining material from the Entertainment District arc (the latter half of season 2) and the first portion of season 3, the Swordsmith Village arc. For a complete viewing experience, we suggest sticking to seasons 2 and 3 of the anime.
Then, in early 2024, the franchise followed up with To the Hashira Training, another compilation feature. This release stitched together the final episode of season 3 with the premiere episode of season 4, adding a recap montage of earlier material to bring fans up to speed before the new season launched in June of that year. Needless to say, you can skip this compilation movie if you watch all episodes of seasons 3 and 4.
That brings us to Infinity Castle, the beginning of Demon Slayer’s grand finale. Planned as a film trilogy, it thrusts the Demon Slayer Corps into Muzan Kibutsuji’s shifting fortress, forcing Tanjiro and his allies to cut through the Upper Rank demons as they close in on their ultimate enemy. While Infinity Castle directly follows season 4, it does include a short prologue for anyone needing a refresher.
The trilogy will continue with Infinity Castle Part 2, rumored for release in 2027, with the final installment expected in 2029. That pacing leaves a comfortable two-year gap between films — plenty of time to catch up on the series or revisit the movies before the story’s climactic conclusion. But of course, if production house Ufotable is taking too long for your liking, you could always just read Gotouge’s original Demon Slayer manga, which ended in 2020.
All seasons of Demon Slayer and Mugen Train are available to stream on Crunchyroll.
