2025 has established itself as a historic year for anime films, with premieres that have marked two of the most important franchises of the moment. Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle broke box office records worldwide, but the arrival of Chainsaw Man: Reze Arc has sparked a debate: many already consider it the best film of the year.
The Infinity Castle proposal
The production of Ufotable once again stood out for his spectacular animation and the recreation of iconic battles from the manga. However, its narrative structure was questioned. The film adapted extended arcs in a quasi-episodic fashion, causing a feeling of irregular rhythm. Scenes like the battle of Shinobu vs. Doma They shined visually, but were interrupted by flashbacks and monologues that fragmented the cinematic experience.
The Chainsaw Man Rhythm: Reze Arc
In contrast, Chainsaw Man: Reze Arc was precisely tailored to the feature film format. His agile narrativewithout fillers or unnecessary pauses, kept the audience immersed in the story from beginning to end. The animation stood out for fluid action sequences and an outstanding use of music, which turned the fights into complete audiovisual spectacles. Reze's explosions and his confrontation with Denji stood out as highlights.
The use of characters
Unlike Demon Slayer, which resorted to long expositions to humanize its demons, Chainsaw Man opted for more direct characterizations. Denji was presented as a tragic protagonist in a natural way, without the need to constantly underline his vulnerability. For its part, Pray did not need extensive background: the fact that she had been used as a weapon since childhood and her death at the hands of Makima and Angel They were enough to convey their tragedy.
Two different proposals
Both films shine visually, but the narrative approach made the difference. While Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle opted for absolute fidelity to the manga with a more television rhythm, Chainsaw Man: Reze Arc offered a more cinematic adaptationwithout losing the dark and ambiguous essence of shonen that characterizes it. In that balance between fluidity, action and moral complexity, many already place it as the best anime film of 2025.
Do you think Chainsaw Man: Reze Arc really surpasses Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle as the most outstanding film of the year?
