Crunchyroll has confirmed that it will promote the candidacy of Kimetsu no Yaiba: Infinite Castle in the Oscars 2026. The platform announced an official campaign for the film to be considered in the category of Best Animated Filma historically elusive recognition for Japanese productions.
Rahul Purini, CEO of Crunchyroll, stated that the cultural and technical impact of the film deserves to be recognized by the Academy. “We think the movie is amazing. The fans absolutely deserve that the film is considered for the Oscars”, he stated in an interview with specialized media.
The work that marked a before and after
Directed by Haruo Sotozaki and encouraged by ufotablethe film has been praised for its visual quality, narrative intensity and fidelity to the original manga Koyoharu Gotouge. Its premiere marked the beginning of the final arc of Kimetsu no Yaibaconsolidating the franchise as a global phenomenon.
Box office success
In just two weekends, Kimetsu no Yaiba: Infinite Castle exceeded the 104 million dollars at the American box office and has already accumulated more than 555 million dollars globallybecoming the highest-grossing Japanese film in history. The number is expected to increase with its premiere in China on October 8, 2025.
A shonen heading to the Oscar
The film joins the short list of Japanese productions that have triumphed at the Oscars, such as Spirited Away (2003) and The Boy and the Heron (2024). However, it would be the first time that a action shonen could compete in this category, which represents a historic opportunity for anime.
Do you think Kimetsu no Yaiba: Infinite Castle Will I be able to make history at the 2026 Oscars?
