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 its spectacular
animation and the recreation of iconic battles from the manga.
However, its narrative structure was questioned. The film adapted long arcs in
an almost episodic fashion, which caused a sense of irregular rhythm.
Scenes such as Shinobu's battle against Doma shone visually,
but were interrupted by flashbacks and monologues that fragmented the cinematic
experience.
The
rhythm of Chainsaw Man: Reze Arc
In
contrast, Chainsaw Man: Reze Arc was precisely suited to the
feature film format. Its agile narrative, without fillers or
unnecessary pauses, kept the audience immersed in the story from beginning to
end. The animation stood out for its fluid action sequences and
an outstanding use of music, which turned the fights into full-fledged
audio-visual spectacles. Reze's explosions and his confrontation with Denji
stood out as peak moments.
The use
of characters
Unlike
Demon Slayer, who resorted to long exposures to humanize his 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 her part, Reze did not need an
extensive background: the fact that she had been used as a weapon since
childhood and her death at the hands of Makima and Angel were
enough to convey her 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 adaptation, without 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 movie of 2025.
