Demon Slayer's Critics Choice Win Signs Anime's Growing Clout

The Critics Choice Association has named "Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – The Movie: Infinity Castle" as winner of its International Animation Award, marking the second consecutive year a Japanese anime film has received recognition from the organization.

The honor, announced as part of the association's fourth annual Celebration of AAPI Cinema & Television, comes after the film grossed $633 million at the global box office. "Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle" currently ranks as the highest-grossing anime film of all time and the fifth-highest-grossing movie of 2025.

The recognition signals anime's deepening institutional acceptance within Western critical circles, a shift that carries commercial implications for Japanese studios navigating co-production deals and licensing agreements with international partners.

Anime Film Recognition Marks Shift in Western Critical Landscape

Director Makoto Shinkai previously won the International Animation Award in 2023 for "Suzume," making "Demon Slayer" the second Japanese anime property to earn the distinction. This year's Animation Award went to Maggie Kang for "KPop Demon Hunters," an American-Korean co-production that blends Korean folklore with musical and K-pop elements.

The contrast between the two films underscores different paths to Western recognition. "Demon Slayer" represents a wholly Japanese intellectual property that achieved success without Western backing, while "KPop Demon Hunters" emerged from cross-cultural collaboration, with an Asian-American director and voice cast.

The Nov. 14 ceremony in Beverly Hills will also honor actress Lucy Liu with the Trailblazer Award and filmmaker Shih-Ching Tsou with the Breakthrough Director Award for her solo directorial debut.

For Japanese animation studios, such mainstream recognition can strengthen negotiating positions in international markets where anime has historically occupied a niche category. The industry's growing legitimacy with Western critics creates what some executives view as leverage in discussions over distribution rights and co-production partnerships.