Oscars for Demon Slayer? Crunchyroll kicks off ambitious 2026 campaign

Crunchyroll has officially kicked off an ambitious Oscars campaign for the blockbuster anime film "Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle," aiming to secure nominations at the 2026 Academy Awards, most notably in the Best Animated Feature category. The campaign comes as Infinity Castle continues to shatter box office records globally, making it one of the highest-grossing anime films of all time and a flagship title for the growing acceptance of anime in mainstream cinema.

Crunchyroll President Rahul Purini expressed the company’s dedication to the awards push in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, saying, “Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle is more than animation; it’s a global phenomenon. Its success is proof that anime can rival Hollywood’s finest, both commercially and creatively.” Purini emphasised that Crunchyroll will support the film “to make sure it gets the right level of attention to be considered in all of the categories it could be eligible for.” The campaign reflects the confidence in Infinity Castle’s high-quality animation by studio Ufotable, powerful storytelling, and passionate international fanbase.

Despite previous Demon Slayer films like Mugen Train not breaking into the Oscars, this time, Crunchyroll is pushing hard to change the narrative. If successful, Infinity Castle could become the first non-Studio Ghibli anime film to receive such recognition since "Spirited Away" and “The Boy and the Heron,” heralding a new era for anime on the global awards stage.