For over two decades, Hayao Miyazaki’s Spirited Away held an untouchable place in Japanese cinema. Released in 2001, the story of Chihiro navigating a mystical world of spirits captivated audiences with breathtaking animation, universal themes, and unforgettable characters. Its box office triumph and critical acclaim earned it a lasting legacy as Japan’s highest-grossing film, until now.
That record has quietly fallen. Ufotable’s Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle has officially surpassed Spirited Away at the Japanese box office, racking up over 33 billion yen. This achievement is more than a numerical milestone; it signals a seismic shift in audience tastes, anime’s growing cultural dominance, and the rise of modern shōnen series as global cinematic forces.
A New Era for Japanese Box Office
Infinity Castle’s success marks a turning point for contemporary anime. While Mugen Train had already shattered expectations with 40.7 billion yen in Japan, Infinity Castle shows that the franchise’s appeal extends beyond a single emotional narrative. The film’s multidimensional fortress, high-stakes battles, and ensemble cast have struck a chord with audiences eager for both spectacle and emotional investment.
By surpassing Spirited Away, Infinity Castle challenges long-held assumptions about the enduring dominance of Studio Ghibli. Miyazaki’s film combined hand-drawn artistry, mythic storytelling, and universal themes that transcended generations. Infinity Castle, while stylistically different, demonstrates that modern animation can achieve comparable cultural resonance through intense action, layered plots, and emotional depth.
The milestone also reflects the broader evolution of Japanese cinema. Shōnen anime, once considered niche in mainstream media, has now cemented itself as a major box office driver, commanding the attention of domestic audiences while attracting global viewers. The record-breaking performance suggests a permanent shift in what audiences seek: immersive worlds, dynamic characters, and stories that blend action with heartfelt stakes.
What Surpassing Spirited Away Really Means
Breaking Spirited Away’s record is symbolic as much as it is financial. For over twenty years, Ghibli films defined the ceiling of what animated storytelling could achieve commercially in Japan. Infinity Castle surpassing that threshold shows that modern anime, fueled by franchise fandoms and streaming accessibility, can compete with, and even exceed, historically untouchable benchmarks.
Yet surpassing a box office total is not the same as eclipsing cultural influence. Spirited Away remains a touchstone for animators, critics, and audiences, representing the pinnacle of narrative artistry and emotional storytelling. Infinity Castle’s triumph indicates a change in industry dynamics, but Ghibli’s films continue to influence animation and storytelling globally, ensuring Miyazaki’s legacy endures beyond mere numbers.
While Spirited Away was a single, self-contained masterpiece, Infinity Castle benefits from a larger narrative arc spanning multiple films.
Financially, this milestone underscores the power of serialized storytelling in contemporary anime. While Spirited Away was a single, self-contained masterpiece, Infinity Castle benefits from a larger narrative arc spanning multiple films. This strategy engages long-term audiences and encourages repeated viewings, a model increasingly defining box office success in the anime market.
The Cultural Shift from Ghibli to Shōnen
The surpassing of Spirited Away also signals a generational shift. Younger audiences, many of whom grew up watching Demon Slayer on Netflix or streaming platforms like Crunchyroll, are contributing to this historic success. Their engagement reflects both the accessibility of modern anime and the emotional resonance of characters like Tanjiro and Nezuko, who embody perseverance, empathy, and courage in ways that parallel Chihiro’s journey.
While Ghibli’s artistry remains revered, Infinity Castle demonstrates that contemporary studios can marry technical excellence with compelling storytelling to reach unprecedented audiences. The film’s multidimensional fortress, complex villains, and breathtaking combat sequences highlight a modern approach to spectacle that differs from Ghibli’s serene, hand-drawn aesthetic, yet achieves comparable engagement and admiration.
Importantly, Infinity Castle’s record is also a cultural marker. It reflects the growing acceptance of serialized, high-intensity anime as mainstream entertainment, both in Japan and globally. For decades, Ghibli represented the gold standard of Japanese animation; now, Ufotable and similar studios are redefining that benchmark for a new generation.
Infinity Castle’s Success Goes Beyond the Numbers
While Infinity Castle has overtaken Spirited Away financially, it does not erase the significance of Miyazaki’s work. Instead, it highlights the expanding landscape of anime, where traditional artistry and modern spectacle coexist. The milestone emphasizes that box office success is no longer limited to timeless narratives or established studios, because audience engagement, narrative scope, and franchise loyalty now define cinematic triumph.
In this context, Infinity Castle represents both a continuation and a revolution. It continues the story of beloved characters, offering closure and spectacle, while revolutionizing audience expectations for anime films. By surpassing Spirited Away, it has proven that modern shōnen anime can rival the historic, artistic legacies once thought untouchable.
The rise of Infinity Castle does not diminish Ghibli’s Spirited Away legacy but complements it, showing that Japanese animation is dynamic, evolving, and capable of both timeless artistry and blockbuster success.
Ultimately, the rise of Infinity Castle does not diminish Ghibli’s Spirited Away legacy but complements it, showing that Japanese animation is dynamic, evolving, and capable of both timeless artistry and blockbuster success. As audiences worldwide celebrate the victory, it’s clear that anime’s golden age is ongoing and its boundaries are expanding faster than ever.