Netflix’s New K-Pop Film Faces Fierce Backlash From Anime Fans After Infinity Castle Overlooked for 2026 Oscars

Well, here we go again. If you thought the Demon Slayer movie had a real shot at Oscar gold after lighting up the Japanese box office last summer, get ready for a side of disappointment with that popcorn. The big, shiny Infinity Castle Arc movie – which, by the way, was hyped as one of 2025’s must-see releases – didn’t even make the cut for a nomination at the 2026 Oscars. Not a nod. Not a mention. Just... nothing.

The Snub: What Happened?

After all the ticket sales, the memes, and the flood of fan art, Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle Arc got totally shut out of the 'Animated Feature Film' category this year. Keep in mind, we’re talking about a film that demolished records when it dropped in Japan back in July 2025 and generated a genuinely global uproar of support.

The real kicker? This isn’t even the first bruise: just a few weeks ago, Demon Slayer lost out at the Golden Globes to Netflix’s KPop Demon Hunters, which – whether you love it or not – is a full-on computer-animated music fest, pretty much the polar opposite of Ufotable's painstakingly traditional approach. I mean, imagine how brutal it must be for fans who watched every brushstroke and sakuga moment get outshined by 3D K-pop idols.

'Robbed' is Putting It Mildly

• Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle Arc – Part 1: Akaza’s Return
  Studio: Ufotable
  Genre: Dark Fantasy, Action, Adventure
  Japan Theaters: July 18, 2025
  Global Release: September 12, 2025 (and on)
  IMDb: 8.5/10
  MyAnimeList: 8.7/10
  Streaming Release: Expected January or February 2026 on Crunchyroll and possibly Netflix

This Feels Personal

Fans aren’t just quietly disappointed – they’re full-on incensed, and they have receipts. Social media went nuclear, as it tends to, with reactions ranging from rolling eyes at 'K Pop slop' (their words, not mine) to outright claims that award panels are rigged against traditional anime. One fan summed up the vibe bluntly:

"These awards shouldn’t be taken seriously; the Oscars were awful. They used Demon Slayer to hype up the 'failed, hype-free' event and still don’t nominate anyone? That’s a huge lack of respect for art."

You get the idea. And it didn’t help that some folks thought the Globes and the Oscars were just playing favorites – first with Netflix, then maybe with Pixar (although you’d need a whiteboard to work out all the conspiracy theories about why which movies get snubbed).

The Undercurrent: Old School vs. New School Animation

Here’s where it gets even more interesting: some corners of the anime community took the loss as a wider shot at hand-drawn animation itself. Demon Slayer is about as traditional as it gets in 2025 – and Ufotable is known for art that’s basically animated wallpaper you want to frame. KPop Demon Hunters, meanwhile, is stylishly glossy and 3D – you can practically hear the keyboard shortcuts in motion.

So when Demon Slayer was passed over, the lesson felt less like 'one movie lost' and more like, 'wow, nobody in the West seems to care how much blood and sweat goes into this stuff,' at least according to the angrier corners of fandom.

So...What’s Next?

Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle Arc, Part 1 is still out in theaters in Japan and various markets, and it’s set to hit streaming (Crunchyroll for sure, maybe Netflix too) around January or February 2026. The next round of awards – who knows? Maybe Demon Slayer fans will finally catch a break in 2028, or maybe this is just how it’s always going to go.

Either way, the outrage is real, and the divide between what fans love and what awards shows recognize isn’t going anywhere.