When news broke that Nintendo delayed U.S. pre-orders for the highly anticipated Switch 2 due to newly imposed tariffs, it sent a chill down the spine of fans waiting on anything Japanese-made. So naturally, with Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle Arc set for a September 2025 release in North America, fans began asking the big question, could these same tariffs delay the movie?
What’s Going On With the Tariffs?
Earlier this month, the U.S. dropped a sweeping 10% tariff on all imports. Then, specifically for Japanese goods, it stacked on a brutal 24% tariff starting April 9. The stated goal? Address trade imbalances and push domestic manufacturing.
Japan wasn’t thrilled. Officials questioned whether the move even aligned with existing trade agreements, and economists started warning of ripple effects across industries, cars, electronics, and yes, even entertainment.
How Tariffs Actually Work When It Comes to Movies
Here’s the good news: tariffs mostly hit physical goods. Think game consoles, car parts, or merch, things you can box up and ship. But movies? We’re not in the film reel era anymore.
Modern anime movies, including Infinity Castle arc, are distributed digitally. That means Crunchyroll, the film’s international distributor (which also happens to be U.S.-based), doesn’t need to ship crates of Blu-rays or physical reels to American theaters. The movie is delivered via encrypted digital transfer, bypassing customs entirely.
And here’s the kicker: the U.S.-Japan Digital Trade Agreement specifically exempts digital content from tariffs. So as far as Demon Slayer is concerned, the digital distribution pipeline is wide open.
Also Read: Why Demon Slayer Likely Won’t Get Another Anime Season
Crunchyroll Has a Plan, and It’s Already in Motion
Crunchyroll has already locked in a September 12, 2025 release date for North America, just under two months after the Japanese premiere on July 18. That’s lightning fast compared to Mugen Train, which took a full six months to land in the U.S. after its Japan debut.
This time, Sony (Crunchyroll’s parent company) isn’t playing around. Their 2024 acquisition of Alamo Drafthouse gave them more control over theatrical distribution in the U.S., and with tickets, marketing, and digital delivery all coordinated well in advance, the schedule seems rock solid.
Unless something wildly unexpected happens, a delay looks unlikely.
But What About Demon Slayer Merch?
Now here’s where tariffs could leave a mark, on merchandise. If you’re planning to grab limited-edition figures, Blu-rays, or posters tied to the movie release, brace yourself for higher prices or limited availability. Tariffs can absolutely impact these kinds of goods, especially if they’re being shipped straight from Japan or Vietnam.
But again, that’s not going to delay the movie itself. Worst case scenario, the plushie comes late. The film doesn’t.
Related: Infinity Castle Trilogy: Is It Demon Slayer’s Shameless Cash Grab or Bold Vision?
Could Politics Still Mess This Up?
Historically, trade spats have disrupted movie releases. In 2019, Japan and South Korea’s dispute led to indefinite delays for several Japanese films, including Doraemon. Chinese backlash against South Korea in 2017 over missile systems froze K-pop and K-dramas. And after Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine, Hollywood studios pulled out entirely.
But those situations involved politically motivated bans, boycotts, or full-on studio withdrawals, not tariff complications. The current U.S.–Japan situation isn’t showing signs of devolving into that territory.
Anime is a key cultural export for Japan and a huge moneymaker for both sides. There’s every reason to keep that relationship smooth.
