Chainsaw Man

Chainsaw Man is not overhyped, not in the slightest. I’ll repeat it again for the people in the back. Chainsaw Man deserves the hype and is every bit as good as it’s made out to be. Maybe it doesn’t have as many universally appealing ideas as Demon Slayer or Jujutsu Kaisen. And its much more prickly exterior might serve as a barrier to entry for fans that have grown accustomed to the generic shounen-type stories that are regurgitated every season like that once-cute now-tiresome Christmas ornament that your family brings out every year. But I believe that it is exactly that prickly exterior derived from ... its damaged characters that makes this series so endearing and beloved by fans (including myself). It is the struggles, tantalizing aspirations, and challenges that the characters go through that make Chainsaw Man the emotional masterpiece it is.

*Early disclaimer, I will be touching upon a couple of character traits, noteworthy aspirations, and backstory details, but nothing that I would consider spoilers as they are either described really early in the series or are minor details that are negligible to the plot. But if you want to experience Chainsaw Man completely fresh without a preconceived perspective, just know that I am giving this a 10/10 and would recommend this to you over your Epipen if you were suffering from an allergic reaction. Even just catching the OP as you’re fading in and out of consciousness is worth it.

The characters of Chainsaw Man are extremely misunderstood, but this is precisely the reason why I believe Chainsaw Man is worth your time. Behind their infamous personalities lies compelling well-thought-out characters that are driven by personalized goals. While these aren’t always the most virtuous, once you find out why they have these goals to begin with and their pitiful outlook on life; how society has beaten each character to become who they are and what little they want, it’s heartbreaking. And none of this is more prevalent than in the titular character the Chainsaw Man himself, Denji.

Denji is not the one-track mind breast-obsessing pervert you’re told he is. After the untimely passing of his debt-ridden father, he is offloaded with an insurmountable debt that he is forced to pay off. Pushing the juvenile Denji to work odd jobs and even sell his organs to try to cover. After some unforeseen circumstances and an impressive display of his powers, he gets recruited by Makima to join the public safety bureau, specifically, special division 4: an experimental unit that consists of expendable devils-hybrids and fiends. The classic, Suicide Squad fighting-fire-with-fire type of unit. It is here where he meets his coworkers and where we get to see how Denji truly views himself.

Denji has simplistic desires because he’s never had the self-confidence or understanding of what the world can offer. He is enticed into the dangerous profession of being a public safety devil hunter through the promise of basic provisions such as food and shelter. Initially, he accepts this offer because he thinks that that is all there is to life. In that sense, he is no different to a dog. He is complacent with what little he has been given and will fight tooth and nail if anyone or anything threatens to take it away from him. That easily misguided tenacity is ultimately what demonstrates his vulnerability but also his value. We see this when Makima starts teasing him with any sort of affection, he’s infatuated. He’s raring to do whatever she wants because she shows him that there is more to life than he knows. But she also engrains the idea that she’s the only one that can and will provide it to him. With this, you come to realize that the reason why he has this perverted obsession with breasts is because he has never had any truly meaningful relationships with anyone, romantically or platonically. From this, we ultimately realize that what he truly wants is not to cop a feel, but to love and be loved.

Many people in the anime community believe that Denji is dumb or stupid by nature which just isn’t the case. Due to his cruel upbringing and lack of human interaction, once he’s brought into the city, he shows himself to be both naive and gullible which people mistake for pure stupidity. He’s constantly played like a fiddle and led on by things everyone watching can easily recognize to be traps. Worst of all he’s also easily preyed on emotionally and taken advantage of by the sheer mention of an attractive female. But that’s not his fault, it’s his childhood. Shounen anime has conditioned people to have this perfect idolized main character in mind. Where characters with similar backstories as Denji, miraculously become these cunning, all-knowing, and unnaturally righteous protagonists once they switch into another environment or gain powers. It’s so unrealistic it’s obscene. Why would these characters suddenly become society's most upstanding do-gooders after they’ve been oppressed and treated like shit for their whole lives. They’re much more likely to become what Denji is, a guy that puts himself first and only looks for his own happiness. And it is that growth beyond this mindset as he begins to care for others on an emotional level that makes him such a great character. Through Denji, Fujimoto expertly tackles 2 shounen fallacies. The first being that: omnipotence does not equate to virtue or righteousness. The second being: sheer increases in power level does not equate to actual character growth.

Aki Hayakawa is the admirable older brother that makes you feel ok. Aki is the complete opposite of Denji in appearance and the way he conducts himself. His uniform is neat and ironed compared to Denji’s disheveled one, his hair is tied compared to the scruffy one of Denji’s. Even in personality, Aki is relatively calm and collected compared to the easily riled Denji. Aki is realistic, he knows his limits, he knows what it takes and knows what he needs to give up to achieve what he wants. Initially in the series, his aloof and stoic demeanor clashes heavily with Denji’s because of his disdain for Devils and how animalistic Denji is at the start. This is only exacerbated by their subsequent living arrangement that forces them to constantly interact. Once we get more screen time of him through this, we come to find he does feel. In fact, he’s probably the most emotional character of the series. He wallows in his own pain and suffering because he believes that showing it is a sign of weakness, especially in front of Denji. But even worse, deep down he’s afraid if he opened up about his feelings, no one would care. As the series progresses, we see them warm up to each other. They try to fight the bromance at first, but they really can’t. They learn and grow from each other, both of them learn that the other one cares for them and they are not alone in this world. This blossoming relationship is heartwarming to watch and a definitive strong point for anyone who wants to see a well done hybrid of a mentor-mentee/sibling relationship form.

Power is the mentally deranged sister that ticks you off but you also can’t help but want to protect. Power serves as the main comedic relief of the show; she's brash, belligerent, and comes to some hilariously stupid conclusions. She also shows no mental fortitude or backbone and folds whenever something becomes too difficult. She’s introduced in the show much to the displeasure of both Denji and Aki. With her joining the household only adding even more chaos. Indirectly, serving as a catalyst for both Aki and Denji to bond over their mutual disapproval of her actions. Similarly, she also individually benefits from this relationship as in the trio, specifically with Denji. She learns from this trio how to work together and that the summation of efforts can accomplish what she individually can’t. As a side note, one of the scenes I can talk about as the anime didn’t adapt it for some reason is the Operation Super Smart panel. It is a very cute panel that any anime-only watchers should check out.

The trio of Denji, Aki, and Power in this dysfunctional household and their interactions is the driving force that makes Chainsaw Man so emotionally charged. They fight, they bicker, it feels so real and relatable. You recognize the habitual responses each of these characters have towards one another. When Power shows her lack of hygiene or says something so out of pocket that everyone shakes their head in disapproval. Or when Denji gets too revved up over something childish. You're always waiting for Aki to rear them back in line. While I appreciate these moments in and of themselves, their nuances in delivery shape the tone of many of the scenes. Especially important, these little idiosyncrasies each character has serves as horrifying indicators when you realize one of them isn’t ok. When the humor stops or when the characters have a slight shift in expression, you realize the characters are hurt and they are feeling something that they can’t muster up the courage to say. This makes it all the more poignant when something happens to them. In addition, the growth in each character also feels well drawn out and actually stays in effect later on in the show. That’s why I believe this trio of characters alone makes this show worth your time.

*I don’t want to talk about the other characters as I don’t believe I can divulge into any meaningful discussions of them without any spoilers of the anime and manga. Just know I also hold them in really high regard and that some of these other characters have some of the strongest emotional moments in the season.

The devils in the series are another strong point of Chainsaw Man that adds creative freedom. Chainsaw Man is set in a world where any kind of human fears spawn devils, they take forms and have powers resembling those fears. With the more people fearing a fear the stronger its corresponding devil becomes. However the devils aren’t as binary in good or evil as one would imagine. Humans can form contracts with these devils to gain certain powers in exchange for sacrifices that can come in many forms (quite literally the “deal with the devil”). Even further, some devils are willing to lend powers to humans to take down other devils. The devil's act as their own separate entities and function with a level of autonomy that makes each of them feel unique.

Another positive for people that are looking for a narrative-driven anime. Chainsaw Man has a story that also feels extremely logical and flows well. As each episode progresses you genuinely feel the story is progressing. There also isn't that sort of serendipity you’re used to in typical shounen where the power of friendship rules all and somehow no one on either side dies. The outcomes of each battle are unclear and vary in complexity due to the diversity of devils present. Leading to some very suspenseful showdowns. It’s also not only the fights themselves that show serious tact. The human drama and careful writing really shine in these showdowns and you can see how each of these characters unravel as the battles progress. Most of these arcs span multiple episodes and once you start, you can’t really stop thinking about what happened and speculating what could happen next until you finish that arc. This anime pushed me to pick up the manga because I couldn’t wait.

To the manga readers that were wondering whether the anime is worth a watch. I believe it’s worth a try but the anime is very faithful to the manga and you wouldn’t be missing out if you didn’t. There are some merits and faults of the anime regarding the animation and music I would consider before making your decision.

The animation in Chainsaw Man is absolutely stunning, it adds a sense of realism that really excels at showing different facial expressions. In the case of background art, Fujimoto saves himself in the manga and doesn’t go all out with the background art except for certain scenes that add to the shock-value of a panel but loses potential immersion. Conversely, the anime fills in everything, which is expected and it’s done rather well. Both have their own advantages and I could see arguments for both.

The OST is really one of a kind and complements the show extremely well. The visuals in the opening contain many western film references that will be appreciated by some. The actual opening released by Kenshi Yonezu fully embraces the unpredictable and erratic nature of Denji. The soundtracks composed by Kensuke Ushio also play perfectly into the fight scenes. Additionally, the eeriness of some of the other tracks in his soundtrack leaves the audience unsettled and pushes them to think if there is more to the scenes than meets eye. The 12 different ending themes was an original idea that were delightful touches to end an episode off on. The abstract visuals in the endings were also solid inclusion that referenced what happened in the episode nicely.

Overall, Chainsaw Man impresses on so many levels I think it’s safe to say it delivers on the hype it got. From its extraordinary characters to its technical brilliance, Chainsaw Man is really a cut above any recent shounen that's easily become one of my favorites. As someone who has recently read part 1 of the Chainsaw Man manga, I can definitively say this is only the beginning of something exceptional and I’m really excited to see how they animate the upcoming arcs.

Why Chainsaw Man would even have a tad of bad reputation is baffling to me: it is close to being a perfect Shounen. While there are still definitely flaws, I can say with confidence that there are no deal-breakers in the series, as long as you are an anime fan.

But before I praise Chainsaw Man into high heavens, let’s get the caveats out of the way. If you watch Chainsaw Man for eye candy, you’ll be sorely disappointed. Although the designs and cinematography are to be commended, the action animation itself sails just above decent in a post Demon Slayer world. With the exception of ... the fight just aired in episode 12 (honestly it wasn't even that impressive), much of the fights are at best slightly above average fight sequences. The subpar animation is masked with clever use of framing that makes the fights less coherent and more awkward to watch, but delivers better action and makes the 3D animation more palatable.

That in my eyes, however, is a tiny flaw and easily overlooked on the mountain of great things Chainsaw Man brings to the table. Its fights do still work even with its limited animation all thanks to its amazing tone/atmosphere that the script and cinematography has crafted. The generous use of silence and occasional awkward dialogue, counter-intuitively, works to the show’s advantage. It creates an unsettling and eerie tone that’s matched when the push comes to shove and the fights begin. Each fight is genuinely terrifying and holds incredible stakes that make them feel important, which can’t be said for much of Shounen nowadays.

To avoid getting the show from being too heavy, Chainsaw Man contrasts its dark setting with Power and Denji, two of the most apathetic and stupid characters out there. Denji especially, as our point of view character, would be unworkable as the protagonist in any other environment. His cluelessness of his surroundings and, for lack of a better phrase, devilish stoicism would render him utterly unlikable if not for the show’s setting. Instead, in Chainsaw Man, it juxtaposes the serious and borderline hopeless situations our characters are routinely put in. Sometimes it diffuses tension and creates humour, sometimes it’s vital to the plot and it would simply not proceed if not for his character. My point is that Denji is impeccably designed with the whole story in mind. He didn’t just rely on the Excalibur in the stone to become a hero, he needed to be who he is to be the one.

Part of the appeal of Denji, and to an extent Power and Makima’s character can be attributed to the fact that humour surrounding the anime and manga subculture has become very ironic, self-aware, and self-deprecating. You’ve probably seen Tik Toks of people barking to Makima cosplays or Power fondling her chest. This ties into why you need to be an anime fan to truly enjoy Chainsaw Man, because this would just be cringe otherwise. But I digress.

The cast of Chainsaw Man, while not huge, have great chemistry. Denji and Power play off each other very well, and Aki provides the much needed straight man character to contain their stupidity. Makima on the other hand, we know barely anything about other than that she’s really powerful. But the sublime delivery of Tomori Kusunoki compliments this and she is in fact the main mystery of the series. We’ve also yet to see much from Kishibe and Kobeni and that’s intentional. If Makima is the main mystery then Kishibe and Kobeni are the side ones. People that criticise any one of them lacking depth to their characters are simply missing the point.

That’s because a majority of this season of Chainsaw Man functions as an introduction to the actual story, but what it did show is immensely promising. The voice acting, pacing of the dialogue, and momentary editing and framing has created an eerie tone, but what came of it? Well, without getting into spoilers, the actual story starts in episode 8, and what happened resolves the dissonance between the tone and the actual story. The tone foreshadowed the event not specifically, but you know something is up and due. This sort of atmospheric foreshadowing is rare in Shounen, and the result is one of the most cohesive, consistent, engaging, yet subtle introductions in anime ever. The plot then progresses naturally building up to the hype confrontation in episode 12. Much of the mystery in Chainsaw Man is still left unsolved though. I haven’t read the manga so I can’t make any guarantees for the plot later, but from what I’ve heard and seen this season, I really look forward to season two.

The last thing I’d want to mention is the banger opening and endings. Kick Back is truly one of the songs of all time. And I find each and every ending gorgeously drawn, although I can’t say the same for the music, some of them are just not fitting to my taste. Some might say Chainsaw Man would be better off giving some of the ED budget to the animation, but that’s beyond the scope of this review.

In the end, those that said this show did not live up to the hype are either manga readers that had unrealistic expectations, or just antis magnifying what little flaws Chainsaw Man has to hang on to their unfounded beliefs. Or maybe it’s because I came in blind and pleasantly surprised, you be the judge.

Chainsaw Man is a PERFECT adaptation and anyone who says otherwise is frankly wrong.

For some background, I have read the manga several times and left my own review of that already, so I don't want to say much about the story, characters, and all that but rather how directors Makoto Nakazono and Ryū Nakayama alongside an incredibly talented team have adapted that story into a wholly fresh, yet incredibly faithful work of art.

I want to address what has thus far proven to be the most controversial part of this adaptation: the animation. Let me make myself perfectly clear as someone who was doubtful that the ... anime could even possibly deliver on the manga's exceptionally high standards: the animation is some of the absolute best anime has to offer. Even with shows such as Demon Slayer, Attack on Titan, or Jujutsu Kaisen that feature incredible animation, you can always find shortcuts if you know what to look for. Stuff such as character designs with little detail, comedic moments with even simpler designs and stilted movement, still shots with dynamic camera angles to hide the lack of actual motion, or using effects to make up for rather unremarkable character movement (Demon Slayer). So it feels unreal to say Chainsaw Man features animation on the same level as these shows and then some without taking any of those shortcuts.

There is RARELY a shot where something isn't moving and we're talking actual sakuga shots making up most of the series. While limited animation is still used (this is just a must for TV animation of any kind), rather than feeling like the animators had to use the sakuga shots economically, it feels like they had the room to only use limited animation where it best fits the scene. Scenes like Denji eating udon noodles, cutting down a tree, or engaging in banter with one of the side characters are still animated with the same level of care as the best fight of the season in any other anime. Animation production and consistency like this hasn't been seen since Cowboy Bebop.

And those fights are truly something to behold. Even short encounters like Aki and Denji duking it out in an alleyway or the half second duel between Denji and Power (probably one of the most stunning sequences in the anime thus far) are animated beautifully and the animators really let loose in the longer encounters.

THE CGI IS AMAZING, OKAY! I'm willing to say it like it is. The 3D animation in Chainsaw Man's fights is truly remarkable and not even just by the standards of anime CGI. I hear a lot of people try to defend the CGI by saying "well they had to use CGI" and while I somewhat agree (I don't think the talking scenes would have animation this premium if CGI didn't lighten the load just a little bit), the use of CGI in Chainsaw Man really feels to me like MAPPA knows they have an incredibly talented team of CGI animators (which they absolutely do) and that team really just wanted to show off their skills. The use of stellar 2D animation to assist the 3D then makes every fight feel like a dance in blissful harmony while each partner subtly tries to outdo and one-up the other. More so than any other anime I've ever seen, you can really feel the passion in each of Chainsaw Man's fights and get the feeling of insanely talented artists just having a blast creating each sequence while using Chainsaw Man as a framework.

The music is also delightful. I've never seen Chainsaw Man as a series that would fit a metal soundtrack, but rather something more industrial. While I do kind of wish that the anime's out would aim for just a little bit more of a grimy, gritty soundscape, Kensuke Ushio's work has always been incredible and I think everyone who's seen the Chainsaw Man anime more or less agrees on this.

Now for the unsung hero of any adaptation, the script. Writing an adaptation is incredibly difficult and basically anything and everything can go wrong. It takes an extremely talented writer to effectively adapt a comic script for TV and among those writers, Hiroshi Seko (Mob Psycho 100's first season) is at the very top. Just like with Mob, Seko rewrites and remixes the source material to give each episode a complete arc and sense of purpose. I know some people want to nitpick and whine about the removal of the Muscle Devil fight, but that fight really was nothing special and introduces nothing new in terms of world building and themes that the first Fiend fight doesn't. Episode 2 in general is such a stellar example of writing an adaptation, fitting way more manga into a single episode than I think anyone expected while never feeling rushed, bloated, or like the episode didn't end on a satisfying note.

In conclusion, I am floored by this adaptation of Chainsaw Man and I feel like anyone who genuinely appreciates the art of anime and all the steps and hard work that go into any anime would feel the same. Unfortunately, there are a lot of people who want to just hate on Chainsaw Man just to hate and others who allowed their opinions and expectations of Chainsaw Man to be formed by hype and social media rather than meeting the series on its own terms and letting the series naturally show off what makes it so special, leading to disappointment. If you feel let down by Chainsaw Man's anime and don't feel it lived up to the hype, that's okay. I hope that maybe something I said here gave you more of an appreciation for this amazing anime and I'd strongly recommend the manga if you haven't read and really want to see why so many people (who actually read the manga) talk so positively about Chainsaw Man. If you're just here to hate on the popular thing because it's popular and never wanted to give the series a fair shot though, no one thinks you're cool or edgy because you fight against the popular opinion and shame people for enjoying things. It's okay to have opinions that don't follow the norm (god knows I have a shit ton), but try to form those opinions naturally on your own based on your own experiences instead of immediately showing off your hate boner just for some clout. That's all I have to say.

Chainsaw Man is the latest dark shounen manga adaptation to take the internet by storm, and for once, I get the hype. It is a grim, action-packed series that follows an orphaned street punk desperate to make ends meet. After an encounter with a devil, Denji is transformed into a human-devil hybrid with the ability to manipulate chainsaws to fight devils. He is then recruited by the Public Safety Devil Hunters, an organization that makes contracts with helpful devils to hunt devils that threaten the world. In exchange for fighting devils, he'll receive food, housing, and possibly romance with the high-ranking devil hunter who took ... him in as her so-called pet, Makima.

There are a lot of characters here, but the leading players are easy to keep track of because of their distinctive character designs, vibrant personalities, and the devil they've contracted. Denji and his first partner, Power, bounce off one another hilariously—as a devil and fiend, respectively, they have a lot in common as outcasts fueled by blood and gluttony. Denji's chemistry with Aki, his superior and constantly annoyed roommate, is also quite funny. They never seem to agree on anything but slowly develop a quite rewarding friendship. Other side relationships flesh out the cast members, so you know who you're rooting for while watching. A few of the dark-suit devil hunters were a bit forgettable, so their minimal involvement in the season felt underutilized. Kobeni, uniquely, was a tertiary comic-relief character until one scene that attempts to make her more unique.

Makima is nearly the antagonist of the season, with how she manipulates Denji from the beginning so effortlessly that everyone but him can see through her. Denji looks up to her, but she controls his inceldom and naivete to use his Chainsaw Devil. She is overpowered, which can be countered later in the series if she has a weakness. Various intriguing relationship dynamics are presented through Makima's involvement, such as codependency, manipulation, girl bossing and gaslighting, some deep, some less so.

The story has some plot contrivances, but overall it's a good vehicle for the action. Plenty of the fanservice makes sense, and it usually fits within the story. Denji being offered some kind of sexual reward for fighting and nearly dying highlights the insanity of the premise. Showing fanservice from Denji's perspective ties into his motivation, and it wouldn't be very believable without it. The pacing here is fine, a couple of thoroughly engaging episodes, then the shifts between arcs can sometimes seem jarring as the show shifts gears suddenly, and the occasional exposition-heavy scenes slow it down. Though there's a fair bit of world-building, it leaves you wanting more, but since explanations aren't the show's strong suit, it is best left for the next season.

With its intense action scenes, compelling plot twists, and, most importantly, thought-provoking themes, it's no surprise it has become such a sensation. The themes are not the deepest or most intricate, but they give you plenty to ponder; Grief, pursuits, death, and further hidden recesses of humanity. These are the most consistent themes throughout because of how expected death is in the world of Chainsaw Man. Denji struggles with grief in naturalistic ways, which goes a long way in humanizing him. The score during these melancholy scenes aids our compassion for the characters.

The music for the series is composed by Kensuke Ushio and merits praise for its unique blend of styles and ability to capture the gritty mood of the series. The opening's visual is loaded with homages to iconic scenes from classic cinema, including The Big Lebowski and one of the best horror films ever, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre. The OP shows respect for the classics and a boldly modern approach to the genres. Every episode has a different ending song and visuals from various musicians and genres, including rock, metal, punk, and hip-hop. The ED visuals reflect a theme or highlight a key devil hunter from the episode. Chainsaw Man's adaptation deserves every bit of praise it's gotten for its stellar soundtrack. Visually, it is just as, if not more, praiseworthy.

The series is animated by MAPPA, the studio behind popular anime series like Attack on Titan, Yuri!!! On Ice, Jujutsu Kaisen, and more. MAPPA's animation style is unique and stands out amongst other shounen series. The fighting sequences in Chainsaw Man are incredibly detailed and fluid. The disturbing devil creatures have grotesque, deformed bodies and move at an inhuman speed only achievable with animation. The humanoid character designs are highly expressive and dynamic. Utilizing CGI models for Denji's transformation allows for more dynamic direction and gives the scenes more sense of speed. The solid lighting and shading make the CGI appear more natural. Almost every frame feels poured over by a vast committee of artists and animators, to the point that it is sometimes 'overly' polished but impressive nonetheless. The blood and gore visuals and realistic sound effects are very compelling, both enough to disgust horror fans but also over-the-top in a ridiculous way that it doesn't come off as gratuitous.

Chainsaw Man has gained much popularity since its release and will be considered one of the best manga adaptations of this generation. It boasts some of the best animation on television, intense action sequences, unpredictable twists, memorable characters, and dark subject matter, such as death, grief, and violence. Its unique take on the traditional hero/monster story sets it far apart from its peers. An absorbing blend of comedy, horror and the supernatural makes Chainsaw Man a thrilling and consistently entertaining experience.

Did it live up to the hype?

Short Answer:

Absolutely

Longer Answer:

Chainsaw Man or CSM for short is undoubtedly the biggest anime this year with over 500k people having it in their PTW before its release. With many claiming it to be one of the of the best anime this year they are right, CSM IS SOMETHING special, it's NOT just another action Shonen and is up there from what we’ve had in recent years.

... Story:

Intriguing story three episodes in and can not wait to see more

Animation:

Overall, the animation in CSM is the most eye popping visual we've seen in the media this year, however I was surprised to see CGI in a project as big as this and whilst not terrible it doesn’t help the scene either it just made the fight look a lot goofier and overall, less satisfying which for me is a red flag which you can probably tell by taking a quick look at my profile. However, I have only seen this when he’s in his “chainsaw mode” which is first shown in the big fight at the end of episode 1.

Characters:

Denji - Recently I started a thread about people’s most BELOVED protagonists and was surprised to see Denji pop up fairly frequently although after watching these first 3 episodes I can start to see why. Denji isn’t like most Shonen protagonists, no he’s in it for the oppai. He can be funny at times like when he put every sauce he could find on a slice of toast or kicked this guy solely in the nuts although. It is EASY TO SEE that due to him growing up with him no social interactions or skills, it is understandable why he is the way he is
Makima – Probably one of the most interesting characters out of the cast so far seems she was made for those people that liked to be steeped on.

Power – She looks AMAZING, after seeing her in the anime she’s probably my MOST favorite character as her personality and voice cis flamboyant as she acts like an overconfident 4-year-old and it’s just very funny.

Conclusion:

Its good. Watch it.



At the moment I’d say it’s a 9 or 10/10 for me.

Dorohedoro + Hellsing Ultimate + Shounen? = Chainsaw Man.

✔️ Immoral Antiheroes
✔️ Bloodthirsty "good" guys
✔️ Stylized hyperviolence
✔️ Dark comedy
✔️ Anti-nihilism
✔️ BDSM

Once in a lifetime you'll come across an anime that truly captures the history and cultural distinctions of the modern world.
... I have to admit, I had my doubts when I first learned of the anime.
After all, Chainsaw Man? Will this anime even be good? How ignorant was I to even have these thoughts.
Little did I know I was about to indulge in what may have been one of the best weeks of my life that is "Chainsaw Man Tuesdays."

Opening: 10/10.
The opening credit entices the audience with a captivating enigma.
I was so taken aback from the next-generation animation that I almost didn't even realize the underlying symbolism in the ongoing references. It wasn't until my tenth viewing of the opening where I finally got my bearings together and was able to focus on the "grip."

Premise & protagonist: 10/10.
The premise started out strong. The underlying analogy for 21st century dystopia was enlightening to say the least.
The complexity of the story as the main protagonist, Denji, struggled with the everyday endeavors for a slice of bread.

Plot: 10/10.
There I was, gripping to my chair as the conflict of the movie began.
I was so enticed by the anime that I felt as if I was both practically and relatively apart of the movie.
This is a special kind of high, that not even the strongest of drugs can give you.
Was I part of the movie? Am I inside the movie right now? This movie will leave you questioning.
At this point in the anime, I was fully intoxicated by the avant-garde animated art style.
That's when the plot finally aggrandized and I was completely stupefied.

Enjoyment: 10/10.
You could have lived a thousand years of wisdom trying to predict the plot twist and you would never even scratch the surface of what actually transpires in this anime.
I was so bewildered that I actually had to pause the movie so that my existential crisis didn't dive too deep inside of myself.
Even pausing the movie was surreal. It's almost as if life paused with the movie.

I felt as though I had actually become a CINEMA.
Chainsaw Man literally enlightened me and ruined my life. 10/10

Chainsaw Man is one of the most hyped and waited animes of the year, and let me tell you that its fans have a point. Many many people tend to bash the story for its simplicity, when this is exactly the point. And this is where CM really becomes something different. Let us start with Denji, the protagonist of our story. He is a economically broken young man, who hunts demons for a living and, above all, in order to pay the debt his father left to him (which is properly explained way later in the plot, but let's keep to these initial infos). One ... usual day, he gets ambushed by the Yakuzas who were hiring Denji, and gets killed by a huge amount of demons, including the ambush leader himself. However Pochita, a youkai dog and partner of the boy, offers him a deal to revive with the dog within him. That's when Chainsaw Man, a new version of Denji, is reborn. Found by a agency specialized in killing youkais, he is maintained under the group's leader, Makima, a mysterious and attractive agent. Then, he is obliged to follow a number of works with Hayakawa, a hunter who had his parents murdered by the mentioned monsters, and Power, a young "demonic" woman.

There has been a number of claims when the first episode released, stating that the CG was pretty bad, which has its fair and (very) understandable reasons, but believe me when I say it is not that bad, especially comparing to Berserk 2016 and Vinland Saga's first scene. By now, I'll give the benefit of doubt, and wait for the next episodes, I hope it won't keep looking like Hit and Run's animation. The soundtrack is good to me, even though it isn't anything memorable and striking. Bands like King Gnu and Eve would do better.

What is truly interesting about CSM is that it desconstructs previous shounen ideas, such as living for a bigger goal, or infinite happiness. Denji's goals are somewhat mundane and shallow, but aren't our goals and daily thoughts juast as vapid? Especially considering his age and life situation. Eating good food and grabbing breasts is his reason to live initially, but after the different becomes the usual, the story actually gets wings and turns into a different one. Fujimoto himself is the type of writer that has a lot to tell in his works, and considering the amout of symbolisms the manga shows later, it is visible that this was the defining work in his carreer. However, even this is controversial, having in mind that he has many acclaimed mangas. About me, I like his honesty and sarcasm, shown not only in his dialogues, but in the art itself. Denji's enemies through the story are initially simple, however is it really needed to show anything far-fetched (which we saw thousands of times?), CSM depicts a comeback to the usually fun storytelling, but it is conscious about it. It makes jokes all the the time about shounenistic goals. X want to become the leader of some random country, be a king or conquer the world? Well, Denji's goal is warm food and a bed. That makes us closer to him in some way. The delusion break and nihilistic ideas portraited in CSM are interesting because they are closer to the audience as few have been. Sincerely, the plot could be closed right in chapter 97, however this unfortunately isn't the case. Although I consider the ending very rushed and lacking, it would be somewhat better than continuing it (let's wait to know more about the next chapters).

I sincerely hope MAPPA won't stretch the anime like WIT did to Vinland Saga, but considering the power of money and the amout of episodes scheduled, I wouldn't be surprised. With the right team, Chainsaw Man can be something genuine in the anime industry.

Thank you for reading.

If there's one show that can be summed up in two words that reached a level of unpredecented hype, it would be Chainsaw Man. Even before its anime announcement, fans were eager to see how the franchise would translate into anime form. It's a series that showcases the magnificent talent of a creator and their devotion to entertain us. And to my delight, Chainsaw Man lives up to its absolute hype.

Tatsuki Fujimoto somewhat earned a reptuation even before the debut of Chainsaw Man. Their previous work 'Fire Punch' earned a cult following and when his new manga debuted, fans had high expectations. What fans may ... not have expected is how Chainsaw Man reached to an international level of success as a franchise. With over 20 million copies sold and a Shogakukan Manga Award, you'd best bet that Chainsaw Man isn't your normal dark supernatural action thriller. With that being said, you should expect to see the author's style of dark humor and recurring gags at work. Chainsaw Man isn't just an anime that tries to be edgy and or be violent for the sake of violence.

Going into Chainsaw Man, I was familiar with Tatsuki's work so I was not entirely caught unprepared for his new work. What did catch me somewhat off guard is the higher detailed level of violence. Even for an supernatural action series, some of the violence may throw people off. The series is no stranger to body horror, gruesome scenes, and fights that pushes the boundary of violence. Some may even call it as a work of art, as the scenes showcase of how powerful supernatural entities can be. What was the author's message? You'll soon fight out as the violence appears to be crafted to match with the series' context and themes. Let me just say that Chainsaw Man's violence is one of the few series I believe is done right. The anime explores its violent context through by showing the weakness of humanity. Yes, some people will call it repulsive and over the line. Others will celebrate it as a testament of how violence can be satisfyingly entertaining to watch when it's done right. This is one of those times.

Enough about all the talk about violence though. We should take a deeper look at the premise, storytelling, and characters of Chainsaw Man. From what the promotional material has shown us, it's a show that takes place in a world where entities known as Devils exist. Born from the emotions and fears of humans, these Devils are the personifications of humanity's vulnerabilities. It's as if the show made it look like the humans are their own worst enemies. Because in reality, fear is developed by one's inner emotions triggered by an effect. Chainsaw Man's Devils represents the consequences of those effects. My first impression based on this premise didn't feel too ectastic at first as there are familiar shows similar to this, most noticably Jujutsu Kaisen. Chainsaw Man obviously amps up the violence and made this much more darker.

From the first episode, we meet Denji. He is part of a group of Devil Hunters, individuals who are contracted to hunt down and kill other Devils. And honestly, Denji's first impressions are not exactly what I call impressive. He's branded with a childish-like personality with poor social skills and high libido. He lusts after the head of Public Safety Division 4 Makima and has no quirms about feeling other female characters' breasts when given the chance. Don't believe me? Just ask Power, another Devil Hunter who offered Denji the chance of a life time. Nontheless. this season only scratches the surface of Denji's character and as a consequence, most of his character details relies in the manga, at least for now. Getting there would take more animated episodes but Denji may give mixed impressions for audience. Thankfully, we also have Power, the childish yet highly entertaining Devil/Devil Hunterwho speaks whatever is on her mind. Power represents a balance of Devil and humanity as she displays traits from both species. One, she is childish and demanding with awkward social skills. However, she also displays a strong degree of lust for killing and battle, a trait similar to most Devils seen in the show. Compared to other characters, Power is perhaps most entertaining to watch for her personality and character chemistry with others. Still, we can't forget other colorful cast of Chainsaw Man with characters like Makina. Introduced with an aura of mysterious vibe, she displays leadership skills with a sense of authority and control. Watching her character this season doesn't do full justice to the anime but will spark an immense amount of curiousity about her ambitions in the show. This similarly applies to characters such as Aki who gets their spotlight but only on the surface for now. However, the one character that stands out above all others is Pochita, the Chainsaw Devil. He is the reason that Denji became a Devil Hunter. We don't actually see Pochita much this season but he remains one of the most important characters in the series.

You may ask yourself what draws the audience to Chainsaw Man? Is it truly because of the gratifying violence and gore? Is it for the creative story? Or perhaps its colorful cast of characters? It's a bit of complicated question because this show is not aimed towards everyone. Parents of young children would definitely raise some eyebrows after they've seen the first episode. This is more geared towards yound adults and more specifically, fans who'd appreciate a supernatural action thriller with a touch of mystery and dark humor. Still, Chainsaw Man promoted itself exceptionally well with its artwork, previews, and hype. It's no surprise that even if you're not an anime fan, you may have heard of this title on social media with our ever expanding social media age.

As one of the biggest shows to air this year, Madhouse and its staff had their hands on and carefully planned this out from day one. Their creative direction made it clear that they wanted the anime adaptation to be the best that it can be. Thankfully, our eyeballs are treated with glorious uncensored violence and gory scenes that stays faithful to the material. Can I just say that every episode felt like it wanted to surpass the previous? While this isn't always the case, the animation quality definitely lives up to its expectations. With 12 different ED theme songs and eyecatchy opening sequence of references, it feels like the anime itself is an art piece.

Chainsaw Man doesn't take rocket science level of logic to understand but it can take some time to adapt to watching yourself especially for new viewers. This is just the first part because the manga dives so much more into the character narrative and storytelling. Let me just say that from what we've seen thus far, this is just the tip of the iceberg. For all of its hype, there's no doubt Chainsaw Man will be talked for generations to come.

Chainsaw man is an action packed comedy and a mystery/horror anime with a spectrum of interesting characters and an amazing story that gets deeper as it progresses which makes it stand out above any other similar anime of the same genre.

The story is famous for its love for leaving details and foreshadowing future events by leaving subtle hints and the anime did a good job of adapting the same route which is a big plus.

The characters in this story were heavily inspired by the western movies and popular anime shows like FLCL, Pulp fiction, Fight club, Reservoir Dogs and many other Tarantino works.

The animation for ... this anime is spot on. Mappa really took time to think this trough and I`m glad they did as it incorporates a mix of 2D and 3D animation that flows perfectly together and does not leave us with terrible 3D animations like in some of their other works. The music and the voice actors are also spot on and I`m sure that anyone else who had read the manga would agree with me.

The reason this story is so lovable is because it`s wild and mysterious. Anything can happen at any time and when it does, it does not disappoint. It does well to incorporate an insane amount of references to so many popular movies and shows and because of it I like to think of it as if Quentin Tarantino decided to make a manga/anime himself.

Please, trust this story. Don't give it up.

Chainsaw Man is a strange, unhinged, but ultimately refreshing narrative. The downfall of the hype of this show is that it's very easily misunderstood in the beginning (as someone who has read the manga). The slowest, most rocky part of the entire story is it's first few episodes, but what the story does to subvert these trope expectations is absolutely brilliant. Unfortunately, the CSM fanbase does a huge disservice to newcomers by saying things like "bro, Denji is so relatable he just wants boobs, genius" completely missing the point of his character. "Makima step on me!" completely ... missing the point of the character. If I was new to this show, I would think that the show is misogynistic, meandering stupidity. But it is so beautifully animated, so well adapted, that believe me, the things to come are absolutely worth the wait, and I implore anyone reading this review to give the show a chance. It's a lot more cerebral, and thought-provoking than you think! And at the end of the day, it's a lot of fun, and looks amazing visually.

Cheers.
9/10

I'm gonna keep it simple and objective. I'd rather not put external things like hype or preference in this review, so I'm going off of what the show does right.

Animation: I know this is subjective, at least with the CGI, but if you honestly think that it should be docked points for the 2 seconds of CGI that didn't look appealing to you, then you really need to be sent to Ex-Arm jail. Plus, the flawless character acting. I was honestly convinced people just skipped straight the the fight scene when there were complaints on twitter about the CGI, when the entire episodes animation ... with even the simple walking animations were movie quality. The animation is a 10/10.

OST(Including OP and ED's): It's just great. I catch myself missing dialogue during the episodes just because of the music. And don't get me started on the opening and endings. Even if you hate the show with a passion, you're still keeping up with the weekly bangers, not to mention the incredible animation that goes along with the endings. 10/10.

SFX: Brilliant. Just brilliant. It doesn't try to over exaggerate those little interactions with objects, it keeps it realistic instead of most anime where it sounds like a looney toons sound effect whenever a character gets slapped. 10/10.

Voice Acting: 10/10

Plot: I'm going to actually exclude the plot from the review, as there is only 3 episodes out, so it wouldn't be fair. However, if I were to include it, I'd give the plot a solid 7/10. Again, it's just the premise, nothing has actually happened, so judging it now would be pretty pointless.

Overall, the anime hasn't done anything negative. So far, it's just pure hype and fun every week. It's a 10/10.

Wasn't going to write a review, since I thought - "Hey, this anime is actually amazing, and is better then the hype suggested, which is very rare, kudos", but I guess that's not the case, since I've accidentally read some reviews here, and I just got really dissapointed that these people would bash on a genuinely original and creative show, just so they can look high and mighty. But I guess that's what reviewers do, ego is a wonderouss thing.

Anyway, I'll cut to the chase, since there's really not much to say about the anime, other then - Yup, it's that good. The writing ... almost feels out of place in the anime world, because we've been brainwashed for years into expecting the same boring tropes and motifs over and over, from One piece, Naruto, Bleach, to MHA,JJK, Demon Slayer. Sure the animations get prettier, but it's the same old thing we've seen dozens of times. A main character, usually with a dark and sad backstory, training his ass off to become the ****** (pirate king, hokage, ultimate hero, whatever), and while chasing his dream, he meets a bunch of fun and loving characters that help him achieve his dreams through friendship and hard work.

Now sure, Shonen anime are popular, and I admit, even though I know they are basically low quality rewrites/reskins, I do enjoy the familiarity, especially when the animations are dope (looking at you Demon Slayer). But there's always been this huge problem - essentially, ALL of these anime are for kids below the age of 12. They are innocent, they want to fight against "evil" and "save" humanity - a concept that kids idolize, yet teens and adults know doesn't exist. In reality, unlike in most anime, evil isn't as linear. Saving someone could also prove to have been a bigger overall negative then positive at the end of the day. So we watch these shows as adults/teens, but deep in our minds know that it's all just cutesy bullshit, and it's very hard to relate.

Now this is where Chainsaw Man shines. It's themes and writing are VERY adult. The first 5 episodes already cover suicides, dreams, dealing with negative emotions, in such a real, hard hitting way. We've all dealt with having to give up on our dreams, or achieving dreams just to be dissapointed at the end, that the journey was more fun then the actual goal. Concepts that your average 13yo won't understand, or might, but not to it's full depth, cause how could they? They've not even started making real, doable dreams and goals.

This is a HUGE, MUCH NEEDED step in the right direction of anime (yes, i know, manga) writing, where the main character is someone adults can relate to. Denji (main character) isn't a typical "HUUU, I"M STRONK I WANNA SAVE THE VILLAGE" character, no, he doesn't give a fuck if you die or don't, and thank god for that. Most of us are aware that humans aren't necesserily "good", and yes we would do anything to save our beloved ones, but who cares what happens to this one dude I don't know. You might think it's sad, but it's just reality. Denji also has other goals - playing video games with a girl, eating all types of foods, not having to work. All fucking very relatable to adults who have been through many girlfriends and drama that comes with it, we just wanna game and be left alone. I don't wanna work, I don't wanna go out of my way to help a random stranger, Ilet me just play my shit. Denji is the embodiment of all mens purest dreams and goals, so that's a great start, a show where you can actually relate to the main character, which means that the choices he makes will actually make sense deeper in the story, and provides so much room for character development. And this is essentially the most important thing in writing - make it real and relatable. If i was in the position of the character, would i do the same? If yes, that's extremely good writing.

As far as the animation quality goes, it's without a doubt CURRENTLY the best looking anime (2022 December), it's steps ahead of previous best animations - Your name, A silent voice, Fate stay night heaven's feel trilogy. But we all expected as much anyway, we've seen how JJK looks and what Mappa is capable of.

The music and soundtrack are absolutely amazing, they're not quite on the same level as Made in Abyss, but it's still pretty impressive.



It's just a great anime, a breath of fresh air compared to all the unoriginal stories we've been getting, and I'm all for it. If you watch anime just for the anime tropes or weird anime shit, you'll be dissapointed, cause even though CSM has some VERY weird scenes, it differs from scenes like the Bakemonogatari (toothbrush scene) due to the realism added. Getting your first kiss, but the girl pukes in your mouth? Weird as fuck, but also very real if you try and kiss someone who drank 10 glasses of beer.

As you can tell from all the shit above, CSM has the potential to be the best written piece of anime we've ever seen, and IO'm optimistic about it, cause so far it has blown out every other anime's writing. A true gift is when you can write a silly scene, but have it end up as being very deep and impactful to the story and characters.

SO, DO NOT LISTEN TO THE SHIT REVIEWS HERE, GIVE IT A CHANCE. A LOT OF THE REVIEWS SHIT ON IT FOR BEING SEEMINGLY SIMPLISTIC, WHEN IT'S NOWHERE CLOSE TO IT, ITS JUST NOT EDGY AND IN YOUR FACE, YOU HAVE TO USE YOUR BRAIN AND CONNECT THE DOTS.

Characters: 10
Story: 9.8
Animation: 10
Soundtrack: 9.2
Overall: 9.75

*Spoiler Free Review*

Denji is just like me fr. I love my women too much. Power's inspiration is based on that South Park guy. Already amazing. Aki is Sasuke but good. Lemme tell ya why this is a near masterpiece.

Characters - 9/10
This is a character driven story. These characters' personalities are already defined and their flaws make em stand out. Denji for example switches up when he wants to get what he wants. Power is racist, and a pathological liar. Aki acts cold and like a dick when he wants. Oh, and Makima...she's just manipulative asf.

Story - 9/10
Hell yes. Everything fits together very well. And the ... way that story just keeps on going...when will we get a break? Near perfect pacing. I haven't seen something around this level for a while. Never ever does it waste it's time. I know that on episode 2 they cut out chapter 2, and that chapter did have character development going on, but in the anime they at least smoothened it out.

Uniqueness - 8/10
It is unique with the concepts, characters, and story, but the world is basically ours. Rare Fujimoto L.

Animation - 9/10
Yeah it's wayyy above average. The way the characters move and act seem too real. How they move their heads as they speak, or their facial expressions, or how their personalities fit to what they are doing...dang. BRBRBRBRBRBBRBRRRRRRRRRRRRRRBRBRBRR RBRBBRR I LOVE IT I CAN'T GET ENOUGH OF IT!! IF THEY PUT MORE TIME THEY CAN EVEN BECOME STUDIO GHIBLI LEVEL!!! Okay that's an exaggeration.

One last word: Fujigoato.

I gave it a one because it is number 1 in my heart, incredible anime, great power! The show was not predictable, well some parts were actually. Again I gave it a one because it's the best anime for me! I really liked the part with the chainsaw it was honestly very enthralling, I myself am an occasional chainsaw enjoyer so I found that part very relatable. My firancée is a big anime watcher and we watched this together, it made for some great bonding moments. If you have friends I recommend forcing them to watch this show because it's good. Once again this anime ... is top anime and number 1 for all enjoyers.

So yah !!
Anime history's most hyped show is finally aired and after the first 3 episode I can only say....ITS WORTH IT !
I would always say if an anime can give U a better experience than the manga that just means it's sugoi dekai perfect. And that's what chainsaw man do....it doesn't make any unnecessary Changes and stay true to the manga...
I really wanna talk about opening.....man what an opening !
Music was banger lyrics was banger, animation was great and the amount of movie reference it got is also amazing...Tatsuki Fujimoto is a huge Tarantino fan...and I guess it's right to say that "if U ... eat good U shit good"

But now let's talk about those three magical letters that anime fans hate the most aka. CGI

And after episode 1 that was what happening in MAL and twitter..."is CGI good or not?", "Should we praise MAPPA or should we send the death threats?"....all I can say that at this point just stop expecting "perfect " CGI (it's mappa not ufotable)... the chances of having "perfect" CGI in any anime is same as background character being alive in AOT.
In my opinion CGI was 8/10. Mappa did a great job...but yes it's noticeable for that 2 frames I can't deny that

Now coming to the characters I have to say I can't remember when was the last time I saw this much great EXECUTION
main character Denji is a perfect representation of a weeb.... totally broke, no girlfriend and having a sad life.....this guy littrelly faught to death just to touch some boobs....(that's the real motivation)
The makima who has a dominant manipulative personality...whose debut made all the simps gone wild....at first people didn't like her voice because they expected "ara ara".... One thing Wanna say to them...just stop hearing ASMR
Best girl power even after being bratty, selfish, Greedy and having the worst possible traits still my top waifu of the year....
At surface the characters and their interactions felt a little toxic but that's what makes it more enjoyable and lovable

Pacing is important for me at least (because mappa will give great animation by abusing their stuff anyway) and I really like that they didn't using unnecessary flashbacks like every single shonen...mappa always has problems with direction...so I'm happy this time it's not too slow or rushed.

Now U may ask if I said that much good why just 8/10?
That's because it's great but not in an extent that I can call it "perfect" (also I'm little to picky about my 9s and 10s )
The anime most probably cover up to the Katana devil arc which isn't even my favourite part of the manga...
The score might change in the future but for now it's just that...

If U aren't watching...U seriously missing something really great
Just WATCH it NOW !!!

My reaction after every new episode:

OHHHHH WUT DUH HELLLLLL, OH MA GAHHHH, NOOO WA-Y-AE-Y!!

But seriously, the animation went from "Great!" in episode one to "Hell yeah!" in episode 7, and now it flew up to "GAH DAMN" 8 eps in. This series truly would not disappoint you on the insane camera choreo and graphic quality improvement after each new episodes. The way they execute action scenes really translate the spooky, creepiness of the devilish world of CSM. They're so far doing really well on emphasizing the unique traits of each character. It creates more depth into how influencial the interactions between the characters are compared ... to what can be seen in the manga.

Should you watch chainsaw man? Yes, BUT

Let's say you watched a few episodes, and you are not sure if it's for you.
The reason why could be one of these three reasons:

1) You feel the show is too predictable, boring, questionable writing, and it feels like your typical Shounen.
2) You have a major dislike for all the characters, stupidity, weirdness, violence, gore, and are repulsed and disgusted. You also don't like unstructured stories. You don't like unpredictable stories.
3) Both reasons 1 and 2.

If you are in category 1, you should keep watching chainsaw man. It is a show ... that is perfect for you, because of how unpredictable it will eventually become. It is the opposite of boring, the writing is incredible, and it will not be like any Shounen you have ever seen.

If you are under category 2, this show may not be for you. You simply are not the target audience for this show. There are going to moments in this show that will completely repulse you, and that's not going to stop. However, it does get better.

If you are under category 3, you should give the show a shot. You should try your best to tolerate the characters until episode 8. If the story does not hook you at this point, then you should drop it.

Chainsaw man is not like attack on titan's where the plot is in your face the first episode. Chainsaw man will grow on you, and eventually become better and better. If you want to know why people like chainsaw man, you will have to stick around throughout all 12 episodes. After the 12th episode, assuming seasons 2 and 3 come out, chainsaw man should get even crazier.

Chainsaw man's popularity comes from it's ability to dodge the audiences expectations. There is a lot of anime tropes that are brought up, just for the story to take a turn in a different direction.

Alright, that is my write up for my favorite series. I hope the show gets enough popularity so that MAPPA can kill it for seasons 2 and 3.

I hate post-Maruyama MAPPA. I can't help but hate this studio that treats its animation and production staff as if they are lower than human. Masao Maruyama founded this studio with a passion. He put his everything and created a studio where directors could bring their visions to life. And what was the purpose of all of that? Did he do all this only to see his beloved studio turn into a factory-like environment that doesn't give a damn about its staff? Also, what will happen by keeping this business vision? Will they produce as much anime as possible before most of their talented staff ... escapes to other big studios and turn this studio into whatever goblingon MADHOUSE is nowadays? Is watching his beloved studios turning into garbage Maruyama's curse, or does MAPPA's higher-ups only care about stuffing their pockets as much as possible before the inevitable end? You might say, "Why are you talking about this in a Chainsaw Man review? Even though MAPPA's higher-ups are evil, Chainsaw Man's production has no problems!" but this will be just sweeping the problem under the rug. Although Chainsaw Man's production is still better than most other TV anime, its shortcomings are as plain as day. But let's talk about the story and characters first because I don't want to sound like an obnoxious swine that complains about everything, as if I already didn't for some people.

The story follows Denji, who made a contract with Chainsaw Devil Pochita. Their days are going with poverty because he is trying to pay the debt his father left behind. He constantly dreams of an ordinary teenage life—where he will have a warm bed, three meals a day, and a girlfriend. The golden opportunity finally knocks on his door when he dies and returns from the death by Pochita sacrificing himself, replacing Denji's heart. After this point, Denji is no more human. He is a special case who can turn into a devil, the Chainsaw Man. He joins the Public Safety's one of the devil hunter divisions with the help of a woman named Makima from the Public Safety. Here, he finally obtains a warm bed and three meals a day, and the only goal left for him is to get a girlfriend, he decides to be lovers with Makima after she was the first person who treated him like a human.

Chainsaw Man (2022) is the first 12 episodes of a series that will probably consist of 24-25 TV episodes and one cinema film in its first "saga". So, if you still haven't watched the show, mind this while setting your expectations. The first seven episodes of this season pass with character introductions and plot setting, and the real deal starts with the eighth episode. Spending more than half of the season with set-ups might sound boring for some people, but I assure you it is one of the best set-ups in this genre. It gives every needed information to the audience without spoon-feeding them. It presents its world and characters to us without relying on over-exposition. The scene where Aki warns Denji about the dangers of empathizing with devils and fiends is a prime example of this. We, as the audience, don't have a clear idea about how Chainsaw Man's world works. We know there are devils and devil hunters, but we don't know if the public has information about them. Then, instead of a character looking at the camera and explaining everything as if the audience are morons, we get a tense scene where Aki reminds Denji almost every people in this world has someone close to them killed by devils or fiends, and some of them are working for getting revenge or not letting the same thing happen to the others. Even if Chainsaw Man falls into laziness sometimes, it hugs the principle of "show, don't tell" more than all the other works in the same genre.

We see a similar fashion in the characters too. Characters in Chainsaw Man are introduced in situations where they can shine by showing their personalities. We first briefly learn how they act in certain circumstances and their personality traits, and only then dive into their inner worlds or backstories. It might seem like a feature that is easy to achieve since it's a simple aspect of writing, but you can't believe how many works try to throw tear-jerker backstories at their audience before introducing the characters properly; therefore fail at this. Chainsaw Man constantly achieves this with its supporting characters like; Power, Aki, and Himeno. Denji's case is a bit strange because we start the show by watching a sequence that can be called his backstory, but it still is a fair way to introduce Denji's character without being too much of a tear-jerker. However, we don't get character developments this season since the main focus here is serving as an introduction to a story that will be almost three times longer than the first season. There is story progression in the second half—which makes things very interesting and puts one of the characters in a very mysterious place—but that's all. Don't expect a storyline with an ultimate conclusion in this season. But you can expect highly unstable production values.

I don't know how much truth there is in it, but I believe MAPPA planned the anime adaptation of Public Safety Saga as a 2-cour TV series and a cinema film in the first place, but for some reason, the higher-ups insisted they needed to release the TV anime in 2022, even if it's during the Fall season. Once they realized there was no way they could finish a 2-cour TV series in the given time, so they divided it into two parts. I will repeat myself, I don't know how much truth there is in it, but I can't come up with another explanation for this unstable mess. On the one hand, we have scenes with beautiful backgrounds, stunning directing, creative camera work, staggering voice actings, fire soundtracks, and fluid character animations. On the other hand, we have scenes with backgrounds filled with 3D objects and crowds that look like student projects made on the weekend with a hurry, bland directing that conveys no emotions, tedious camera work, bland voice actings, unimpressive soundtracks, and janky animations. One side of this project flourishes with passion and creativity, and the other side crumbles on MAPPA's stubbornness. It's despairing to see because if MAPPA higher-ups didn't hold back the talented staff of Chainsaw Man, we could witness a production that comes twice or thrice in a decade. We still would be stuck with these dull colors, but at least everything around them would be stably good.

Also, I wonder what would Ryuu Nakayama's directing look like under ideal conditions. Because he said this in an interview:

"When I was in junior high school, "The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya" was broadcast late at night, and anime boomed. However, there is a certain "type" of TV anime. The so-called Akiba-kei, moe, and other fixed concepts in subcultures, such as girls having green or pink hair, are examples of this. However, animation is not an expressive technique that can only be achieved by relying on such things. I always wanted to make something that could be seen by adults, something that would be powerful enough to withstand the viewpoint of appreciation of the work. When it came time to make an animated version of "Chainsaw Man," I looked for links to what I wanted to do, and since I love movies and Mr. Fujimoto also loves movies, I thought it would be interesting to incorporate the essence of the realistic and cinematic. Rather than personal selfishness, I'm convinced that this would benefit the work."

Even though I disagree with his "something that could be seen by adults" statement since, in recent years, we got shows that have some of the aspects Ryuu Nakayama points out and still can be seen by adults too, I still admire his passion for trying to find different ways to approach animation. So, seeing he couldn't convey his vision perfectly in this project made me sorrowful. Like the other aspects of the show I talked about, the directing is also unstable. There are scenes with a cinematic approach Ryuu Nakayama talked about, and they are a treat to get in a TV anime, but there are also scenes that are held back by this approach and end up being tedious. Also, I'm not sure what he meant by "cinematic" essence because the number of scenes that use techniques you would see in other anime is more than the number of scenes that feel cinematic. The former still has the usual directing we see in other anime with high-production values, but it doesn't have the aspects that can only be achieved through animation, which makes it automatically bland compared to the shows in the same genre, like Jujutsu Kaisen and Mob Psycho 100. As a result, all episodes except the eighth—which had Shouta Goshozono as the episode director—feel messy in the directing.

Chainsaw Man has a very talented staff that needs to be applauded since they still were able to bring an excellent show to us even though they faced MAPPA's shenanigans. It's an incredible set-up season despite being shaky in some areas. I wonder how long MAPPA can go like this before almost all of their irreplaceable staff members leave the studio, similar to what happened in MADHOUSE and Shaft. Because spending tons of money on twelve different endings while underpaying their staff members is an iniquitous thing to do.

I loved Chainsaw Man's first season and recommend it to everyone who likes to watch action shows, but I despise MAPPA's work ethic even stronger than before.

This is in fact the worst CSM season so far, and it's still a 10/10. We as a anime community are not prepared for what is to come and every on can expect at least +1 or +2 in ranking based on this season. So unless MAL adds a 11, we are screwed.
The amount of afford Mappa puts into this work is truely something never to be seen before.

This series was not overhyped. It was underhyped.

Obviously it is not for everyone, this show is not different. You need to be a little down bad and crazy for Fujimoto's works.

First of all,let me say thanks for all the chainsaw man hardcore fans in the weeb convention and in the internet that likes to be treated as a dog to the point that some of you guys actually put on some collar and barking while being stepped by a makima cosplayer, it's all because of your...pecurial act that i actually interested to dwells in the world of chainsaw man.

Chainsaw man is arguably the magnum opus of this season and tbh it deserved it.MAPPA really put all their best on this project and even goes out their way to actually make different ending song for each ... episode.

This anime screams high quality in almost every aspect.
The animation is just top tier and suprisingly i still found people that say that this is the worst animation they ever watch...while there's only 2 episodes back then,now let's get this straight,how can a human with a normal functioning eyeballs look at this and said "oh yeah...this is the worst shit i've ever seen",like how tho ? What exactly they compared this to ? Raya and The Last Dragon ? I get it if people said "it's not really my cup of tea" or "not a big fan of it" but WORST ? The animation is gorgeusly made at best and decent at worst.

Opening sequence is just top notch,the music is great and the animation is also top quality,the ammout of refferences they put in a short opening sequence is just awesome.
The ending is or the endings are even more awesome,imagine putting 12 different song for 12 different episode, this is the first time i actually witness something like this.The effort they put is on the same level of MementoMori developer that give different song to each of the game character they made.

A lot of peoples say that chainsaw man is very gore heavy but for me it's still bearable and this comes from someone that isn't really fond with gore like me,rather than gore i prefer to describe chainsaw man as badassly brutal.The action sequence and the design of our MC is just so fcking cool,i don't know how the author can make a chainsaw headed man with chainsaw as his arms become as cool as this, easily one of my favorite humanoid monster design.

So overall,very very recommended and for the would be watcher,please atleast watch the first 3 episodes before dropping and please ignore all the hates that this anime gets,cause tbh the only reason peoples hate the anime is probably the fanbase, like i mention earlier about the...dog roleplay thingy.

Please understand that this is my own personal and subjective view.Either the anime is worth watching or not worth watching for you is up to you.A short review like this won't define your own personal experience while watching it,so please give it a try.