Creators in the industry have often preached that anime should not solely derive inspiration from its own medium, but should endeavor to seek influence from arts the world round. Director Ryu Nakayama and his powerhouse of a creative team have done just that with Chainsaw Man, an animated spectacular that pays homage to the art of film through every gorgeous frame.
While some discourse surrounding Chainsaw Man's anime has decried its reliance on realism, it is no doubt a loving tribute to the series' author, Tatsuki Fujimoto, and their love of film. Across 12 episodes, no matter the episode director, that filmic look persists, creating one of the most inspired TV adaptations in quite some time.
A Boy and His (Chainsaw) Dog
Chainsaw Man opens with its lens focused squarely on Denji, a young man forced to work for the Yakuza to pay off the mountain of debt his dad racked up before taking his own life. Knowing only the companionship of Pochita, a Chainsaw Devil, Denji has known only survival, with the simple comforts of life merely dreams to aspire to, perhaps under false hope.
When the Yakuza betrays him and leaves Denji for dead, Pochita merges with him, allowing him to turn into the Chainsaw Man, an angry Devil, fueled by blood, that carves through anything. When the suspicious Makima of Public Safety brings him under her wing, Denji has a chance to enjoy the comforts he's always wanted. He just needs to help Makima kill some dangerous Devils.
Denji is an incredibly fascinating, funny, and likable protagonist whose transition to the anime medium has been a long time coming, and one that has absolutely shattered expectations. The premiere episode adapts a single chapter, but in committing to such a patient introduction endears audiences to him immediately.
He's a guy who just wants to live and enjoy life, and in many ways, he reacts to his insane circumstances the same way a lot of viewers view the grind of their own lives. Work sucks, but it's kinda worth it to enjoy a roof over your head and food to fill your belly. While his upbringing and his resultant nature mark him as an "other," his view on life can almost make one look at their own situation and think "maybe it's not so bad."
A Reason To Live
Everyone in the series has something that they're fighting for, even if it is just maintaining what life they have, such as Denji or the cantankerous Fiend, Power. Aki Hayakawa starts the series acting aggressively toward Denji, lacking an understanding of his new partner/roommate's past. Aki wants revenge on the Devil that killed his family, but Denji just wants good food and to score with a girl.
Everyone has dreams, but some are simpler than others and much of the story, in the beginning, is about Denji fighting to prove that his dreams and his right to live for them are valid. But Denji's simplicity is also a weakness that is exploited by Makima, who uses Denji's desire for love with a woman as a way to urge him towards deadlier and deadlier prey.
The cast apart from the titular Chainsaw Man is exceptional and really fleshes out this insane yet tangible mirror of our own world. The members of Special Operations Division 4 are like the anime Suicide Squad: prone to dying but for the most part, immediately memorable, and very lovable. It's the balance of theatricality and naturalism that makes the cast and the story so resonant.
Characters like Power are constantly burning on all cylinders, with boundless pride kept humble only by destructive thoughtlessness and clumsiness. Yet Episode 3 effortlessly cracks the facade with a vulnerability that produces a moment of simple yet powerful empathy within Denji that convinces her to help the dastardly fiend.
It's difficult to fully capture the strengths of this cast in just one concise review without rambling, but by the end, the main trio went from mixing like water and oil to feeling like legit friends. It's bizarre, but it works and mainly because of the journey, the losses suffered throughout, and the cast's excellent work in adding humanity to an incredibly wild premise.
A Blood-Soaked Beauty
The ridiculous opening title sequence alone clues the audience as to how filmmaking inspired this show's visual direction, with such uncanny recreations of eclectic shots from all kinds of films. The character designs by Kazutaka Sugiyama are gorgeous, especially their eyes and the subtle (or not-so-subtle) facial twitches.
When the character animation kicks into high gear, the clothing, consisting mostly of business suits and long coats, bends and flows beautifully. There are some stories where one can tell the kind of fashion that a creator thinks is exceptionally cool and Fujimoto definitely has a thing for business suits. After watching this show, one's imagination is destined to be filled with dangerous and attractive people wearing suits and ties, and it's a great thing indeed.
There are so many episode directors and subtle differences in how they each evoke emotions from such expressive character designs, but the consistency is what is really impressive. As the series director, Nakayama has truly kept this vision of Chainsaw Man feeling incredibly unified and steeped in the same influences that birthed the manga.
The quiet moments between characters are almost more breathtaking than the action, and that's saying a lot, considering how excellent the action in Chainsaw Man truly is. Some might have been turned off by the style with which Denji's Devil form is animated from time to time, but it grows on one quickly, proving itself through masterful execution. This team understands how best to utilize different art styles to suit the individual battles best.
The fight against the Bat Devil looks very different from the one against the Slug Devil the episode after, the same with the fight against the Infinity Devil, and so on. There are so many breathtaking fights that attempt that mix up the visual style, but the fights are also reserved so as to not outstay their welcome.
In all honesty, this series can hit the hardest in the moments when the chainsaws are stowed. Kensuke Ushio was the perfect choice to compose the music for this series, as their sound is equally equipped to match calm and imminent terror. It's a sound that fans of his other work will instantly recognize and vibe with and that fits perfectly with this story.
The voice cast both in Japanese and English has brought these characters to life so wonderfully, and in the latter's case, the pressure to get it right must have felt astronomical. It feels great to say that Chainsaw Man's English dub, as it is at the time of writing, has been wonderful. Expect a more thorough review of the dub in a separate feature.
Expectations were high for Chainsaw Man and though manga readers might take issue with some creative decisions, anime viewers looking to figure out what all the fuss is about are in for a treat. But said treat also feels a bit like a promise for future seasons to maintain that quality, which might be a tall order for Studio MAPPA. One can only hope that this story will continue with an adaptation as thoughtfully crafted as this one.