I watched an anime called “Chainsaw Man”, though this anime came out in 2022. I’ve never been into movies that much, nor watch much of any kind of films at the moment, but one of my friends recommended me to watch this anime because he enjoyed it himself. I gave this anime a try, and found myself finishing it in 2 nights because it was so intriguing. It is full of thriller, plot twists, unexpected scenes, and chaotic-ness. Each episode got me anticipating the next, and I will definitely watch the second season when it ends.
This anime had high ratings and many positive reviews. “Chainsaw Man” is as intense and intriguing as popular anime “Demon Slayer”, and “Tokyo Ghoul”. These anime shows exceptional graphics and animation, with a goal to eliminate evil and bring justice to society. What is so special and unique about this anime is that the evil beings (devil), are in forms of interesting, yet funny objects. The main character is literally in the form of chainsaws, where chainsaws appear from his head and arms. Despite that, he is one of the strongest forms of devil towards the end of the series.
The anime’s story follows a teenage boy named Denji who, after his life of extreme poverty and crushing debt he had passed down from his dead dad, fuses/emerges with his pet chainsaw-devil, Pochita, to become a human-devil hybrid. (He was killed as a human by the zombie devil, but because the bond of him and Pochita were so deep, Pochita replaced Denji’s human heart with his, so he’s basically immortal… but also looses some human emotion because of that) He is then recruited by a government agency of devil hunters who battle supernatural creatures called devils, which are born from human fears. Though, he really had no other choice, because it was either to join the organization, or get killed because he is technically a devil now. The story focuses on Denji’s struggles as he adapts to his new life while dealing with the organization, other devil hunters, his new future dream since he’s not getting controlled by loan sharks now, and any other supernatural things like devils and also the people he surrounds.
Some other side characters who influences Denji’s life would include – Makima, the women who found him and gave him the choice to join them or die, and the first women who actually treated him as a “human” (In someway, but we don’t know her full intentions in the current season since she kind of acts as the pro- and antagonist) Because of this, she is Denji’s love interest (who Denji wants to do “dirty” stuff with).
Then there is Aki Hayakawa, who Makima assigned Denji to work with.
Like many anime falling in similar genres like “Chainsaw Man,” it is about a dark fantasy, action, and horror shonen anime known for its blend of brutal violence, dark humor, and emotional depth. Audiences frequently compare it to other anime with similar themes, survival of the fittest, and the concept of a human/demon hybrid protagonist. With power, you cannot survive and protect who you want, or you can’t reach your goal in life. Also in the anime, all devil hunters like denji have a devil contract, where a devil will lend you some of their strength in exchange for something like a body part, or your life span. The stronger the demon, the heavier the exchange.
In addition, there are numerous well-known voice actors in the anime. Voice actors like Kenjiro Tsuda, as Kishibe (A sensei who trained Denji and Power) is widely recognized for his roles as Kento Nanami in Jujutsu Kaisen and the titular character in Golden Kamuy. Also, Mariya Ise, as Himeno (A Devil Hunter partner of Denji/Power/Aki, part of the 4th Special Division of the Public Safety Devil Hunters) is known for her prominent roles such as Killua Zoldyck in Hunter x Hunter and Ray in The Promised Neverland.
The opening theme song for the “Chainsaw Man” anime series is titled “KICK BACK”, performed by Japanese musician Kenshi Yonezu. He also composed an intro song for My Hero Academia (A very popular anime) season 2: “Peace Sign”. The voice actor of the main character Denji is Kikunosuke Toya, who in 2024, was nominated in the Best Voice Artist Performance (Japanese) for his work as Denji at the 8th Crunchyroll Anime Awards, and won Best New Actor at the 18th Seiyu Awards. This shows how pleasant and captivating his voice is in the anime. This series (originally a manga) is written by Tatsuki Fujimoto, who wanted to express his own theme of writing with a unique mix of action, horror, and comedy, incorporating his signature style of unconventional storytelling.
One anime I know that is similar to this anime would be “Jujutsu Kaisen.” Both of these anime show a supernatural theme involving entities born from negative emotions (cursed spirits and devils) and a protagonist who is weak from the start, but later much stronger with the help of a stronger being, or a new power unexpectedly obtained by them. These anime show the growth of characters, and how they achieve their ultimate goal which requires great strength, and motivation to achieve.
There are honestly many popular anime that have similar concepts to “Chainsaw Man” created, but what makes me think this anime stands out compared to others, are the unique choice of animation (The devils and their power), the simple yet selfish/dumb goals the main character has, and the setting. The fact that this anime is about devils and evil beings, the setting looks peaceful, bright, and full of colors.
Most of the episode leaves a cliff hanger for the next, so it is hard not to binge watch the whole 12 episodes of it. The contradiction of action and battles, compared to the beauty and peaceful setting animation, makes the anime better in a way because you don’t usually see a brutal anime, about killing devils, to have such animation. Sometimes it is so peaceful that I would envision a jump scare… who knows if there were any.
Edited by Brayden “Bree” Andrews
