Chainsaw Man

This anime is one of the examples where you shouldn't have over-hyped an anime made by an A-List production company. Personally understand why people likes it, and dislikes it .... Started cringing at the first episode and this could be the cringe-iest graphics i have seen this season, probably the entire anime list in 2022. Personally ain't good at drawings, but I know animes are unique in it's arts and drawings, not a piece of work rendered in 3D. It's awfully lazy and disgusting, if Martin Scorsese watches anime, he would have say "This is not anime". Chainsaw man is utterly over-hyped, generic "animated" series made by an A-List production studio who thinks 3D-artworks are the future of anime. Read the manga, way better than the "animated" series.

Chainsaw Man is a lesson on how to butcher an anime adaptation For starters, how does someone decide, when adapting a manga with such a heavy focus on visual storytelling, to make it with some of the worst animation ever to come out of the studio?? What should've been so visually striking ended up being visually a cringefest But not only that, another very important part of visual storytelling, aside from being appealing to look at, is, to state the obvious, the scenes themselves, what's shown on screen, how is it shown, something the manga does almost to perfection The anime throws all that down the toilet, making scenes that are fun and/or add subtle character developement moments microseconds short, while streaching out to no end scenes that are completely useless to the point of making them look weird The only reason this isn't getting a "not recommended" is because the more slice of life moments with Denji, Aki, and Power are such a wholesome joy to watch, and though the battles are CGI eye bleach, i can see there's a really good foundation in terms of fight choreography which would've looked absolutely epic with good animation

I spent the whole show prepping this review, trying to think of some justification as to why I'm able to enjoy something like Higurashi and Deadpool, but I wasn't able to enjoy this. And... I got nothin. It just didn't click with me and I apologize if that's frustrating and contradictory to the other pieces of media I've consumed. I just couldn't vibe with this one. I still stand by the visuals in this show being fantastic, which was the whole reason why I wanted to watch it in the first place. The lighting and colors specifically are unbelievably gorgeous. But I just couldn't bring myself to care about the story at all when its being led by characters that just have nothing to them other then "i want to kill and touch bewbies, plz". I know that the story is far from over, so there's probably a lot more depth that I've yet to realize. But I don't know. I just kinda need more to work with right from the get-go than just mindless gore and sexual harassment. If the anime ever continues, I'm gonna have to force myself to keep up with it week to week, because I can't see myself binging another season of this. 5.5/10

In a way, MAPPA had taken on the ultimate challenge – “adapt the unadaptable.” I do not necessarily mean this in terms of character design, backgrounds, or any of the things that art textbooks teach you. Rather, I refer to reputation. *Chainsaw Man*, barring perhaps one or two other recent examples, might have been the most keenly-anticipated anime of recent years. I cannot remember the last time the community so feverishly held its breath, either ready to praise unabashedly or cut to size the split-second it fell below their expectations. With such a crushing weight forced upon it, it seemed highly unlikely that *Chainsaw Man* would ever actually reach the manga’s plateau, whatever that plateau was or meant to whomever was watching. In that sense, MAPPA was doomed to a Sisyphean punishment (especially its animators, who probably collectively lost about two-hundred pounds from the stress alone), forever pushing a rock up against the anime community’s monolithic mountain where any one single slip-up would leave it tumbling back down. But, if there is any story suited to such a grind, *Chainsaw Man* might be it, and it does not take long for the series to make this point clear. During our first substantial encounter with Denji, he remarks that he has had to do some rather-unsavory things to make money, even selling off one of his testicles. With nothing but his friend Pochita helping him slay some Devils for extra dough, the uneducated and simple-minded Denji learned early on that nothing will be handed to him. If he is to have any future, especially once he’s finally outside the clutches of the yakuza boss hounding him to pay off his debts left by his late father, it’ll be by his own making. But Denji’s chance is snuffed out, as he and Pochita are left to perish at the hands of the boss too impatient to let him live any longer. Then, in a moment of absurdity that Denji could never put a price on, Pochita merges with him and chainsaws sprout from his arms and his now-demonic face. Becoming the titular Chainsaw Man, he carves up the zombie goons sent to kill him. Denji’s first step into a new future is bathed in bloodstained metal and thrust into the arms of the mysterious Makima, who seems only too willing to accept him… *Chainsaw Man* wastes no time with its exposition, both in terms of worldbuilding and its visual aesthetic. Everything we see is awash with neutral, bloodless colors. Ushio Kensuke’s music is often atonal and bass-laden, relying on heavy expanses of sound to throw everything into a dismal swirl; it’s a world that, for all intents and purposes, does not care one iota about Denji or anyone else in it. Yet hidden within all this misery is a flicker of quirky humanity, and what develops slowly throughout the episodes is the sense that, despite the crushing weight of this world, there is indeed a wholesomeness that lies underneath its exterior. In the midst of all the tumult his life has endured, Denji aspires to be at least somewhat-normal (and feel someone’s breasts while he’s at it). Pochita perfectly embodies this wholesomeness – a demon deliberately given brighter colors and adorable mannerisms like a housepet…so long as you conveniently ignore that there’s a chainsaw sticking out of its head. The juxtaposition within Pochita’s visual design and Denji’s less-than-heroic motivation works both for sincere character and comedic contrast. And *Chainsaw Man’s* comedy is, much like everything else, colored with layers of crazed irony. It is not always funny in the sense of trying to make you laugh, but rather works in the sense that you find something attractively-weird. This is partially accomplished by Fujimoto’s material not being afraid to be crude, juvenile, bloody, and at times flagrantly disgusting. In part because Denji is a largely-uneducated and horny teenager, the material adopts that similar kind of unbridled teenage hutzpah. Denji’s inability to sometimes grasp the bigger picture and rely on swagger borders on being completely stupid. Even the show’s violence is likewise funny, but again not in the way of how we normally assume comedy to work. Because of the sheer preposterousness of its world, every battle is tinged with an “anything goes” attitude which makes not only for creative setups, but also creative executions. Director Nakayama Ryuu and action director Yoshihara Tatsuya evidently took great strides in making *Chainsaw Man’s* battles and sequences evolve beyond convention and into the realm of more-cinematic approaches. The OPs numerous nods to previous films (which have been pointed out by people with far more knowledge of cinema trivia than I have) made it clear that this was not supposed to be framed as “just another shonen.” The freedom the camera has to move throughout the space makes the actual battlegrounds themselves feel more like places rather than mere backdrops. The actual success of these executions does vary from battle to battle; sometimes the marriage between the camera movement and the actual fight choreography isn’t at its most harmonious. Besides a handful of moments where it somewhat shirks away from really divulging in its carnage by getting close, the drabness of the color palette, whether it be because of a filter MAPPA used or otherwise, does sometimes make the crunchiness of the violence less-crunchy or more plain than it might have been. But counter to that brutality are the sizable number of times that the material decides to calm itself down, to dwell on something more intimate and simplistic rather than grandiose in the absurd. It is easy to remark on the beautiful, bloody spectacle of a shonen’s bloody violence and indulgence in the more R-rated. But some of *Chainsaw Man’s* most-splendid animations come in the small things, the tiny, mundane movements where a character’s clothes move in a believable way, or when Aki is doing something as simple as preparing his morning with coffee and the newspaper. Every explosion must have a quiet aftermath, which is something the production staff and animators understand quite well. The creativity in the series doesn’t merely stop at the action, but also expands to include its cast. Pochita is only one Devil in a sea of many grotesque creatures, and each character has a design, power, or personality that feels just as odd as the next. Makima’s mysterious air is both alluring in its enigmatic-ness and slightly off-putting, as though she was likewise trying to convince the viewer, along with Denji, that she can be trusted and has their best interests at heart (thumb-biting included). Aki’s serious demeanor clashes with the aloof and brusque Denji and Power, especially when Power steadfastly refuses to flush the toilet. Much like the various parts of the Gun Devil that are dropped around the world, the cast’s overall chemistry is a bunch of loose parts. They are, at times, barely holding themselves together because they keep getting on each other’s nerves for one reason or another. It’s improbable-ness is a part of the draw, as each character gradually tries to piece together the mystery that is pressing them at any given moment. How successfully they manage to do that, of course, varies wildly, but goodness knows that Power will get that Pulitzer Prize somehow! Even so, it does not matter necessarily what mystery is hanging over the narrative, because the answer feels inevitably the same – no matter what gets revealed, or who has to battle who, someone is going to die, and it is going to be brutal. Devil Hunting is terrifying (as poor Kobeni learns for herself rather early on), and an underlying dread tinges the entire series. Denji, Power, Aki, Himeno, and the entire team may have a lot of strength on their side, but it is not true that they are impregnable. Dialogue insinuates that death is quite common in Public Safety. As a Devil Hunter, death is never far away, and as *Chainsaw Man’s* world of Devils gets bigger, the threats are ever-prese…

Naruto wanted to become a Hokage, Luffy wanted to become a pirate king. And the motivation of the main character of this anime is to touch a woman's breast. I'm sorry, but this is degradation. More and more modern anime are similar to each other like a drop of water. Only the setting and their names change. Everything is the same as a carbon copy. The main character of Demon Slayer is human, but also half demon and he hunts demons. The protagonist of Jujutsu Kaisen is human, but he ate a demon's finger and so he is now a demon. You won't believe it! The main character of this anime was human, but he became a demon and now he hunts them too. Devilman was released in 1972, and even there the author revealed the tragedy of the main character, who is torn between good and evil, in a deep and self-sufficient way. More than 50 years have passed, and the protagonist of this anime is still just a pervert? Although the Big Three of anime, One Piece, Naruto, and Bleach, were the most prominent representatives of the shonen genre and shared the same motives, techniques, and motivation, they were still very different. I'm just tired of watching the same stories about demon-hunting organizations. God forbid, My Hero Academy looks better against them. The characters in it are developing, they change and grow up, oscillate between good and evil. Now the second big problem. There was enough fan service and sexualization in the Academy, but it was in the background. It wasn't thrown right in your face. And here they show one character throwing up in another's mouth? It's just disgusting. Yes, the graphics are of high quality, the staging of battles and action is bright and exciting, the design of monsters and characters is original. The music is on top. The anime is not afraid to be brutal and cruel. But this is where its advantages end.

Most of my friends seemed to have liked the anime. Personally ive found it average at best and most of the times quite boring. The characters are not really likeable at least from my point of view and their design isnt really making me say:"wow they really did something new!". The story is very slow and the fight szenes somewhat mediocre the animation is pretty good but doesnt compensate for the lack of reason to be interested in the story. I really hope the second season picks up the pacing a little and kinda alters the motivations of the main characters as at the moment i find them quite blant. The promised anime that would change the medium as a whole didnt really deliver in my opinion and I dont think ill be back for a third season if the second keeps to the formula of the first.

"...that is it?" Those three words really summarize my feelings towards Chainsaw Man Season 1. After a recent rewatch, I finally felt inspired to write my first review here on MAL and explain why I felt this show so far has been rather disappointing. One can only get disappointed by going in with expectations, and oh boy did the online anime community hype up this show. Basically, to me it looked like CSM was destined to be the successor of Attack on Titan as the next big subversive or surprising gory Shounen, with its own "Basement moment", an interesting plot and great animation. The latter, to start with something positive, really did come true in my opinion. Yes, there is CGI, but it never looked jarring to me. If anything, some of the characters and their animations were even a bit too detailed for my taste. Sometimes it felt like the picture was "wobbling" and wavering as too many small pieces and lines were moving at once. It's the Mappa style, I think, but really you can't complain about that. It's fairly cinematic. Animation: 8/10 Now, on to the characters. At first glance, our protagonist Denji is a fresh and new spin on the shounen protagonist. Surely has the typical tragic backstory and even the very common orphan trope. However, unlike most other shounen protags, he has no higher ulterior motive. His goal is purely to be well-fed and get some booba (yes I physically shivered writing that). He's driven by the most primitive, basic instincts a neglected, starved and endlessly horny teenage boy could have. He is also rather simple-minded and stupid. In a way, that is incredibly innocent and almost wholesome. Unfortunately, it doesn't make for a good main character. He doesn't care for others except hot girls, and even then only on a superficial sexual level. He has no morals, no interesting motives, no noticeable character development. And the anime spends, or dare I say wastes, a lot of time on showing Denji lusting after almost every girl he comes across. Most of his interactions with the women are of sexual nature, just verbally or physically. His very primitive nature is also sexualized by introducing the whole dog-owner dynamic with him and Makima. I don't know if this will lead anywhere down the line, but currently it's just played for the kink and to simp for Makima as the dominant woman/mommy. Every other character is either super bland, one-note or doesn't stick around long enough for any interesting development or for forming any emotional connection to them. Makima is the mysterious super powerful boss and waifu, Power is the loud, egoistic and equally stupid waifu #2, Aki is stoic, overly serious and rule-abiding, with a tragic backstory and a modicum of character dynamic with Makima and Himeno. But mostly, he is rather bland and emotionally not very accessible. And Himeno, well she is, taking the role of the more "sinful, mature woman" who smokes, drinks and has sex. Really, any other character is not worth mentioning cause they don't get enough screen time or focus to earn their own description, and most are very one-note anyway. Characters: 3/10 And finally, the plot. Well, we do have a clearly defined end goal alright. At least for now: collect all the pieces of the gun devil to hunt him down. It's a simple mission. A lot happens over the course of 12 episodes, and yet the main plot moves along erratically at best. We get the introduction to Denji and his background (with the aforementioned issues), a monster of the week format mixed with very sudden and drastic events, then a mini training arc and a rather low note conclusion to the season. As a viewer, we don't really get a grip on the world this takes place in, only a vague idea. Much time is spent on gore and hacking devils to pieces. What little characterization for out protagonists we get during those interactions with the devils is overshadowed by Denji and Power acting stupid, Denji having a horny boy moment or the villains saying their boring irrelevant part. Overall, it felt like the story never really got going and emotional moments or character development didn't have enough room to breathe. Plot/Worldbuilding: 4 So, what else to say? Well, I really like the opening and the endings! They are very unique, and getting 12 different endings is truly a treat! The show is definitely bloody and you will 100% be surprised by at least a few scenes. Whether those moments really have any lasting effect on you or have much impact to begin with is a different story though. To summarize: Chainsaw man is a rather typical shounen just with the gore dialed up to 11 and mostly bland or unlikable characters. It never gets good momentum and at the end of the season there's not really much anticipation or tension how it's gonna continue. It most certainly will, but so far I don't see anything promising waiting at the horizon. This show is, in my opinion, mostly carried by the great production level. It still can be brainless entertainment if you're into gore and don't mind the horny part that is really prominent and overused. Final Score: 5 (which might almost look generous after my review, but it was after all still mildly entertaining to watch ^^)

Just read the manga it will blow your mind but this not so much. The production team just wanted to tick some goddam boxes and please the internet people and not make something beautiful, tbh it kinda game that disney..marvel universe vibes the only thing i thought was cool, was a really an action sequence, which is really hard not to notice, other than that i hate the 3dcgi bullshit, the fandom peoples and the film - something filter crap they done on this anime the trailer was the best thing had happened to the anime..... it was so much more and that bg music in the trailer litereral chilll bzzz

"First there where chainsaw memes, then there was chainsaw..." -genesis 101xyz (or something) Well no, technically first was the manga. Well, whatever, point is, I saw a lot of memes around, and praise for the manga, then the anime adaptation hype came, which sure, I found impressive in the pv... And then came the anime itself... And then, just as it started, it ended. And now I'm here and in awe, not at the show, but at what the heck was all this hype about. The start was fun and promising, okay. The op was stuffed full of famous movie references... Cool I guess? The production value and some scenes where pretty impressive and well made... Great. But that's true for some other shows too, others, while not being as amazing on production, catch you with the brilliant, or at least interesting story... What was supposed to hook and get me interested in anything about chainsaw man? The thousand scenes of shoes walking? The OTHER scenes of walking from different angles? People eating in a living room? There's a story in there, yes, and it's even interesting to a degree, but it's too far in between on its own, and further padded by less significant things, to the point I was pretty bored watching most of the time, and to the very end I was still waiting for something impressive and/or genuinely interesting to happen to understand what the hype was about. But nothing did. Maybe I could give it points for great action? Well no, it's rather far in between, and despite the production values, it REALLY doesn't look all that amazing, impactful and impressive, let alone interesting. No really, compare that to some of the scenes from demon slayer or one punch man, and a bunch of other great shows and it's really nothing impressive, even if it looks better... And by 'looks better' let me be clear I mean picture quality alone, the choreography, creativeness and dynamic flow of most fights kind of sucks! To sum it up, the only two things that at all impressed me about the show is the production values, and... The decent attempts at drama in the start, just a bit past middle, and around the end of the show... Maybe a bit of the comedy too. Which for an action show is kind of stupid and disappointing. Final score - 5.9/10, not sure if I'd recommend it to anyone, but wouldn't tell people not to watch it either, it's just weirdly mediocre in all senses despite the great production values and interestimg attempts at originality.

Chainsaw Man is a truly exceptional anime series, that stands out for its unique art style, intense and immersive atmosphere, and well-developed cast of characters. One of the things that really sets Chainsaw Man apart is its art. which is both beautiful and expressive. The character designs are unique and maybe even questionable such as the shark guy. The action scenes are extremely well-animated, with fluid and dynamic movement which really brings the characters to life. The feel of the series is also incredibly powerful, with a raw and intense atmosphere that really sucks you in and keeps you on the edge of your seat, making you watch one episode after another. The writing is also top-notch, with complex but well-developed characters that are easy to root for and care about. One of my favourite characters in the series is Kishibe, who is cool and unique, he's got a powerful personality and he has a clear sense of purpose/authority, which just makes him more badass. His actions and motivations are always interesting and makes him always fun to watch. While some people might not have enjoyed the edginess and darker moments shown in Chainsaw Man, I personally was all for it and really enjoyed it. I found the series' dark atmosphere and complex themes to be really exciting, and i didn't mind the edgier elements at all. In fact, I thought that the series' darker themes and edgier moments added a lot of depth and richness to the story, and helped make the characters and, their struggles feel more real. This really shows that the studio really wanted to capture their emotions even if it's just Denji wanting to touch some tits. The only thing that could have been better in the series is the use of CGI, which can sometimes seem a bit weird looking and out of place. However, this is a minor issue, and the overall quality of the animation is still very high. In conclusion, I am really impressed with what the series has done so far, and I can't wait to see what season 2 has in store. If you're a fan of action-packed, and dark animes with a unique plot then Chainsaw Man is definitely the show for you.

"Chainsaw Man will change the shounen world" LMAO no; it doesn't... In every season of anime, there's at least one show that was probably on every viewer's must-watch list, but the season was way more than expected. However, this overtop anime was SUPPOSEDLY the anime of the year, the decade, or maybe the CENTURY [according to fans]! This show is what anime fans are waiting for since MAPPA dropped its trailer in 2021 and sparking countless memes and devoted fans for their love for the show. This show is none other than Chainsaw Man! Well then, manga fans, did it blow up more than expected, as it did for Demon Slayer or MARVEL's Infinity War, hmmm? Was everyone outside the anime bubble talking about it? Some of you say yes, others no. As for me, it's "eh"? ?? It's way too obviously that this anime is overhyped and it shows because of its execution. But for dogs---I mean fans to saying this is the greatest of shounen or any anime is overstretched. Common quotes include in conversations such as: "Chainsaw is best anime that I watched! The story is deep, unique, it has great characters!" exclaimed one fan! The story is simple enough, but it wouldn't call it "deep" (yet). It's just a group of people going killing around devils. Characters are just archetypes of common shounen and anime cliches. Denji is "relatable" since he is a horny teenager. But Naruto was also horny, but he was 12, so is he relatable too? If that's so, Aki is similar to a ok-ish Sasuke and Power to an overexerted Sakura. But what about Makima? A big meh. I never understand how dog fans are willing to bark for her, every though she doesn't have much depth. "How about deaths? This show is dark and every death is meaningful. Especially to meaningful side characters." the fan replied. Side characters are also meh since they don't have much screen time, so I don't feel anything if they die. Fans called deaths unexpected, but I call them shock value. "Then the voice actors..." says another fan, joining in. Good voices, I say, really capture the characters' tone and voice. Makes me want to pay attention to them more. "But the animation is great! MAPPA made another masterpiece yet again!" as more fans are joining in. The animation is very good; so good that the animators focus all their effort in their slice of life moments instead of allegedly action fights. I am not a fan of the color palette used for their animation; it's looks bland compared to other shounen animes. "So the OP and EDs will surely win you over!" says a few more. Excessive, but I like some of the songs. "This season is the worst part of the manga, but wait until this character shows up and then---" STOP! No spoilers here for an anime normie. The show is ok as it is without the EXCESSIVE amount of spoilers. "So you're just a normie" the fans realized. I am...but at least I'm not barking.

Heard about this series since I was 14, didn't read the manga thinking I will consume this in animated more immersive form. After the anime came out waited for the right moment to watch. First episode: MC dies is reborn strong >Oh no, please no Second episode: Girls start flirting with MC seconds after meeting him. >God please don't Fifth episode: Every girl in this anime wants to fuck him and one of them does. >Hot but..... Goonslop. Thats it, that's all this is. 14 year old me would've thought this a masterpiece. But as a grown man now (19) this is just appalling. Not just appalling it's depressing, is every anime gonna take this route? it's obviously very successful because well, sex sales.

Chainsaw Man isn't just some run-of-the-mill anime series; instead, it depicts something raw, unflinching with regard to human nature, particularly at a stage where one thinks little more than evil and good could prevail. End. Instead, it delves into how circumstances shape us, how even the kindest person can break under pressure, and how even the most flawed individual can show moments of grace. It’s about the line between good and bad being blurred, about how fragile and malleable humans really are. Denji, the protagonist, is the most realistic and human character I’ve ever seen in anime. At 16, he is not chasing some grand, lofty dream or a world-changing ideal. Having grown up in extreme poverty, all he wants is a normal life — a roof over his head, good food, maybe a girlfriend. His desires are simple and raw, which makes him deeply relatable. Denji doesn't even know what it means to have "big dreams" because his idea of happiness is built on the simple things he's never had. That is what separates him from your typical shonen hero: he's imperfect, down-to-earth, and very human. The supporting cast mirrors this same realism. They aren't perfect, noble heroes; they're deeply flawed, selfish, and vulnerable in ways that make them feel real. Even the ambitious people aren't made glamorous; the movie has managed to weave up their complexities and show through this that even the greatest ambitions made someone alienated and isolated. Such character depth comes from their contradictions—the initial appearance may seem shallow; you begin to watch a long time to realize their full, profound layer. While there is nothing too special with its characters, art and creativity really stand out in Chainsaw Man. It has brutal but meaningful fights, really distinct character designs, and just so much detail to the point that it's fresh, and not just a borrower from other series-it actually creates something that influences, rather than imitates. What makes Chainsaw Man truly special is the way it combines gritty realism with philosophical depth. It does not only entertain; it makes you think about human nature, survival, and morality. This is a masterpiece that sets the new standard for anime, and I wholeheartedly recommend it.

This is a short and spoiler-free review. Even though I'm familiar with the source material, I was never really a fan of Chainsaw Man manga. Sure, it is surely a fun and quick read, but something that would impress me, especially with its quite poor worldbuilding and bland characters. That's why I didn't have any expectations towards the anime other than just seeing action sequences with good animation. After finishing the anime I must say I was positively surprised, because the anime has managed to provide more than just entertaining looking action. First of all, I liked how this anime was directed. More realistic approach to direction and animation added artism that the source material lacked, at least in my opinion. High quality visuals mixed made this "movie-like" feeling even stronger. Music is another thing I enjoyed. Sounds in the anime were good, but where this show shone the most was by the end of all 12 episodes, because each episode got its own fully unique ending theme. It's rare to see such treatment in the world of anime. Sure, many elements could've been done better or simply could've been polished more (like, in example, CGI sequences or few scenes with characters walking that looked more as if they were wobbling), but nevertheless Chainsaw Man anime presents quality higher than most of regular, seasonal animes. Some time ago I read that Chainsaw Man anime is "passion project" for MAPPA. After seeing the first season of its anime adaptation, I can say I agree. You could really feel the passion and care to deliver unique and simply amusing show. Edit (8th January 2023): I added the information about this review's character (short and spoiler-free).

So many long reviews, I'll keep it simple: I give it a 7 "for a shounen", and I'd basically give all shounen's a 6 out of 10 compared to all anime. It's a fun shounen. Basic plot. Macro plot is that there is a big bad evil monster that did big bad evil stuff, and they're slowly working towards trying to find and kill it. In between this larger macro plot; the micro plots center around monster of the week/arc where the demon hunters have to fight and kill or capture the monster of the week. Main characters work for a public police-like agency that tracks down demons and kills them. Lots of the main characters are part-demon themselves, or have pacts with demons and this gives them powers that can be used to kill or capture the evil feral demons they hunt. Our main character is a simp boy who was so deprived and abused as a child by organized crime members, that he is easily manipulated by a hot chick into doing anything for the promise of a reward of some vaguely (or overtly), sexual favor, and basic necessities like food. MC can pull a string in his chest and turn himself into a part-demon that has chainsaws for a hand and face and he and his other teammates fight monsters. That's about it. People die, villains die, lots of colorful action scenes, and they are reasonably well animated. It's fun to watch: it's eye candy, but not really big on plot. There's not a lot of tension building or character development, or story that keeps you watching. It's all about colorful action. I would definitely recommend Noragami, or Yu Yu Hakusho, or Hellsing, or Attack on Titan over this if you want an action shounen but also more story. It is what it is. Colorful, brainless, action eye-candy.

Did Chainsaw Man live up to its hype? That seems to be the golden question this season. (Very extremely mild spoilers below, to the point where I'm not sure if they would be considered spoilers) TL;DR- No, but if you go into the show expecting something that it is not you will be heavily disappointed. Longer Answer: It seemed as if no matter what Chainsaw Man did it would not be able to live up to its hype. Its combination of big industry names on the staff, the fact that it would be animated by MAPPA, the enormous amounts of praise from the fans of the manga, and the 3 years of time between the series being announced and airing meant that every anime fan and their mothers were constantly being told from all angles about how GREAT Chainsaw Man is. And with hype comes unrealistic expectations. I feel like many came into the anime expecting the next great battle shounen. If you want to watch a battle shounen, watch Demon Slayer or Jujutsu Kaisen. While the story follows that of many battle shounen: fighting numerous bad guys with the overarching goal being to defeat the SUPER bad guy (here it is the Gun Devil), the "main point" of Chainsaw Man isn't the battles. That isn't to say the battles aren't good. However, in my opinion they are the weakest aspect of the anime. You won't be seeing any elaborate strategies or spirit bombs. Compared to battle shounen, there is not a whole lot of "battling" here. Nevertheless, while the CGI is slightly jarring at times, this is one of the best anime I've seen at incorporating hand drawn, CGI, and rotoscoping animation into its fight scenes, probably only half a step behind Houseki no Kuni (and that is a compliment). No. Where Chainsaw Man thrives most is off the battlefield. The visual direction is absolutely stunning. It feels like a maturation of the dark style of Jujutsu Kaisen with a better color palette, lighting, and cinematography. The camera perfectly transitions between closeups to accentuate facial expressions and body movements and further panouts to focus more on the interactions between characters. Combined with the aforementioned color design and lighting and the fantastic voice acting, this show absolutely grabbed me by my neck and completely held my attention for each of its incredible episodes. Whether its Makima manipulating Denji, Himeno drunk seducing Denji, Aki having dinner with Himeno, or any scene from this anime, each frame just OOZES with so much personality. It's no reason why so many people on the internet are entranced by Makima. The show is just THAT good at putting the audience into the same headspace as Denji, even if most of us are aware of her dubious intentions. This is more impressive when considering how little ACTUALLY happens. I'm anime-only but from what I've heard Season 1 of Chainsaw Man only adapts around 1/3 of the part 1 source material. I feel the love of the cast for this show as every scene is given the respect it deserves. And without an excessive amount of plot or battles to get into the way, the show can focus on its fantastic characters and themes. Without getting too much into spoilers, the central question of Chainsaw Man is "Why do we live?". Most of the characters have their own answers to this question, which forms the basis for many of their personalities. Some motivations include vengeance, coercion, bloodlust, and duty. And at the center of all of these serious and grave motives we have our main character Denji. What is his motive? Man just wants to live a comfortable life and to touch some breasts. The absurdist nature of his motivation contrasted with the other character naturally brings rise to many of the character conflicts and adds an extra layer of nihilism/existentialistic dread to the story which is a nice touch. So after all that discussion, should you watch Chainsaw Man? If you're looking for cool fights and a standard battle shounen, you're in for an above average, but not mind-blowing experience. However, if you're looking for a slow burning character-driven drama with fantastic atmosphere, themes, personalities pushed to an 11/10 with plot elements which push the characters to their absolute limits, this is THE must-watch anime for 2022. It's funny, horrifying, heartwarming, and chilling, all handled with an extremely controlled and mature touch. For me at least, Chainsaw Man exceeded all of my expectations.

Chainsaw Man examines a violent supernatural narrative built around devils, human desperation, and the unhidden fragile search for meaning in a world driven by fear. The series begins with a striking premise that mixes brutal action with dark humor but beneath the chaotic surface lies a story about loneliness, exploitation, and the simple human desire for connection. On the surface, the series looks like a carnivalesque mix of blood and absurdity, yet it slowly reveals a more cynical view of how easily human lives can be manipulated by power and circumstance. At the center of the story is Denji, a teenage boy trapped in extreme poverty. After inheriting enormous debt from his deceased father, Denji survives by working as a devil hunter for the yakuza to kill minor devils in exchange for small payments that barely allow him to stay alive. His only companion is Pochita, a small chainsaw-shaped devil who forms a loyal bond with him. Denji’s life is defined by deprivation and loneliness, where even the most basic dreams such as eating good food or sleeping in a warm bed feel impossibly distant. The fragile balance of Denji’s life collapses when the yakuza betray him during a deal involving devils. Mortally wounded and left to die, Denji forms a desperate contract with Pochita. In exchange for becoming Denji’s heart, Pochita grants him the ability to transform into a powerful hybrid known as Chainsaw Man, a grotesque form with chainsaws emerging from his body. The transformation marks the beginning of Denji’s entry into a larger and far more dangerous world. Soon after, Denji is recruited by the government organization Public Safety, where he becomes a devil hunter under the supervision of Makima. Makima offers Denji something he has never experienced before: food, shelter, and the promise of a normal life. Yet the relationship between the two is layered with manipulation and quiet control. Makima’s calm authority and mysterious motives create a constant tension that shapes much of Denji’s journey. Within Public Safety, Denji works alongside other devil hunters, including the hot-headed fiend Power and the stoic veteran Aki Hayakawa. These relationships gradually form the emotional core of the narrative. Aki seeks revenge against the Gun Devil for the death of his family, while Power approaches life with chaotic selfishness and childish instincts. Through their uneasy partnership, the story explores a strange imitation of family among individuals shaped by trauma and loss. The world of the series operates on the concept that devils are manifestations of human fears. The stronger the fear associated with a concept, the more powerful the devil representing it becomes. This idea creates a wide range of supernatural threats, from minor devils tied to everyday anxieties to catastrophic beings associated with humanity’s deepest terrors. The Gun Devil in particular becomes a looming symbol of destruction, responsible for massive casualties and the central motivation behind many characters’ actions. As the narrative progresses, devil hunting missions gradually reveal deeper conspiracies involving devils, secret contracts, and the true nature of Chainsaw Man itself. The story repeatedly challenges the idea that heroism or justice drives the characters forward. Instead, survival, selfish desire, and emotional dependence often become the real forces shaping decisions. Visually, the anime adaptation produced by MAPPA emphasizes cinematic framing and highly detailed backgrounds. Action scenes combine fluid animation with brutal choreography, portraying devil battles with visceral intensity. Blood, destruction, and surreal imagery form a distinctive visual identity that separates the series from more traditional battle-shonen aesthetics. The soundtrack and opening sequences further reinforce the chaotic tone, blending heavy music with striking visual references. Despite these strengths, the story also presents several limitations that can affect the overall experience. One challenge lies in the emotional connection to the central character. Denji’s motivations remain intentionally simple for much of the narrative, often revolving around basic desires such as comfort, food, or romantic attention. This simplicity reflects his background of extreme deprivation yet, it can make deeper emotional investment difficult for anyone expecting more gradual personal growth or complex internal conflict. The pacing can also feel uneven. Certain events unfold rapidly, with major character developments occurring within a short period of time. Important emotional moments occasionally pass quickly before the narrative moves toward the next violent confrontation or shocking twist. Worldbuilding within the series remains deliberately vague. While the concept of devils born from fear is compelling, the broader structure of the devil-hunting world, the political forces surrounding Public Safety, and the long-term consequences of devil activity receive relatively limited exploration. The setting feel less fully realized compared to other large-scale supernatural narratives. Another frequent criticism involves the balance between spectacle and emotional depth. The series excels at delivering shocking moments, intense violence, and unpredictable plot developments, but these elements sometimes dominate the narrative to the point where character exploration receives less attention. Though with these shortcomings, Chainsaw Man stands out as a bold and unconventional entry in modern anime storytelling. Beneath the explosive action and grotesque imagery lies a darker reflection on loneliness, exploitation, and the human longing for simple happiness. At its strongest moments, the series captures how fragile dreams can be in a world where survival often demands sacrificing pieces of humanity itself. Anyway, keep in mind that no opinion is ever purely objective, and every perspective remains open to discussion. Even so, each viewpoint still holds its own value. If you happen to see things differently, simple mutual respect is more than enough. That same respect is the spirit behind this reflection as well. Wishing everyone a peaceful day ahead, and thank you for taking the time to read.

- If you want to actively disengage your brain and watch mindless devil slaying hack and slash gore, then Chainsaw Man is the show for you. - If you think characters getting kicked in the nuts is hilarious, Chainsaw Man is the show for you. - If you like your MC to be dyeing of thirst and willing to do anything to cop a feel, Chainsaw Man is the show for you. -If you are looking for a believable plot, consistent characters, meaningful development of any kind, or a power system/scale that makes sense, look elsewhere. Power is a likeable character that adds some good comedy all though she gets little to no meaningful screen time after the first few episodes. The rest of the cast acts inconsistently and fails to develop through out the show. Character relations are introduced but never flushed out. Characters die and come back to life with no explanation. Characters are introduced as badass and overpowered, yet only get screen time fighting mindless zombies and worthless henchmen. Most action/battle Shonen struggle to create meaningful plot, relations, and development. Chainsaw Man goes out of its way to actively sabotage these elements. The only saving graces for this show are great art/animation, awesome opener, uniquely animated ending for every credit scene. 4/10 where 6 is average

What happens when you take the power system of Tokyo Ghoul and combine it with the premise of Jujutsu Kaisen? You get the Powerpuff Gi - No I'm just kidding. You get slop like this. Unfortunately, Chainsaw Man suffers from the same sickness as Demon Slayer: generic, cliche', run-of-the-mill modern Shonen anime. All production quality, all flashy fights, and nothing new. This show relies more on shock value than good writing. Oftentimes, you'll see one of the characters do something edgy, sexual, or disgusting. And you'll go, "Whoaaahh, she actually did that?" But that's all it boils down to -- shock value. The dialogue, the writing, and the characters are still mediocre. This show plays on the innate sexual needs of teenage boys, makes fun of it, then calls itself "mature." It is disgusting and lazy writing. It's nothing more than a desperate attempt to be different from other Shonen but just comes off as cheap shock value and fan-service. I won't lie, the first episode showed promise. I thought Denji was just this slightly perverted teen who wished for a better life. Turns out, he's 100% perverted and fights just to get laid. That's his whole character. From an impoverished teen that struggles to make ends meet to an apathetic simp with a shallow personality. I don't get it. Isn't the MC supposed to be likeable? Denji's resolve should be based on Pochita and his tragic circumstances. Unfortunately, he's just this horny apathetic douche who bases all his decisions on boobs and sexual gratification. The moment Denji's life got a little better, he just turns into Power: a quirky apathetic half-demon with no personality, likes to make edgy jokes, and doesn't give a sh-- if her friends die. Garbage MC and garbage character development. Denji had so much potential to be likeable. Unfortunately, the mangaka doesn't know how to write likeable MCs if his life depended on it. Himeno also had potential to be an interesting female lead. Sadly, all her dialogue with Aki is just straight-up BORING. I swear everytime Himeno and Aki open their mouth, I just clock out and wait for the next fight scene. Several episodes later, things escalate to the point where Makima just "Domain Expansions" everything. Then you sit there and wonder, "What the f-- was all that for, then?" The first ten episodes felt like this elaborately drawn-out introduction for season two. Words cannot describe how insulting those last four episodes were. It is a massive waste of time. By episode ten, I was just dumbfounded and confused on what this anime is trying to be. It kept introducing quirky characters that had no depth, it kept pushing gooner scenes that had no relevance to the plot, and it kept pushing backstories I wasn't remotely invested in. The training arc didn't start until episode eleven and Kakashi Sensei from Temu didn't exactly leave a good first impression. You can tell they rushed the last two episodes just to set up season two. It felt like a giant middle finger to every Shonen fan with standards. And don't even get me started on Denji's weird sibling dynamic with Power (even though he groped her tits), or the fact that Aki and Himeno's backstory is literally dogsh*t boring, or the fact that I was confused about the backstories of any of these characters. Like, why didn't she just kill that demon herself to save her pet? Why did that house just explode out of nowhere? Most of the time, Denji just forgives people because of boobs. This show capitalizes too much on mature sex themes that it just treats Denji as this gulliable teen who'll do anything to cop a feel. It feels like all the women in this show were written around Denjis carnal fantasy to touch boobs and get laid. The first episode set up a good premise then it fumbled the rest. The mature sex themes were funny at first; but instead of being substantive to the plot, they just came off as redundant fan-service and constant gooner fuel. In all fairness, the action scenes were hype enough and the entire season was short enough that I wasn't completely bored. The plot and characters, though, are nothing to write home about. This show is really just for the shock-value, the animation, and the violent hack-and-slash. Out of all the gripes I have about this anime, Denji's character development has to be the biggest middle finger of them all. The boy could have been more than just a gooner. He could have been more than just this apathetic perverted a--hole who does nothing else but eat cigarretes, stick his tongue out, and yell, "BAAAKA." I'm sure Denji's backstory won't be revealed until season two. But this is not how you introduce an MC early into the franchise. In the words of Aki himself, "Denji is disgusting, not interesting."

**"Chainsaw Man" Anime Review: A Thrilling Ride with an Unconventional Twist** If there's one thing I can say about "Chainsaw Man," it's that this anime isn't afraid to take risks and stand out from the crowd. I embarked on this journey with high expectations and a curious mind, and boy, did it deliver an experience that left me both intrigued and slightly conflicted. First things first – the level of excitement and action in "Chainsaw Man" is undeniable. From the very beginning, the show plunges you into a world of intense battles, supernatural creatures, and unexpected twists. The pacing is relentless, and the adrenaline rush is practically palpable as you follow the main character's tumultuous journey. I must admit, however, that the abundance of ecchi elements gave me pause. At times, it felt like the show was pushing the boundaries of comfort, making me question the necessity of some of these scenes. But here's the thing – as the story progressed, I began to understand the reasoning behind it. The main character, Denji, has endured a life that's nothing short of brutal, and his interactions with the opposite sex are a reflection of his unconventional upbringing. While I can't say I fully embraced the ecchi moments, I found myself empathizing with Denji's journey. His life has been a rollercoaster of hardship, and his actions are a product of his circumstances. In a way, this added depth to his character and made me appreciate the complexity of his emotional landscape. The animation and art style in "Chainsaw Man" are another commendable aspect. The world is vibrant, the action scenes are meticulously choreographed, and the character designs are distinctive. The show's ability to seamlessly transition between heart-pounding battles and quieter, introspective moments is a testament to the direction and storytelling prowess. In conclusion, "Chainsaw Man" is an anime that's not afraid to explore the darker and edgier corners of storytelling. While I may have had reservations about certain aspects, I found myself ultimately captivated by the overarching narrative and the development of its characters. It's a thrilling ride that challenges conventions and offers a fresh perspective on the genre. So, if you're ready to embrace an anime that pushes the boundaries and immerses you in a world of supernatural chaos, "Chainsaw Man" is undoubtedly worth a watch. Look beyond the surface, and you'll find a story that's as intriguing as it is unorthodox. Get ready to be both thrilled and contemplative – "Chainsaw Man" might just leave you pleasantly surprised.