Written by: Gabriel Castillo
Published on: December 24, 2021 at 17:00 PHT (GMT+8)
Prep your bread, jams, and spreads; Chainsaw Man the television (TV) anime adaptation produced by MAPPA is coming in 2022 and we’re definitely excited. This Japanese manga written and illustrated by Tatsuki Fujimoto created quite a stir since its first publication on Shueisha’s Weekly Shonen Jump back in December 2018. The first part of the series ended in December 2020 and the second part is slated for release later in 2022.
Another promotional video (PV) was recently released and highlighted the fantastic art style and dark fantasy feel of the series. As of writing, there’s no exact release date yet but the hype is 100% coursing through our veins. Let’s take a quick look into a series that wowed readers and what we can expect from the anime adaptation.
Series Synopsis (AniRadio Rewrite)
In a world where devils roam about the Earth, 16-year-old Denji just wants to live happily and maybe get with a girl he likes. The young man’s dream seems quite far-off as the Yakuza force him to kill devils to pay off a gigantic debt. With the aid of Pochita, hi pet det devil with a chainsaw on his head, the two kill devils and do whatever is asked for a bit of cash.
Things go south as the Yakuza deemed Denji useless and offer him as a meal for a devil with which they’ve made a contract. After Denji’s lifeless corpse is thrown in a dumpster, Pochita suddenly merges with his friend’s body giving him the abilities of a chainsaw devil, which allows him to turn parts of his body into chainsaws. Denji makes quick, bloody work of the Yakuza and soon after, a few official devil hunters appear and talk the young man into working for the Public Safety Bureau. The young lad accepts and moves forward to achieve his adolescent dreams.
What to Expect
Check out this first PV for a sneak peek into the world of Chainsaw Man.
Odd but Lovable Characters
At first glance you might think that a protagonist with a chainsaw face might have a very evil, pugnacious personality; you’d be half correct because Denji definitely has a fighter’s spirit but he just wants to achieve his little dreams of being with a girl and living a happy life, not taking over the world or anything of that sort. In addition to Denji’s likable personality, the other oddball characters offer a decent bit of entertainment and it would be difficult not to like them (and get attached to some).
However, some characters don’t usually lay all their cards on the table and it might take time to get to know them. Hopefully the anime adaptation does a good job of bringing these colorful characters to life with all their intricacies and personalities without rushing their development. Of course, as with any good shonen series, their bonds of friendship grow stronger over time. Interestingly, this title offers a more organic flow of bonding rather than an abrupt, lets-be-friends-instantly setup.
Action-packed Sequences
There’s no doubt that many fans are looking forward to certain scenes from the manga to be animated. The title boasts a good number of ridiculously enjoyable fight sequences and it would be awesome if they are adapted well. With MAPPA on the wheel, the action sequences are bound to be spectacular.
On top of the action, there’s a fair amount of gore too (especially since Denji uses a chainsaw to decimate his enemies). The first episode alone should give you a clear preview as to the amount of blood you can expect. If you can’t handle fountains of blood and exploding guts, then this might be a tough watch (assuming the adaptation features it all).
Gorgeous Art
Tatsuki Fujimoto has an amazing art style full of the most intricate details and little subtleties that make the world feel so real. The humanoid characters look gorgeous while the real-deal devils look fiendish and grotesque. A quick glance at the trailers can give fans high hopes as the anime looks fabulous already and they definitely took Fujimoto’s style to heart.
Some Heavy Themes & Scenes
Although this is a shonen series, there are some heavier themes and scenes in Chainsaw Man. Thankfully, these weightier bits don’t seem forced at all and they work fantastically with the setting. In line with all the action, there's a fair bit of violence and brutality involved but it's not overwhelming. And given that Denji is a raging teenager, expect a bit of fanservice and naughtiness to occur here and there.
The currently available PVs are definitely hyping up the anime well and a lot of the title’s lovable elements have already shown up. Given Chainsaw Man’s reception, this adaptation has a lot riding on it. With such a rich source material, the anime adaptation looks like it'll be a damn good time. For those unfamiliar with the title, then you're quite lucky to experience this for the first time once the anime releases. For current fans, we'll just have to wait with our bread and jam.
Source: My Anime List , Series Wiki , Official Twitter , Official Website
