[Chainsaw Man] Demons in the name of Devils

cj iwakura

Chainsaw Man is an ongoing manga series by Tatsuki Fujimoto(Look Back, Goodbye Eri).

It's currently in two parts, which I'll affectionately refer to as the Makima Arc(Part 1), and the ongoing Asa Arc(Part 2).

The former was adapted into an anime two(!) years ago by Studio Mappa, and can be streamed primarily on Crunchyroll, among other things:
https://www.crunchyroll.com/series/GVDHX8QNW/chainsaw-man

The show is currently around halfway through Part 1, and has a movie coming up which will adapt a major part of the story, the Reze Arc:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mWacdcatC9o

Season 2 hasn't been officially announced, but hopefully it'll happen at some point as marketing for the movie ramps up.


So, since this is both an active anime and an ongoing manga, a suggested guideline, tag spoilers appropriately.

If it's an anime spoiler,

(Anime)

Pochita is a dog

and/or for the manga:
(Manga)

Asa is a character

and so on, so be considerate for both those who haven't yet seen the show and haven't yet read the manga(far more likely).


That said, here's a brief synopsis:

Denji is a young boy who works as a Devil Hunter with the “Chainsaw Devil” Pochita.

One day, as he was living his miserable life trying to pay off the debt he inherited from his parents, he got betrayed by the Yakuza family he was indebted to.
Just when all hope seemed lost, he made a contract with Pochita, and got resurrected as the “Chainsaw Man”: a human with the heart of a devil.

And here's some of the main cast(from the anime/Part 1):


Denji

The main character, also capable of becoming Chainsaw Man.
He eventually joins up with Public Safety to fight against devils and hopefully just live the good life.

Aki Hayakawa

A member of Public Safety tasked with being in charge of Denji and Power, much to his eternal annoyance.

Power

Another member of Public Safety, a half-human/half-demon known as a Fiend, particularly the Blood Fiend.

Makima

The one in charge of Public Safety Division 4, who also took in Denji and gave him a purpose beyond living on scraps.

Pochita

A good boy. Also the Chainsaw Devil.

Part 2's main character:

Asa Mitaka


Formed a contract with the War Devil to save her life after she was betrayed and nearly killed.
While half of her awkwardly wants to befriend Denji, but the other half wants Chainsaw Man dead.

There's also several more introduced in part 1, namely Himeno, Kobeni, Arai, and Kishibe, but the show introduces them in short order.

So what makes the show special?

Besides having a wildly unpredictable plot that goes from zero-to-sixty in no time, it also has 13(!) different songs, including 12 different ending tracks, all of which are fantastic.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WxumD9D5uUI

So feel free to discuss the anime and/or manga in equal measure, but as new manga chapters are still being actively released, be very clear and mindful if discussing those.

silence1186

Chainsaw Man is art. Despite the action, gore, and fanservice, it manages to ask and answer one of the most fundamental questions ever asked: "What does it mean to be human?"

Honestly the only more human series I've read recently is the one-shot Look Back, also by Tatsuki Fujimoto. The man is a master at conveying emotion on the page.