Chainsaw Man
Studio: MAPPA
Genre: Dark Fantasy, Comedy, Horror
Hello my friends. Welcome to another entry of my blog.
Today, I want to make something different, and, as the title says so, I already watch the first episode of the anime adaptation of Chainsaw Man, from Tatsuki Fujimoto, and I am ready to make my own impressions about it, just like I did with the first two episodes of Spy x Family.
To be honest, I was waiting for episode 2 and make this entry, the same thing I did with Spy X Family. Nonetheless, I was so excited about the first episode of Chainsaw Man that I could not resist. And now, I decided to write my first impressions about Episode One, so I will talk about what I watch, and then I make my own opinions, so stay with me and let’s analyse together.
But before I start, I must ask you the typical questions:
Are you guys ok? Feeling healthy?
If the answer is yes, then I am happy.
Now, let’s love Chainsaw together with Chainsaw Man, so back off Leatherface, now Denji is the new sheriff in town.
And speaking of Leatherface, I will something interesting about the opening, something that must of you notice indeed.
CHAINSAW MAN
Ok. I don’t think is necessary for me to go again with the plot of Chainsaw Man, because I already talk about the manga in a previous entry, posted in July, 2021; in fact, I will leave the link here in case anyone is interested to read it.
Hope you guys like it. However, I will summarise the plot in a few paragraphs, just for you.
Based on the manga written and illustrated by Tatsuki Fujimoto, Chainsaw Man takes place in a world where humans and devils co-exist, but the latter are mostly a threat for mankind so there are Devil Hunters, most of them work on the Public Safety in Japan. Denji is an extremely unlucky boy, because he inherited a monstrous debt from his father, and now he must pay by killing devils, aided by a little one called Pochita, who has the appearance of a chainsaw. Denji likes in the most extreme poverty, and he longs for a normal life.
One day, his employers, the Yakuza, betray him by offering as a sacrifice for the Zombie Devil, and Denji is butchered (to put it lightly), but then he makes a deal with Pochita, the devil will mix with his heart, in exchange of Denji living a normal life. On that moment, Denji is reborn is a devil with chainsaw in his arms, and a chainsaw for head, and kills the Zombie Devil.
The morning after, a devil hunter from Public Safety, called Makima, arrives to the scene, and offer Denji a place on her corps. After accepting the offer, he beings hunting devils as Chainsaw Man.
Now, MAPPA studio has been working in this anime since quite a lot time, and they released the first teaser trailer in 2021, and for a while, we had to wait, receiving absolute no news. Then, throughout 2022, MAPPA released… I think two more trailers, until Episode 1 was released on Wednesday, October 12th.
Now. Let’s get the episode.
EPISODE 1
On the first minute, Episode One starts with Denji checking the remaining debt, which is over 38 million yens, and in order to pay a little bit, he sold his right eye, one of his kidneys, and a testicle, but he still prefers to kill Devils, for they pay at least 300,000. After killing what looks like a tomato devil, he goes back to his home with Pochita, to eat bread and go to sleep. That is basically what he can do after killing the devil, because the Yakuza took the rest from him. At his place, Denji starts wondering how people live normal lives, and confesses he wants to get laid before dying.
Later, we got a flashback, in which Denji visited his father’s grave, who clearly took his life without paying anything of the debt. After receiving a vicious threat from the Yakuza boss, Denji meets a mortally wounded Pochita, and takes the opportunity to make a big deal – Denji will give Pochita a chunk of blood, something that saves a Devil, and in exchange, Pochita helps Denji with his debt, creating a very close friendship, like a dog and his master.
And I got to say that feeling sorry for Denji is an understatement. He only got a deadbeat dad who left him with a lot of problems, and the depressing colour palette and the sad expression on Denji’s face makes it more heartbreaking.
To make things worse, Denji vomits blood before he can sleep, and reveals that his mother apparently died from a similar affliction. Some time later, the Yakuza boss calls Denji again for another hunt, so he is picked up and send into an abandoned factory.
Or that what it seems.
Because, shortly afterwards, Denji is stabbed on the back by his former employers. He tries to escape to safety, but is pointless, the zombies get him and kill him in the worst way possible.
And I am glad to say that none of the content was that censored, because the violence of the moment adds to the dark tone. And I almost cried, because Denji was not a bad person, and he got indeed one of the worst deaths of anime in 2022.
On his death, we get into a flashback, Denji talks to Pochita again about his dream, to live a normal life, and that if anything happens to him, Pochita will be left alone, so Denji, literally, gives Pochita permission to possess him.
Which, of course, happens, and then… we got a very amazing moment in which the Chainsaw Devil debuts on animation, at least in the official one, not fanarts.
The rest we all know it. Denji defeats the Zombie Devil, then comes Makima to recruit him, offering a chance to live a normal life.
And there. We got Episode One of Chainsaw Man.
IMPRESSIONS
Ok. I will start with the very first thing that hooked me of episode one – the animation. This is probably one of the best animations I have ever seen from MAPPA studio, if not the best, surpassing even Jujutsu Kaisen, Takt Op. Destiny, Kakegurui and Attack on Titan: The Final Season.
Possibly, for me, the only animation that can actually compete in quality and colours with Chainsaw Man is Dorohedoro.
Sometimes I can’t help but wonder what will happen if MAPPA does a crossover between Dorohedoro and Chainsaw Man, indeed something epic will occur. But I am concerned, because this season of Chainsaw Man will only have 12 episodes, and as some of you know, a 12-episode cour, for me, can be a Red Flag.
On the other hand, I should not be surprised, especially because there is no doubt that they put a lot of budget on this animation.
Overall, the story of the episode is pretty good. It really respected the events of the manga, for the most part, and the violence and gore are full-on; all the tone remained intact, for me, a clear signal of the passion of the studio and the respect toward Tatsuki Fujimoto.
Now, the ending is pretty good. Vaundy performs CHAINSAW BLOOD with amazingness. Don’t believe me? Here is the link of the song.
And finally we got the other sweet part of the episode – the intro. KICKBACK, by Kenshi Yonezu is one of the best songs of 2022. But that is not all.
I promise you, my friends, that I was literally spending the whole night listening to this song. But there is something better than the opening – the movie references. It is well known that Tatsuki Fujimoto adores movies, just like I do, and the opening pays homage to that side of his. Remember when I mention Leatherface? Well…
And this is only one. There are pretty obvious references to Quentin Tarantino, Joel and Ethan Coen, and possibly the greatest image of Power ever.
Come on. Admit it. It was you dream to see Power in bikini with a clear reference to Thor: Love and Thunder.
Ok. that is all I will say, because it will better that everyone finds the rest of the references by themselves.
And Power… you will always be as hot as Akane Shinjou, Rikka Takarada or Mona Megistus.
And there you go.
Thanks for stepping by. See you around. I will go and play with my Chainsaw…. after beating DOOM with just the Chainsaw.
Jainituos Presents 