Chainsaw Man (TV series)

Denji, a young man who shares his life with Pochita, a chainsaw devil, is forced to survive by killing devils and selling their parts to pay off the debt he inherited after his father's death. His existence has been a succession of hardships until a fatal betrayal leads to his death. In an unexpected turn, Pochita makes a pact with him, allowing him to be resurrected as "Chainsaw Man", a hybrid entity with the heart of a demon.

In December 2020, it was announced that the manga would be adapted into an anime by the studio MAPPA.^[7][18] The theatrical presentation at Jump Festa '21, as part of the online theatrical presentations of Jump Studio, took place from December 19–20, 2020.^[19][20]

The first trailer for the anime was presented during the "MAPPA Stage 2021" – 10th Anniversary event, held on June 27, 2021.^[21][22] The series was broadcast on TV Tokyo and its TXN affiliates from October 12 to December 28, 2022, with several non-affiliate networks following weeks later.^[23][24][25]

Regarding the adaptation of the series, Fujimoto stated that he talked to the people handling it and was comfortable leaving things to them.^[26] When the anime adaptation was officially announced, Fujimoto commented, "Chainsaw Man is like a copycat of Dorohedoro and Jujutsu Kaisen, and the studio of Dorohedoro and Jujutsu Kaisen will produce its anime!? I have nothing to say! Please do it!"^[27] According to the manga's editor, Shihei Lin, Fujimoto is heavily involved in the production of the anime series, stating, "Fujimoto-san has seen all the Chainsaw Man's pitch documents, story structure, scripts, and even the storyboards. He has continued to be in close contact with MAPPA's anime team." MAPPA producer, Makoto Kimura, also commented that Fujimoto involvement extended to the casting, planning, and music, because the staff wanted the anime to capture as much of the manga's original vision as possible, including the violence and gore. MAPPA approached Shueisha with the pitch to adapt the manga into an anime.^[28]

Film

Main article: Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc

At the Jump Festa '24 event in December 2023, an anime film entitled Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc (劇場版 チェンソーマン レゼ篇, Gekijō-ban Chensō Man: Reze-hen), was announced.^[29] Most staff and cast reprised their roles, while Tatsuya Yoshihara [ja] replaced Ryū Nakayama as director on the film.^[30] The film is a direct sequel to the television series, and covers the events of the "Reze" arc from the manga.^[29] It was distributed by Toho and premiered in Japan on September 19, 2025.^[31]

Sequel

At the Jump Festa '26 event in December 2025, an anime sequel, Chainsaw Man – Assassins Arc (チェンソーマン 刺客篇, Chensō Man: Shikaku-hen), was announced. Its release format was not revealed.^[32]

The music of the series was composed by Kensuke Ushio.^[33] The first soundtrack EP (for episodes 1–3), was released on October 26, 2022; the second EP (for episodes 4–7) was released on November 23; and the third EP (for episodes 8–12) was released on December 28.^[34] The original soundtrack album, Chainsaw Man Original Soundtrack Complete Edition: Chainsaw Edge Fragments, was released on January 23, 2023.^[35] The opening theme song is "Kick Back", performed by Kenshi Yonezu, while each episode features a different ending theme song.^[5][b]

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Critical response

On review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, the series holds an approval rating of 97% based on 89 reviews, with an average rating of 8/10. The site's critics consensus reads, "Distinguished by its rip-roaring animation and serrated sense of humor, Chainsaw Man is an action anime with teeth."^[36] Mónica Marie Zorrilla of Inverse described Chainsaw Man as the standout of "demon-fighting anime" in 2022. She also praised Denji's contrast to other Shōnen protagonists in his simpler motivations for "girls and food".^[37] Rafael Motamayor of IGN praised Chainsaw Man's cinematography, character dynamics and approach to its emotional moments. He also described it as a successful mix of "workplace comedy, horror, and action series", in contrast to most shōnen. IGN and Polygon praised the action scenes and its sudden tonal shifts from emotional scenes to "juvenile, 2000s sex comedy humor", while Polygon also praised its twelve different ending scenes.^[38][39]

Accolades

More information Year, Award ...

Year	Award	Category	Recipient	Result	Ref.
2022	Billboard Japan Music Awards	Hot Animation	"Kick Back" by Kenshi Yonezu	9th place	[40]
	Reiwa Anisong Awards [ja]	Best Work Award		Nominated	[41]
		Best Anime Song Award		Won
		Lyrics Award	"Chu, Tayōsei" by Ano[f]	Nominated
		Composition Award	"Kick Back" by Kenshi Yonezu[g]	Nominated
		Arrangement Award	"Kick Back" by Kenshi Yonezu[h]	Nominated
2023	Annecy International Animation Film Festival	Best TV Films Production	Chainsaw Man – Episode 1: "Dog & Chainsaw"	Nominated	[42]
	Japan Expo Awards	Daruma for Best Anime	Chainsaw Man	Nominated	[43]
		Daruma for Best Director		Nominated	[44]
		Daruma for Best Action Anime		Nominated	[45]
		Daruma for Best Original Soundtrack		Nominated	[46]
		Daruma for Best Opening	"Kick Back" by Kenshi Yonezu	Won	[47]
		Daruma for Best Ending	"Hawatari Ni-Oku Centi [ja]" by Maximum the Hormone	Nominated	[48]
	45th Anime Grand Prix	Best Theme Song	"Kick Back" by Kenshi Yonezu	5th place	[49]
	13th Newtype Anime Awards	Best Character (Male)	Aki Hayakawa	6th place	[50]
		Best Mascot Character	Pochita	5th place
	29th Manga Barcelona Awards	Best Anime Series Premiere	Chainsaw Man	Nominated	[51]
	Billboard Japan Music Awards	Hot 100	"Kick Back" by Kenshi Yonezu	4th place	[52]
		Most Streaming Songs		4th place	[53]
		Most Downloaded Songs		8th place	[54]
		Hot Animation		2nd place	[52]
		Top User Generated Songs		12th place	[55]
2024	51st Saturn Awards	Best Animated Television Series or Special	Chainsaw Man	Nominated	[56]
	8th Crunchyroll Anime Awards	Anime of the Year		Nominated	[57]
		Best Main Character	Denji	Nominated
		Best Supporting Character	Power	Nominated
		"Must Protect at All Costs" Character	Pochita	Nominated
		Best Animation	Chainsaw Man	Nominated
		Best Director	Ryū Nakayama	Nominated
		Best Action	Chainsaw Man	Nominated
		Best New Series		Won
		Best Character Design	Kazutaka Sugiyama	Nominated
		Best Cinematography	Teppei Itō	Nominated
		Best Art Direction	Yusuke Takeda	Nominated
		Best Score	Kensuke Ushio	Nominated
		Best Opening Sequence	"Kick Back" by Kenshi Yonezu	Nominated
		Best Ending Sequence	"Hawatari Ni-Oku Centi" by Maximum the Hormone	Nominated
		Best Anime Song	"Kick Back" by Kenshi Yonezu	Nominated
		Best VA Performance (Japanese)	Kikunosuke Toya as Denji	Nominated
		Best VA Performance (English)	Ryan Colt Levy as Denji	Won
		Best VA Performance (Spanish)	Emilio Trevino as Denji	Won
		Best VA Performance (French)	Zina Khakhoulia as Power	Nominated
		Best VA Performance (German)	Franziska Trunte as Power	Won
		Best VA Performance (Portuguese)	Luisa Viotti as Makima	Nominated
		Best VA Performance (Castilian)	Joel Gomez Jimenez as Denji	Won
			Maria Luisa Marciel as Power	Nominated
		Best VA Performance (Italian)	Benedetta Ponticelli as Makima	Nominated
			Mosè Singh as Denji	Won
2025	Music Awards Japan	Top Japanese Song in Europe	"Kick Back" by Kenshi Yonezu	Nominated	[58]
		Top Japanese Song in North America		Nominated
	20th AnimaniA Awards	Best TV Series: Disc	Chainsaw Man	Nominated	[59]

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