Hello, everyone! I’m KENTA, a Japanese manga enthusiast. In this article, we’ll deeply explore why the Chainsaw Man anime received such harsh reviews in Japan. We’ll look into how battles featuring Denji and Samurai Sword were depicted in the anime and why it failed to meet the expectations of manga fans. Please note that this article contains a lot of personal opinions as well, so keep that in mind!
What is Chainsaw Man?
Chainsaw Man, created by Tatsuki Fujimoto, is a dark fantasy serialized in Weekly Shonen Jump. The story follows the protagonist Denji, who battles devils. The series has gained a dedicated fanbase due to its dark themes and unique storyline.
The anime adaptation was produced by MAPPA, known for popular titles like Jujutsu Kaisen. When the anime’s promotional video was released, expectations were sky-high, and it was predicted to be a dominating force. However, the actual reception fell short of these expectations, and the anime faced significant criticism.
Reasons Why the Chainsaw Man Anime Was Criticized
・Poor Pacing The anime’s pacing was a major point of contention, especially among manga fans. Compared to the manga, the battle scenes felt prolonged, and unnecessary original elements were added, disrupting the original’s pace. The fight scenes with the Bat Devil and Leech Devil, in particular, felt dragged out.
・Issues with Direction and Composition While the animation quality was praised, the direction and composition received criticism. Many fans felt that the anime didn’t fully capture the manga’s appeal. The frequent use of CG in battle scenes diminished their impact, leading to further dissatisfaction.
・Criticism of the Director The director of the Chainsaw Man anime faced significant backlash. As a first-time director, their “high-minded” interview comments were perceived negatively by manga fans. The director aimed for a cinematic feel, asking voice actors to perform in a more subdued, realistic manner. This approach clashed with what manga fans expected.
The Gap Between the Anime and the Manga
・Loss of the Manga’s Charm The manga’s appeal lies in its B-movie humor and surreal elements. However, these aspects were downplayed in the anime, which focused more on style over substance. This gap was unacceptable to many manga fans.
・Voice Actors’ Discomfort Reports indicated that the voice actors also felt uncomfortable with the director’s guidance. This added to the criticism, as fans felt the voice actors understood the source material better than the anime’s direction did.
Commercial Success and Failure
・Increase in Manga Sales Despite the criticism, the anime adaptation led to a significant increase in manga sales and related merchandise. This indicates a commercial success in some aspects. However, the DVD/Blu-ray sales did not meet expectations, largely due to the lack of support from the manga’s original fanbase.
・High Praise for the Opening The anime’s opening song and animation, especially the part by Kenshi Yonezu, received high praise. Some fans even joked that Yonezu was the true winner, suggesting that he understood the source material better than the director.
My Perspective
・Entertaining but Lacking Personally, I found the Chainsaw Man anime entertaining but felt something was missing. I would rate it around 70-75 out of 100. Even with my limited experience with the manga, the gap between the anime and the source material was evident.
・High Expectations Backfired Chainsaw Man was one of the most anticipated anime of Fall 2022. However, while other series exceeded expectations, Chainsaw Man consistently fell short. This contributed significantly to its poor reception.
・Hopes for the Sequel There’s no doubt that a sequel will be produced, and I hope it surpasses the original’s expectations. Similar to My Hero Academia, which improved with subsequent seasons, I believe Chainsaw Man can also achieve greater success in its future installments.
Conclusion
The Chainsaw Man anime, while commercially successful, received harsh reviews from manga fans. The director’s vision and the differences in execution contributed to the criticism. Despite this, the anime maintains a high level of quality and has support from a portion of the fanbase. We look forward to the sequel and hope it will exceed expectations.
At MangaZamurai, we publish in-depth articles about Japanese manga for a global audience. Be sure to check out our other articles and rediscover the charm of Japanese manga. Thank you for reading!
