From the moment it was announced in December 2020, studio MAPPA's adaptation of Chainsaw Man became one of the highest anticipated anime releases ever. The hype around Chainsaw Man as a franchise was like nothing that had come before, with Tatsuki Fujimoto's original manga achieving a level of popularity very few other series ever experienced prior to receiving an anime adaptation. When the initial reveal trailer arrived accompanied by the MAPPA logo, it seemed the entire anime community couldn't wait for the series to premiere.

Finally releasing on October 12, 2022, Chainsaw Man was met with a favorable reaction from its fan base and the wider anime-watching community, until partway through the season, public perception had suddenly flipped. From every corner of the web, criticism and complaints rained down on the production, and controversy spawned with each episode released. Now, as Chainsaw Man is gearing up for its return in the Reze Arc film, a new director and staff have taken over the project. However, looking back more than two years later, the outrage just doesn't quite make sense.

Chainsaw Man's First Season Was Met With Heavy Criticism

The Highly Anticipated MAPPA Production Stirred Controversy With Each New Episode

Fire Punch. He said, "I want to express the unfathomable, high-tension, and all the charms of Mr. Tatsuki Fujimoto," before adding, "I have an image of him as a uniquely talented chef."

It's clear Nakayama respected Fujimoto's work, and aimed to capture its essence as faithfully as possible. He later mentioned the artist's love for film, and how that influenced the direction of the series. As a result, Chainsaw Man had an incredibly cinematic tone, and not everyone was a fan of the creative choice. Many felt the series was too slow, wasn't visually pleasing enough, or that it missed the lighthearted tone of the manga's early chapters. Others couldn't stand the use of CGI during action sequences.

From seemingly every direction, a loud portion of viewers were expressing their dissatisfaction with the series, and it's puzzling to look back on. The world of Chainsaw Man is not kind. In fact, it's violent, unforgiving, and cruel, a tone Nakayama and MAPPA were able to capture well with their adaptation of the series. Aside from an early section of the manga which was cut from the anime, their portrayal of the characters was nearly spot-on, and the action rarely failed to impress. Strangely enough, a large criticism came from those upset with the show's color palette.

Criticism Regarding the Show's Color Palette Is Largely Unfounded

Many Believe the Series Missed a Core Aspect Fujimoto Was Never Responsible For

Many within the already-established Chainsaw Man fan base criticized the show's color palette, believing it to be too washed out and pale compared to the manga they read, which featured bright, clashing colors. While Fujimoto's color pages and volume covers often made use of those bright and creative tones, the colored version of Chainsaw Man was not done by the artist himself, and rather by VIZ media for a special release of the series.

While personal preference is one thing, countless fans believed a core aspect of Fujimoto's original manga was ignored in the anime's visual presentation, which is outright false. The creator had little, if anything at all, to do with the VIZ colored version of his series. It may seem like a small complaint, but fans made it known that they weren't happy with the visual direction of the series, which is unfortunate given just how impressive the show was throughout. Chainsaw Man and Nakayama, in particular, received quite a bit of criticism, and so a change was made.

Chainsaw Man Is Moving Forward With a New Director

Tatsuya Yoshihara Is Taking Over in the Film

Chainsaw Man - The Movie: Reze Arc was announced nearly a year after the first season's conclusion, and another year ed before any update was given. During that time, fans speculated whether the same staff would return for the project, and at Jump Festa 2025, they received their answer. Ryu Nakayama stepped down from his role as director on Chainsaw Man, leaving MAPPA entirely to open his own studio, and is being replaced by Tatsuya Yoshihara, who worked on sections of the anime's first season.

Yoshihara previously served as director on Black Clover, and provided key animation on shows like Frieren: Beyond Journey's End and One Punch Man. The director's work is known for its fluid, energetic action, which is sure to please fans, alongside the film's notably brighter color palette featured in the teaser trailer. Whether the new style will capture the spirit of the anime's first season or attempt to establish its own identity remains to be seen, though from the little we know about the movie, it will certainly offer a different feel.

Are Chainsaw Man's Visual Changes for the Best?

The Film Appears to More Closely Imitate the Manga's Art Style

Tatsuki Fujimoto's art style, especially during Part One of Chainsaw Man, featured rough lines and obsessive hatching and shading, making for striking imagery and chaotic action. The trailer for the Reze Arc film featured an art style more akin to the manga than what the first season offered. Which is better largely boils down to personal opinion, though 2024's Look Back was able to similarly capture Fujimoto's style to wonderful effect.

If the chaotic action is also able to capture the spirit of the source material, it's likely fans of the series will be incredibly happy with the change. However, for many others who enjoyed the cinematic take on the series in Chainsaw Man's first season, it seems the anime will be moving away from its original visual style. It's a shame, given how visually unique the series' first season was. Nevertheless, the Reze Arc film is scheduled to arrive in 2025, and will offer fans a brand-new take on the historically divisive anime.

Source: Famitsu "Interview With Ryu Nakayama..."