Chainsaw Man is a story that never quite belonged in the Shōnen Jump lineup. Cruel, cold, and unforgiving, the series has consciously avoided many of the tropes which typically define shōnen storytelling, while following a protagonist who breaks every rule set by those before him. Denji, Chainsaw Man's leading hero, has as little in common with the Gokus and Luffys of manga as he does any main character of the many power fantasy isekais that come and go every anime season.

Where other heroes want to become the strongest, or even a king of pirates, Denji just wants to live. There are no clear-cut goals, or desires to achieve something concrete, despite his claims to want to get with girls. Instead, Denji is cut from a cloth more fitting of his countless fans than the superhuman heroes who appear in the same publication as him. He isn't normal for shōnen anime and manga, nor is he much of a normal hero at all. Yet Chainsaw Man's protagonist is one of the most relatable to come from Shōnen Jump in years.

Denji, the Unconventional, Morally Gray Hero

Chainsaw Man's Leading Hero Is Manga's Most Relatable in Years

Shōnen protagonists typically have rules to follow. Ichi the Witch's titular main character, Ichi. His actions aren't fueled out of any generosity or desire to be just. Rather, he simply enjoys hunting, and is naturally a morally good character in the mold of a Goku and Luffy, who border on being selfish but are righteous by default.

Chainsaw Man's Denji is a different case. His goals or dreams are inherently selfish, not unlike many other protagonists, even if they are somewhat basic. However, the teenager at the center of the series' cruel world isn't always virtuous. It isn't for a lack of trying, as demonstrated in his desperate attempts to save others during the fight with Gun Fiend Aki. But Chainsaw Man's violent and unforgiving setting does not always allow for a 'good' character to thrive.

Denji often has no problem taking advantage of others, or allowing others to get hurt if it would assist him in battle or further his progress towards one of his dreams. It can be jarring to watch a hero act selfishly, and countless anime and manga fans have dismissed Denji for doing so, though when compared to other popular heroes of the genre, none are more realistic than the boy with chainsaws sticking out of his head and arms. He's morally gray, but sometimes the world doesn't allow even its best people to always be good.

Denji Is the Current Young Generation's Protagonist

Author Tatsuki Fujimoto Intended for Denji to Be a Little Different

Though it can often seem that author Tatsuki Fujimoto writes his stories with breaking shōnen rules in mind, that's never really been his intent. In an interview conducted ahead of Chainsaw Man Part Two with French publication BFMTV, Fujimoto itted, "I wanted to do something very different from classic shōnen, but the fact my characters have very low ambitions is not related to the desire to break the shōnen codes."

He continued, "When we look at the current younger generation, they're a bit like that... They seek to live in a simple way, day by day. I don't criticize them. I think it's very good to live like this." An intriguing phenomenon arises when analyzing shōnen protagonists in relation to the generation they were made for. Characters like Goku, who always aimed to be the strongest, became popular during the economic boom Japan enjoyed during the 1980s. For a crowd that believed they could become successful in any chosen field through nothing but hard work, Goku was the perfect mascot.

Denji was catapulted into the spotlight on a very different stage. Today, younger people have had their faith shaken by the very world they've inherited from those before them. So, when a character arrived who wanted nothing more than to live comfortably in a world that tried its best to kill him, fans lined up in great numbers to watch him fight back.

Denji Has Always Been More Complex Than He's Given Credit For

There's More to Denji's Shallow Dreams Than It Seems

The main criticism lobbed towards Chainsaw Man's hero is that his goals aren't serious enough for fans to care about him. Despite being written to appeal to an audience that feels similarly mistreated by the world around them, many of those criticizing Denji's dreams tend to miss what's underneath them. The titular Chainsaw Man is a victim of a lifetime of abuse, and suffered trauma that stunted him at an early age. For several years, he lived alone with no one but his chainsaw dog by his side.

Dreams of 'eating good grub' can translate to a desire to no longer go hungry. Wanting to 'touch boobs' is how Denji might express wanting to be loved, and not having to spend his life alone. He's uneducated and immature, unable to express himself or even understand his emotions properly. Yet his reasons for continuing to live are as pure as the dreams he chases. If only for the chance he might be loved, or find family, or eat good food, Denji could keep fighting. Sometimes, lofty goals aren't what satisfies troubled youth. Sometimes, they just want to live.

Chainsaw Man's Part Two is currently over 90 chapters in length and counting, and Denji is now being faced with some of the most difficult decisions of his life. Fans have been torn about the teenage hero's behavior in the face of a familiar kind of abuse, but often forget to ask themselves what they might do in his situation. Denji is a simple boy, with simple desires and simple dreams, and he's also the most relatable character to come out of Shōnen Jump in years.

Source: BFMTV. "Meeting with Tatsuki Fujimoto"