Nathaniel Clark – A&E Editor

nuc5002@psu.edu

Photo Credit: Mr. Sheogorath / medibang

[Spoilers for season 1 of “Chainsaw Man”]

On December 27, MAPPA Animation released episode 12 of their newest smash-hit, “Chainsaw Man.” As the season finale, the episode received praise from both anime and manga fans alike. A majority of the praise for the series has come from MAPPA’s ability to adapt from the series’ source material. While there have been some minor plot alterations, a majority of the characterization and dynamics were delivered perfectly.

Throughout the first season, audiences were introduced to the series’ main trio of Denji, Power, and Aki along with a variety of other main and side characters. These include Makima, the leader of the Public Safety division of the Devil Hunters, and Kishibe, the grizzled hunter turned trainer for recruits. Audiences also met manga fan-favorite Kobeni. While many anime-only viewers were  first put off by the character due to their apparent lack of devil-hunting training, they soon realized her possibilities as a comedic foil who can easily hold themselves in a fight if necessary. 

Viewers also met Himeno and the series’ well-known treatment of characters. Even though Himeno was an important character for both Aki as his hunting partner and Denji as a possible way of getting into Makima’s good graces, she was eliminated from the series when she sacrificed herself during the first altercation with Katana Man and Akane Sawatari. This shows the anime-only audience that no character is safe from death, even if they are plot-centered.

The first season ended likely at the best possible place. Denji successfully defeats Katana Man while Kobeni and Aki can capture Akane. In an act of avenging Himeno, Aki and Denji have a kicking contest, using Katana’s cuffed and tied body as their target of aggression. After days of being hunted, the remaining members of Public Safety have time to take a breather. The main trio hold a feast to celebrate their victory, enjoying their moments together. As the credits finish though, we are once again treated to Denji’s dream and the chilling door which appeared at the start of the series still shut. 

If you compare this point of the series to the original manga, you are exactly at the half-point of the original run. While a good stopping point, it does lead to one main question: when is the next season? While audiences did get a small glimpse of the next season in a post-credits scene with a minor reveal of fan-favorite Reze, there is no concrete date of reason. Certain sources are saying Winter 2023 while others are saying as late as 2025. The main reason for these delays is how full MAPPA’s plate currently is. Other than “Chainsaw Man,” MAPPA is currently animating “Jujutsu Kaisen,” “Tokyo Revengers,” and a variety of other shows. With MAPPA being a smaller team, it will take them a lot more time to get material out that is up to their standards. 

No matter how long it takes, anime and manga fans alike await the return of Denji, Power, and Aki. While anime fans may have no idea what comes next, manga fans await with a small grin, knowing what may occur.