Chainsaw Man’s a Saw-batical Diet of Creativity & Design.
A great psychologist once said, “In all of us, there is a being — an embodiment of evil or happiness, only we can create” and that psychologist was Anonymous. I am kidding; I made that up, which is more creativity than anything found in the seams of Chainsaw Man. As I sat there, watching this beautifully crafted experience, all I could think was “If someone tried to kiss Denji in his demon form, would they die by his sharp teeth or the giant chainsaw on his head?”
Chainsaw Man follows members of the “Public Safety Bureau”. A team of elite devil hunters trained and burdened with the responsibility of eradicating Devils from the world. Our cast members are Makima, Aki, Power, Pochita, Himeno, Arai and our Main character (MC) Denji.
In Chainsaw Man we are treated to a world like no other — where devils live amongst humans feasting on their flesh, due to this devil hunters must come in and destroy these foul creatures, for the sake of saving lives. But like, only one character in this show has this goal. Everyone else couldn’t give a flying F —
Part 1: Bring in some real Meat!
The best way I can describe this show is — experienced. The creators had a vision and executed it with perfection. The animation is on par with none that I’ve seen. The seamless transitions between 3D keyframes to delicately crafted 2D Animations were aspirational. The opening (intro) was beautiful and the music had a memorable earworm that you’ll remember even after it has all ended. In the presence of creation, Mr. Seshimo-San created a masterpiece in art and design.
So, why is this show so goddamn boring? Just like every time you’ve tried putting yourself out there and got rejected — we’ve seen it all before. The characters in Chainsaw Man are one-dimensional, cliche and boring meat-puppets. I’ve seen bricks with more personality, and if you’ve ever wondered why you can relate to these characters, I have unfortunate news to share.
The story itself is a mixture of cliche and unoriginal mumbo jumbo that if you’re an avid anime watcher, you could guess the ending of the show without much try. The story doesn't really go anywhere and with the characters having less shallow motivations than your love life — it’s hard not to get bored in the act; which is exactly what your last partner had to say about you.
Our main character isn’t a show carrier either, powers aside — if you replaced him with a muppet, the show wouldn’t even change. The supporting cast did most of the heavy lifting which wasn’t much, as the weight of boredom was just too heavy. I first realized this show was dull when I was enjoying the character’s portrayals in the opening and ending, more than I did their actual depiction.
The rules of anime apply here as well, don’t get attached to any of the two (2) “interesting” characters present, because the writers hate fun and just like your dad, they also hate you.
Part 2: Chainsaw say what?
Despite the dullness, Chainsaw Man can be a fun watch. The stubborn relationship between Denji & Power is outright adorable. The writers play carefully with the theme of “Enemies to Friends” and whilst it’s not perfect, it delivers some very fun moments. This is more than I can say about the writers of your love life — because that show’s been cancelled due to a lack of interested actors.
There is fun to be had in chainsaw man. The gore is exceptional, the visuals are gorgeous and the voiced cast does an impeccable job portraying deep emotions in the only two (2) interesting characters present. Even with the dull cast members, the voice-over actors did absolutely great with what they were given. From a technical standpoint alone, I would say this anime is worth a few minutes of your time.
I do hope, however, that as season 2 draws near, we get to see more dynamic characters, a better story and more meaningful plotlines.
Verdict
Chainsaw Man is an experience I would recommend for those seeking a good time, not a long one. It’s a fun and entertaining experience that I found myself excited to watch, especially for the well-crafted fight scenes. The technical expertise that built this anime is one of delectable delight and creativity. For that alone, I can say Chainsaw Man was worth the dullness.
