Nearly three years after the release of the highly anticipated Chainsaw Man Season 1, the series returns, not with a second season, but with a feature-length film covering the [Redacted for spoiler] Girl Arc, titled the Reze Arc. Following a rather divisive first season, which faced overwhelming expectations from fans awed by Tatsuki Fujimoto’s magnum opus, the adaptation took a cinematic approach that ultimately limited the manga’s visual language, unconventional paneling, and the unbridled chaos that defines the series. Now, we have finally arrived at the source of those high expectations: every arc beyond what was covered in Season 1.
With a runtime of just 100 minutes, Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc delivers nonstop chaos in its storytelling from start to finish. In this latest installment, MAPPA strikes a perfect balance between emotional storytelling and high-octane action sequences, presenting a tale of loneliness, betrayal, and the desire for connection beneath the surface of the relentless fun and mayhem that doesn’t stop until the credits roll. Kenshi Yonezu returns for the main theme with “Iris Out,” following his instant-hit opening theme for Season 1, “Kick Back,” as well as the ending theme “Jane Doe,” a collaboration with Hikaru Utada.
MAPPA Studio is best known for its adaptations of beloved franchises such as Jujutsu Kaisen and Attack on Titan, earning high praise not only for staying faithful to the source material but also for elevating the action sequences beyond fans’ expectations. The studio delivers the same treatment in this movie. The extended action sequences, with their fast pacing and intricate gore, leave the audience with barely a moment to breathe before the slaughter ends. Horrifying yet epic, these scenes highlight the overwhelming difference in power between fiends and humans during all-out battles, and how utterly helpless the average person is when caught in the crossfire. MAPPA Studio honours one of the most beloved arcs from the manga with a feast of jaw-dropping animation, nuclear-level fight sequences, and phenomenal art design.
Even amidst the pandemonium of destruction, Fujimoto manages to reaffirm to viewers that Denji is still the lovable, pathetic loser we all remember. Shallow, naïve, vulgar, and purely motivated by sexual gratification, the story still manages to make viewers root for Denji. This is because he is not without a heart (quite literally, thanks to Pochita) and somehow continues to empathise with his adversaries despite his many shortcomings.
Aside from Denji, the titular character Reze is fully introduced and established within a single film, and she solidifies herself as one of the best-written characters in the story. Charming and mysterious, Reze’s sudden appearance steals the spotlight in a film already filled with unique characters and quirky personalities. Her natural chemistry with Denji makes it easy for audiences to root for them as a pair.
With all attention focused on Denji and Reze, most of the side characters take a back seat in this film. However, a few — such as Aki Hayakawa and Makima — still get their moments, while Power has been mostly sidelined after dominating much of the spotlight in season one.
The Reze Arc in the manga marked a turning point for Chainsaw Man, elevating it from a unique and fun series into one of the undisputed greatest of its generation, firmly setting it apart from the rest. The film adaptation only reinforces this status with its high-quality production, and one can only hope future projects receive the same level of care and treatment moving forward.
Following back-to-back years of success for Tatsuki Fujimoto — beginning with the release of the Look Back film adaptation, which went on to win Best Animation of the Year at the Japan Movie Critics Award, and now the release of Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc—you might expect a slowdown in the pace of his adaptations. However, quite the opposite has happened. Several of Fujimoto’s one-shots have been announced for a limited theatrical run starting this October.
Fans of Tatsuki Fujimoto will truly be eating well this year.
