One of the most heralded manga in recent history is finally coming to the small screen. Tatsuki Fujimoto’s clever take on the shonen genre, Chainsaw Man, has captivated millions of readers around the globe since its debut in Weekly Shonen Jump back in December 2018 and will now receive its long-anticipated anime adaptation. Produced by famed studio MAPPA (Yuri on Ice, Jujutsu Kaisen, Attack on Titan: The Final Season), the show is set to premiere on October 12th, 2022, and will be available to view outside of Asia via Crunchyroll.

Chainsaw Man burst onto the scene thanks to its colorful cast, excellent character design, and stunningly gory visuals, garnering several award nominations and almost instantly becoming a massive hit. The series follows Denji, a young man burdened by crippling debt to the yakuza he inherited from his deceased father. Killed by the gangsters shortly after meeting Pochita, a devil (a creature created from human fear), Denji merges with the dog-like being, gains the ability to transform parts of his body into chainsaws, and becomes a devil hunter for the government. It’s the first big success of Fujimoto’s young career, and the talented mangaka will no doubt hope to take the series in bold and interesting directions as time goes on.

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Chainsaw Man: The Plot

Set in an alternate universe in which the Soviet Union never dissolved, the events of the story take place in Japan in 1997. As mentioned above, Denji lives in abject poverty due to his father’s debt- the tab is so high that the unfortunate young man finds himself working odd jobs, killing devils, and even selling several of his body parts in an attempt to escape his cruel circumstances. His only company is the adorable Pochita, a canine-like devil with a chainsaw in its head, who teams up with the young man after he saves its life.

One fateful day, Denji is called upon by the old yakuza, who gives him his orders. He’s told there’s a devil that needs to be killed and is taken to an abandoned building, where he is quite literally stabbed in the back. Dead, dismembered, and unceremoniously thrown into a dumpster, Denji is miraculously brought back to life when Pochita fuses itself with him. Chainsaw man, a devil-human hybrid, is born.

Regaining consciousness, Denji proceeds to use his new-found powers to massacre the yakuza and slay the old man, who, as it turns out, is actually the zombie devil in disguise. Standing amid the carnage, Denji is discovered by a group of public safety devil hunters, members of a government organization devoted to… you get the idea. He’s taken in by the beautiful yet sadistic Makima, who enlists him in the devil hunters’ ranks and resolves to keep him as her “pet”; so begin Denji’s adventures.

Chainsaw Man: The Cast

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As with every anime that gets a release in the west, fans will be split between those who enjoy dubs and those who prefer subs. Luckily, Chainsaw Man boasts an excellent cast for both the English and Japanese language versions. The former of the two will star Ryan Colt Levy (Attack on Titan, My Hero Academia, Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure: Golden Wind) as Denji, with Suzie Yeung (Final Fantasy VII Remake, Genshin Impact, Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure: Stone Ocean) playing Makima. The cast, as announced thus far, is rounded out by Sarah Wiedenheft (A Certain Scientific Railgun S, Fire Force, The Devil is a Part-timer!) as Power and Reagan Murdock (Live A Live, Dragon Ball Super, One Piece) as Aki.

The Japanese cast is just as talented, led by relative newcomer Kikunosuke Toya (Tokyo 24th Ward) as Denji. Shiori Izawa (Durarara!!, Sword Art Online, Made in Abyss: The Golden City of the Scorching Sun) portrays Pochita, while Tomori Kusunoki (Sword Art Online Alternative Gun Gale Online, The Disastrous Life of Saiki K., Yu-Gi-Oh! Sevens), Shogo Sakata (My Hero Academia: World Heroes’ Mission, Shaman King (2021), Dr. Stone: Stone Wars) and Fairouz Ai (Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure: Stone Ocean, How Heavy Are The Dumbbells You Lift?, Kandagawa Jet Girls) complete the main cast by playing Makima, Aki, and Power, respectively.

Also featuring is Mariya Ise (Hunter x Hunter (2011), The Promised Neverland, Made in Abyss) as Himeno, Karin Takahashi (Ace of Diamond, Ongaku Shojo, Between the Sky and Sea) as Kobeni, Taku Yashiro (Fairy Tail, Mobile Suit Gundam: Iron-Blooded Orphans, Food Wars!: Shokugeki no Soma) as Hirokazu, and Kenjiro Tsuda (Yu-Gi-Oh!, Jujutsu Kaisen, The Way of the Househusband) as Kishibe.

Release Date

Chainsaw Man will be available very soon on Crunchyroll, with the show set to premiere at midnight in Japan on October 12th. The first season will have 12 episodes, with the interesting distinction of having a different closing theme for every new episode. Be sure to catch the premiere of one of 2022’s most anticipated anime!