The ‘Chainsaw Man’ Movie Outshines 2025’s ‘Demon Slayer’ Film

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Even though the first season of Chainsaw Man came out on Crunchyroll nearly two years ago, fans are incredibly excited for Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc. Despite the wait for new animated content, the show’s dedicated fanbase hasn’t lost enthusiasm, and the movie is already proving to be worth it. Its 96% fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes shows just how popular Japanese animation and anime have become.

While Chainsaw Man is enjoying a lot of success this year, it’s not the only anime doing well. Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – The Movie: Infinity Castle, which came out a few months earlier, was a huge hit with both audiences and critics. Demon Slayer fits neatly into the popular Shōnen category – which, in Japan, refers to both a target audience and a style of storytelling. Chainsaw Man, however, does things differently. It takes the elements of a blockbuster and uses them to tell a more subdued, focused, and emotionally resonant story, raising the bar for Shōnen anime. Although Demon Slayer was very successful, Chainsaw Man stood out with its concise storytelling and more personal approach.

The ‘Chainsaw Man’ Movie Is Carefully Paced, Balancing Emotion and Spectacle


Sony Pictures Entertainment

The Chainsaw Man movie, directed by Tatsuya Yoshihara, written by Hiroshi Seko, and animated by Studio MAPPA, covers the Reze arc from the original manga. The story follows Denji (voiced by Ryan Colt Levy) as he develops feelings for a girl named Reze (Alexis Tipton), who isn’t who she appears to be, as hinted at in promotional materials. The resulting 100-minute film is an intense emotional experience. Unlike Demon Slayer, which had a longer runtime but struggled with emotional impact, Chainsaw Man expertly builds and utilizes emotional moments. While both movies boast incredible animation, MAPPA’s work on Chainsaw Man consistently enhances the story, even during quieter, everyday scenes.

While the Chainsaw Man movie isn’t lacking in impressive visuals – it actually excels in this area, staying true to the over-the-top action typical of Shōnen anime – it doesn’t just rely on spectacle. After establishing the story’s emotional core, the movie delivers intense, bizarre action sequences, with levels of blood, gore, and energy comparable to Demon Slayer. From epic sword fights to Chainsaw Man riding a shark devil through a typhoon that’s also a giant baby devil, the movie’s craziness works because it’s rooted in genuine emotion.

The main difference between these two films is how they’re structured. Demon Slayer‘s long length means exciting present-day fights are often interrupted by flashbacks of characters who have already died. While these flashbacks can make the fights more emotionally satisfying, they also reduce the tension for the characters who are still alive. In contrast, the Chainsaw Man movie spends its first half building up the emotional core of the story, which makes the over-the-top action later on feel earned and leads to a genuinely moving and tragic ending.

‘Chainsaw Man’ Subverts the Shōnen Genre


Crunchyroll

While many Shōnen anime rely heavily on familiar tropes – like frequent flashbacks and characters striving for grand goals – Chainsaw Man does the opposite. The manga and its recent movie subvert the genre by focusing on Denji’s surprisingly simple and often selfish desires, which usually revolve around wanting to be with a girl. Unlike typical Shōnen stories where violence serves a noble purpose, the bloodshed in Chainsaw Man often benefits mysterious forces controlling the characters. And the movie intentionally unfolds at a slower pace than most Shōnen adventures.

The Chainsaw Man movie excels at building character through quieter scenes, like Denji’s date with Makima and his interactions with Reze. These moments reveal Denji’s inner thoughts and strengthen his relationships. While the action is still well-done, the movie focuses more on telling compelling character stories. It adapts Denji’s storyline from the manga into a coming-of-age tale about a troubled teen learning to connect with others.

While Demon Slayer is certainly emotionally impactful, Chainsaw Man works exceptionally well on its own, with only hints of the larger conflicts to come. The Chainsaw Man film is subtly powerful, relying on the incredible detail from the animation studio MAPPA to show Denji’s developing emotional growth. The strong character development combined with exciting action perfectly captures the energy of Fujimoto’s artwork. Both films demonstrate how far anime has come in gaining popularity in the West, but Chainsaw Man truly shines with its focused characters and well-paced story.

The Success of the ‘Chainsaw Man’ Movie Sets a New Standard Moving Forward


Crunchyroll

While many action anime focus on large-scale battles, Chainsaw Man is unique because it also explores deeply personal and heartbreaking stories within the chaos. This focus on Denji’s struggle with loneliness and past trauma sets it apart from shows like Demon Slayer and represents a new direction for big-budget anime. Unlike Demon Slayer, which was designed to be an ongoing series, Chainsaw Man concludes at a meaningful point in the original manga. The ending is intentionally bittersweet – a poignant and realistic conclusion, much like the end of a first love, and doesn’t aim for a neatly tied-up resolution.

The anime film Chainsaw Man is predicted to have a very strong opening weekend, following the success of Demon Slayer earlier this year and indicating a bright future for anime films. Its likely #1 ranking also shows that compelling, character-driven stories can be both impactful and widely popular.

People are loving the new Chainsaw Man movie for more than just its amazing animation. It’s also because the characters feel so real – they’re imperfect and relatable, even in a fantastical world. They have the same basic desires as everyone else, and that really comes through. This movie perfectly captures the messy, complicated parts of life, making it truly special.

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2025-10-27 03:41