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The followIng contains spoilers for Chainsaw Man Chapter 196, "Chainsaw Man to the Rescue!". It also contains discussion of sensitive topics.

On the surface, Tatsuki Fujimoto’s Chainsaw Man is a dark shonen manga series about the roller coaster of emotions a poverty-stricken teenager with the power to sprout chainsaws from his head is forced to endure. On a deeper level, the series explores themes such as the search for meaning in life, the importance of religion in an apparently Godless world, and the fleeting quality of love in the face of impermanence. Amid all this food for thought emerges one of the toughest truths to swallow in the entire story: that the main hero and namesake of the series may not have ever been who fans thought he was.

Chainsaw Man’s identity seems obvious at first; it’s in the title of the series. After Denji is given the heart of his best friend,...

There is no denying that Tatsuki Fujimoto did a great job in introducing the concept of Devils in Chainsaw Man, dividing them into three major categories: Devils, Fiends, and hybrids. But with so many characters based on this concept, have you ever thought about what makes the Devil-human hybrid Chainsaw so special?

A still from Chainsaw Man. Credits: Studio Mappa

Well, it’s his consumption of other Devils that makes him different from other supernatural entities in the anime/manga. While all Devils consumed blood and other devils to gain power and heal injuries, the powerful devil hunter in Fujimoto’s story consumed them to erase their existence entirely. So is there a hidden dark secret behind the artist’s concept of Chainsaw Man?

Does Tatsuki Fujimoto’s concept of Chainsaw Man have metaphysical implications?

The anime community witnessed a fascinating twist on the supernatural genre with the introduction of...

Fanfic records are quite common in the anime community, given the wide array of iconic characters in a series or manga. Tatsuki Fujimoto’s cultural phenomenon Chainsaw Man is one such anime featuring a number of deeply flawed and relatable characters, inspiring a sheer volume of fanfics. But any guesses for who might be in the top tier with the most fanfics recorded?

Denji and Makima from Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc. [Credit: Mappa]

Well, the titular character, Denji is quite a predictable guess, but there is another popular name alongside the protagonist that might just surprise everyone. It’s none other than Aki Hayakawa, who has surprisingly claimed the fanfic crown, surpassing the likes of other notable characters Makima, Power, and Himeno.

Chainsaw Man’s tritagonist gets crowned as the fanfic king!

Who would have thought the emotionally repressed, chain-smoking Devil Hunter in Tatsuki Fujimoto‘s story, Aki Hayakawa,...

The award ceremony for the 48th Japan Academy Film Prizes was held at the Grand Prince Hotel Shin Takanawa in Tokyo on March 14. From the five nominees in the animation category, Look Back won the Best Animation of the Year award. Additionally, the eight main animators of Look Back were also selected for the Creative Contribution Award, which was newly established this year to honor engineers who have made particularly outstanding contributions to the films selected for the awards. The eight animators were: Kiyotaka Oshiyama , Toshiyuki Inoue , Yuka Geshi , Takuya Ninuma , Katsuhiko Kitada , Shuichi Ohara , Tasan , and Ayako Hata . Among them, Oshiyama also served as the director, screenplay writer, and character designer of the film. Meanwhile, actor Yuumi Kawai , who voiced one of the film's two protagonists, Fujino, won the Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role award for her role as An Kagawa in the Yu Irie-directed...

Throughout all of Chainsaw Man Part 2, the threat of the Death Devil has been built up. She's been positioned as the strongest of the Four Horsemen, the most powerful Devil and a threat to the entire world. There were many theories what she'd be like when she debuted, but no one could have predicted the truth.

The Death Devil has finally appeared in Chainsaw Man, and the strongest Devil is nothing like fans thought she'd be. Occupying the body of a high school girl, just like Yoru and Fami, Death is a timid crybaby with no social skills. Death will likely still be able to prove herself as a threat in her upcoming battle against Fake Chainsaw Man, but she certainly will not be the all-powerful big bad she was set up as.

The Death Devil Has Been Hyped Up Throughout All of Chainsaw Man Part 2 Fami's Tormenting of Denji...

The subject matter of Chainsaw Man is quite unique and has reached the right audience. There are darker and melancholic storylines, but there’s also plenty of enjoyable elements for casual watchers. However, all this enjoyment is getting hurt by the anime’s release schedule.

Irrespective of the length, most anime nowadays follow the seasonal schedule. As a result, it has become easier to watch anime with minimal fillers. Out of all the new generation anime, Chainsaw Man seems to be still following the older format.

Reze in a still from Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc | Credits: Studio Mappa

Compared to other anime like Jujutsu Kaisen or Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End, Chainsaw Man fans don’t always have the next installment of the franchise in sight.

The older format hurts Chainsaw Man’s hype

Chainsaw Man anime started its brief run of 12 episodes in 2022. While the animation was fluid...

The following contains spoilers for Chainsaw Man Chapter 196, “Chainsaw Man to the Rescue!” It also contains discussion of sensitive topics, including violence.

Tatsuki Fujimoto’s Chainsaw Man has never shied away from important and even controversial themes. Fans are constantly debating relevant social problems under the guise of Chainsaw Man storylines, whether it be the issue of consent by way of Yoru and Asa’s body-sharing situation, or the inherent issues of oligarchical power structures as explored by Public Safety’s contract with the Aging Devil. Chainsaw Man Chapter 196, “Chainsaw Man to the Rescue!” once again tries to save the world in a amusingly titled chapter that’s doing as much 'rescuing' as could be expected from a shonen manga about a sex-crazed teenager with chainsaw appendages.

Chainsaw Man Chapter 195’s major cliffhanger left fans everywhere with one burning question: was the new Devil introduced at the end of the chapter really the Death Devil?...

Chainsaw Man has been progressing at a rapid pace for some time, making its way towards a finale that is sure to be as wild and unpredictable as the rest of Tatsuki Fujimoto's masterpiece series. With all its pieces in place: Denji and Asa finally being together, Yoru cooking up plans for her own world domination, and no one left to oppose Chainsaw and War, it seems the time for that finale has come.

Throughout the entirety of Chainsaw Man's methodical Part Two, a presence called the Death Devil has loomed over the narrative from the shadows. The final horseman and eldest sister of the apocalypse, prophecies foretold of the Death Devil descending onto Earth and bringing about the end of humanity, and finally, she has appeared.

Chainsaw Man's Final Devil Has Arrived Custom Image by Zach Zamora

On first appearance, the Death Devil didn't come off as very intimidating.

The best anime has to offer comes in many different formats — including feature films, which tell some of the medium’s most potent and highly acclaimed stories in a concise, dynamic manner. An incredible way to enjoy a spectacular narrative without excessive time commitments, anime movies also avoid many of the pitfalls longer series run into much more often.

A feature length film doesn’t have the luxury to include sprawling stories or narrative detours, resulting in every scene in the best anime movies being deliberate and serving the purpose of elevating the plot. Representative of many genres — and, sometimes, even entire franchises — the best anime films are faultless from beginning to end, not losing their audience’s attention even for a second.

Perfect Blue Contains Impactful Details in Every Frame Stream Perfect Blue on Apple TV

One of the most esteemed directors in the medium’s history, Satoshi Kon...

Chainsaw Man is known for its incredible devil designs, and the series just gave its title hero a new one that is pure metal. Far from the hard black carapace of Denji's pure Chainsaw Man form, the new Chainsaw Man form debuting in Chapter # 196 is a monstrosity of bone and flesh.

The new form appears right before the fight with what could be the series' ultimate villain with the Death Devil. Though it's unclear what exactly the new form means, there are several strong hints that this is not a new form for Denji, but is instead one for the fake Chainsaw Man that's been a mysterious plot point in the series' second part.

Chainsaw Man's Metal New Form Probably Isn't Denji's Is The Series Finally Revealing More About Fakesaw Man?

Though it's still entirely possible this is a new form for Denji, all evidence points to the metal new...

Chainsaw Man Part 2seems to finally be approaching its climax, but series author Tatsuki Fujimoto may have just thrown multiple new wrenches into the story. After spending the entire Academy Saga building up the threat of the Death Devil, it instead looks like Yoru, the War Devil, is the true main villain of the arc. This is further complicated by the ending of the latest chapter.

Chainsaw Man Chapter 195 just introduced a new player in Denji's story, and her identity could determine the course of the manga. Appearing as a scared and timid high school girl who claims to want to save people, this could be the Death Devil in the flesh, just nothing like anyone could have imagined she would be. While she's the most likely suspect, it would be equally exciting if this new girl turns out to be the third incarnation of the Control Devil, or even a reincarnated Blood Devil.

The following contains spoilers for Tatsuki Fujimoto’s Chainsaw Man, Chapter 195, “Kill Me Tears”. It also contains discussion of sensitive topics, including violence.

The Chainsaw Man manga has seemingly reached its endgame in the most anticlimactic and fittingly Fujimoto way ever. The recurring conflict of Chainsaw Man Part 2 has been the impending arrival of the Death Devil, whom Nayuta fittingly called “the super duper strongest Devil with the name most feared of all." In Chainsaw Man Chapter 195, “Kill Me Tears”, the Death Devil seems to have finally appeared, or at least a Devil closely related to her. This new apparent Death Devil is far from the monstrosity many fans expected her to be, and her appearance alone could have hinted at a major truth about her fellow sisters, the Four Horsemen.

The first of the Four Horsemen revealed in Chainsaw Man was Makima, whose unparalleled power and devious schemes led...

The following contains spoilers for Chainsaw Man Chapter 195, "Kill Me Tears". It also contains discussion of sensitive topics, including suicide.

Chainsaw Man Part 2 has garnered mixed feelings from readers throughout its run. It’s been a slow burn as Tatsuki Fujimoto's taken more time with the characters and story than he did with Part 1, all the while hinting at a major conflict which outdid anything in the first half of his series: the arrival of the Death Devil. All that build up finds its ultimate payoff in Chainsaw Man Chapter 195, “Kill Me Tears”. The major villain’s underwhelming arrival is sure to garner more mixed feelings in fans, while simultaneously capturing Chainsaw Man’s essence better than some big dramatic reveal ever could.

Chainsaw Man 194 left off with Asa finally breaking free from Yoru’s control. Before this, Asa hadn’t been seen for several chapters, ever since the...

When the Chainsaw Man anime premiered in 2022, it sparked a full-fledged frenzy, with both manga readers and general anime fans alike losing all composure over its truly unhinged storytelling. It sparked a real drive to find more work from the original manga's author, Tatsuki Fujimoto, a trailblazer who hasn't met a narrative concept he didn't want to snap in half or turn inside out. One of his most beloved works is a paean to the power of making art called Look Back, which officially became an anime feature film released in late 2024, and while it was well-reviewed by the critics that saw it, it came and went without much fanfare. That should be changed, as it's streaming on Prime Video and was one of the best animated films of last year.

Tatsuki Fujimoto's hit shonen manga Chainsaw Man dazzled fans with its brutally subversive characters and narrative style, and the Chainsaw Man anime in Fall 2022 made it an industry superstar in just three months. Fans found plenty to love about the overall Chainsaw Man franchise, from its cool "monster hunter" vibes and off-beat humor to twisted yet compelling characters, like Denji and his fiend partner, Power. However, it's Makima who stands tall as Chainsaw Man's most popular and memorable character.

Like the overall Chainsaw Man franchise she calls home, Makima both follows and mocks the traditional shonen formula, being both a typical shonen mentor as well as a highly subversive one. Fans want to know more about what Makima can do, what she means to Denji and Power, and why she is so magnetic as a villainous anime waifu fans can't look away from. She may be a monster,...

The following contains spoilers for Chainsaw Man Chapter 194, “Fun School Festival”. It also contain discussion of sensitive topics including sexuality.

“Couldn’t sleep cuz too many b*ners…”: these are the first words Tatsuki Fujimoto’s Chainsaw Man returns with after a week-long break following one of the most important chapters in Part 2. Never one to take himself too seriously, Fujimoto inches ever-closer to the climax of what may very well be his final arc with a ridiculous line that’s completely as expected from Denji. In reality, this was the perfect opening statement to encapsulate the main theme of Chainsaw Man Chapter 194, “Fun School Festival”, which is that it’s okay to have fun – even at the end of the world.

Chainsaw Man left off in Chapter 193 with a terrifying revelation for Denji. The girl who had a crush on and went further with than anyone else is the War Devil,...

While there are many movies that gain recognition each year at the Academy Awards, there are many other works that are left behind, masterpieces in their own right, but ignored due to the halo around the popular works.

Shoko in a Silent Voice | Credits: Kyoto Animation

For instance, A Silent Voice has long been recognized at the Oscars as one of the most emotionally gripping anime films to ever be made. It was extremely popular and well-known for its many underlying themes and intense narrative.

But there was another lesser-known film released in 2012 that arguably deserved just as much if not more, recognition. It was a huge pity that such work could not gain fame on a global stage. The movie is called Wolf Children.

The hidden gem of a masterpiece

Wolf Children is a film that was directed by Mamoru Hosoda and produced by Studio Chizu. This film was...

Shonen Jump gives manga and anime fans high-quality scans of beloved series that continue to have a strong fanbase even years after release. New manga are constantly being added to the roster and those that claim a spot in Shonen Jump tend to have some of the best worlds for fans of manga to sink their teeth into.

With a continuous string of bestsellers in Shonen Jump, Viz has plenty of manga to choose from that'll keep readers up all night. As fans patiently wait for their favorite anime to get caught up to their manga counterparts, Viz is the best way to stay up-to-date on them.

RelatedShonen Jump's Next Hit Anime Flies Onto Streaming & The Big Screen With Magical New Trailer Reveal

Witch Watch drops its new trailer including the theme song by Yoasobi, known for Oshi no Ko's "Idol," and revealing its streaming and theater dates.

Dragon Ball...

The anime industry has several incredible original stories, but most times, the biggest anime properties are based on manga. These adaptations make the manga even more popular, essentially acting as commercials for this source material. Most of the popular manga are turned into anime, but that's not always what happens, especially for a few hits.

Some of the best manga still lack anime adaptations, and the reasons are usually unique for each one. Sometimes, it's inexplicable why there's still no anime, whereas other properties have gone on hiatus and thus possibly missed their window. Others have only live-action adaptations, and given where they stand next to other franchises, they may not have enough proverbial juice in the tank to justify a worthwhile anime adaptation.

Vagabond Is Too Beautiful for a Generic Anime Created by Takehiko Inoue

Beginning its run in the late 1990s, Vagabond was created by the same mangaka behind Slam Dunk.

Tatsuki Fujimoto’s Look Back anime film grabbed quite a few eyeballs. It received praise from both Japanese and international audiences, which might have been the boost that Chainsaw Man needed for its upcoming film.

Along with a promising plot, the new film is being animated by Mappa, a name that already ensures awesome animation quality and style. If season 1 of Chainsaw Man is anything to go by, the Reze arc movie will shake up the anime world and help Tatsuki Fujimoto reach greater heights.

Look Back paved the way for a Chainsaw Man movie Look Back cemented Tatsuki Fujimoto’s name in the anime film industry | Credits: Durian

Tatsuki Fujimoto‘s Look Back film premiered in June 2024 and became one of the most acclaimed movies of the year. It won the Animation of the Year award at the Tokyo Anime Award Festival and was nominated at the Annie Awards,...

The Npd BookScan released its Top 20 best-selling adult graphic novels in the United States for January 2025, with 15 of the 20 spots occupied by manga volumes and 5 spots by Solo Leveling (manhwa).

17th volume of Tatsuki Fujimoto’s Chainsaw Man topped the best selling list of January 2025, with 13th volume of Tatsuya Endo’s Spy x Family taking the second spot.

Check out the complete list of best selling manga in the US for the month of January 2025 below:

RankTitleVolumeAuthor1Chainsaw Man17Tatsuki Fujimoto2Spy x Family13Tatsuya Endo3Solo Leveling10Chugong4Jujutsu Kaisen24Gege Akutami5Dandadan1Yukinobu Tatsu6Solo Leveling1Chugong7Berserk Deluxe (Hc)1 Kentaro Miura8Jujutsu Kaisen1Gege Akutami9Solo Leveling9Chugong10Destroy All Humans. They Can’t Be Regenerated. A Magic: The Gathering Manga2Katsura Ise11Toilet-Bound Hanako-Kun21AidaIro12One Piece (Omnibus Edition)1Eiichiro Oda13Berserk Deluxe (Hc)2Kentaro Miura14Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba1Koyoharu Gotouge...

Tatsuki Fujimoto has a reputation that he has accumulated from writing many of his series. It is not the reputation of being a brilliant storyteller or a genius; it is his fame for never having shied away from killing off beloved characters in his works.

Denji with Pochita | Credits: Studio Mappa

The popular sensation Chainsaw Man is no different. Angel Devil was a unique character that earned praise and acclaim from fans and critics. Due to his personality and charm, many fans loved him and wanted to see what was next for him.

But Fujimoto is brutal and single-minded. He makes no exception, no matter what the fans believe, he is only loyal to his story. Thus, despite his growing popularity, an established deep lore, and even a tragic connection to Aki, Fujimoto ultimately sealed the fate of Angel Devil.

Fujimoto heeds no warning; he is a man with a...

The following contains spoilers for Chainsaw Man Chapter 193, "Burning Kiss". It also discusses sensitive topics.

Tatsuki Fujimoto’s Chainsaw Man never fails to shock and surprise its readers. The only thing fans can ever predict for certain is that the story will always lead to more pain and tragedy for Denji. Every time Denji seems to overcome his own Devils, Fujimoto introduces a sad new low for the character. Chainsaw Man Chapter 193, “Burning Kiss”, is exactly that new low, as Denji falls apart in a moment too close to his other biggest breakdown in the series for comfort. After having his first “date” with Yoru in Chapter 192, Denji finds himself sitting on a roof watching the most romantic scene possible for the War Devil: the entire city burning in the distance.

The atmosphere was clearly perfect for Yoru, who thrust herself onto Denji just as she has done countless times...

In a year dominated by big-budget Hollywood animations and franchise-driven narratives, Flow has emerged as one of the most remarkable animated films. This independent gem, directed by Latvian filmmaker Gints Zilbalodis, exceeded expectations by receiving Oscar nominations for Best Animated Feature and Best International Feature Film.

Flow is a film directed by Latvian filmmaker Gints Zilbalodis. | Credits: Dream Well Studio

What makes Flow particularly extraordinary is that it was made on a modest budget of just 3.5 million euros. In contrast to the massive budgets of its competitors, this financial constraint led to an innovative and deeply artistic approach, proving that creativity thrives under limitations.

The significance of Flow’s Oscar nomination

Flow’s recognition by the Academy is a game-changer. Independent animated films rarely receive such high-profile accolades, especially when competing against Hollywood-backed projects. Historically, the Best Animated Feature category has been dominated by industry giants like Disney, Pixar, and DreamWorks.

The winners of the 52nd Annual Annie Awards have been announced and despite several nominations, no anime movies took him any awards. Look Back was nominated for Best Feature: Independent category but lost to the Latvian animation film Flow.

Look Back lost to Flow at the Annie Awards | Credits: Durian

Both The Wild Robot and Arcane took home several awards, leaving anime fans a huge blow to deal with. However, with a limited number of anime films released in 2024, the industry already had a huge handicap.

Don’t be surprised by the lack of anime at award shows this year

The anime film adaptation of Tatsuki Fujimoto‘s Look Back one-shot manga received many positive reviews after its theatrical debut. Fans even expected it to be nominated in American award shows like the Oscars and Annie. However, the movie did not even make it to the final nominations list for...

When adapting particularly violent or explicit manga to anime, it’s not uncommon for the adaptations to tone down the more graphic parts of the source material. From greater studio oversight to reliance on sponsorships, anime productions have to abide by more rules when it comes to the content they’re allowed to show, whereas manga can get away with taking more risks, even when published in big magazines.

However, sometimes, the opposite is true, and the anime takes the tamer aspects of the source material and ups them to eleven, leaning fully into the twisted and objectionable aspect of what it is adapting. These dark anime series are so extreme in the violence, gore, or profanity they portray, even manga readers might be surprised by how they choose to interpret the original.

Related10 Wholesome Looking Anime Series That Are Actually Super Disturbing

Some anime lure viewers with wholesome looks and vibrant tones,...

Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure has built quite a reputation in the anime community, thanks to its eccentric humor and unique art style. It’s an acquired taste amongst seasoned and new anime fans, but once they try it, it’s a masterpiece like nothing else.

Dio Brando from Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure. [Credit: David Production]

It has a special place in the hearts of LGBTQ+ viewers for its open representation of sexuality and gender. The character designs and fashion have become a big cultural phenomenon, and so have the characters. Dio Brando, in particular, is the talk of the town.

Dio Brando is one of the most menacing villains in all of anime, acting without regret and having all the confidence. Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure features several iconic villains, and yet he stands out. He’s also a rare anime character that is canonically bisexual, confirmed by Hirohiko Araki himself.

The mangaka confirms Dio...

In modern pop culture, Chainsaw Man has already left a profound impact on its viewers that can be hardly met by other series of the new generation. With mysterious surroundings, a flawed protagonist, and a long list of appealing side characters, this has added to the popularity of the title.

Denji with Pochita. Credits: Studio Mappa

Time and again, the series has showcased the potential to become one of the many leading faces of the industry. Thus, many otakus and critics have often considered Tatsuki Fujimoto to be a genius, who gracefully avoided the banal tropes featured in other new-gen works with an art style that made his work so remarkable.

However, Shihei Lin, his editor, feels otherwise as he sheds light on the first impression of the mangaka, where he watered down his fame and continued working with him for over a decade.

Chainsaw Man’s editor explains what...

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Invincible is an adult animated superhero action comedy-drama series created by Robert Kirkman. Based on the comic book series of the same name by Kirkman, Cory Walker, and Ryan Ottley, the Prime Video series is set in a world where superheroes exist, and it follows Mark Grayson, a teenage boy who is the son of the world’s most powerful superhero, Omni-Man. Mark wants to be just like his father, but he doesn’t know that his father is hiding a dark secret. Invincible’s voice cast includes Steven Yeun, Sandra Oh, J.K. Simmons, Gillian Jacobs, and Walton Goggins. So, if you loved the subversive storytelling, great superhero action, and compelling characters in Invincible, here are some similar shows you should check out next.

The Boys (Prime Video) Credit – Prime Video

The Boys is a superhero action dark...

The following contains spoilers for Chainsaw Man Chapter 192, “How Devils Play.”

Tatsuki Fujimoto’s Chainsaw Man may have officially begun the series’ end game with its latest chapter, but the biggest conflict of Chapter 192 is still Denji’s conflicted feelings for Yoru. Fujimoto’s characters are so distinctive and well-crafted that the story can feasibly use any genre and never feel like it has lost its identity. Chainsaw Man Chapter 192, “How Devils Play,” takes the slice-of-life route, with a detour that takes readers through a day in the life of the War Devil. While not Fujimoto’s best work artistically, the characters and their relationships carry this chapter with plenty of substantial story reveals to make it worth sitting on.

After Denji and Yoru escaped Aging’s World with the help of Yoshida and Fumiko in Chapter 190, it seemed that the group would be able to sit at a table...

The following contains spoilers for the Chainsaw Man manga.

Tatsuki Fujimoto’s Chainsaw Man has quickly become one of the premier shonen manga today, but the anime hasn’t achieved quite the same success just yet. While Chainsaw Man was one of the biggest anime of the year in 2023, a few factors have held Csm back from crossing over into the mainstream in the same way as the biggest current next gen hit, Demon Slayer. Chainsaw Man's outlandish concept, its crude and cynical humor, and its tinge of body horror are just a few of the things that make it a bit less accessible to a family audience than Demon Slayer is. However, for the same reasons, there’s a real possibility that Chainsaw Man's feature film debut, The Reze Arc, could actually turn the series into a phenomenon in the same way that Demon Slayer’s own Mugen Train film did.

The official website for the Tokyo Anime Award Festival (Taaf) announced the winners of its 2025 Anime of the Year awards on January 31, 2025. The awards are given to the most outstanding anime works or individuals from all works that were screened, broadcasted or streamed in the fiscal year 2024. The selection process begins with a vote by anime fans to select the 100 best works (20 theatrical films and 80 TV series). From those 100 works, "Best Work" (Feature film and TV series categories) and "Individual Award" awards were voted on by a wide range of animation industry professionals, including producers, creators, other media and stores handling anime merchandise. Additionally, the "Anime Fan Award" was selected by voting by the general users. The "Best Work" award in the feature film category went to Look Back , an anime film adaptation of Tatsuki Fujimoto's ( Chainsaw Man ) coming-of-age manga of the same name. The 58-minute film produced by...

The following contains spoilers for Chainsaw Man Chapter 191, "Cuz I'm a Devil".

Tatsuki Fujimoto's Chainsaw Man is back, and that can only mean more pain for Denji. After a brief hiatus following the dramatic conclusion of the fight against the Aging Devil, Denji, Asa and the gang work out their personal issues — and create new ones in the process. Chainsaw Man Chapter 191, "Cuz I'm a Devil", reveals Part 2's best-kept-secret to Denji in a surprisingly entertaining conversation that unfortunately has way too many guns present for things to remain civil.

Chainsaw Man 190 ended with Denji and Yoru finally escaping Aging's World with the help of Yoshida and Fumiko. Given their ability to work together due to their mutual enemy, it was heartwarming to see the unlikely group of allies sit down at the table together to enjoy a celebratory meal in Chapter 190's closing scene. Csm 191 shows what happens...

Last year, director Kiyotaka Oshiyama released his smash-hit anime film Look Back -- an adaptation of Tatsuki Fujimoto's titular manga series. While the 57-minute feature has earned respect and accolades for Oshiyama and Studio Durian, the director claims that luck was a major factor in the production's success.

In a recent interview with Deadline, Oshiyama went into depth about the process behind pitching, developing and adapting Fujimoto's concept for the big screen. Since its 2024 debut, the film has earned over $12 million at the worldwide box office while also enjoying high streaming traffic on Amazon's Prime Video service. Despite the film's overwhelming success, Oshiyama characterizes it as a 'hit' in a 'hit or miss situation.' "You don't know what contributes to [success] and I think I just got lucky," he said. "I am thankful for the praise that I am getting, but I try to tell myself constantly to maintain my mental strength.

Winning an Oscar is the pinnacle of achievement in the film industry, as it doesn’t just acknowledge your artistic excellence but also makes your peers endorse you and respect you in the filmmaking community. The best part? Box office success is not taken into consideration when it comes to the Academy Awards.

Timothée Chalamet and Zendaya in a still from Dune: Part Two | Warner Bros. Pictures

So, it’s fascinating how the films that earn so little at the global box office, manage to capture everyone’s attention by winning at the prestigious event, or by simply being nominated. So, let’s look at three nominated films that rank low when it comes to earnings and three that have been monumental when it comes to numbers.

3 lowest grossing movies that are nominated for Oscars 2025 Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl | BBC

Many Oscar-nominated films had hefty returns, but a...

With its shocking story and lively animation, Look Back became a fan-favorite anime film in 2024. Ahead of the 97th Academy Awards, fans were excited to see Look Back making it to the nominations list. To their dismay, Look Back couldn’t make it to the list. This has sparked a conversation about the Oscars’ reservations against anime as a medium.

Fujino gets to know about Kyomoto in Look Back | Credits: Studio Durian

Such a discussion is important considering all that the anime film offers in a short span of time. For the same reason, the fan reactions are understandable. However, the worst aspect of this entire ordeal is Tatsuki Fujimoto not receiving his due.

Look Back is sad, beautiful, and truly riveting in many ways

Look Back hit the theatres in June 2024, and quickly garnered massive attention from fans. It follows the story of Fujino, a young artist, and her relationship with her craft.

The announcement of this year’s Oscar nominations for Best Animated Feature has sent waves of shock and disappointment across the anime community, with Tatsuki Fujimoto’s Look Back absent from the list.

Ayumu Fujino in Look Back. [Credit: Studio Durian]

Instead, the nominees include Flow, Inside Out 2, The Wild Robot, Memoir of a Snail, and Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl. No anime movie was on the list.

However, to say that anime and the Academy Awards have a rocky relationship would be an understatement. Every few years, some anime film reshapes popular culture, and Look Back is the latest buzzworthy hit, thrilling fans ahead of Oscars 2025.

Look Back was not nominated for the Best Animated Feature

Flashy titles that came out in 2024 kept many anime fans’ hopes high for the 97th Academy Awards. Yet, it seems next year might follow the usual pattern, with Disney claiming victory. Still,...

The list for the 2025 Academy Awards nominations was recently released, and it has been the talk of the town since then. The Oscar 2025 list has many contentious perceptions, but the biggest one is that not a single 2024 anime film made it to the list. This was certainly heartbreaking for hardcore anime fans, considering the fact that anime has become a mainstream phenomenon.

The Boy and the Heron | Credit: Studio Ghibli

While the anime art form is still underappreciated in many different places, 2024 changed it in a major way because of some great pieces of work that attracted a lot of attention. However, the fact that the Oscars 2025 are not nominating a single 2024 anime has a much deeper reason behind it that many anime fans fail to understand.

The main culprits behind this are Hayao Miyazaki and Makoto Shinkai, who have been nominated for and even won Oscars in the past.

To say that anime and the Academy Awards have a rocky relationship would be an understatement. Every few years, some anime film reshapes popular culture, and Look Back is the latest buzzworthy hit, thrilling fans ahead of Oscars 2025.

It’s always been maddening how underrepresented anime is during the Academy Awards, but 2025 might just top that. The highly publicized chatter for Look Back was stunned to find out the anime that ruled supreme above others in 2024 was shunned from the Oscars’ Animated Feature category.

Look Back. [Credit: Studio Durian]

Flashy titles that came out in 2024 kept many anime fans’ hopes high for the 97th Academy Awards. Yet, it seems next year might follow the usual pattern, with Disney claiming victory. Still, the snubbing of Look Back from the Oscars 2025 has enraged fans, and they have been speaking their minds online.

Outrage sparks as Look Back Misses 2025 Oscars Nomination

The Academy Awards have had a long,...

Quick Links 'Look Back' Could Have Been a Contender The Academy Awards Celebrate the Best Cinema... To a Degree

The list of anime movies nominated for an Oscar has been pretty scant. In 2002, Spirited Away broke the mold by being nominated and winning Best Animated Feature. However, since then, the only features to be considered are from Studio Ghibli, with an exception in Mamoru Hosoda's Mirai in 2018. Studio Ghibli is a powerhouse in anime, and they craft thoughtful and visually stunning features worthy of consideration. For anime diehards, the famous animation studio created by Hayao Miyazaki is entry-level and predictable when approaching the medium. With how quick the Oscars are to embrace animated features from other countries, Japanese anime seems often overlooked.

Kiyotaka Oshiyama's Look Back, based on the manga by Chainsaw Man creator Tatsuki Fujimoto, has impressed fans and has been met with fanfare and critical praise. Its...

The movie that was crowned the best anime film of 2024, Tatsuki Fujimoto’s Look Back, is still making a lot of noise because of the popularity it amassed since its release in June 2024. The anime film has been acclaimed as one of the greatest works by Fujimoto and Studio Durian, and a lot of factors contributed to the overall success of Look Back.

Look Back By Tatsuki Fujimoto | Credit: Studio Durian

From its animation to its story development, everything in the anime film adds to the wonderful portrayal of the storyline from the original one-shot web manga that came out in 2021. However, there is one aspect of the story that was utilized by Fujimoto in the most perfect way possible. This aspect was the symbolism that the story portrayed through different scenes.

One particular scene that grabbed the attention of a lot of fans was when Ayumu Fujino found out...

2024 was definitely a big year for the anime industry, especially for the movies. There were quite a few films that left an impression on the community, but the one that stood above all was Tatsuki Fujimoto’s Look Back. The movie has received worldwide appreciation and has been crowned as the best anime film of 2024 by fans and critics.

Look Back is the Best Anime Film of 2024 | Credit: Studio Durian

Not only that, it even won the Best Anime Film at the Filmarks Annual Awards 2024, proving Fujimoto and Studio Durian’s talent. According to many anime fans, the main reason behind naming Look Back as the best anime film of 2024 was its brilliant visualization and animation. However, it is the only reason why Look Back deserved the title.

There are many other elements that contributed to the success of the Look Back anime movie. But the one that was the...

Fans of Chainsaw Man can finally celebrate as recent updates suggest that season 2 is not just a rumor but officially in the works. This revelation has already stirred excitement across various platforms; reigniting discussions about the anime’s potential. However, with season 2 in the pipeline, Mappa finds itself at a crossroads.

Mappa gave great attention to Chainsaw Man season 1 | Credit: Studio Mappa

While fans’ expectations are sky-high, there’s a growing concern about how the studio will carefully balance quality and timelines. On one hand, rushing the project could jeopardize the legacy of Chainsaw Man, but in a fast-paced industry where quick turnarounds have become the norm, taking their time could also lead to impatience among viewers.

The high stakes of Mappa in continuing a passion project

Legal documents filed by Shueisha reveal that Mappa; the powerhouse animation studio, is set to helm the Chainsaw Man project once again with...

Kiyotaka Oshiyama’s animated debut feature film Look Back, based on the best-selling manga by Tatuski Fujimoto, is a heartfelt coming-of-age drama that has resonated with moviegoers and at home audiences globally, amassing more than $12 million worldwide and landing a spot on Prime Video. At just under an hour, Look Back follows the popular Ayumi Fujino (Yumi Kawai) who has been long praised for her humorous comics in the school newspaper. However, when her teacher asks her to share panel space with Kyomoto (Mizuki Yoshida), an absent recluse, her beautiful artwork outshines Fujino’s and kickstarts friendly rivalry between them into their young adult years.

Here, Deadline talks to Oshiyama about the significance of Look Back and the highs and lows of pursuing creative endeavors.

Deadline: What was your entryway into Look Back? I understand that you used to do animation work on Chainsaw Man. Did you read it first,...

My Hero Academia stands as one of the iconic shonen masterpieces in anime. The superhero manga has a massive fanbase worldwide with millions of readers and viewers. Not only that, it holds cult popularity in the shonen space in many aspects.

Unlike most superhero stories, it is unique in its power system and characterization. And while the manga missed the mark with its ending, there is room for salvation nonetheless.

Izuku Midoriya in a still from the anime | Credit: Studio Bones

With One Piece’s towering influence on the shonen genre, Kohei Horikoshi could follow in its footsteps. The mangaka could work on a prequel idea that ties well with fans’ suggestions and demand for a prequel.

Not only that, the franchise has a treasure trove of potential with its future projects. With its spin-off series and prequels, its comeback as one of the glorious shonen anime would be nothing short of a banger.

Warning: Contains spoilers for Chainsaw Man Chapter #190Chainsaw Man's latest arc has just wrapped up, and it was arguably the strangest and most ambitious section of the series so far. Pitting both friend and foe against the Primal Fear Devil, Aging, the arc took its story from a prison, to a sushi restaurant, and eventually ended in an alternate dimension. Along the way, Denji removed himself from the narrative in order to give Pochita time to shine, while Asa and Yoru gained incredibly powerful weapons of war in place of their arms.

The Aging Devil arc has been Part Two's most eventful by far, and yet a rather large portion of the fan base is torn about whether its conclusion is befitting of a section with so much happening. Rather than having the newly re-formed trio of Asa, Denji, and Yoshida engage in the series' usual chaotic action, author Tatsuki Fujimoto...

Many modern shonen anime and manga series have created and broken records with their mind-blowing success. Even among these titles, Jujutsu Kaisen enjoys an extraordinary status. From memes to internet discourse, Jujutsu Kaisen’s hype was unparalleled up until its end. Even after the ending debacle, the manga has a dedicated fan base that would bawl their eyes out at the mere mention of Jjk.

Toji in a still from Jujutsu Kaisen | Credits: Studio Mappa

Chainsaw Man began its run around the same time as Jjk. Both manga share some commonalities from their dark themes to the animation studio. So, would it be right to put these two under the same category? Some fans disagree, and rightfully so. In a sense, Jujutsu Kaisen has overshadowed the brilliance of Chainsaw Man which remains unappreciated for the most part.

Do Chainsaw Man and Jujutsu Kaisen fall under the same category?

Jujutsu Kaisen...

Warning: Contains spoilers for Chainsaw Man chapter #190On the surface, Chainsaw Man is a story about a teenage boy who turns into a hybrid devil in order to fight other devils with his chainsaw limbs. On its pages, it is something else entirely. Brimming with painfully human themes that inspire hope, and social commentary that tackles the best and worst parts of being alive, Tatsuki Fujimoto's modern manga masterpiece continues to both shock and inspire an audience ever-increasing in size. Sometimes, though, it can get a little weird.

After nearly 200 chapters of a story defined by its unpredictability, it would only be expected that the shock factor of sudden twists and turns might fade. But Chainsaw Man doesn't care whether its audience thinks they know where the story is going, and continues to defy readers' expectations. Part Two's most recent arc is a prime example of that, grabbing the reader and pulling them close,...

Naruto has influenced a barrage of battle shōnen, and one of the highest honors in anime is to claim the title of its true successor. Many would argue that this honor falls to Demon Slayer, but there's an even better candidate: Hell's Paradise: Jigokuraku. Hell's Paradise effectively calls Naruto's bluff, making Naruto's central concepts face up to questions it would never be able to ask itself. With Hell's Paradise season 2 on the horizon, now is a better time than ever to pick it up.

Hell's Paradise is an adaptation of a manga by Yuji Kaku, a former assistant of Tatsuki Fujimoto, mangaka of Chainsaw Man. It joins Chainsaw Man and Jujutsu Kaisen as part of shonen's "Dark Trio". While it might be fair to call Hell's Paradise dark, it's dark precisely because it's a brutally honest inquest into the foundational idealism of Naruto.

Hell's Paradise Is a Beautiful Inquiry...

The following contains spoilers for Chainsaw Man Chapter 190, “To Their Respective Worlds," now available in English from Viz Media. It also contains discussion of sensitive topics, including violence.

Tatsuki Fujimoto’s Chainsaw Man can be divisive because of its duality. For some fans, its deeper themes are powerful, while for others the only thing deep about Csm is how deep Denji’s chainsaws are driven into the skulls of the Devils who become his enemies. Both are probably right, and Chapter 190 shows how that could feasibly be the case. Chainsaw Man Chapter 190, “To Their Respective Worlds”, brings together characters that were worlds apart in a fun and thought-provoking conclusion to Denji’s isekai adventure through Aging’s World.

Chainsaw Man Chapter 189 saw Denji and Pochita’s fight against Aging reach a breakthrough. Using Pochita’s stomach as a gate between Aging’s World and the real one, Yoru and Yoshida...