When the first images and clips of the anime adaptation of Tatsuki Fujimoto’s Chainsaw Man were released, I was filled with anticipation. However, as I delved deeper into the adaptation, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of disappointment. The animation style just didn’t seem to capture the essence of Chainsaw Man.

Manga Vs. Anime

Now, don’t get me wrong, the animation in Chainsaw Man is undeniably beautiful. The details, the smoothness, the realism—it’s all top-notch. But it lacks the style that the manga embodies. Chainsaw Man is a manga that is gritty, brutal, hilarious, and insane. It needs a unique style to bring out all of these elements, not just smooth animation.

A Missed Opportunity

The anime adaptation of Chainsaw Man feels too plain and visually similar to other anime out there. Tatsuki Fujimoto’s artwork is characterized by thick, loose linework and chaotic sketches that enhance movement and expressions. Unfortunately, the anime fails to capture this essence. The character designs lack the distinctiveness of Fujimoto’s artwork, and the animation focuses more on smooth lip-synching and subtle expressions rather than the delightfully ugly faces that Fujimoto creates.

The anime also misses the mark with its color choices. While the muted colors stay true to the source material, they fail to convey the vibrant and dynamic nature of the manga. It makes the anime feel more like a realistic drama rather than the gory supernatural action dramedy that Chainsaw Man is known for.

What Could Have Been

When looking at successful manga adaptations like Mob Psycho 100, we see how creative design choices can maintain the vibe of the original artwork. Chainsaw Man could have followed suit by embracing the sketchy, heavy linework for key moments of exaggeration and action.

The anime does get it right in small segments, like the end credits, where the style comes alive with neon colors, black, blood red, and chaotic linework that perfectly emulates Fujimoto’s artwork. This is the chaotic, kinetic horror series that I had envisioned for Chainsaw Man.

Why It Matters

The disappointing adaptation of Chainsaw Man is not just about staying faithful to Fujimoto’s artwork; it’s about capturing the essence of the manga’s content. Chainsaw Man is not just a gory thriller or a supernatural action series—it explores profound themes and concepts. The visual storytelling of the manga is just as important as the written storytelling, and unfortunately, the anime falls short in this regard.

Geoff Thew of Mother’s Basement has hailed Chainsaw Man as a masterpiece that will change the way you look at art. So why doesn’t the anime evoke the same feeling? As a fan of the manga, I feel let down by the anime’s failure to recreate the purposeful rough edges and metaphorical chainsaw teeth that make Fujimoto’s art so unique.

In the end, Chainsaw Man deserved an anime adaptation that stayed true to its visually stunning and thematically rich storytelling. It had the potential to be something extraordinary, but it missed the mark. As fans, we can’t help but feel a sense of disappointment.