The anime adaptation of Chainsaw Man was one of the most anticipated ever in the months leading up to its release. Produced by the famed studio MAPPA, the series following main devil hunter Denji on his dream chasing journey came with built-in hype, due to the massively popular original manga by Tatsuki Fujimoto. Season One of the anime eventually came and delivered an incredibly cinematic adaptation, while garnering some heavy fanfare and critical acclaim.

However, the anime didn't quite make the cultural impact that fans expected, performing well and bringing new eyes to Chainsaw Man, but ultimately lacking the overwhelming success of other modern adaptations like Jujutsu Kaisen or Demon Slayer. In the two years that have ed since the anime's final episode, fans have debated what exactly held the series back, and the most popular belief is that the visual style just was not fit for a Fujimoto story. Some point to the CGI sequences, while others take issue with the anime's color palette.

Now, the film, Chainsaw Man - The Movie: Reze Arc will be enjoying a complete visual overhaul, utilizing the talents of Tatsuya Yoshihara (Black Clover) as director. The recent trailer that debuted at Jump Festa 2025 showcases a glimpse of these updated visuals, prompting applause from the fans who were dissatisfied with Chainsaw Man's first season. On the other hand, another vocal section of the fanbase has begun to claim that the new style is a downgrade. It seems not everyone can be satisfied, but there is merit to the argument that the newest style is best for the series.

Chainsaw Man's New Movie Comes With an All-New Visual Style

New Personnel Is Approaching the Chainsaw Man Anime a Bit Differently

Chainsaw Man Season One was directed by Ryu Nakayama, who paid homage to creator Tatsuki Fujimoto's love of film in his adaptation of the series. The anime's intro being jam packed with movie references, as well as the overall cinematic tone of the show led to one of the more visually impressive products anime fans have seen in years. The only problem is that a very large and vocal portion of the fanbase did not agree with this approach.

Since the anime's premier, Nakayama has left MAPPA to start his own animation studio, leaving an opening for Tatsuya Yoshihara to step in and take the reins of Chainsaw Man's anime. From the little shown in the recent trailer, the differences in approach between the two directors are very noticeable. Gone are the dreary, washed-out colors of Chainsaw Man's cold and unforgiving world, and instead they've been replaced by bright, vibrant tones. The characters themselves are also quite different, appearing a bit more flat but also similar to Fujimoto's original designs.

The action, though difficult to judge given the frantically paced trailer that was released, seems to feature a bit less use of CGI. While some defended its heavy inclusion in the anime's first season, others vehemently disagreed with its use, believing it to be little more than an eyesore. It's largely subjective whether the series' CGI was done well, but the new trailer suggests that it will play a less prominent role going forward, showcasing a visual style similar to Jujutsu Kaisen's second season.

The Reze Arc Movie Is Looking to Capture the Spirit of Fujimoto's Manga

The Film's Latest Trailer Seems to Capture Fujimoto's Style

One of the major criticisms of Chainsaw Man's first season was that it didn't quite capture the feel of the original source material, especially during sections that featured heavy use of CGI. And this complaint has some truth behind it. Tatsuki Fujimoto's art style is generally rough around the edges, not for a lack of skill, but as a stylistic choice. Many of the manga's action sequences feature obsessive hatching and line work, culminating in heavy blows exchanged between characters and chaotic movement.

The CGI's near perfect to a fault fluidity and clean appearance has an almost opposite effect to that of Fujimoto's art style, sacrificing the trademark chaos for clarity. New director, Tatsuya Yoshihara, has claimed that he and MAPPA's team of animators "are all working hard to convey the charm of Chainsaw Man to as many people as possible," and it shows in the newest trailer.

Where Season One might have used its neater stylings or heavily incorporated CGI to bring its fight scenes to life, the newest trailer has much more of a 'busy' feel to it, making use of highly impressive, meticulously hand drawn animation and impact frames to sell the weight of the combat. It remains to be seen whether the film will incorporate more CGI sequences in its action, though from what the newest trailer shows, it seems its use will be largely scaled back.

The Reze Arc Features Chainsaw Man's Most Chaotic, Large-Scale Action

Chainsaw Man's Action Is Never Bigger Than During the Reze Arc

Action is a large part of what makes Chainsaw Man special, though it isn't necessarily the focal point of the series. And the Reze Arc features the manga's most chaotic final battle, despite taking place relatively early on in the story. MAPPA has their work cut out for them, having to animate the Bomb Devil herself, the typhoon, and Denji's eventual Sharknado-inspired heroics. If there was any portion of the story which could win over fans that were not satisfied with the anime before, it's the Reze Arc.

If the new animation style can effectively capture Tatsuki Fujimoto's style, the film is surely going to earn itself quite a few new and devoted fans. The Chainsaw Man anime is finally set to return after two long years of silence, and its internal changes seem to be positives for the series moving forward. There are sure to be fans who prefer Season One's visual style, though it cannot be denied that the most recent trailer featured some of the best, albeit brief, bits of action the anime has seen yet. No official release date for the film has been confirmed, though fans will want to keep an eye on the series for further news.