Summary
In what’s become something of a pattern, a popular MAPPA adaptation has had the unenviable task of scouting a new director who can match or even surpass what has come before. However, similar to what happened withJujutsu Kaisen, the team behindChainsaw Man the Movie: Reze Arcseems to have found a worthy successor in the director ofBlack Clover.
Based on the manga series by Tatsuki Fujimoto,Chainsaw Manfollows Denji, a young man whose body merges with a devil, giving him the power to fight his way to a better life.The first season premiered in Fall 2022, directed by Ryu Nakayama, who previously worked on the music video for “Raison d’etre” by Eve, as well asJujutsu KaisenandSword Art Online.
Putting Chainsaw Man’s Anime In Context
Tatsuya Yoshihara is the new director ofChainsaw Manand for a lot of reasons, that is exciting news, particularly to anyone familiar with his career. For hardcore fans of Fujimoto’s manga, however, the creative direction behind adaptations of his work hinges on a lot more than a promising resume. For all the praise thatChainsaw Man’s first season received, there was considerable discourse about the style with which Nakayama and his team adapted the story.
See, Fujimoto loves cinema and the anime is nothing if not receptive to that fact,with the opening being one big homageto a slew of classic films. Furthermore, there was an emphasis on realism in the overall presentation (i.e. character acting/designs) meant to evoke film. Unfortunately, not everyone was pleased with exactlyhowthe anime went about its realist style, mostly finding fault in the muted visual tone that lacked a certain vibrancy compared to the source material.
Look Back Demonstrated What Could Have Been
Chainsaw Manwas the first series by Fujimoto to receive an anime adaptation, but in the time since, fans have been graced with another.Kiyotaka Oshiyama’s powerful adaptation ofLook Backreceived even higher praise, and its raw, intentionally “messy” artwork captured the manga’s look brilliantly. Some fans saw in its style whatChainsaw Man’s anime was missing.
None of this is meant to lambast Nakayama. He had a strong vision for whatChainsaw Manwould look like in animation and admirably endeavored to draw upon the author’s inspirations in pursuit of that vision. As a result, Season 1 looked good… it just didn’t look quite right to a vocal contingent of manga fans and afterLook Back, the standard has already been raised. With this in mind, here is what Yoshihara looks to be bringing to the table for the sequel.
The Career of Tatsuya Yoshihara
As alluded to at the beginning, Yoshihara’s biggest contribution to the cultural lexicon as of yet isBlack Clover, Studio Pierrot’s adaptation of the fantasy shōnenseries by Yuki Tabata. To be exact, he directed the series until Episode 152, after which he became chief director. Ayataka Tanemura has been the director ever since, including the 2023 film,Sword of the Wizard King.
Yoshihara has been active since the late 2000s when he made his debut onKatekyou Hitman Reborn. He would go on to animate forFullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood,Spice and Wolf, andSeikon no Qwaser, among a wide variety of projects. He began to blossom as an episode/animation director in the early 2010s on shows likeSKET Dance,BlazBlue: Alter Memory, andBarakamonbefore his directorial debut in 2015 withYatterman Night. He has also directedMonster Musume,Long Riders, andthis year’sWistoria: Wand and Sword.
Yoshihara’s Versatile Visual Style
Even in his earliest cuts from shows likeReborn, Yoshihara’s work stands out through character acting, effects work, and perspective. When getting to know famous animators, it’s easy to focus on the ones whose specialties are incredibly pronounced, like, for instance, Yutaka Nakamura’s early action choreography or the effects work of his later career. What makes Yoshihara’s work so appealing is the blend of various disciplines, all bolstered by strong digital effects.
When watching fight scenes fromBlack Clover, I’m often just as struck by the perspective of shots as I am by the choreography and effects work. That isn’t to say his character acting is slacking by any stretch of the imagination. Many of his cuts fromSKET Danceare brimming with personality, and his work has only become more pronounced/ambitious in recent years.Look at any of his cuts fromWistoriato see some criminally smooth character animation.
His Previous Work on Chainsaw Man
Similar to how Shota Goshozono worked onJujutsu Kaisenbefore becoming the series director in Season 2, Yoshihara has always been a big part of theChainsaw Mananime. He storyboarded and directed episodes 4 and 10 of Season 1, provided key animation in other episodes, and as an animation director, he was in charge of “action direction” across the board. In terms of fights, fans should expect comparable quality to season 1, which bodes well.
Regardless of potential gripes with the visual style, the action ofChainsaw Manis hard not to love, and carries many of the signature qualities seen in Yoshihara’s animation. Just looking at the episodes he directed, Denji vs the Leech Devil orDenji and Power vs Kishibeexcel in camera work, ambitious perspectives, and unhinged character animation.
Looking at the newly released trailer for the film (for the hundredth time probably), the visceral chaos of the action feels very reminiscent of the tempo in the Leech Devil fight. And yet, perhaps in response to the aforementioned criticisms, the artwork feels different. The realist style of Season 1 has been scaled back and the colors seem to pop a bit more - especially contrasted against the night sky or the gray buildings.
Chainsaw Man the Movie: Reze Archas a lot to live up to but of all the people who could have replaced Nakayama, Tatsuya Yoshihara is a solid choice that should put any potential worries to rest. Between his previous experience with the franchise, his expansive resume beyond it, and the command of the audience’s attention demonstrated therein, this film is in good hands.
