Chainsaw Man Reze movie proves Fujimoto is still better understood by the audience outside of Japan

Everywhere on social media, anime fans have been seen to be constantly talking about the Chainsaw Man Reze movie. Initially, no one had any hope and made a lot of jokes around it; some even called it a gooner movie. But those who wanted it know what kind of masterpiece it truly was. This movie has now been compared with Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle, and some fans are calling the Chainsaw Man movie better.

MAPPA Studio delivered something special with this project because the choice to make the Reze arc in a movie was maybe the best course. Additionally, I feel like changing directors might be the best decision they have ever made. But getting back to the topic about the movie being well-received by the rest of the world proves that it was made for a global audience.

Fujimoto is a storyteller more than anything. There is no doubt that his artwork is phenomenal, but the story of Chainsaw Man has layers that take time for the audience to fully grasp. The biggest reason I feel that the Chainsaw Man Reze movie was deeper than we think is that a vulnerable scene between Denji and Reze in a swimming pool was supposed to be fan service.

But then watching it made me think that there was nothing vulgar about it; rather, it was a wholesome plotline where both the characters were truly themselves and got a chance to live like normal teenagers. Both of them, in reality, were bound by responsibilities and were constantly either manipulated or used for their powers. Western audiences immediately picked up on that nuance. But in Japan, that same scene was debated for being “too long” or “too indulgent.”

The creator has taken his time to add some easter eggs throughout the movies that people of Japan could not fully understand. For instance, the scene where Makima and Denji were watching the final movie of the day gave a callback to foreign cinema, symbolizing how art affects people differently. Denji cries during a movie that “most people don’t understand,” and ironically, that’s Chainsaw Man itself.

Chainsaw Man Reze movie: From arthouse vision to raw chaos

When Chainsaw Man Season 1 was released in 2022, the animation was incredible, but fans had some critiques of Ryu Nakayama's vision in bringing Fujimoto's story to life. Overall animation was beautiful to look at, but it did not have the original vibe that manga readers got from Chainsaw Man.

Especially in Japan, fans weren’t happy, and even MAPPA’s CEO admitted the anime didn’t click with domestic audiences. Some Japanese fans even started petitions to replace the director, and the concerns were heard as they did end up changing the director. For the Chainsaw Man Reze movie came Tatsuya Yoshihara and the viewing experience completely changed; fans were able to instantly feel the difference. The movie had. The animation is fluid, the humor is back, and the emotional beats finally land.

This also became a big reason for the success of the movie and why it is receiving so much love from fans around the world. Finally, the numbers speak for themselves, this is the only anime movie in a long that that has received a 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Almost all the reviews are completely positive and show in-depth analysis of all the small elements that a normal viewer might have missed.

Fujimoto’s global vision was finally realized

As a fan who has caught up with all of Fujimoto's work and dissected every frame, I have always believed his work was meant for a global stage. The Reze arc, in particular, feels like it was written as a film first; it has the pacing, the tension, the emotional payoff. It is a love story, an action thriller, and a tragedy all rolled into one. Yoshihara’s direction finally embraces that instead of trying to tame it.

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So, when people say Chainsaw Man is “finally back,” I think what they really mean is that it is finally understood. The Japanese audience might have struggled to connect with its absurd tone or dark humor, but the global community embraced it instantly.

Fujimoto once said that art doesn’t need to be understood by everyone, just by the right people. And judging by how the world has responded to the Chainsaw Man Reze movie, I’d say he’s finally found them.

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