Highlights
- Universal Studios Japan to feature Chainsaw Man attraction this fall.
- The experience will be a “realistic” immersion into the anime’s world.
- Possible VR roller coaster or walk-through attraction, with exclusive merchandise and food.
Universal Studios Japan (USJ) is already a hot-spot destination for otaku tourists that visit Japan (and of course, the otaku that live in Japan, too!). With Super Nintendo World open all the time, alongside attractions for blockbuster movies like Jaws and Harry Potter, there is already plenty for people to do. On top of that, USJ often hosts temporary anime or game-related attractions, which are around for a few months before being replaced by another.
The latest anime attraction that has been announced at Universal Studios Japan is based on one of last year’s biggest anime, Chainsaw Man. Chainsaw Man will be coming to USJ sometime this fall, an announcement that just came last week. After the delay of the Donkey Kong Country expansion to Super Nintendo World that was meant to open this past spring, its good news for otaku to hear that other upcoming projects like this one will make the wait to go to USJ worth it.
A “Realistic” Experience of Chainsaw Man
The internet has very mixed feelings about the Chainsaw Man attraction coming to Universal Studios Japan, especially with how little information has been released so far regarding its details. The only news that has been released via PR Times reported that the attraction will be (as translated by SoraNews24),
“…a recreation of the [Chainsaw Man] world with overwhelming scale and quality, providing a realistic experience you can feel with your entire body,” and that fans will be able to “enjoy the thrilling experience of immersing themselves within the extreme and unpredictable Chainsaw Man world.”
Considering the content of Chainsaw Man, this is a terrifying prospect. Chainsaw Man is infamous for its scenes of violence and gore, and got even more attention when it featured a scene of the main character, Denji, throwing up into another person’s mouth after getting drunk. Chainsaw Man also does not hold back on sexual innuendos, with Denji’s motivation for most of the show being that he will earn the right to touch a woman’s breast. Add to that the monstrous devils that populate the world of the anime, and you have something with the potential to be terrifying, and really violent.
Many anime fans would love to be immersed in the world of their favorite anime for a moment, coming face to face with beloved characters or experiencing life in a world they can only imagine. But when that world is Chainsaw Man, it is hard to imagine what exactly to expect. Of course, USJ is a theme park, so the goal will be to entertain and to let guests have fun. That doesn’t stop some fans from being dubious, though, and they will likely remain so until more details have been announced.
Enter the World of Anime at USJ
While the exact nature of the experience has not been released yet, it is possible to make some predictions based on past anime and game events about what the Chainsaw Man attraction will entail. It will likely be one of two things that have been used to bring the worlds of anime and games to life over the past few years. One is a VR roller coaster (called an XR Ride), where the guest rides a real roller coaster while wearing a VR headset, making them feel like they are flying through another world. This ride was used both for Neon Geneisis Evangelion, Demon Slayer, Attack on Titan, and Final Fantasy VII in the past.
The second option is some kind of walk-through attraction. This was used last year for an attraction based on Resident Evil, kind of like a haunted house. That attraction was also limited only to guests 13 and older, which is likely what Chainsaw Man will also be in whatever form it takes. The XR Ride did not have any special age limitations on it, so parents had to decide for themselves if the content of the ride was appropriate for their children or not.
With all the above-mentioned collaborations, there were also plenty of special photo opportunities and exclusive food and merchandise also released along with the limited rides. It is very likely that Chainsaw Man will have the same treatment, with a good chance of character statues and themed menus coming to the park at the same time as the attraction opens. As this is just the first announcement of the event, there are more questions than answers, but that will change in the coming months as the attraction moves closer to opening.
Catch up on Chainsaw Man now on Crunchyroll.
Sources: SoraNews24, PR Times