It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that very few anime receive the type of hype that Chainsaw Man saw, even long before the official announcement of its television adaptation. Even with, or perhaps thanks to, a fair amount of debate regarding aspects of the production and art style, the series itself remained one of the most talked about throughout its Fall 2022 seasonal run. Now with its first season concluding, the question remains whether the series lived up to all the anticipation that preceded it. Luckily, Episode 12 acts as the pinnacle of all of Chainsaw Man’s strengths, bringing its creative direction together for a satisfying and cathartic final episode. In doing so, it not only wraps up its present narrative arc but builds sufficient excitement for the inevitable second season, despite any hiccups that the first one may have experienced.
Episode 12 of Chainsaw Man, “Katana vs. Chainsaw,” sees the counter-attack by Public Safety on the terrorist forces that previously assailed them. Finishing out the battle between Aki and the Ghost Devil that was taken over by Sawatari following Himeno’s death, the episode brings the struggle of Special Division 4 and the Gun Devil’s allies to its natural end. Culminating in the climactic titular fight between Denji and the enigmatic Samurai Sword, it leads to closure on the events seen so far while setting up further questions to explore in future seasons.
As a series that has continually bounced between genres, Chainsaw Man has shown itself to be at its best when it finds a sweet spot between the horror, action, comedy, and drama at its heart. “Katana vs. Chainsaw” serves not only as the logical denouement to this chapter of Tatsuki Fujimoto’s epic story but a prime example of what made the anime such an excellent depiction of the original work in animated form. Tender scenes of human emotion are sandwiched in between moments of nail-biting suspense, each of which is either illuminated by a warm glow or darkened by a gloomy shadow as the tone requires it. This beautifully fitting palette is likely the work of Color Designer Naomi Nakano, and it finds life in the animation work of Studio MAPPA’s team under the guidance of series Director Ryu Nakayama.
The visual elements of these scenes are further enhanced by the intricate musical styling of Kensuke Ushio, who has been responsible for the anime’s score. Episode 12, in particular, has numerous examples where Ushio’s carefully orchestrated composition sets the atmosphere alongside the animation, whether it be in the heart-wrenching intimacy of a solemn memory or a chaotic struggle between bitter enemies. At no time does it ever clash with the audio designed by Sound Director Kisuke Koizumi, and it repeatedly backs up the passionate voice acting of cast members like Mariya Ise as the late Himeno or Kikunosuke Toya with his perfectly animalistic and rebellious depiction of Denji.
All of these elements mesh with the intense action sequences throughout the episode and are some of the show’s best. The fight between Denji and Samurai Sword, which is sure to be seen as one of the series’ most iconic scenes, pays homage to some of Hollywood’s high-flying hero films while maintaining its own distinctive flavor. The fluid animation and masterful battle choreography of the scene in question, courtesy of Action Director Tatsuya Yoshihara, prove that computer-generated anime can stand with the same level of quality and individuality as hand-drawn anime.
Though some might see the abundance of gore and viscera in certain pieces of media to be a sign of a low-brow work, Chainsaw Man has continually used it to characterize the fiery and extreme nature of its brutal world and over-the-top central figures. True to fashion, Episode 12 does not hold back on its vivid and bloody depictions in the heat of its all-out warfare. Rather than feeling like some cheap B-film gimmick, it comes across just as awe-inspiring as the rest of the show’s special effects, pumping up audiences just as much as the literal sparks that fly during the episode’s most dynamic moments.
While “Katana vs. Chainsaw” may mark the end of the hit anime’s first season, it also does a perfect job of teasing the future of the series without feeling like a cliffhanger of any sort. Ending on a gratifying note with its immediate issues resolved, the anime original scene that accompanies the credits looks back on the burgeoning relationship between its main characters before taking a literal sigh of relief and providing viewers with some tantalizing mysteries that still need to be unpacked. There are still several hard-hitting arcs that remain to be explored, and despite the trailblazing nature of the first season’s content, Studio MAPPA’s adaptation has barely scratched the surface of all that Chainsaw Man has to offer. If and when future plans are unveiled, it’s safe to say that the franchise is in safe hands.
Chainsaw Man’s now completed first season is available to stream on Crunchyroll.
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