Why Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc Looks So Different From The Show
Crunchyroll
If you watched "Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc" and thought it looked different from the TV anime's first season, you're right. The movie's style is a bold departure from the show's aesthetic. The shading and coloring are brighter, the line art is thicker, and the action sequences are faster-paced and more exaggerated. "Reze Arc" has a cartoony feel that the first season lacked.
This isn't just about budget. While the movie had a higher budget, it's more about artistic vision. The movie was produced by Studio Mappa, and directed by Tatsuya Yoshihara, who brought a fresh perspective to the "Chainsaw Man" anime. The original manga author, Tatsuki Fujimoto, is a cinephile, and his love for movies is evident in his work. His one-shot manga, "Goodbye, Eri," is a unique blend of found footage style, drawing inspiration from the camera lens of a cell phone.
In the "Reze Arc" movie, we see Denji enjoying a movie marathon with his boss/crush, Makima. Makima's advice about the transformative power of good movies resonates with Fujimoto's own appreciation for cinema. Director Ryu Nakayama, a fan of Fujimoto and movies, aimed to adapt "Chainsaw Man" with a more grounded, cinematic style. In an interview, Nakayama expressed his desire to incorporate the essence of realism and cinema into the anime.
However, the first season of "Chainsaw Man" faced criticism for its direction. The show's style was slower and more subdued, with a naturalistic color palette that didn't pop like a cartoon. The lighting and shadows on characters' faces suggested a cinematic approach, but some felt it lacked the madcap energy of the manga. Animation writer Sean Aitchison described the style as "off," missing the beautiful chaos of Fujimoto's work.
Despite some mixed reactions, others praised Nakayama's approach for achieving "filmic realism." The deciding factor for Studio Mappa seemed to be domestic reception. The first season's Blu-ray sales in Japan were poor, indicating a need for a different vision. Tatsuya Yoshihara, who worked on the first season, brought a new style to "Reze Arc," sticking closer to Fujimoto's manga rather than his cinematic inspirations.
"Reze Arc" abandons the naturalism of the first season, embracing a more animated, expressive style. The character designs were tweaked to resemble Fujimoto's art, with thick and clean line art. The character animation in the movie added a layer of detail, showcasing Fujimoto's penciling. Yoshihara emphasized their effort to reflect the manga's expression, with notes on character design, shading, and clothing textures.
The movie's impact is evident in the recoloring of Makima's hair from pink to bright red, leaving a stronger impression on viewers. The success of "Reze Arc" at the box office further solidifies its impact. As the movie plays in theaters, the question arises: how will Studio Mappa and Tatsuya Yoshihara carry this style into a full anime season if they return for "Chainsaw Man" season 2?
