Three years after the series’ TV series debut, Chainsaw Man fans were able to check out the explosive new arc in theatres. Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc continues Denji’s story, sees the return of familiar faces, introduces brand new ones like the titular Reze, and fleshes out characters we only caught a glimpse of in season one, like the Angel Devil. Crunchyroll News sat down with MAPPA President, Manabu Otsuka, MAPPA CGI Producer, Yusuke Tannawa, and Assistant Director of Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc and Chief Episode Director of Chainsaw Man TV series, Masato Nakazono, at New York Comic Con. To drum up the excitement of the series' first film release, MAPPA hosted its first booth at NYCC and took the time to talk more about the movie’s release, the process of animating the Reze Arc versus the TV series, and what they hope fans take away from the movie in this exclusive interview. NOTE: This interview has been edited for clarity. Firstly, I’d like to say congratulations on the release of the new Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc ! How does it feel after three years to premiere the series' first animated film? Masato Nakazono: Of course I'm very excited, but at the same time very nervous to present this as a single film. However, many of the staff members have been involved since the TV series, and together as one united team, we were able to bring this film to life, so I’m really looking forward to it. Yusuke Tannawa: I feel great joy in being able to share the world of Chainsaw Man once again with the audience. This theatrical film is not merely an extension of the TV series, but a challenge to push our visual expression to the next level. I hope you can feel a new heartbeat of the series through this movie. Manabu Otsuka: We’ve kept fans waiting for almost three years, but we’ve poured our hearts into this to make sure that the wait was worth it, and to create something truly special. We felt like we had to present something extraordinary. So, the creative team worked really hard, and we are very happy to present this movie. RELATED: Which Chainsaw Man Character Are You? How and when does your team decide to create a film for an anime series? Are there any notable differences when turning a project into a film, like with transitioning from the TV series of Chainsaw Man to Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc ? Otsuka: The TV series was very popular after it aired, so we decided that it was important to deliver the series to more people. After thinking about how we could make a greater impact, we realized that the Reze Arc would be perfect for a theatrical adaptation. Since Tatsuki Fujimoto’s work contains highly cinematic elements, we discussed it with the main staff and decided to turn it into a theatrical film. You mentioned a few visual changes during the panel. Were there any other changes that you can speak about between the series and the film? Nakazono: We also took on various visual challenges in the TV series, but for the movie, we decided to focus more on capturing the atmosphere of Tatsuki Fujimoto’s original manga. It was very important for us to think about how to convey the unique feeling of the source material through animation. This is something we are always very conscious of. (From the anime series to the film) We also adjusted the color palette to make it appear more vivid, taking into account the tones of the original manga. As we adapted it into animation, we carefully considered how to make it stand out on screen. Tannawa: In terms of CGI, we focused on expressing the world and textures of the original work in a richer way. We paid special attention to the handling of light and the design of textures, aiming to create a three-dimensional visual experience that supports the characters’ emotions and the overall atmosphere. For the theatrical version, we refined the tone of the entire film while enhancing the quality of each cut, striving to create a viewing experience that allows the audience to naturally immerse themselves in the flow of the story. What elements of the manga were important to you to animate? Nakazono: Fujimoto’s manga is full of surprises with every page you turn. As you read, the subtle shifts in the characters’ emotions leave a strong impression, while the story also delivers the dynamic action and battles characteristic of shonen manga. It’s a work packed with a wide range of elements. We wanted to cherish the impression we felt when reading it. Even as we added expressions unique to animation, our team focused on ensuring that viewers could once again experience the same sense of surprise they felt when reading the manga. RELATED: Every Chainsaw Man Anime Ending Theme, Explained Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc has Reina Ueda voicing Reze, and we will hear the returning vocals of Kenshi Yonezu in the film’s theme song “IRIS OUT” and ending theme “JANE DOE” with the addition of Hikaru Utada. What was the deciding factor on casting Reina Ueda and curating two new songs with Kenshi Yonezu and Hikaru Utada? Nakazono: Reze, played by Reina Ueda, had only one line in the final episode of the TV series, but from the time of the TV series auditions, our team had already decided that we wanted her to play this major role, including the Reze Arc . Otsuka: The opening theme of the TV series, “KICK BACK” by Kenshi Yonezu, became a global hit in North America and around the world, and served as a major symbol of the Chainsaw Man anime. While cherishing that impression, we wanted to evolve it in a meaningful way, which led to the creation of “IRIS OUT.” As Yonezu himself mentioned in an interview, he didn’t want to make “KICK BACK 2,” but instead, he created a song that perfectly fits the Reze Arc . RELATED: Behind the Scenes of the Chainsaw Man Soundtrack with Kensuke Ushio Absolutely. The music and the animation work really well together! Otsuka: We discussed the idea of having the ending theme serve as a song that symbolizes “Reze” and asked Kenshi Yonezu to create it. As he progressed with the production, the idea of having Hikaru Utada join the project came up, and together they created an incredible piece of music. “IRIS OUT” is a powerful, high-tempo song, while “JANE DOE,” the ending theme, is a song that makes you cry after watching the movie. I think it became the best and most touching song, and there is no other song that could fit better. Otsuka and Tannawa (talking together): We’re the same age as Hikaru Utada and have been listening to her music since long ago. She’s a very special artist to us, and working with her made us truly feel glad to be doing this job. Nakazono: I’m also close in age with Kenshi Yonezu, and he’s truly a special presence for me. He is an extremely important and valued member of our team. That sounds like a great collaboration and memory! Did you have any other special memories from working on Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc ? Are there any particular scenes from the film that left a lasting impression on you? Nakazono: Director Tatsuya Yoshihara (also the director of episodes 4 and 10 in the TV series) and I both served as directors, and many young and talented staff members also joined the project. For example, Takuya Niinuma worked on the important dramatic scenes of Denji and Reze at the school and at the festival. Sota Shigetsugu was in charge of the special action scene where Chainsaw Man rides Beam to fight the Typhoon Devil. Working together with young talents to create one film was very inspiring and full of new discoveries. We were also joined by many animation staff members, from exceptional young animators to experienced veterans, and it became a truly special experience unique to making a movie. Tannawa: The action scene where they rush through the city left a strong impression on me. The backgrounds were built in 3D, and I could feel the visuals gaining a sense of depth as the music blended seamlessly with the realistic details like the city lights at night and the reflections of the rain. Otsuka: Along with the songs by Kenshi Yonezu and Hikaru Utada, I believe the music as a whole, including the score, made this project an even more remarkable film. Composer Kensuke Ushio also did an incredible job. Both the dramatic pool scene and the grand action scene in the climax were made even more beautiful through the power of the music. What do you hope fans take away from the new movie? Is there a message that you want to tell international viewers for the new film? Nakazono: While Chainsaw Man itself has gained immense worldwide popularity, we know that fans around the world have been waiting a long time for the continuation. All of us on the staff, who truly love Chainsaw Man , put our hearts into this project. We hope to share Chainsaw Man with everyone around the world. Tannawa: Chainsaw Man is set in Japan, but it depicts universal themes such as love, betrayal, and youth. That’s why I believe it’s a story that can resonate with people across different countries and cultures. I hope this film gives audiences a renewed sense of the power of animation as a form of expression. Otsuka: We truly value and are deeply grateful to our fans in Japan, but one of our biggest challenges was figuring out how to share this work with audiences around the world. With the international success of titles like Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba , we feel this is a crucial time for Japanese animation as a whole. I believe how this film reaches people across the globe will be connected to the future of Japanese anime. As we continue our promotional efforts with a strong sense of responsibility, we hope to spark excitement and passion among audiences worldwide.
