The shake-up of key personnel has transformed Chainsaw Man from an anime rooted in realism—marked by cinematic framing but restrained voice acting and action under Ryu Nakayama—into something unshackled. Now, under the seasoned direction of Tatsuya Yoshihara, all chains are off.
A Trio of Visionaries
Tatsuya Yoshihara, Shun Enokido, and Shota Goshozono are three names capable of both honoring Ryu’s vision and breaking free to chase their own. Each brings a signature flair you’d spot a mile away. Tatsuya delivers jaw-dropping action—fast, relentless, unmistakably his. Shun masters pacing, weaving creative, thrilling scenes that keep you on edge. Gosso shines with character movement—meticulous interactions early on, spiraling into glorious chaos later. Any one of them could’ve made CSM a well-rounded gem as director. Now, with Tatsuya at the helm, we’ve seen his magic firsthand—and it’s nothing short of miraculous.
Ryu’s realistic restraint boxed in many freestyle animators, locking them out. Tatsuya flips that script. No more forced realism—he lets animators soar with their creativity. Think Gosso’s work on Jujutsu Kaisen Season 2: Sukuna vs. Jogo, the Mahoraga clash—legendary stuff.
Unleashing the Action
Freedom’s here, but to crank the action up 200% into timeless territory, enter Honehone (Sota Shigetsugu). This is the guy who storyboarded Luffy Gear 5 vs. Kaido in One Piece Episode 1074. As action director, Honehone steps into the role Tatsuya held in Season 1, now elevated to director. Both are titans of action, from storyboarding to key animation. But what about Ryu’s legacy—those cinematic shots, lifelike character acting, and intricate designs?
Bridging the Past and Present
Masato Nakazono, assistant director, might carry part of Ryu’s torch. In his directorial stint on Oblivion Battery, he mirrors Ryu’s style but spices it up with quirkier, Trigger-honed flair—think Episode 2’s Goku transformation or rocketball madness. Even Tatsuya, in quieter “non-action” scenes, echoes Ryu’s framing. (Maybe it’s the crew rubbing off on each other.) The movie trailer hints at this too—some shots feel like Season 1’s storyboard vibes. So, expect cinematic angles, grounded character interplay, manga-faithful designs, explosive yet chaotic action, and voice acting let loose without restraint.
Rising Stars
Shouichi, a MAPPA newbie from their homegrown Ryu x MAPPA project, joined the industry with CSM just two years ago. Now, she’s a main animator—a backbone role signaling heavy involvement. Trained under Takuya Niinuma, a master of fluid, natural character animation, Shouichi’s skills have sharpened with every project. In just two years, Tatsuya Yoshihara and Keisuke Seshimo entrusted her with a pivotal spot. I’m betting she’s cooking a five-star feast for this movie—her best yet.
Riku (Ligton) is another fresh face from the Ryu x MAPPA pipeline, and she’s no lightweight. While Shouichi excels at character acting and animation direction, Riku’s a jack-of-all-trades. Her indie work—like Kororon, an Eve MV she directed, designed, storyboarded, key animated, and AD’d with Niinuma, Shun, Shouichi, and 10+10—proves it. In Jujutsu Season 2, she colored her own segment, leaving Seshimo floored by her masterful hues. He handed her color scripting for the movie, and it paid off. The pool scene with Reze? 100% Riku—I’d stake my life on it.
Veterans and Versatility
Shun, a renowned illustrator, joined anime with CSM Season 1 at Totos’ invite. His detailed, bold lines hug the original designs. He and Totos shaped CSM’s characters closest to the director’s vision. Souta Yamazaki, a web-gen all-rounder in KA and AD, pairs with Niinuma for sakuga acting gold—think Jujutsu Season 2, Episode 5’s viral buff Nanami vs. Haruta or Gojo clutching Hanami. Souyama, a Jujutsu backbone, adapts to any style—complex buff details, simple kagenashi, or manga-faithful precision. He and Niinuma handle sub-character design and CAD.
A 3D Shift
3D directors swapped from vets Motoi Okuno and Kazumasa Yokokawa to newer faces Masahiro Tamai and Daiki Watanabe. Ryu’s realism demanded consistent modeling; Tatsuya’s freestyle vision doesn’t. With a stacked staff—bigger and bolder than Season 1—fully 2D Chainsaw Man or Bomb Devil isn’t far-fetched. The new 3D duo gains experience supporting props and scenes, from Japan’s flag at devil hunter HQ to a coffee maker. Masahiro’s modeling chops hold up decently against Motoi or Kazumasa. The switch might tie to another MAPPA project pulling the vets elsewhere.
A Missing Piece?
I wonder why 10+10 isn’t in the core staff when their peers Shouichi and Riku are. Maybe they’ve got a big KA role we’ll only spot when the movie drops. Regardless, this crew—packed with heavyweights and oddballs—promises absolute cinema: eye-popping sakuga, jaw-dropping action, and acting that’ll leave you speechless.
A Labor of Love
This could be one of the most well-rounded movies ever, brimming with the crew and cast’s passion. I’m counting the days to 2025 for this “Absolute Cinema” ✋😎🤚.
