When theChainsaw Mananime began premiering in late 2022 , a popular sentiment grew from out of the big Zanzibar copal - take in community : thatDenji was not a expert protagonist . Reading the discourse on social media and hearing similar thoughts from friend who had just begun see , I could n’t help but laugh . At that gunpoint , Chainsaw Manhad already long been one of my preferent study of fabrication , but I remember a clip when I too portion out standardised touch towards the serial ' protagonist .

It ’s not an easy sell , peculiarly in the man of shōnen anime and manga , for a series ' chief character to be free of any lofty destination or major motivation . Shōnen Jump has boasted the the like of Goku , who always need to be the strongest , or Luffy , who want to be the top executive of the pirates . Now , in one of its newest powerhouse titles , Denji just require to get with girls and eat good food , maybe have a post to stay if it is n’t too much to ask .

WhenChainsaw Manbegan to really find fault up steam during the first part of the manga ’s publication , I had just finished reading the lateKentaro Miura ’s phantasy masterpieceBerserk . And in my psyche , at that clip , nothing could compare . So opening any social medium app , seeing that now iconic panel of Denji hunch over over , stating that he wants to touch boobs , I rolled my eyes at the thought of reading a story that come after a character so shallow . gratefully , I finally picked upChainsaw Man , and was never happier to have been proven wrong .

The Apothecary Diaries imagery

Denji Is the Perfect Protagonist For a New Generation

Denji Is a Reflection of the Younger Generation and Their Aspirations

While go against the grain has always been a priority for generator Tatsuki Fujimoto , his decisiveness to portrayDenji as a teen protagonist with scurvy ambitionwas not an endeavor to push back against shōnen traditions . Instead , in an interview with BFMTV , the artist revealed thathe produce Denji in the image of the younger multiplication , who do n’t draw a bead on to make a net ton of money or know lavishly , and are content with striving for mundane normalcy .

When we await at the current new coevals , they are a mo like that . They are not looking for a very high remuneration . They are slaked with 150,000 yen per month . They seek to live in a simple path , day by day . I do n’t criticize them . I believe it ’s very good to populate like this . It is for this grounds that I create the fiber of Denji , whose ambition is exceedingly mediocre .

-Tatsuki Fujimoto ( via BFMTV )

imagery from The Boy and the Heron

Belonging to the demographic Fujimoto described in that consultation , I immediately retrieve myself bonding with Denji while reading . Admittedly , I found it unknown and was n’t all that majestic to admit it . How could I , a individual with a degree in lit who just spent hebdomad on a journey withBerserk ’s backbone , find the simple , idiotic nominal hero ofChainsaw Manrelatable ? Looking back , it was clear : Denji is the part of every young individual transition to adulthood , terrify of their uncertain future , who hopes to at least be able-bodied to put food on the table .

When I reached that panel of Denji hump over in the empty flat , this time with proper linguistic context , it was n’t fishy any longer . I intermit for a long time on the image which became such a wildly popular meme , and I could no longer take care down at the serial publication ' protagonist , but rather look on with empathy and a sincere desire to see him succeed .

Denji’s Childhood Trauma Stunted the Teenage Hero

His Earliest Experiences Prevented Him From Maturing

As I come along translate throughChainsaw Man , something else about Denji begin to stick out to me . I could n’t quite put my digit on what it was , but something about his behavior when in the presence of people he was n’t already familiar with seemed odd to me . He was entirely closed off . Though played off for laughs in his earliest interaction with Aki , his absolute lack of pursuit in others was at the head of his fibre from twenty-four hours one of his caper as a Devil Hunter , and peculiarly around other male .

[ Denji ] is n’t some gender - starved hothead only out to get with adult female , but a lone boy who hunger familiarity and real warmness from someone .

And then Makima made it percipient while pull strings Denji ; his father was abusive to such a arcdegree that Denji wound up killing him in self - defense . The signs of contumely were always present , from his immature demeanor , standoffish attitude around others , and inability to grasp the concept of amour . With his growth as a person stunted , Denji locked his history of traumabehind a door that he made in lodge to protect himself .

chacacters from Transformers and Neon Genesis Evangelion

Knowing this about Denji turns everything about his character on its head . It is n’t that his only finish in life is to eat good solid food , but rather it ’s to not go to sleep hungry . He is n’t some sexual urge - starved madcap only out to get with women , but a solitary son who craves intimacy and genuine affection from someone . When the events ofChainsaw Man ’s Public Safety arc began , Denji recognise only a singular love , that being the one share between himself and his chainsaw click , Pochita . And regrettably , as the series stretch out , lifespan is n’t any kinder to him .

Denji, The Constant Victim

Chainsaw Manhas never been a unknown to weighty subject matter . Embarrassingly , it took until very recently for me to realise just how touchable the lasting effects of Denji ’s suffering are , ghost him to the very in vogue chapter in the series . I ’d always felt for Denji , watching as over and over he was exposed to the worst that biography has to offer . And over and over , he resurrect from the battle , just as The Hero of Hell himself , Chainsaw Man , revs his engine and comes back to sprightliness .

To put it simply , Denji has been assaulted several times throughoutChainsaw gentleman . Each instance was disgusting and incorrect , but every prison term it happen , he seemed to collect himself and move on . While reading these sections , I always figured it was just time to torture Denji again , and never put too much thinking into what was materialise outside of wondering when our hero would ever catch a break of serve . But the events of chapter # 168 permanently altered the way I read Denji . He was n’t really moving on at all .

I was blow out off . So many readers and viewers had been so wrong , dismissingDenjias a superficial , almost imbecile friend created only to bemock shonen conventions , but the truth was the actual opposite of that . When I realized it , I was nearly moved to tears . Somehow , along my journey throughChainsaw Man , I had become so attached to the simple , uninteresting , idiotic protagonist .

Chainsaw Man protagonist Denji in his human form, appears in front of

Image created by Zach Zamora

Source : BFMTV

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Chainsaw Man is an adaptation of the pop manga written by Tatsuki Fujimoto , air on Crunchyroll in the W . Denji , a young human being work inexhaustibly for the Yakuza to pay off the debt , his late begetter saddled him with hunting devils with the assistance of his little friend Pochita , also known as the Chainsaw Devil . When the Yakuza down him to gain a contract with another dickens , Pochita make unnecessary Denji , and the two forge a contract , allowing Denji to hit revenge against the Yakuza . Now sought after by an agency known as the Public Safety Division , Denji joins a team lead by the mysterious Makima . Denji now unrelentingly hunt Devils in armed service of his newfound crush , Makima , easy reaching their ultimate end of face the ultimate Devil .

Denji crouched over in an empty apartment, wishing for some intimacy.

Chainsaw Man is an adaptation of the popular manga written by Tatsuki Fujimoto, airing on Crunchyroll in the west. Denji, a young man working tirelessly for the Yakuza to pay off the debt, his late father saddled him with hunts devils with the assistance of his little friend Pochita, also known as the Chainsaw Devil. When the Yakuza kill him to gain a contract with another devil, Pochita saves Denji, and the two forge a contract, allowing Denji to gain revenge against the Yakuza. Now sought after by an agency known as the Public Safety Division, Denji joins a team led by the mysterious Makima. Denji now relentlessly hunts Devils in service of his newfound crush, Makima, slowly reaching their ultimate goal of facing the ultimate Devil.

A Young Denji Standing in the Rain in Chainsaw Man-1

Pochita telling Denji to never open the door behind which he resides.

Chainsaw Man’s Denji and Yoru react in shock to kissing in the middle of the rain.

Denji sitting defeatedly in the alley where he was taken advantage of in chapter #167.

Chainsaw Man Anime Poster

Chainsaw Man is an adaptation of the popular manga written by Tatsuki Fujimoto, airing on Crunchyroll in the west. Denji, a young man working tirelessly for the Yakuza to pay off the debt, his late father saddled him with hunts devils with the assistance of his little friend Pochita, also known as the Chainsaw Devil. When the Yakuza kill him to gain a contract with another devil, Pochita saves Denji, and the two forge a contract, allowing Denji to gain revenge against the Yakuza. Now sought after by an agency known as the Public Safety Division, Denji joins a team led by the mysterious Makima. Denji now relentlessly hunts Devils in service of his newfound crush, Makima, slowly reaching their ultimate goal of facing the ultimate Devil.

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Chainsaw Man

Chainsaw Man