Dog and Chainsaw
Episode 1 of Chainsaw Man begins with Denji waking up from a dream where he’s exploring a nearby alleyway and opening a mysterious door.
On his way to work, Denji recounts the money he made while cutting trees and selling some of his body parts and organs. Even after selling everything, he’s still short on cash. Pochita senses something nearby, and Denji assumes that it’s another devil.
This is where we learn that outside his usual lumber work, Denji’s also a devil hunter. Denji acknowledges that devil hunting pays the best and prepares to slay the incoming Tomato Devil using Pochita as a chainsaw. He slays it! An old man arrives and greets Denji. He plans to pay Denji 400,000 yen, more than Denji expected. After fees and interest, Denji will only receive 70,000 yen. After paying off his bills and other things he owes, Denji ends up with 1,800 yen.
As Denji wallows over his shortened pay, we see the old man communicating with his driver about Denji. The old man confirms that Denji is working for them to pay back his deadbeat father’s debt to them. Denji follows orders well, unlike other devil hunters who won’t give them devil corpses, according to the old man. To test his theory, the driver offers Denji 100 yen if he eats his cigarette, and Denji accepts his offer.
In his home, Denji tells Pochita what it would be like to put jam on their bread, which reflects how unfortunate their lives are at the moment. Denji reveals that he wants to live a mundane life, but something like that may never happen due to his father’s debt. He feels he’ll pass away before paying it off and may never get a girlfriend. Denji recalls when he was a child standing in front of his father’s grave.
The old man drives by, informing Denji that his father hung himself to escape from paying his first month’s installment. He tells Denji that the debt’s now on him, and if he doesn’t pay him by the next day, he’ll chop him to pieces and sell his bits. After the man departs, Denji is ambushed by Pochita, as we can assume this is how they met. Although Denji’s startled by Pochita’s appearance, he doesn’t fear death and is all for Pochita ending his life.
He notices Pochita’s flesh wounds and offers himself over to Pochita. This is because devils can heal themselves by drinking blood. After Pochita bites him, Denji states that Pochita needs to return the favor and help him clear his debt. Denji uses Pochita’s chainsaw abilities to murder a devil. He brings the corpse to the old man and asks him to hire him as a devil hunter.
In the present, Denji finds it difficult to sleep because he’s hungry. He reiterates how he’d love to live a better life that involves bread with jam and a tight relationship. He said this is what he’ll dream about when he attains the energy necessary to sleep. Denji coughs up blood and is startled by the sight of it on his hand. He remembers hearing that his mother died from a heart disease that made her cough up blood. The old man arrives at Denji’s home, alerting him that he has more devils for him and Pochita to slay.
The old man drives Denji to an abandoned factory, but Denji’s suspicious about the situation. The old man stops and informs Denji that he’s happy that he’s as loyal as a dog and works for a small price. Suddenly, a man stabs Denji and Pochita from behind with a sword. The old man explains that they double-crossed him and forged a new contract with a devil. The devil offered them a chance to gain demonic power in exchange for dead devil hunters.
The old man’s new boss emerges and reveals his zombie-like form. The Zombie Devil says he finds these men dumb for wanting a taste of his power as the yakuza begin transforming into zombies. He reiterates how much he despises devil hunters and plans to have his new slaves take him out. Denji attempts to flee with Pochita in his arms, but the zombies stab him to the ground and chop him up.
Denji and Pochita end up in a dumpster, and it appears Denji has passed away. Blood drips from Denji’s forehead and reaches Pochita’s mouth, awakening him. Pochita remembers a moment when Denji and were cutting trees. As they’re eating bread, Denji tells him that there may come a time when he dies fighting a devil and that he’ll regret leaving Pochita alone, hungry, or at the mercy of another devil.
Denji remembers hearing from someone that some devils can take over dead bodies and asks Pochita if he’s capable of doing so. If he can, Denji wants Pochita to take over his body, so he can live a mundane life and attain a die naturally. After recalling Denji’s offer, Pochita fuses with Denji and heals him while connecting his body parts back together. Denji wakes up in another area of existence and wonders if Pochita took over his dead body.
Pochita speaks, letting Denji know he loved hearing him talk about his dreams. Pochita forms a new deal with Denji. In exchange for Pochita’s heart, he wants Denji to show him his dreams. Denji awakens and exits the dumpster. When he looks at his body, he realizes that all his wounds have vanished and Pochita’s tail is sticking out of his chest. The Zombie Devil is surprised to see him alive and orders his zombies to eat him.
As the zombies rush toward him, Denji questions if he and the yakuza have anything in common. Since they all weren’t satisfied with their lives and wanted more, Denji states he doesn’t blame them. However, if they’re willing to stand in the way of his chance at happiness, he’ll have no regrets about murdering them. As Denji pulls the cord from his chest–the zombies jump on him.
Seconds later, Denji bursts out from the zombie dogpile, revealing that he’s become Chainsaw Man, a warrior with a chainsaw for a head who wields chainsaw-like arm blades. The Zombie Devil’s bewildered by what he sees as Denji starts his assault. He wonders if Pochita took over his body. Denji slaughters many enemies in his way and deals a heavy blow to the Zombie Devil. The Zombie Devil pushes Denji back and starts pelting his men at him.
Denji cuts every zombie he throws at him and manages to land on the Zombie Devil’s body, cutting him in half. Denji looks at the remaining zombies and notes how it’s humorous that they became devils and hired him as a devil hunter. He cuts them all to pieces, stating he’ll finally be free from his debt. In the morning, a group of people arrives in a car in front of the abandoned factory.
The group consists of a woman followed by two men. They enter the building, and they see the corpses of all the devils Denji murdered. The woman approaches Denji, stating that he wreaks of a weird scent that’s neither human nor devil. She assumes he’s responsible for the murders, as Denji asks for her to hug him and the woman does so. As she hugs him, Denji returns to normal as the woman claims he isn’t possessed.
She tells Denji that she came to kill the Zombie Devil as she’s a devil hunter who works with Public Safety. The two options she offers Denji are to die by her hands or keep him as a human. She promises he’ll be well-fed and taken care of while listing what he can expect for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The scene ends with Denji laying on the woman’s lap in bewilderment by her offerings as he finds it all fascinating and awesome.
The Episode Review
Chainsaw Man episode one has finally arrived. Fans have been waiting for its anime adaptation to come out since its official trailer was released a couple of months ago. While the series’ first episode did a phenomenal job establishing our protagonist’s character, predicament, and abilities, there are a few issues with this episode.
There’s mixed feelings regarding this episode’s animation and visuals. This episode looked its best whenever scenes weren’t too action-centric. I adore the minor details, from character walking animations to seeing water drip from leaves.
Unfortunately, the animation and visuals plummet as soon as Denji undergoes his Chainsaw Man transformation and starts slaughtering the Zombie Devil and his men. While some zombies look decent, some of Denji and the others’ movements look jarring and off-putting. From Denji’s sluggish attacks to his lackluster dodges, it felt like I was watching a stop-motion fight scene. Chainsaw Man’s CGI design didn’t do much for me, either.
I’m also curious about the devils’ origins in this world. While it may get touched upon in later episodes, I’m disappointed this one didn’t give us a short and sweet explanation.
Besides those issues, this episode was certainly fun, and I’m excited to learn more about Chainsaw Man’s world and other characters. Denji’s character feels semi-relatable to those who’ve encountered poor living situations or bad luck in the past. Pochita is an adorable character who won me over as soon as he appeared on the screen.
Hopefully, the upcoming episodes will give that adrenaline-pumping atmosphere we expected the first episode to deliver.
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- Episode Rating -
(3.5)
3.5
FAQs
What happens to the dog in Chainsaw Man? ›
This eventually culminated in a battle between him, the Four Horsemen and the Weapon Devils in which he was badly wounded and, according to Makima, reduced to a "completely changed near death form", which is heavily implied to be his dog form. At the height of the battle, he vanished and somehow ended up on earth.
Who is the chainsaw dog in Chainsaw Man? ›Pochita is a small orange dog-like creature with a chainsaw protruding from in between his eyes. He's super cute and lovable but can actually become a pretty scary monster. His story in "Chainsaw Man" begins with Denji, who uses Pochita to kill devils to pay off his debt to the Yakuza.
What happens in Chainsaw Man ep 1? ›In the dumpster, Pochita fuses with Denji, combining his chopped pieces and healing him. Denji awakens and wonders if Pochita took over his dead body. Pochita states he loved hearing Denji talk about his dreams. Pochita decides to give him his heart and in exchange, he wants Denji to show him his dreams.
Is Pochita only in the first episode? ›Unfortunately, it seems as though Pochita's story is cut short by the end of the first episode.
Why did Pochita turn into a dog? ›As revealed in Chapter 87 of the manga, Pochita was in a battle with the four horsemen group of devils before reaching a near-death situation. In its weakened state, Pochita adopted a cute dog-like look and met Denji (protagonist).
Why is Pochita so special? ›Pochita has special ability to eat and erase any devil, and their associated sources of fear, from existence(practically conceptual erased).
Why is Pochita weak? ›So why was chainsaw devil ( pochita ) so weak, I don't mind spoiler if it tells the reason or it is just a plot convenience? He got injured in a battle against the four horsemen of Apocalypse and escaped from hell. Denji found him in that weakened state.
Is Denji a dog? ›Denji is human, but he is still a dog. The authority in Denji's life may have changed, but authority's relationship to Denji has not. Makima's use of language, while translating to exactly what Denji wants and needs, is particularly heinous because she uses words that are only applicable when talking about animals.
What is Denji's dog name? ›Chainsaw Man tells the story of Denji, who is forced into a life of killing devils to pay off his debts to the yakuza. To do this, he utilizes a pet devil of his own named Pochita.
Was Chainsaw Man ep 1 good? ›Share All sharing options for: Chainsaw Man's first episode is a rip-roaring, feel-bad good time. Chainsaw Man, Tatsuki Fujimoto's supernatural horror action manga, won the hearts of fans and critics alike for its over-the-top action, macabre humor, and subtle balance between goofiness and heart-wrenching sobriety.
Was Chainsaw Man first episode good? ›
In its premiere, the highly anticipated anime delivers a gnarly, brutal, violent, but also kind of heartwarming episode with some great gallows humor and surprisingly poignant themes.
Who eats Denji? ›Denji is actually eating Makima's remains. At the end of the fight, Denji apologizes to Makima for what he's about to do. The author quickly cuts away from this and skips to the next scene with Kishibe, but it's in the time between that Denji is preparing to cut up Makima.
Does Makima love Pochita? ›Makima's true goal, however, was to be together forever with Pochita and lead a happy life with him. She always yearned for something like a family, being incapable of forming equal and meaningful relationships as the Control Devil.
Did Pochita take over Denji body? ›After losing his will to live and surrendering himself to Makima, Pochita takes control over Denji's body and reveals the true Chainsaw Devil, completely losing his human consciousness and letting Pochita take over.
What organs did Denji sell? ›The debt was so severe that Denji has to sell his right eye and his kidneys to offload it even if it wasn't enough.
Is Pochita the most powerful Devil? ›Without a doubt, Pochita, aka the Chainsaw Devil, is the most powerful devil in the Chainsaw Man franchise. Even though it might appear like many devils can overpower Chainsaw Man, none of his defeats are permanent.
Why did Pochita tell Denji not to open the door? ›As the Yakuza would not have been able to recover his father's debts if it was revealed that he was murdered, they hid the fact. Thus, it was officially stated that Denji's father had died by suicide, forcing his son to pay back his debts. This is why Pochita, Denji's friend, asked him never to open the door.
What was the contract between Denji and Pochita? ›In the second contract, Pochita had the chance to take Denji's body as his own when he died, which Denji wanted him to do. Instead, Pochita gives Denji his heart and wants nothing in return other than for him to show Pochita his dreams.
What does Makima want from Pochita? ›Makima believes that Denji isn't worthy of the power he's been granted by Pochita and simply wishes to use him to her advantage. Her ultimate goal is to lead a happy life with Pochita, which is interesting given that she's a control Devil and is incapable of forming meaningful relationships.
What is Pochita explained? ›In the Chainsaw Man story, Pochita is the Chainsaw Devil; an entity that embodies the fear of chainsaws and was the original Chainsaw Man prior to the arrival of Denji.
Why did the Gun Devil wants Denji heart? ›
The Gun Devil is determined to eat Denji's heart as quickly as possible in order to do this. This will kill the Chainsaw Devil's host and prevent it from being consumed. It will also force the Chainsaw Devil to reincarnate and take a break until it regains its full power.
What kind of Devil is Pochita? ›However, Pochita is not only a dog. He is also the Chainsaw Devil, making him the physical manifestation of humans' fear of chainsaws. After a previous battle weakened the Chainsaw Devil, he was forced to take on a weaker, dog-like form.
What is Makima the Devil of? ›As the story progresses, Makima reveals herself to be the Control Devil. The Control Devil embodies the fear of control or conquest and is one of the most powerful and dangerous ones in the series. Her powers and abilities are frightening, with the full extent of her capabilities still unknown.
Why did Denji want to be Makima dog? ›After introducing him to all her dogs, Makima reminds Denji of her promise to grant him any wish for defeating the Gun Devil. For much of the series, Denji's infatuation with Makima motivates him to please or be around her, so his wish to be her dog is entirely unsurprising.
Who has a crush on Denji? ›Despite her fake crush on Denji, Reze somewhat reciprocated his feelings towards her, and felt similar to him since they had both never been to school. Although using more manipulative type of fighting, she seems to not enjoy killing or harming others and prefers to avoid it, unless it's necessary for her mission.
Who is denjis girlfriend? ›Denji's first love interest in the series was Makima. While she was later revealed to be the Control Devil, he still couldn't stop loving her. The only way for him to defeat her was by chopping her up and consuming her, thus becoming one with her.
Who bit off Denji's tongue? ›After a few moments, Denji falls backwards, and it is revealed Reze bit off his tongue. Reze then slits Denji's throat and he moves to try and pull his cord, however she swiftly slices off his hand before he can.
What is so special about Denji's heart? ›His healing and regenerating abilities are so impressive that he can regenerate the entire body just from the heart. Denji smartly uses this ability while fighting Makima by removing Pochita from his body and mimicking himself to fool her.
Was the Chainsaw Man censored? ›The Chainsaw Man anime has pushed the envelope on showing both horrific gore and intensely sexual scenes, but its latest episode featured a moment so extreme it has been censored out. This is a real shame given how important that moment is in the manga, where it is presented in its full disgusting glory.
Will Chainsaw Man be R rated? ›Chainsaw Man is classified as TV-MA in the US; Amazon Prime records the show as 18+ and it is recorded as R18+ in Japan. And keeping in mind that Chainsaw Man is unquestionably not the most developed show you'll see.
How brutal is Chainsaw Man? ›
Every type of gore: decapitation, mutilation, dismemberment, shock deaths, etc. Blood and guts are shown. Main characters aren't exempt from death and gore.
Is Chainsaw Man a boy or girl? ›Denji is a young man trapped in poverty, working off his deceased father's debt to the yakuza by working as a Devil Hunter, aided by Pochita, his canine companion and Chainsaw Devil. Denji is betrayed by the yakuza, who kill him for a contract with the Zombie Devil.
What is the age of Makima in Chainsaw Man? ›As revealed in the manga, Makima is the Control Devil, meaning that she does not really age. As for her physique, she seems to be in her early twenties, somewhere around 22–25 years old. But, if we were to guess the Control Devil's age, we'd have to say she's at least 79 years old.
Why was Makima eaten? ›It turns out, Denji ate her in order to prevent her from regenerating, as Devils have the power to do so in spite of getting killed. Makima had always underestimated Denji and was obsessed with the Chainsaw devil within him.
Is Makima a fiend or a devil? ›Makima is neither a fiend or a hybrid or a human with devil contract. Instead, she is the control devil who has a human like apperance.
Who has a crush on Denji Chainsaw Man? ›Chainsaw Man's love interest is Makima.
They begin working together as Public Safety Devil Hunters after Makima recruits Denji for her special division. The fact she is his boss does not deter him from making his feelings for her known to everyone.
In the Manga, Makima reveals she is a member of the Four Horsemen, a group of very powerful devils. The Four Horsemen include the Death Devil, War Devil, Control Devil, and Hunger Devil. As a member, Makima can remember the names of the devils devoured by Chainsaw Man.
Who is the true villain in Chainsaw Man? ›Makima is the main antagonist of the manga series Chainsaw Man. She is the leader of the Public Safety Devil Hunter organization who, initially acts as a helpful ally towards the protagonist, Denji, by taking him under her wing.
Is Pochita a dog? ›Pochita is an adorable devil mutt loyal to Chainsaw Man's main protagonist, Denji, and in new fanart, he looks more realistic and dog-like than ever!
Does power eat Pochita? ›After, Power ate Pochita and then died, so -- in theory -- Pochita should be gone. However, the Chainsaw Devil was likely able to live on in the same way that Power was originally able to return to life. The only reason Pochita was able to reach out to Power is that her blood already flowed through Denji's veins.
Why did Denji sell his eye? ›
In the earlier part of the series, we notice that Denji is wearing an eye patch. This is because he sold his right eye, along with a kidney, and even a testicle, to gain some money to pay off his father's massive debts.
Why did Denji take a bath with power? ›Throughout the day, Power interrupts Denji at awkward moments, constantly asking him to check for the Darkness Devil hiding in various locations. Later, she asks him to take a bath with her, in order to keep her safe. The two shower, as Power continuously sobs about being attacked from behind.
Who betrayed Denji? ›Denji is betrayed by the yakuza, who kill him for a contract with the Zombie Devil. Pochita makes a contract with Denji, merging with him as a human-devil Hybrid, under the condition that Denji shows his dreams to Pochita.
Why did the chainsaw devil turn into a dog? ›Many devils tried to kill him but none succeeded. Ultimately the battle between the four horsemen, weapon devils, and Chainsaw Devil took place in which he almost died and was barely able to escape. He was reduced to 'near-death form' which is his dog from Pochita.
Did Pochita take over Denji? ›After losing his will to live and surrendering himself to Makima, Pochita takes control over Denji's body and reveals the true Chainsaw Devil, completely losing his human consciousness and letting Pochita take over.
Does Makima have a pet? ›While many of her dogs are unnamed (so far), it is revealed that she perhaps has a sweet tooth as she has two dogs named Tiramisu and Custard.
Does the dog get hurt in the devil all the time? ›Does the dog die in The Devil All the Time? I'd argue the worst part of the movie is when Willard decides to use the family's beloved dog Jack to try and heal Charlotte's sickness. Yup, sadly he sacrifices the dog to God by killing him.
Why did Pochita take over Denji? ›In the second contract, Pochita had the chance to take Denji's body as his own when he died, which Denji wanted him to do. Instead, Pochita gives Denji his heart and wants nothing in return other than for him to show Pochita his dreams.
Why does Makima want to be with Pochita? ›Makima's true goal, however, was to be together forever with Pochita and lead a happy life with him. She always yearned for something like a family, being incapable of forming equal and meaningful relationships as the Control Devil.
Why does Denji eat Makima? ›It turns out, Denji ate her in order to prevent her from regenerating, as Devils have the power to do so in spite of getting killed. Makima had always underestimated Denji and was obsessed with the Chainsaw devil within him.
Is Makima a devil or a hybrid? ›
Is Makima a fiend or a hybrid? Makima is neither a fiend or a hybrid or a human with devil contract. Instead, she is the control devil who has a human like apperance.
Who is Makima in love with? ›Chainsaw Man's love interest is Makima.
The two meet after Denji takes over the mantle of Chainsaw Man, and he instantly falls in love. Not only is she attractive, but before that, no person had ever been as good to Denji as her.
Nayuta (ナユタ, Nayuta?) is the reincarnation of the Control Devil ( 支 し 配 はい の 悪 あく 魔 ま , Shihai no Akuma?) following Makima's death.
What devil was Pochita? ›However, Pochita is not only a dog. He is also the Chainsaw Devil, making him the physical manifestation of humans' fear of chainsaws. After a previous battle weakened the Chainsaw Devil, he was forced to take on a weaker, dog-like form.
What is the saddest death in Chainsaw Man? ›By far the most shocking death in the series, fans were devastated when Power was killed in cold blood by Makima as Denji could only watch. The seemingly pointless Chainsaw Man death left both Denji and readers stunned as the manga continued without acknowledging the death of this main character at all.
Who threw in Denji mouth? ›After drinking a lot, Himono kisses Denji which initially looks sweet, but as it turns out, Himono had drunk a little too much and ended up puking inside Denji's mouth.