The stories of Tatsuki Fujimoto are strange. His debut series,Fire Punch, as well as his most popular work,Chainsaw Man, both feature dark settings inhabited by beings with otherworldly abilities. Even in a story likeGoodbye Eri, which takes place in a seemingly normal world, the author can’t help himself to include supernatural elements. However, within these eccentric and wonderfully weird stories, one constant remains:characters who want nothing more than to be normal.
When theChainsaw Mananime debuted with heavy anticipation,it took a large portion of fans unfamiliar with Fujimoto’s work by surprise. Denji, in particular, came under heavy criticism for his lack of any grand ambition or goal, a quality that is a prerequisite for nearly all shōnen heroes. What the teenage devil hunter wanted most was to eat good food, go on dates, and live a normal life. And while it may seem that characters like Denji lack depth or aren’t suited for the role of a protagonist, there’s a reason Tatsuki Fujimoto writes this way.
In an interview withUnitas Magazine Japan that spread around Xfollowing the release of the critically acclaimed anime film,Look Back, Fujimoto shared a bit of insight into his own life, andhow his own experiences have bled into his stories. When asked about his characters' desire to be normal, he responded, “When I was growing up… being an ‘otaku’ with a passion for manga and anime was not considered normal,” before stating, “thoughts like Denji’s desire to ‘become a normal person’ might stem from the feeling of being in a group, but not being part of it.”
Fujimoto Is an Eccentric Author Writing Eccentric Stories
Strange Stories Make Normalcy Look Like Something to Strive For
The first time I readChainsaw Man, as the serialization was nearing the end of Part One, all I could think was that it was good, but I had to have been missing something. I appreciated its outlandishness, but with each new conflict I was left wondering when Denji would finally have his great shōnen hero moment or power-up. Following its conclusion, I decided to revisit the story from the beginning, and then it all clicked. These weren’t heroes trying to save the day,these were just people trying to survive.
There is little more human than a desire to live a normal life in a world that is out to get you. Fujimoto admits to his own desire for normalcy, but oddly enough, it’sthe eccentricity within his stories that truly make them work.Chainsaw Manis likely the most unpredictable shōnen series currently running, while the precedingFire Punchis so bizarre at times that it borders on avant-garde. Yet the unconventional storytelling found in both series makes sense when factoring in the author.
Tatsuki Fujimoto has never been shy about offering up odd details about himself. In acollection of one-shots titled22-26, he dedicates a page to a story about the time he ate his pet fish after it died. Meanwhile, on X,Fujimoto runs an account on which he pretends to be his little sister who doesn’t actually exist. It isn’t a stretch to say the now-famous manga creator is a bit odd. And while his stories are similarly weird, the honest desire for normalcy permeating his many acclaimed series shines even brighter because of how eccentric they are.
Fujimoto’s Characters Reflect the Current Young Generation
Denji Is Ushering in the Next Generation of Shonen Protagonists
Shōnen manga has always appealed to a younger crowd, and its many iconic heroes have acted as role models for countless generations. But as the new era of Shōnen Jump continues to establish itself, ushered in by series likeChainsaw Man,the heroes have begun to change. Fleeting are the days of protagonists like Goku, who will do anything to improve themselves, while characters likeDandadan’s Okarun are taking center stage with strange goals. Denji can be looked at as the leader of this new age shōnen protagonist movement.
In an earlier interview with French publication,BFMTV, Fujimoto lets his readers in on another reason his characters keep low ambitions. While his own experiences may influence his writing decisions, he also says, “When we look at the current young generation, they are a bit like that… they seek to live in a simple way, day by day,” before adding, “I don’t criticize them… it is for this reason that I created the character of Denji.”
While it may not be entirely conventional for the genre,Denji is a reflection of the current generation of anime and manga fans, who are now coming to the medium for something a little different. Looking back at my initial reading ofChainsaw Man, it’s become clear that Denji was not the kind of protagonist I was ready for. Now, as Part Two of the series marches onward, I’ve found myself rooting harder for the normal life of the immature and idiotic titular Chainsaw Man as each chapter passes.
Chainsaw Man and Finding Hope In Normalcy
Being ‘Normal’ Is About More Than Normalcy In Fujimoto’s Stories
‘Normal’ has a bit of a different meaning in Tatsuki Fujimoto’s stories. For Denji, it can be as simple as eating a quality meal, having a decent place to stay, and being able to talk to a girl. But it can also mean finding family andreasons to keep living despite all the trouble he faces.Chainsaw Manis as much a story about its protagonist learning to find hope as it is about hunting monstrous devils.
While Tatsuki Fujimoto’s characters may be inspired by his own previous desire to be normal, his stories are all the better for it. In universes hosting as bizarre or outlandish events as those found inChainsaw Man, grounded characters only benefit the narrative being told. And I, alongside the legion of fans Fujimoto has earned over the years, are surely glad that the author is as abnormal as his strange and inspiring stories.
Chainsaw Man
Chainsaw Manis a dark fantasy manga created by Tatsuki Fujimoto. The series follows Denji, a young man who merges with his devil-dog Pochita to become Chainsaw Man. He joins the Public Safety Devil Hunters to fight devils threatening Japan. The series explores themes of violence, power, and survival. Since its debut in 2018,Chainsaw Manhas gained immense popularity, leading to a critically acclaimed anime adaptation.
