Movie or series? The future of ‘Chainsaw Man’ according to MAPPA’s president
Studio MAPPA explains why the Reze Arc became a film, and what that means for Season 2.
As anime continues to evolve, more studios are choosing to adapt major manga arcs as feature films rather than traditional TV seasons. The success of 'Demon Slayer’s’ theatrical releases helped solidify this trend, and now 'Chainsaw Man’ is following suit.
The upcoming movie, 'Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc’, will premiere in Japan on September 19, 2025, with a U.S. release set for October 29. It adapts one of the manga’s most emotional and action-packed storylines, and marks the franchise’s first leap to the big screen.
Why MAPPA chose the movie format
In an interview with ComicBook, Manabu Otsuka, president of Studio MAPPA, explained the decision:
“We think the original work from creator Tatsuki Fujimoto, the Reze Arc, was perfect as a film. The cinematic expression, the action, the explosions look so much better as a film. We also feel this was the best way to give the story to the fans so that it could be as big as humanly possible.”
Otsuka emphasized that the arc’s emotional weight and explosive visuals were better suited for a theatrical experience, allowing the studio to push the boundaries of sound design and animation quality.
What about Season 2?
While fans are eager for a second season, MAPPA hasn’t confirmed whether the anime will return to TV or continue as a series of films. Otsuka addressed the uncertainty:
“We don’t know if this is going to be the trend moving forward. What we’re going to do, like we did with Reze, is look at the next story and decide from there. If the next arc works better as a film or as a television season, we’ll decide on that, but we haven’t reached that decision yet.”
In short, the future of 'Chainsaw Man’ will be determined arc by arc, based on what best serves the story.
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