Tatsuki Fujimoto's hit manga "Chainsaw Man" just dropped its first theatrical anime film, "Chainsaw Man Reze Arc," in Japan last Friday, September 19th. The movie has been a massive hit, raking in a whopping 1.5 billion JPY at the box office in just four days!
To celebrate the success, animation studio MAPPA today (9/23) released a special talk featuring original author Tatsuki Fujimoto, his editor Shihei Lin, and theme song maestro Kenshi Yonezu. They chatted about their thoughts on the series and the new film.
This marks their first face-to-face conversation since their collaboration on the TV anime three years ago. Yonezu confessed that he was a die-hard fan of Fujimoto's work even before the TV series premiered: "I wanted to be a manga artist when I was a kid, so seeing someone my age create something as impactful as 'Fire Punch' was incredibly inspiring. Even though we're in different fields, music and manga, I felt like, 'I can't lose! I need to work even harder!' I still remember that feeling."
Fujimoto, on the other hand, spilled the beans that he'd been obsessed with Yonezu's music since his student days: "Yonezu's songs are unique; they're like clear guides for the listener. At first, I wondered if having Yonezu do the 'Chainsaw Man' OP would be too explanatory, too obvious...? But he's so good at grabbing the essence, and he added a casual, playful touch to 'KICK BACK,' which turned it into an amazing song."
In the latter half of the discussion, the duo delved into the behind-the-scenes stories of the movie's theme song, "IRIS OUT," and the ending theme, "JANE DOE," a collaboration between Yonezu and Hikaru Utada. The conversation also explored Fujimoto's perspective on the crucial role of the character Reze, as well as his childhood influences from manga, books, and films, and the genesis of his creative journey. The entire talk was a vibrant exchange, spanning from their professional creative worldviews to the shared resonance and camaraderie of their generation.
If you're a fan of these two creative powerhouses or "Chainsaw Man," you definitely won't want to miss this insightful interview!
▼ Tatsuki Fujimoto & Kenshi Yonezu Special Talk Video