Chainsaw Man: Reze Arc is Already The Best Shonen Anime Film of All Time

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The new movie, Reze Arc, is about to be released in North America and is generating a lot of excitement. It’s already been a huge success internationally, earning both great reviews and high box office numbers. In Japan, it even surpassed Demon Slayer as the top-grossing film each weekend since it premiered. I predicted this, and I’m confident it’s already the best shonen anime movie ever made, even before its American release.

Chainsaw Man’s Reze Arc Was Literally Made to be a Film

The “Reze Arc” – often called the “Bomb Girl Arc” – starts in the Chainsaw Man manga with Chapter 39. In this chapter, Denji goes on a date with Makima to a movie theater for a day of watching different films. While most of the movies don’t affect him much, the last one they see unexpectedly makes Denji cry and has a profound emotional impact on him.

This quiet moment, seemingly separate from the main story, reveals a lot about Denji. He starts to wonder if he even has feelings anymore – not literally, though his heart was replaced by Pochita to create the Chainsaw Devil Hybrid. He’s more questioning why he doesn’t react to things that usually affect other people.

Denji finally cries during the last movie, and in that moment, he realizes something important about being human: everyone experiences art in their own way. The movie that impacts him the most is also the one Makima says “most people don’t understand.”

Right from the beginning of the Reze Arc, Fujimoto acknowledges that stories affect people in different ways, and he expects the same for his own work. This self-awareness is a key reason why Chainsaw Man feels different and stands out among other popular shonen manga.

The author clearly understands the impact cinema can have on people. This is reflected in the way panels are laid out in his manga, often resembling film scenes. In Chainsaw Man Chapter 39, a character notes that while most movies aren’t compelling, even a single great film can be life-altering. It’s this recognition of storytelling’s power – its ability to truly change someone – that gives Chainsaw Man depth beyond its unusual and often bizarre surface elements.

Chainsaw Man: Reze Arc Tells a Timeless Love Story

Denji realizes he still cares when he focuses on his own feelings, and the manga Chainsaw Man shows its heart through its characters. The Reze Arc centers on Denji and Reze, and their love story is as emotionally resonant as any other in manga. This arc is expertly written, with a perfect build-up and satisfying conclusion, making their romance one of the best love stories manga has to offer.

From the very beginning, the story subtly hints at what’s to come with Reze, but never in a way that’s immediately noticeable. When a major reveal happens, it feels inevitable because the manga had cleverly planted so many clues beforehand. This all unfolds within just five impactful chapters that quickly develop the characters’ connection, yet somehow make it feel like we’ve been following their story for much longer.

The Reze Arc is such a compelling story because it feels naturally suited for the big screen. It’s like Fujimoto originally envisioned it as a movie script and then adapted it into a manga. The first half of the arc perfectly captures what makes a great romantic comedy, with its blend of romance, humor, and the exciting uncertainty of falling in love.

What sets Chainsaw Man apart from other action manga is its incredible range. It seamlessly shifts between lighthearted romance, over-the-top action that playfully mocks typical battle tropes (like when Denji faces a seemingly impossible challenge), and genuinely heartbreaking tragedy. This versatility elevates it beyond the usual shonen fare. The story is packed with constant surprises, keeping you on the edge of your seat, and even quiet moments feel tense, like waiting for something explosive to happen. The upcoming Chainsaw Man: Reze Arc movie has the potential to be the best shonen film ever made, because the story itself was already considered one of the genre’s greatest even before the idea of a movie adaptation arose.

The Reze Arc Isn’t Just a Movie – It’s an Essential Part of The Anime’s Story

What really stands out about the Reze Arc isn’t just the characters themselves, but how it fits into the larger story. So many anime movies, especially in the shonen genre, feel like separate adventures that don’t really add to the main plot. Demon Slayer changed that, proving that fans really want to see the story continue directly in a film, instead of just a single, unrelated adventure. The success of those Demon Slayer movies shows just how much fans appreciate a continuation of the core story.

Anime films that continue directly from an existing series, like the recent Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle, often face a challenge: they can be hard for new viewers to fully appreciate. Someone unfamiliar with Demon Slayer might not connect with the story as much as a longtime fan who’s seen every episode. For example, understanding the importance of a character like Shinobu requires knowing her backstory. The Reze Arc movies based on Chainsaw Man generally do a better job of avoiding this problem.

The Bomb Girl Arc begins fairly early in the Chainsaw Man manga (around chapter 40), which is helpful. But what truly makes the Reze Arc stand out, even compared to Infinity Castle, is how complete its story feels. While it connects to the bigger mystery of Denji’s identity as the Chainsaw Devil Hybrid, the romance between Denji and Reze has a satisfying conclusion. Importantly, Reze’s character is developed consistently throughout the arc, making her fate all the more impactful for fans.

Demon Slayer Will Break Records, Chainsaw Man Will Break Hearts

What truly sets Chainsaw Man: Reze Arc apart from typical shonen anime isn’t just its violence, mature themes, or strong language—though it has those too. It’s the way the characters are written. They feel real and grow naturally, allowing viewers to genuinely connect with them. Unlike many shonen series that try to force emotional reactions, this arc builds empathy through authentic character development.

Chainsaw Man stands out because it deeply explores the inner lives of its characters, showing all their complexities. While the series is known for its wild premise and action, it’s fundamentally a story about people, and that’s where its emotional core lies. Despite being set in a world of Devils, the story is ultimately driven by very human feelings.

Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc ends on a sad note, but it doesn’t leave you feeling hopeless. Denji copes with his pain by immediately focusing on whatever comes next – in this case, Power interrupting his wait for Reze. He gets through things one day at a time by pushing down his trauma, a pattern fans have seen since the beginning, as evidenced by Pochita’s constant plea not to ‘open’.

The story offers a deep look into the complexities of love and loss. Denji’s confrontation with Bomb Girl isn’t just exciting action – it’s the result of all the tangled emotions he’s been dealing with. Unlike typical stories like Demon Slayer, where heroes overcome challenges through strength, this fight in Chainsaw Man: Reze Arc feels like a deeply personal argument between two people who care about each other. The story carefully builds to this moment, starting with Denji and Makima’s first date, so even new readers can understand their connection and the source of Denji’s inner struggle.

The Reze Arc beautifully shows Denji realizing he’s capable of feeling genuine emotion, sparked by a simple movie. This emotional core is what makes the arc so strong – it’s a surprisingly mature love story, and like the film Denji and Makima watched, it won’t resonate with everyone. But that’s precisely what makes it special. Reading the Reze Arc felt like experiencing a life-changing movie, just like Makima described. Hopefully, it will remind others that they have the capacity for deep feeling as well.

Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc comes to theaters in America on October 24.

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2025-10-22 05:14