Tatsuki FujimotoStandalone stories from his early career illustrate the subtle ways in which he developed as a comic book writer. From an attempt at a simple romance story to an early foundation in a mysterious world chainsaw manthese one-shots offer a glimpse into his raw but budding creative talent. Considering the global popularity of Fujimoto’s masterpiece following its international popularity, as well as the universal acclaim of the 2024 film adaptation, review, iBex Films Saw the potential of animation Tatsuki Fujimoto 17-26.
By providing directors and studios with budgets for their respective episodes, the anthology resulted in a series of unique and visually impressive installments. This maintains their integrity as stand-alone stories rather than forcing a connecting thread to tie all eight stories together, allowing the showrunners to focus on creatively tweaking the single shot they want. producer Koyama Liang shared that they brainstormed ideas to either separate the stories or connect them. Thankfully, they did the final job.
Eight episodes cover every story Tatsuki Fujimoto before “Chainsaw Man”: 17-21 and Tatsuki Fujimoto forward chainsaw man:22-26 in the same order. They themselves are a hodgepodge of Fujimoto’s endless ideas and story experiments. It’s easy to see the early basis for his later character designs and elaborate plots.
Now, in the hands of a veteran director, his story has been given new life. Certain episodes stood out more than those in the comics, and some completely changed my opinion of one-shots. Seishiro HaseThe direction is There are still a few clucking chickens kicking around on campus The series kicks off with a high-energy, action-packed story originally released in 2011. This tongue-twistering animated version expands on a post-apocalyptic world overrun by aliens whose designs steal the show. While Ami’s character in the manga didn’t appeal to me at first glance, the catharsis she and Yuuto gained moved me. Unlike the comic’s abrupt, cut-to-black ending, this episode expands on the final battle between the two aliens, ending on an upbeat note despite the bleak reality.
Sasaki stopped a bullet What follows is a story entirely summed up by the title. director Nobukage Kimura Depicting Fujimoto’s humorous message of believing in the power of the impossible, which is defined as merely a low-probability outcome. Compared with the previous work, the animation production is simple and standard, but Teruko UtsumiThe script elicits witty dialogue, while the voice actors deliver ridiculous lines that match the exaggerated facial expressions. Kimura ends the episode with impeccable comedic timing, succinctly conveying how impactful one person’s words can be, and how that impact can be passed on to others who later achieve unthinkable things.
The absurdity of the universe love is blind provides an uplifting break after telling two desolate and grim stories. It’s a crowd-pleaser that combines the simple drama of a teenage romance with utter absurdity. Determined to confess to his vice president no matter what, Ibuki finds himself in an escalating situation that follows Murphy’s Law. The audience couldn’t help but cheer for the student council president’s fearless determination in the face of destruction. love is blind No fancy animation or surprises needed to pack a humorous punch; just pure romantic tension told in its simplest form.
Despite its deceptive name, antlers is another love story in the anthology. The introduction is a tough watch as it includes some mild bug torture and physical child abuse, but the story shows how Fujimoto’s relationship-building skills have taken new leaps forward. A female assassin with strange morals accepts her latest job: killing an immortal vampire at his behest. Although she failed to defeat him, she was attracted to him and he found her interesting. Even in the comics, their initial attraction lacked a clear connection. This leaves Naoya Ando——Who directed it? Paradox live animation— a serious exploration of the love between this unlikely couple. In the end, the underwhelming animation fails to carry the character development and depth that the story lacks, but it’s a spectacle.
Next is Mermaid Rhapsody, It’s a touching but middling episode, based on one of Fujimoto’s most traditional one-shots. In a romance between killers, vampires, aliens and high school students, this coming-of-age story follows a boy and a mermaid. Tetsuaki WatanabeSeason 1 director blue locka direct adaptation of the story, but lacks the pathos of the comic. Aside from the lovely piano melody played by Toshihide for Shiju, this adaptation feels interchangeable to me with any other slice-of-life anime on the market.
girl waking up syndrome A contender for the most colorful and creative episode next to the first. sometimes, studio cafe The crew seemed to be showing off their ability to experiment with camera angles and instantly insert eye-catching designs. All episodes include an ending song, but episode six trumps the others with its earworm urban pop song and stylized ending sequence. It all makes for a relatively lighthearted and upbeat look at heavy topics and divisive attitudes about gender identity and body dysmorphia. Even uncomfortable moments of objectification and sexual harassment are given a carefree tone as they’re layered between catchy tunes and striking visuals. Still a director Kazaki Terasawa It retains the relaxed tone of Fujimoto’s original work while giving the audience a reason to support Toshihide and Rie.
once we arrive Nayuta who predictedit’s clear the production team is eager to draw comparisons to Mad World chainsaw man. Thrust into a cruel world, the two brothers face an even crueler fate when a deranged fanatic – fearing the apocalyptic power he prophesized – murders their father.
Tonally, director Watanabe graphically and visually depicts the world in dark gradients, leaving Kenji feeling physically and emotionally troubled on screen as he is forced to clean up after his sister’s massacre. The episode continues to heighten tensions between the siblings and society, until things reach a breaking point when Nayuta summons a sky filled with swords and severed hands to avenge their attack on her brother. But behind her strange words and piles of dead animals, Nayuta is just a child worried about her brother. Despite everything he’s been through, and Nayuta’s raw power, Kenji remains steadfastly loyal to her, like a brother to her. Once he admits his fear of her—addresses the issue head-on—he finds the strength to scold her properly. When he honestly expresses his intention to continue to protect her, humanity be damned, the clouds finally lift. Kenji and Nayuta’s heartwarming bromance comes to a clean end, with the color scheme, uplifting musical numbers, and emotional payoff rounding out the episode.
End of eight-part series sisters. This episode perfectly combines a great story, high-level production, and smooth execution into an unforgettable finale. A crude but heartwarming single shot tells the story of Akiko, who distances herself from her siblings out of jealousy. One day, in front of the entire school, she was publicly humiliated for her sister’s award-winning nude painting of her. Later, she realizes how much her sister adores her, which rekindles her passion for art and her relationship with her sister. director Honma week The story is treated with a tenderness that brought me to tears. Despite having less room for creative freedom, Honma doesn’t hold back and pulls the emotional punches right where they hurt, in a great way. His previous directing on the comedy series Ah, boy Kong Ming! Shines in hysterically funny scenes and provides an emotional break before getting into the heaviest scenes. By the way, the nude artwork and full nude scenes from the comics are intact in the series.
if you have only seen chainsaw man or reviewyou’ll be able to see Fujimoto’s early foundations in these worlds Tatsuki Fujimoto 17-26. But watching this anime series will be a different experience because of how underdeveloped and unbalanced the settings, plot, and characters are compared to his serialized work. Even when retold through an animated lens, Fujimoto’s steady growth as a storyteller shines through. Six directors interpret Fujimoto’s story in their own unique ways, rounding out his creative infancy. Like the longest (but enjoyable) roller coaster you’ve ever been on, these eight episodes are a wild ride from start to finish.
