Is Chainsaw Man a Seinen manga? Explained

After being adapted into an anime, Chainsaw Man by Tatsuki Fujimoto experienced a significant surge in its fan base. The first season, animated brilliantly by MAPPA, was a success, drawing in a large number of supporters who are now eagerly following the ongoing manga to continue the story.

As the story reaches its 168th chapter, it delves into the more human and teenage aspects of Denji and Asa Mitaka. The heroes must now strategize a plan to defeat the formidable Death Devil and tensions are expected to rise from this point on.

Because of the themes incorporated, there has been speculation about whether the manga is categorized as Shonen or Seinen. To clarify, Fujimoto’s work is a Shonen manga that delves into darker themes.

Chainsaw Man — A darker Shonen series

Prior to exploring further, it is important to grasp the distinction between a Shonen and a Seinen series. A Shonen series/manga is a classification of Japanese comics that typically cater to an audience of teenage boys. On the other hand, the Seinen series/manga is aimed at young adults and grown men.

Despite the arguments claiming that the series, with all its components, undoubtedly belongs to the Seinen category, the manga’s demographic classification suggests otherwise. Therefore, Tatsuki Fujimoto’s series can be considered a Shonen manga, albeit with some Seinen elements incorporated.

Involving primarily gruesome subject matter, the series chronicles the story of Denji in a world overrun by Devils. Despite being impoverished and burdened with debt, a string of unfortunate incidents leaves Denji on the brink of death. Yet, his loyal friend and companion, a diminutive Devil known as Pochita, becomes the heart of Denji and thus, Chainsaw Man is brought to life.

As the manga continues, its gory theme remains present, showcasing significant levels of violence and carnage, while also exploring themes of power, corruption, tragedy, trauma, and more. Overall, it offers a compelling and gritty experience for readers/viewers.

Fujimoto uses each character in a unique way to represent something important. For example, Yoru and Asa serve as contrasting symbols of Day and Night (their names have the same meaning when translated). These themes are consistently present throughout the story, conveying the idea that one cannot exist without the other.

In part 1 of the story, the theme of Control is prominently portrayed. Makima, a Public Safety Devil Hunter, embodies this theme as the Control Devil. She goes to extreme lengths to achieve her goal of controlling Chainsaw Man and using its abilities to create a utopian world without fear, death, and what she deems as “bad”movies.

In conclusion

The manga cover of Tatsuki Fujimoto's series (Image via Tatsuki Fujimoto, Shueisha) — The manga cover of Tatsuki Fujimoto’s series (Image via Tatsuki Fujimoto, Shueisha)

To emphasize once again, Tatsuki Fujimoto’s series falls under the Shonen genre of manga. While some may argue that its themes align more with Seinen, it is officially classified as Shonen. However, it is important to note that Shonen and Seinen are simply marketing categories for manga.

Despite being intended for a specific audience, Chainsaw Man manages to attract a diverse group of readers. The combination of its gripping plot and daring themes is a testament to its success and ongoing popularity, setting it apart from other highly-rated contemporary manga.