Chainsaw Manis riding high again. WithChainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arcrevving into theaters this fall, fans are buzzing: not just about the film, but about the future of the anime itself. Still, not everyone has been entirely satisfied.Some fans have criticized the first season for shifting the tone and pacingcompared to Tatsuki Fujimoto’s manga.
These creative choices sparked plenty of online debate, especially around how MAPPA interpreted the source material. But now, MAPPA president Manabu Otsuka has offered some clarity, and maybe even a bit of reassurance, about what’s really going on behind the scenes.
MAPPA’s Boss Breaks It Down at AX
The Chainsaws Stay Sharp Behind the Scenes
At Anime Expo 2025, Screen Rant spoke directly with Manabu Otsuka, who has overseenstudio MAPPA’s meteoric risethrough hits likeJujutsu KaisenandAttack on Titan: The Final Season. When asked about criticisms of the anime’s shift in tone, Otsuka responded carefully:
“We haven’t necessarily taken a different approach. But I think after working on season one, I think we’re more focused on squeezing the best out of the original work by Fujimoto-san. It’s not our mission or goal to change anything deliberately. But after we work onReze Arcand if there are any new findings or learnings, then we might retain some of those and move on to the next season if it does come.”
He added that although MAPPA has evolved as a studio, that evolution is not about chasing a different style but about doing justice to the source material in new ways.Otsuka also made it clear that MAPPA is not trying to rewriteChainsaw Man’s DNA.
That might not be the clear-cut answer some fans are looking for, but it suggests MAPPA is paying attention. While the first season may have divided some viewers, the team is not closing itself off from course correction or artistic evolution.
What’s in Store for Chainsaw Man’s Season Two?
It All Depends on the Reception of Chainsaw Man’s Reze Movie
The elephant in the room is still standing: the release date for Season Two has not been officially announced. What we do know is that the studio already has plans in mind. Otsuka has hinted that they are not improvising and that the creative direction is already mapped out, just not yet revealed.
IfReze Arcperforms well, both critically and commercially, it could act as the gateway to more anime content. Much likeJujutsu Kaisen 0served as a bridge between seasons, this film might determine what comes next for Denji, Power, and the rest of the devil-hunting gang.
MAPPA’s approach toChainsaw Mancontinues to evolve, and the message from Otsuka is simple: they are not reinventing the wheel, but they are learning as they go. While fans might have to wait a bit longer fora definitive Season Two update,there is comfort in knowing that the studio is actively engaging with the material and with the audience.
Until then, all eyes are onReze Arcas it tears its way into theaters. If nothing else, it proves one thing:Chainsaw Manis not done slicing through expectations just yet.
