Manabu Otsuka, CEO of Studio MAPPA, stated that Chainsaw Man was not the success the company expected.
A report from Sportskeeda outlined Otsuka’s assessment of the Chainsaw Man anime’s performance, expressing that he was hoping for more. The CEO stated that while the series was a financial success, it didn’t sell as many DVD/Blu-Ray copies as he expected, with most of the views coming from TV distribution. “I wish I could reach more audiences who pay for the package.” Also, he stated that he doesn’t think it has the same “impact” as Jujutsu Kaisen.
Studio MAPPA has invested 100% in Chainsaw Man
Studio MAPPA has poured a lot of their efforts into Chainsaw Man, with the same interview with assurances from Otsuka that the company invested 100% in the production of the series, according to Anime Senpai. This near-monopoly ownership of the property means that the studio relies heavily on the success of the anime, explaining the reaction to lackluster DVD/Blu-ray sales. Despite the alleged inefficiencies, Otsuka confirmed that the company will work to “reach the target audience who will pay for CSM’s work.”
Chainsaw Man, written by Tatsuki Fujimoto, is about an invincible young man named Denji who fuses with his demon dog to become Chainsaw Man, a human-demon hybrid. From there, he joined Public Safety as a demon hunter and under the guidance of the mysterious Makima. The manga is currently in its second main installment, “Academy Saga.” Chapter 130 of Chainsaw Man will be released on May 23, 2023.
Shonen’s Shadow Trilogy
Fans often associate Jujutsu Kaisen and CSM as part of the “Dark Shonen Trio,” also titled Studio MAPPA 2023 as Hell’s Paradise. These anime productions are considered some of the most influential modern projects in the industry, exploring dark themes, violence, and traditional film genres. Despite the gloomy and horror-heavy elements of the shows, they are also known for their unique humour, dramatic visual style, and positive depictions of friendship and relationships.
Hell’s Paradise is currently in its first season, with Jujutsu Kaisen poised to return for a second time on July 6, 2023. All three chapters, including Chainsaw Man, are available on Crunchyroll. Studio MAPPA is also producing Vinland Saga Season 2, Attack on Titan: The Final Season and Alice to Therese no Maboroshi Koujou at the time of writing.
Source: Sportskeeda and Anime Senpai
