Denji: 10 anime characters like Denji from Chainsaw Man

If one enjoys anime characters like Denji from Chainsaw Man, driven by tragic pasts and wounded dreams, some of the anime characters are mentioned below in this article. While no character can beat his unique blend of humanity and monstrous powers, anime characters like Denji share similarities in their journeys, transformations, and struggles.

Denji is both bold and innocent due to a lack of formal education and social interaction, as he used to be extremely poor. People often see him as rude and rough, like a child speaking bluntly.

When he was still a young boy, he got stuck with the debt of his dead father to the Yakuza. He meets a chainsaw devil, named Pochita, and with his help, he starts hunting devils for the same Yakuza to pay off what he owes. However, when the Yakuza turns against him, Denji dies, but somehow his partner, Pochita saves his life by becoming his heart. Below is a detailed exploration of 10 anime characters who symbolize similar traits and narrative.

Disclaimer: This article reflects the writer's opinion and is not ranked in any particular order.

Yuji Itadori, Naruto, and 8 other anime characters like Denji from Chainsaw Man

1) Eren Yeager (Attack on Titan)

Eren Yeager (Image via Wit Studio, MAPPA)

Eren Yeager, the protagonist of the widely known anime and manga series Attack on Titan, shares many similarities with Denji. Eren is stubborn, passionate, determined, and impulsive, like Denji. Unlike the protagonists of the "big three" Shonen series, Eren Yeager and Denji are true antiheroes who straight-up ignore the rules of a typical Shonen protagonist.

Eren deeply cares about his friends and family, often risking harm and even death to protect them. Not only that, he can be violent in defending even the strangers. His lack of self-resistance often gets him into trouble.

Similar to Eren, Denji is reborn only for war, and he eagerly accepts this drastic change from the very first episode of the story. Like Eren's Titan form, Denji, with little to lose, has much to gain in his Chainsaw Man, which makes Eren one of the anime characters like Denji.

2) Guts (Berserk)

In Berserk, Guts is known for his serious attitude. He is a tough and skeptical man who usually has a negative view of life. Regardless of his guarded and discouraged external side, his internal side is more relaxed and caring around the ones he trusts.

Both Guts and Denji come from extremely harsh and tragic pasts. Guts was born from the corpse of his hanged mother and raised in a mercenary band, where he went through constant abuse and violence. Both characters handle complex and painful relationships in the story.

Guts' relationship with Casca and his hectic bond with Griffith is filled with moments of deep connection and deep betrayal. Similarly, Denji's relationship, particularly with Power and Makima, is marked by genuine affection, manipulation, and emotional confusion. That is why Guts is one of the anime characters like Denji.

3) Naruto Uzumaki (Naruto)

One of the protagonists of the "big three" Shonen series, Naruto Uzumaki, is known for being unconventional, energetic, and loud. He excels in competition and is not shy about asking for help. However, he is often naive and slow to grasp. His time as a hated and isolated orphan has shaped him to ignore formalities and social standings.

Naruto and other anime characters like Denji struggle with their inner demons. Naruto battles Nine Tails' influence on his own insecurities, in an attempt to prove his worth. Denji deals with his Chainsaw Man persona, its monstrous characteristics, and his own desires and weaknesses.

Naruto is determined to become the Hokage and earn the acknowledgment and respect of Leaf Village. Similarly, Denji is driven by his desire for a better life filled with simple pleasures and peace. The unyielding spirits of anime characters like Denji and Naruto help them overcome many challenges throughout their story.

4) Yuji Itadori (Jujutsu Kaisen)

Yuji Itadori is the protagonist of the world's most in-demand animated TV show, Jujutsu Kaisen. He deeply respects the value of life and is determined to give his enemies a proper death. In fact, he believes that it is morally wrong to kill another person.

Usually calm, kind, and friendly, he quickly becomes angry when crossed with a pure evil opponent. One of his key traits is his willingness to sacrifice himself for others, inspired by his grandfather's last words to die surrounded by loved ones. Anime characters like Denji and Yuji start as ordinary individuals with normal lives until extraordinary events change everything.

Yuji was a high school student with exceptional physical abilities but unaware of the supernatural world of curses. His life drastically changes when he swallows a cursed object, gaining the powerful curse, Sukuna, inside him. Similarly, Denji's transformation into Chainsaw Man marks the start of his extraordinary journey, making Yuji one of the anime characters like Denji.

5) Natsu Dragneel (Fairy Tail)

The firedragon wizard Natsu Dragneel from Fairy Tail has a straightforward way of thinking and usually deals with problems violently. He is carefree and reckless, but despite frequently fighting with other members of the Fairy Tail, he is a loyal and protective friend. Even when disrespected, Natsu rarely holds the grudges and never returns the negative feelings.

Natsu and Denji possess unique and powerful transformations that define their fighting abilities. As a Dragon Slayer, Natsu can control and consume fire, allowing him to transform body parts into dragon-like features during battle.

Similarly, Denji merges with Pochita, becoming Chainsaw Man, with chainsaws coming out of his body, that grant him extraordinary combat powers. Natsu's ability to transform his body parts aligns him with one of the anime characters like Denji.

6) Ken Kaneki (Tokyo Ghoul)

The protagonist of Tokyo Ghoul, Ken Kaneki, is a shy and reserved person who spends most of his time reading books. He was extremely gentle and usually seemed optimistic. He often took the punishment and blame from others to become someone who didn't hate people.

Kaneki and Denji both face a serious struggle with their true identities. Kaneki deals with his humanity and ghoul nature, torn between his ghoul instincts and human ethics. Similarly, Denji fights with the monstrous aspects of his Chainsaw Man persona and the violent tendency it brings with it while trying to hold onto his humanity. Kaneki's struggle places Kaneki in the list of anime characters like Denji.

7) Killua Zoldyck (Hunter x Hunter)

Killua Zoldyck (Image via Nippon Animation)

Being the best friend of Gon Freecss, Killua Zoldyck is the deuteragonist of the anime and manga series Hunter x Hunter. He is cheerful, playful, and loves to come up with naughty ideas. He is confident in his skills but gets easily embarrassed when someone compliments him. Despite his fun side, he can be deadly and violent, similar to other anime characters like Denji.

Killua was born into the Zoldyck family of assassins, and that is why he had to undergo brutal training from a young age, experiencing a childhood filled with violence and strict expectations, similar to anime characters like Denji.

8) Shinji Ikari (Evangelion)

The main protagonist of the Neon Genesis Evangelion franchise, Shinji Ikari, is afraid of emotional pain and being disliked or abandoned. He feels this way because he was abandoned when he was young, and he blames himself for not being good enough to make his father stay.

Shinji Ikari and anime characters like Denji undergo significant internal struggles and growth throughout their journey. Shinji confronts his fears and insecurities, gradually learning to accept himself and find his own path. Denji faces his inner demons and aims to find meaning and purpose beyond his violent existence as Chainsaw Man.

9) Ichigo Kurosaki (Bleach)

Ichigo Kurosaki (Image via Studio Pierrot)

As the protagonist of the anime and manga series Bleach, Ichigo Kurosaki is short-tempered, stubborn, and strong-willed. He acts quickly without thinking too much and can't resist fighting back if someone picks a fight with him. During fights, he has a strong sense of honor; he believes in seeking revenge for the cruel actions of his enemies.

Ichigo is a high school student who can see ghosts. Still, he becomes a Soul Reaper after meeting Rukia Kuchiki, which is similar to the story of anime characters like Denji. Many times, Ichigo has to figure things out on his own. His friend Rukia is quite similar to Denji's partner, Power.

10) Hyakkimaru (Dororo)

Hyakkimaru (Image via Tezuka Productions, MAPPA)

Hyakkimaru is the main protagonist of the popular anime and manga series Dororo, created by Osamu Tezuka, also known as the godfather of Japanese manga. Hyakkimaru was naive, curious, and sensitive to what was around him because he had limited access to experience of the world. When he felt warmth and comfort for the first time, he liked it right away.

Both Hyakkimaru and Denji deeply desire to return what was taken from them. Hyakkimaru seeks to regain his senses and stolen body parts to live a life as a whole and take back his humanity, which makes him one of the anime characters like Denji.

In conclusion

Denji from Chainsaw Man emerges as the convincing protagonist with a tragic background and a unique transformation journey. His story of friendship, hardship, and monstrous power, lives on in the hearts of many fans.

While his character is one of a kind, there are several anime characters like Denji from Chainsaw Man who share similar characteristics and journeys. Characters like Yuji Itadori from Jujutsu Kaisen, Tokyo Ghoul's Ken Kaneki, Black Swordsman Guts from Berserk, Natsu Dragneel from Fairy Tail, and others have aspects of their story that mirror Denji's challenges.