Chainsaw Man's upcoming chapters will prove Fujimoto's skill in character development

Modified Oct 18, 2024 19:30 GMT

Chainsaw Man author Tatsuki Fujimoto has proven himself to be a master at character development time and again. The series itself is a testament to the mangaka's ability to build each of its central characters through the events of the story and show different sides of them.

In this case, the characters in question are Denji and Asa Mitaka. Their development so far and for whatever is to come will further emphasize the aforementioned statement. With everything that has happened so far, Fujimoto has set the narrative and continues to build on this dynamic, which will likely have a significant impact on future developments.

Disclaimer: This article contains the sole opinion of the author.

The upcoming Chainsaw Man chapters will highlight Fujimoto's prowess in character development

As mentioned, Fujimoto is no novice when it comes to character development, as proven sufficiently already. Both Denji and Asa have significantly grown as individuals and as a pair since their first encounter. Several unusual events have taken place in their lives which contributed quite a bit to their development.

Chainsaw Man chapter 180 witnessed Denji and Asa/Yoru get transported to a different world by the Aging Devil. The behavior of the former Devil Hunter, whom Asa/Yoru encounter, hints at the situation being similar to the Aquarium Incident that happened during the Dating Denji Arc. The world they're in seems to have no escape and the man they just met instantly begins to behave oddly.

The Aquarium Incident was an example of character development for Denji and Asa. This incident displays considerable individual growth for both protagonists whilst deepening their connection. Denji, impetuous and fueled by naive desires, finds himself in situations requiring introspection and strategy.

During the Aquarium Incident, he needed to quickly adapt and sync with Asa, thereby showcasing how much he had grown.

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In Asa's case, she began as a conflicted and emotionally isolated loner. With time, she developed into more of an open, trusting, and vulnerable person, as seen during the Aquarium Incident when she found similarities with Denji. However, she has been shown to struggle with apprehension, and her relationship with Yoru becomes more complicated, especially as her bond with Denji develops.

Together, through the Aquarium Incident and the events of the present, Fujimoto's skill at simultaneously handling individual character growth with the concurrent growth of the protagonist pair is underlined well. The pair contrast each other— Asa is cautious and strategic while Denji exhibits brashness. Their experiences together contribute to them growing emotionally and psychologically.

Fujimoto has cleverly set the stage for the upcoming chapters by building on Denji and Asa's dynamic, the Aquarium Incident contributing to it. As such, their concurrent growth as a pair will likely have an effect on the bigger picture that is being created. It is interesting to see them evolve amidst the disorder whilst growing from their initial roles.

Final thoughts

Katana Man vs Chainsaw Man (Image via MAPPA)

Fujimoto knows what he is doing when it comes to character development. Both Denji and Asa Mitaka are not typical Shonen manga protagonists, especially the former. Having more than an unfortunate childhood, his journey navigating the world of Devils and Devil Hunting has been rough. Hence, even his development has been unique which makes him special.

Elsewhere, Asa was thrust into the same world thanks to the Chicken Devil Incident and fate brought the pair together. She too had a torrid time, simultaneously dealing with her own emotions and Yoru, but some might agree that she has done okay so far. With time, we will potentially see more of their dynamic which is dissimilar to Denji and Pochita.

To conclude, Fujimoto has performed well when it came to developing Denji and Asa individually and as a duo. Now, another daunting task lies before them, which will require both their heads to make it out alive against the Aging Devil.