Makima's original goal in Chainsaw Man could have saved the world from suffering

Modified Jan 05, 2025 11:30 GMT

Makima in Chainsaw Man (Image via MAPPA)

Chainsaw Man's Makima, one of the series' most enigmatic and polarizing characters, was often labeled as an antagonist who sought to one day control the world. However, a closer look at her initial goal reveals a startlingly noble yet twisted intent— one that could have saved the world from suffering. Makima aimed at creating an ideal world devoid of death, fear, and "bad" films.

She would do this by gaining control of the Chainsaw Devil, Pochita, and erase the very concepts that plagued humanity. For a brief moment, looking past her deeply manipulative, often ruthless, and crooked methods, Makima’s vision seemed to be grounded in a desire for peace and happiness. But her identity as the Control Devil disallowed her from forming genuine relationships.

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

Chainsaw Man: Makima's initial aim may have been crookedly noble

To add a little context, Makima served as the primary antagonist of Chainsaw Man's Public Safety Saga. She was the one who took Denji in when she realized what he actually was. Leading Denji on with promises of romance and intimacy, she had the boy do what she instructed, at times threatening to exterminate him completely if he didn't cooperate.

The series soon reveals her as the Control Devil, one of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. Her goal— create an ideal world without death, fear, and "bad movies," by controlling Pochita and through him, erasing those very concepts. On the surface, this looks to be a twisted aim, prompting the cliche World Domination goal of regular antagonists. But a closer looks suggest otherwise.

When Makima does reveal her goal, she specifically mentions her desire to wipe out Death, Hunger, and War. She felt that the world would be a better place without these things. Now, as Chainsaw Man has developed, they are a direct reference to her sisters— the Death Devil, Fami (Famine Devil), and Yoru (War Devil). This would imply that she wants to erase her sisters entirely for her "ideal world".

This could also imply that Makima might dislike her sisters. Since her character did not get to interact with Fami and Yoru, it is yet unknown what their true bond is like. But looking back, the undertone of animosity cannot be ignored. Considering she did succeed and wiped out Death, War, and Hunger, the world could seem utopian but at a substantial cost.

In essence, humans might likely become immortal, since Death wouldn't be a concept any longer. They could probably reach the pinnacle of knowledge. Further, no War would mean no reason for conflict, potentially promoting peace. Lastly, with hunger eradicated, there would be no poverty, and everyone would be able to access food and resources, thereby improving global health.

On the flip side, profound complexities relating to sustainability and moral implications arise. No Death means life continues, leading to overpopulation and pressure on resources. Eternal life likely brings stagnation— less urgency, creativity, or innovation, since limited time is what drives this. Again, life is meaningful because of struggles and mortality, without which there could be an existential crisis.

Final Thoughts

Makima's vision mirrors her complex duality. By looking to do away with Death, War, and Hunger, she sought to eliminate humanity's greatest suffering and possibly create a utopia of peace, immortality, and abundance. However, this ideal is not without its issues— overpopulation, stagnation, and the loss of life’s meaning tied to difficulty and impermanence.

Makima’s manipulative ways and ineptitude to forge meaningful connections highlight the tragedy of her role as the Control Devil. While her goals were seemingly rooted in want for peace, her pursuit underscores how even noble schemes can lead to devastating consequences when driven by domination and control. However interpreted, Makima is one of animanga's greatest villains.