Pochita: Who is Pochita in Chainsaw Man? Explained

Who is Pochita in Chainsaw Man? Explained

Modified Sep 01, 2024 09:30 GMT

Pochita in Chainsaw Man (Image via MAPPA)

Chainsaw Man's Pochita contracting with Denji to become the boy's heart kicked off Tatsuki Fujimoto's bold, action-packed, dark fantasy series. Gravely injured and on the verge of death, Pochita sacrifices himself to save Denji and in the process gives him the immense powers of the Chainsaw Devil.

After that, Denji faces the wildest ride of his life. He experiences manipulation, betrayal, brotherhood, friendship and a heap of other emotions. Before that, he was merely a child trying his hardest to make ends meet. Thanks to a selfless act by Pochita, his life took a complete turn.

But who is this adorable dog-like being with a chainsaw on his snout? As the series reveals, Pochita is the Chainsaw Man, embodying the fear of chainsaws and the Devil that the Devils fear most.

Who is Pochita?

In the beginning, Pochita was introduced as an odd-looking dog with a chainsaw on his snout. He stumbled upon Denji when the boy was mourning his father's death by his tombstone. Initially, Pochita displayed hostility towards the boy, keeping his distance but soon fell over due to having suffered injuries.

In a bid to help Pochita, Denji slit his hand to offer him his blood so that he could heal his wounds. However, there was a condition - the pair would henceforth become partners. Pochita accepted and thus began to live with Denji, aiding him in hunting Devils and cutting wood to earn their keep and subsist on whatever rations they could afford.

Pochita's true identity

Pochita's Hero of Hell form (Image via Tatsuki Fujimoto, Viz Media)

But as the series progressed, we learned there was more to this small and cute dog-like Devil than what met the eye. In reality, Pochita was the Chainsaw Devil, or Chainsaw Man, embodying the fear of chainsaws. Also known as the Hero of Hell, he was the Devil that Devils feared the most. Many Devils recount hearing the roar of a chainsaw before they were killed in Hell.

Again, much of Pochita's past is shrouded in mystery and the only little information available is what Makima and a few other Devils divulged. In essence, the Chainsaw Devil possessed a unique ability - the complete erasure of a Devil (and hence the concept of fear it embodies) through consumption. This made him feared throughout Hell. But this infamy also made Pochita a major target. Primal Fears such as Darkness and Death attempted multiple times to kill him.

His power was the subject of reverence for some and the object of fear for others. Eventually, the Four Horsemen (Control Devil, Famine Devil, War Devil and Death Devil) and the Weapon Devils joined hands to do away with Pochita. In an intense battle, either side suffered injuries and Pochita suddenly vanished and somehow found himself on Earth, which is where he met Denji and the pair became partners.

Pochita's role in Chainsaw Man, explained

Pochita stands as the titular overarching protagonist of Chainsaw Man. He is quite literally the key to almost everything. His contract with Denji is what led to the events of the series, dragging Denji into it as well. He offered to become Denji's heart in exchange for the privilege of experiencing Denji's dreams, which the boy shared with Pochita often.

Due to his immense powers as a Devil, he was revered by some and feared by others. His death was the objective of the Four Horsemen and the Weapon Devils, which is also why they too ended up on Earth. Moreover, the International Assassins Arc and the subsequent arcs showcase Pochita's popularity among the wrong crowd. But Pochita's role goes deeper than just his abilities. For starters, he gives Denji a reason to survive in a world where he is constantly rejected and manipulated.

Then, his bond and contract with Denji depict the duality of Devils (the fear they embody and the potential for care and connection). When in control as Chainsaw Man, Pochita draws out Denji's deepest impulses, able to relate to him through mutual experiences of solitude, despair and want for companionship. Pochita's complex existence and rapport with Denji embody contradictions in characters, blurring the lines between good and bad and humanity and monstrosity.