Pochita: Why did Pochita turn into a dog in Chainsaw Man? Explained

Why did Pochita turn into a dog in Chainsaw Man? Explained

Modified Jun 22, 2024 09:30 GMT

Pochita in Chainsaw Man (Image via MAPPA)

Initially, Chainsaw Man's Pochita seemed like a sort of Devil-dog hybrid that was fiercely loyal to Denji. The pair were inseparable, and thanks to Pochita, Denji was able to hunt Devils and somehow still survive. However, within the opening of the series itself, Pochita was revealed to have a deeper role.

Pochita likely stands as a shining example of "looks can be deceiving." The tiny creature is the titular overarching protagonist of Tatsuki Fujimoto's series, but he wasn't always a small dog. He has a chainsaw protruding from the center of his head, which seems to hint at him being the original Chainsaw Man.

However, a run-in with the Four Horsemen and Weapon Devils compelled him to assume a weaker form. Here's everything related to Pochita and why he appeared as a dog.

Pochita's origins in Chainsaw Man, explained

A lot of Pochita's past is yet unknown, with little information being revealed by Makima and other Devils. In Hell, he was called the Chainsaw Man. He possessed the unique ability to erase devils and their names by consuming them. Once consumed, Devils couldn't reincarnate and the fear they represented was erased from existence.

This made him a threat to Devil-kind and earned him the titles of "The Devil that Devils fear the most" and "The Hero of Hell". However, this infamy made several Devils target Pochita, including primal fears such as Darkness and Death.

They attempted to kill him multiple times, but he always seemed to find a way back and return to the battle. While some made his immense power a subject of worship, causing certain Devils to revere and follow him, others viewed it as an object of fear, choosing to stay far away and not engage with him.

Why Pochita had to turn into a dog

Threatened and likely unhappy with the circumstances, the Four Horsemen joined hands against Pochita. The Four Horsemen include Control Devil, Famine Devil, Death Devil, and War Devil, while the Weapon Devils include Katana Devil, Bomb Devil, Bow Devil, Longsword Devil, Flamethrower Devil, Spear Devil, and Whip Devil.

What ensued was an intense battle, in which he was badly wounded. He was reduced to a "completely changed, near-death form, according to Makima. This very strongly implies that he was forced to assume his dog form. As the battle hit its peak, Pochita suddenly vanished and somehow ended up on Earth.

Roaming the land, he found Denji, who was mourning at his father's tombstone. Initially, he acted in a hostile way towards the boy, but the injuries he had sustained caused him to collapse. Feeling empathetic, Denji offered Pochita his blood so that he could heal himself on the condition that the two become partners.

Thus, the pair became partners, with Pochita assisting Denji in hunting Devils and wood cutting.