When looking at the entire list of the 10 most popular characters in the new Chainsaw Man rankings, one thing becomes clear: Anime-only fans are in for a really big shock.
Chainsaw Man fans have just received the results of the latest character poll. Looking at this top 10 list in the context of the manga’s latest arcs, we realize a tragic reality that perhaps anime-only fans will have a hard time accepting.
Many of the characters in the current top 10 are names that played prominent roles in the blockbuster movie Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc. In fact, Reze took the number 1 spot, a result that is not surprising to anyone who is following the popularity of this “Bomb Devil” girl.
Most of the 10 most famous Chainsaw Man characters are dead in the Manga
If there’s one thing that’s certain about the modern shonen manga scene, it’s that new series are not afraid to ditch core cast members and fan-favorite characters. However, no manga enjoys killing off iconic heroes more than Chainsaw Man. That truth has never appeared more clearly than when looking at the Top 10 most popular characters according to the most recent poll.
The most popular Chainsaw Man characters, in order from highest to lowest, include: Reze, Makima, Aki, Denji, Power, Angel, Beam, Yoshida, Pochita and Asa. When looking at this list of the Top 10 characters most voted for by fans, a chilling truth is revealed: The vast majority of them died in the manga.
Specifically, at least 6/10 top characters are dead. Even 7/10 of the top characters are completely absent from the manga’s current plot.
Among the top 10, only Denji, Asa and Pochita (who often exist in Devil form) still play an important role in current developments. As for Reze, although she is believed to still be alive, she completely disappeared during part 2 of Chainsaw Man.
It’s hard to imagine another manga artist, other than Tatsuki Fujimoto, being bold enough to outright kill off or eliminate from the story 70% of the most beloved characters in the entire series. It is this willingness to do the unthinkable that has helped Chainsaw Man become one of the most critically acclaimed shonen series on the planet, and the Reze Arc film an unprecedented international box office success.
Chainsaw Man Part 2 will likely significantly change the franchise’s subsequent popularity rankings
Chainsaw Man’s most recent character poll is clearly a sign of the times. Even though season 2 characters like Asa and Nayuta (ranked 11) ranked high, the final poll was still dominated by the big characters of the Reze Arc – those with the strongest influence through the anime/movie.
No matter how popular manga is, anime always has a wider reach. That’s why most of the most popular characters today are dead or gone in season 2.
However, this will probably change soon. Chainsaw Man season 2 is expected to release soon (possibly announced at Jump Festa this December). When season 2 is broadcast and season 1 ends, supporting characters such as Quanxi (ranked 14th), Kobeni (ranked 13th) and Kishibe (ranked 15th) will certainly be seen by many fans from a new perspective, perhaps with a significant increase in ranking.
Conversely, it wouldn’t be surprising if Makima sees a slight decline in popularity following upcoming events. After all, she is the indirect cause of the deaths of most of the aforementioned beloved characters.
Of course, Fujimoto’s heavy-handed approach to death in Chainsaw Man was not without backlash from fans. The recent poll is a good indicator of why killing off beloved characters like Power and Aki is sure to draw outrage from fans who already love them.
However, that is also the genius of Fujimoto’s approach. Fujimoto understands that absence makes the heart miss more. Part of the reason for Reze’s enduring popularity – even among manga readers who haven’t seen her in over 100 chapters – is simply because of the powerful impact of losing her.
