Chainsaw Manis one of the most popular anime and manga series in the world, and there are just as many fans of its creator as there are of his creation.Tatsuki Fujimoto broke into the manga world at an unusually young age, garnering attention from many in the industry for his unique, compelling, and often peculiar one-shot stories. By age 24, his first major serialized work,Fire Punch, began publication onShōnen Jump’s online manga platform,Jump+.
By the time the majority of the anime and manga community learned his name, Tatsuki Fujimoto had already become something of a legend. Social media accounts on which he pretended to be the little sister he didn’t have, videos of himself attempting to levitate, stories about eating his pet goldfish, and most importantly,ridiculously creative stories that spoke to countless fans. Well beforeChainsaw Manbecame one of the biggest names in anime and manga, Fujimoto crafted himself an image just as chaotic as the manga he writes, and fans can thank a massively popular 2000s anime for that.
Tatsuki Fujimoto Belonged to the Haruhi Generation
The Haruhi Craze of the 2000s Created Countless Anime and Manga Fans
Many younger fans of anime might not be aware, but long beforeDemon Slayerattracted new viewers to the medium en masse, or Eren Yeager andAttack on Titankicked off the ‘anime is cool’ movement, there was a movement forming throughout the worldwide anime fandomcentered around a girl named Haruhi Suzumiya. Based on the light novel series,The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiyaaired in Japan in the summer of 2006, and kicked off a craze which lasted the better part of a decade.
Two seasons of anime and a feature length film later, and theHaruhi Suzumiyaseries defined a generation of anime fans in Japanwhile delivering otaku culture to the mainstream in the West. The supernatural slice of life series inspired countless eventual creators, including Tatsuki Fujimoto. The artist states, “When I was in junior high school, all the boys around me, including myself, were turned into otaku by Haruhi.”
Haruhi Is Present in Fujimoto’s Work Today
The Chainsaw Man Creator Wears His Influences on His Sleeve
Tatsuki Fujimoto’s influences aren’t hard to find throughout his body of work.Chainsaw Man’s anime openingwas packed with references to his favorite films, while his stories often reflect scenes or plot elements of other famous works.Chainsaw Man’s chapter #15 is titled “Endless 8th Floor”,referencingHaruhi’s “Endless Eight” arc, which, likeChainsaw Man’s Eternity Devil section, features the characters stuck in a time loop. In a full circle moment, Haruhi’s voice actress, Aya Hirano, was cast as Makima in theChainsaw Manstage play.
Massive Haruhi Kickstarter Gives Fans Hope For The Classic Anime’s Revival
The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya launched a massive Kickstarter campaign, and its success proves that it still deserves a revival after so any years.
Chainsaw Manis set to return to the spotlight withthe upcomingReze Arcfilm, planned for release in 2025. The series started somewhat of a movement of its own during the build-up to the anime’s first season,and fans can thank theHaruhi Suzumiyaseries for that. For the younger generation who may have missed out on the Haruhi craze, now is the perfect time to give it a chance, while the world awaitsChainsaw Man’s return.
Chainsaw Man
Chainsaw Manis a dark fantasy manga created by Tatsuki Fujimoto. The series follows Denji, a young man who merges with his devil-dog Pochita to become Chainsaw Man. He joins the Public Safety Devil Hunters to fight devils threatening Japan. The series explores themes of violence, power, and survival. Since its debut in 2018,Chainsaw Manhas gained immense popularity, leading to a critically acclaimed anime adaptation.
