Chainsaw Man is one of the trendiest animes. It makes perfect sense not only because it is excellent, but also because the manga is still ongoing and is causing a stir both in Japan and in the West. Its newly released movie is making waves at the box office and is on track to become the highest-grossing anime film in history, and even without the announcement of its second season, it seems that its future is bright. But what awaits the fans now that they have to wait again?
Obviously, you can enjoy other works by the author, Tatsuki Fujimoto. But as a mangaka, it is true that those who only watch anime may feel disappointed for not having anything to sink their teeth into. And those who already read his mangas, if they are up to date with what he has written, may feel the same way. But Fujimoto has written numerous short stories that have now been adapted into anime and will be released in a series that promises us one thing: to tear our hearts out, shatter them, and let us marvel at how it does so in the process.
An anthology that promises to offer us the best of the author
Tatsuki Fujimoto 17-26 is the name of this anthology released on November 7 on Prime Video. This will be an adaptation of Tatsuki Fujimoto Before Chainsaw Man, which is divided into two parts, 17-21 and 22-26, which will be presented here under the same name.
The uniqueness of the series is that, in the style of Animatrix or Star Wars: Visions, each episode will be directed by a different studio and director. The aim is not to create a unified style, but precisely the opposite. It seeks to emphasize the different aspects of the author’s work, utilizing the strengths of each of those involved to give more weight to each of the chapters.
Composed of eight chapters, the studios involved are Zexcs, Lapin Track, Studio Graph, 100studio, Studio Kafka, and P.A. Works, working on episodes 1, 2 and 3, 4, 5 and 7, 6 and 8 respectively. Among these studios, Lapin Track stands out particularly, having produced the excellent and underrated Sarazanmai and Undead Girl Murder Farce, and P.A. Works, known more recently for the adaptation of Skip and Loafer.
In fact, the episodes with the most potential coincide with those from the most interesting studio. Lapin Track is not only responsible for two very particular chapters, Sasaki Stopped a Bullet and Love is Blind, but both are written by Teruko Utsumi, a capable screenwriter who has worked with the studio before, with the first directed by Nobukage Kimura, an rising star who previously directed I’ve Been Killing Slimes For 300 Years And Maxed Out My Level, and the second by Nobuyuki Takeuchi, a director with nearly 40 years of experience who has worked with legends like Kunihiko Ikuhara and Akiyuki Shinbo.
Even so, it is impossible to know which episode will steal the show. All the studios have good source material, and it is undeniable that they will want to give their all with an author who has proven that, when well adapted, succeeds with everything they release. Therefore, it is to be expected that the series will be among the most talked about of the year.
That’s why you shouldn’t miss Tatsuki Fujimoto 17-26 for anything in the world. Whether you’re a fan of Chainsaw Man or have never seen it, this is the anime series of the season that you must watch above all others. It’s not just that it has self-contained episodes, but it’s also a perfect gateway into the unique universe of one of today’s most celebrated and beloved authors. This makes it a series that, whether better or worse, is essential for any anime fan. And almost also for those who are not.
