Was Chainsaw Man canceled or axed? Some fans believe it ended earlier than expected for a number of reasons.
In this article, we break down the main factors behind Chainsaw Man’s situation.
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Was Chainsaw Man Manga & Anime Canceled or Axed? Reasons Explained
Chainsaw Man ran in Weekly Shonen Jump from 2019 to 2021 for Part 1 and continued on Shonen Jump+ from 2022 onward, so it was not canceled.
As of August 2023, this popular series has surpassed 26 million copies in cumulative sales for its first 15 volumes.
A TV anime adaptation also aired from October to December 2022.
Misunderstanding the conclusion of Part 1
Although Part 1 of *Chainsaw Man* has concluded, some fans seem to have mistakenly believed the series had been canceled because Part 2 began serialization shortly afterward.
In particular, since the story of the protagonist, Denji, came to a natural conclusion, many readers apparently felt that “this must be the end.”
Furthermore, the brief hiatus between Part 1 and Part 2 likely contributed to the misunderstanding that the series had been canceled.
Because I moved to Jump+
Although the first part of *Chainsaw Man* concluded in *Weekly Shonen Jump*, some people seemed to misunderstand the move of the second part to *Jump+* as a cancellation or being forced out.
In particular, the move from *Weekly Shonen Jump*, a major print magazine, to *Jump+*, a digital platform, was sometimes perceived as a cancellation or demotion.
However, in reality, *Jump+* is a platform that allows for new experiments and flexible editorial policies, and the move is seen as a way to give Tatsuki Fujimoto greater freedom to tell the stories he wants and express himself as he sees fit.
The ending was way too rushed
While “Chainsaw Man” is known for its unpredictable character actions and plot twists, the sudden turn of events toward the end of Part 1 seems to have sparked rumors that the series was being canceled.
In particular, the series of dramatic developments—such as a character with few prior hints suddenly emerging as the mastermind toward the end of the story, or major characters exiting the story in unexpected ways—served as the catalyst for these cancellation rumors.
While this sense of speed and shocking plot twists—so characteristic of Tatsuki Fujimoto—is part of the series’ appeal, it may have given some readers the impression that “the story is being rushed” or that “it feels like they’re running out of time.”
Furthermore, alongside the shocking developments depicted in the final stretch, some fans felt that “there might not be enough room to continue any further,” which likely contributed to the emergence of these cancellation theories.
It wasn't meant for *Weekly Shonen Jump*
Although *Weekly Shonen Jump* is a shonen magazine, some people have suggested that *Chainsaw Man* was canceled because its overwhelming number of gory scenes made it unsuitable for the magazine.
正直チェンソーマンが
週刊で打ち切りになるなら
ジャンプ+とかに移籍の方が
良いファンつく気がするんだよなぁ。
(そうなると週刊の読む作品減って困る読者←)— みゃお (@rasutoQ) February 25, 2019
“Chainsaw Man” falls into the genres of dark fantasy, suspense, and horror. It features numerous scenes that are so extreme and grotesque as to be considered unusual for a shonen manga, and many people felt that it might not be suitable for the typical shonen readership.
In particular, the cruel scenes drawn by Tatsuki Fujimoto and the story’s progression, which challenges ethical taboos, stood in stark contrast to Weekly Shonen Jump’s traditional themes of “friendship, hard work, and victory,” sparking both praise and criticism.
Furthermore, since Tatsuki Fujimoto, the creator of Chainsaw Man, had been an avid reader of “Champion” since childhood, it is believed that he was influenced to some extent by Champion’s expressive style.
While it is true that the decision to conclude Part 1 and move to Jump+ was made to further pursue the story’s direction and creative freedom, this is also one of the reasons why speculation spread that the move was necessitated because the series no longer fit within Weekly Shonen Jump.
Given that the previous works by *Chainsaw Man* author Tatsuki Fujimoto concluded relatively quickly, and combined with the fact that *Chainsaw Man* itself concluded after Part 1, it seems likely that this is what led to the rumors that the series had been canceled.
The author’s previous work, *Fire Punch*, is just as serious as *Chainsaw Man* and is known for its fast-paced plot development, yet it concluded in just eight volumes.
“Chainsaw Man” is also an epic story, yet Part 1 concluded in just 11 volumes, which may have contributed to the perception that “Tatsuki Fujimoto’s works are short-lived.”
Consequently, the fact that “Chainsaw Man”—a work by the same author in a similar genre—also concluded in a short period may be one reason why the theory that it was canceled has emerged.
It seemed as though the first season of the anime had been canceled
When the first season of the *Chainsaw Man* anime ended, the ending sequence and final scene hinted at a sequel. However, since no concrete information was announced afterward, speculation began to spread among some fans, with questions like, “Is there not going to be a sequel?” and “Could it have been canceled?”
Especially for popular works like *Chainsaw Man*, it can take time for a sequel to be confirmed due to factors such as production schedules, securing staff, and budget constraints. This is likely what led to the rumors of the series being “canceled.”
When there is no concrete information despite hints of a sequel, fans find themselves in a state of mixed anticipation and anxiety, creating an environment where misunderstandings and rumors easily arise.
This background likely explains why rumors of the series being canceled began circulating after the first season of the “Chainsaw Man” anime ended.
Explaining the “Allegations of Boredom” Behind the Cancellation of *Chainsaw Man*
Change of protagonist
In Part 1 of *Chainsaw Man*, Denji was the protagonist, and the series was known for its over-the-top style. However, Part 2’s protagonist, Asa Mitaka, has a different personality and a changed atmosphere, which came as a surprise to fans.
While Denji’s story centered on flashy, extreme action and his impulsive character, Asa is a more introspective character plagued by inner conflict.
This shift significantly altered the story’s tone and themes, offering fans a fresh perspective while also causing some anxiety.
In particular, Asa’s deep emotions and approach to relationships stood in stark contrast to Denji’s simple sense of adventure, and at times, the story’s progression seemed a bit difficult to follow.
Because there's more psychological depth than action
While Part 1 of *Chainsaw Man* was packed with flashy action scenes driven by Denji’s outrageous thoughts and impulsive behavior, many fans felt that Part 2 left something to be desired due to its increased focus on psychological characterization.
Since many readers in Part 1 were captivated by the nonstop action scenes and unpredictable plot twists, quite a few were taken aback by the different pace of Part 2, which places greater emphasis on depicting the characters’ inner lives and emotions.
Nevertheless, as the story explores its themes and the characters’ growth, the depth and complexity of Part 2 can be said to be creating a new kind of appeal.
Allegations that the animation quality in Part 2 is terrible
The artwork in *Chainsaw Man* is both raw and beautiful; in Part 1, in particular, its powerful style was one of the series’ main attractions, but it seems that as the series moved into Part 2, more readers began to describe the artwork as “terrible.”
チェンソーマン作画酷くないか
内容入ってこない
作者心配— ちゅう夜逆転 (@pikas33588) January 9, 2024
悪く言っちゃうけど今週のチェンソーマン見ても作画が酷いんよな
1部の作画に戻して欲しすぎる— Tao (@Tao_baka) August 20, 2024
Some viewers felt that the series lacked the sense of speed and intensity found in the first season, and that the increased use of simple, rough lines made it visually underwhelming.
Opinions on the animation were mixed; while some noted improvements, there were also many who expressed a longing for the nostalgic charm of the first season.
How far does the final episode of the Chainsaw Man anime go? Where does the original manga pick up from there?
The “Chainsaw Man” anime adapted the story up to Volume 5, Chapter 38.
Therefore, if you want to follow the story beyond the second season of the anime, you can start by buying Volume 5.
By the way, the “anime” is progressing as shown in the table below.
| Manga | Anime |
|---|---|
| Volume 1 | (Season 1) Episodes 1–3 |
| Volume 2 | (Season 1) Episodes 3–6 |
| Volume 3 | (Season 1) Episodes 6–9 |
| Volume 4 | (Season 1) Episodes 9–11 |
| Volume 5 | (Season 1) Episodes 11–12 |
| Volume 6～ | Movies |
⇒Watch the anime “Chainsaw Man” on Amazon Prime Video
Final Thoughts on Chainsaw Man
In conclusion, there is no clear evidence that Chainsaw Man was canceled.
Overall, several factors discussed above likely influenced how Chainsaw Man ended.
The series’ unusual style and story direction did not fully match the typical Weekly Shonen Jump image, and the move to Jump+ starting from Part 2 led some readers to believe that Chainsaw Man had been canceled.
However, the series simply moved to Jump+ to allow for more creative freedom, and its constantly changing story development is one of the main reasons many readers continue to enjoy it.
It may still be worth checking out for yourself.
⇒Watch the anime “Chainsaw Man” on Amazon Prime Video
