Jujutsu Kaisen Studio Confirms Another Series Is The Reason To Believe In Anime’s Future

There may be no more recognizable or successful anime studio in recent years than MAPPA. Since their formation only 15 years ago, the studio has produced some of the biggest titles in the industry, including Attack on Titan, Jujutsu Kaisen, Chainsaw Man, Vinland Saga, and many others. In 2025, MAPPA surpassed its previous highs in yearly earnings, and with what’s still to come in the studio’s future anime productions, it’s likely those records will be broken again soon.

It wasn’t always non-stop success for MAPPA, though. The studio’s first few years were filled with a number of shows that saw moderate fanfare, while lacking that major, groundbreaking hit. That changed around 2016, when Yuri!!! on Ice and In This Corner of the World broke through and received considerable attention. In 2020, MAPPA suddenly took on a much larger role in the industry by taking over Attack on Titan and releasing the first season of Jujutsu Kaisen.

Today, Jujutsu Kaisen is likely MAPPA’s most popular ongoing series. Though there’s another show in which the studio appears both literally and figuratively fully invested. MAPPA’s adaptation of Chainsaw Man is practically unprecedented in the industry, being a rare production fully funded by the studio, and it’s also a show that means a lot to those working on it.

MAPPA President Manabu Otsuka Claims Chainsaw Man ‘Embodies the Reason’ He Works in Anime

In an interview with Bunshun Online, MAPPA president Manabu Otsuka discussed the success of Chainsaw Man, which exploded onto screens in 2022, and then became the talk of online anime fandom in 2025 with the worldwide release of the Reze Arc theatrical film. MAPPA is certainly reaping the rewards now, but during the production’s beginnings, the studio was faced with great, and largely unprecedented risk.

Most anime productions are externally funded, with studios searching for funding from a committee of investors. Chainsaw Man, on the other hand, was a project funded entirely by MAPPA. When there are a number of eyes and hands on a production, it can often be difficult for artists to approach a work with full creative freedom. MAPPA wanted to ensure that creative freedom when it came to Chainsaw Man, even if it came at a great financial cost. Otsuka said:

“I felt that Chainsaw Man embodies the reason why I chose anime as my job, as well as the genealogy of the subculture that I was strongly attracted to when I first joined Studio 4C. The rawness that cannot be contained into an existing framework, the slightly distorted perspective, and the power to establish it as entertainment. It connected with the spirit of the creators who gathered at MAPPA, and overlapped with the kind of works we have loved and have been creating until now.”

Otsuka continued, mentioning that the only logical approach, given how those working for MAPPA felt about Chainsaw Man, was a full self-funded production. The studio is also responsible for marketing and overseas expansion. However, he explained that this decision was not one made with confidence, but rather one made with determination. Regardless of Chainsaw Man‘s individual success as a manga series, it was risky for MAPPA to dive head first into production without any sort of safety net.

Given the feedback and revenue the series has already garnered, Chainsaw Man‘s anime adaptation has been nothing short of a success, and that means not only good things for the show’s future, but also for the future of MAPPA and the quality of their upcoming works. The production decision paved the way for MAPPA to approach other IPs similarly, and established that self-funded productions can be to the benefit of both the studio in-charge and audiences consuming their works.

Self-Funded Productions Are Good for the Anime Industry and Fans

Self-funded productions like Chainsaw Man are nothing but a positive, for all parties involved in their creation and for those enjoying them. They allow artists and creative minds spearheading the projects to approach their work without any sort of limitations other than those the original source material places on them, and even then liberties can be taken to whatever degree the artists so choose.

On the other hand, fans will be treated to the works of artists who will naturally be more invested in what they’re creating, organically raising the quality of the anime being released and watched by fans around the world. Chainsaw Man‘s recent Reze Arc film is a reflection of that, where the incredible quality of the work led to an overwhelmingly positive reception from audiences. The movie was MAPPA’s most successful to date.

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Chainsaw Man, regardless of how some anime fans may feel about it on a personal level, is undeniably good for anime’s future. The success of self-funded projects just like it will lead to more self-funded projects in the future, further increasing the quality of shows while allowing creatives more freedom, all while titles rake in more profit. Of course, there’s more risk involved in fully self-funded projects, and studios will likely have to reserve their funds for major titles rather than investing in unknowns. But Chainsaw Man proves it’s possible and highly profitable.

Chainsaw Man Will Soon Return in the “International Assassins” Arc

During Jump Festa 2026 in Japan, shortly after the global release of the Reze Arc movie, Chainsaw Man‘s next arc, titled “International Assassins”, was officially announced as being in-production. A short teaser was also unveiled, giving fans a glimpse into the chaos and tragedy that lies just ahead for the main trio of Denji, Power, and Aki. As of now, it’s unconfirmed whether the series’ continuation will come in the form of a movie or TV series, but fans will surely line up for its airing either way.

Chainsaw Man is a unique series in a number of ways, from its usual brand of bloody chaos blended with heartfelt drama, to the fact that its anime adaptation was somewhat unprecedented in the industry. MAPPA president Manabu Otsuka recognized its unique qualities, and therefore approached the series in a unique way. Tatsuki Fujimoto’s Chainsaw Man manga only recently ended, so fans will be looking forward to the anime’s return with even greater anticipation than ever before.

Release Date

2022 – 2022

Network

TV Tokyo, TV Osaka, TV Aichi, TVh, TVQ, TSC

Directors

Takeru Sato

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  Tomori Kusunoki

  Makima (voice)