Parents' Guide to Chainsaw Man

Chainsaw Man TV show poster

Common Sense Media Review

By Jeremy Looney , based on child development research. How do we rate?

age 16+

Body horror in violent, gory anime for mature viewers.

Parents Need to Know

Why Age 16+?

Any Positive Content?

Parent and Kid Reviews

age 14+

Based on 32 parent reviews

Parents say that while the show has garnered praise for its engaging storyline and animation, it is overwhelmingly unsuitable for children due to its graphic violence, sexual themes, and strong language. Many reviewers emphasize that it is intended for a mature audience and recommend viewing by teens aged 12 and up, although some parents strongly advise against allowing younger viewers to watch it at all.

  • not for kids
  • graphic violence
  • strong language
  • sexual themes
  • mature audience
Summarized with AI

age 13+

Based on 78 kid reviews

Kids say this animated series is an engaging yet controversial show that features a blend of extreme violence and sexual themes, making it unsuitable for younger audiences. While older viewers enjoy its complex characters and plot, many stress the importance of maturity in determining appropriate age for viewing, with recommendations generally ranging from 13 to 16 years and older due to its graphic content.

  • mature content
  • graphic violence
  • age recommendations
  • complex characters
  • viewer maturity
Summarized with AI

What's the Story?

Based on the manga series by Fujimoto Tatsuki, CHAINSAW MAN is an anime series about Denji (voiced by Ryan Colt Levy), a devil hunter who obtains the power of the chainsaw devil that allows him to transform parts of his body into chainsaws at will. Denji uses these new abilities to brutally eliminate other devils, supernatural creatures born from the fears of humanity. Denji then joins the Public Safety Devil Hunters, an official organization authorized by the Japanese government whose mission is to protect civilians from devils by hunting and eliminating them.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say ( 32 ):
Kids say ( 78 ):

Shocking amounts of gore and body horror dominate in this strange and brutal world where humanity's collective fears materialize as real-world monsters. Chainsaw Man takes this intriguing concept and runs with it at a relentlessly brutal pace. The stronger the fear, the stronger the devil it creates, and it's up to the devil hunters to track down these supernatural monsters and eliminate them. The stylized brutal action is entertaining, and there's a mixture of 3D and 2D animation that feels fluid. Real issues (suicide, extreme poverty, antisocial behavior, manipulation) are portrayed in this show, but they're mostly just there to highlight the brutality of the world the characters inhabit.

Chainsaw Man is a violently gory show set in a bleak and dangerous world, but if you're an older teen or adult who can stomach graphic, mature content, and if over-the-top anime with dark settings are your thing, then this unusual grim series could be just right for you.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the impact that viewing sexual content can have. What kind of messages about sex is this anime trying to convey? Are these perspectives healthy?

  • Families can also talk about the graphic violence in this anime. How do depictions of animated violence compare to depictions of live-action violence, and what effect do you think these depictions have in the real world?

TV Details

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Chainsaw Man TV show poster

What to Watch Next

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