Tatsuki Fujimoto is a madman. If you’ve spent any time reading or watching Chainsaw Man, you already know that. Most shonen authors treat their cast like precious heirlooms, but Fujimoto treats them like a bowl of spicy ramen—he consumes them, enjoys the heat, and moves on. Because of that, keeping track of Chainsaw Man all characters is basically like trying to count raindrops in a hurricane. People show up, you fall in love with them, and then—bam—they’re a pile of meat on the floor.
It’s brutal. Honestly, it’s why the series works.
When we talk about the cast, we aren't just talking about a bunch of tropes. We’re talking about a collection of broken, desperate, and weirdly relatable losers who just happen to have devils living inside their chests or contracts with giant monsters. From the guy who just wants to touch a breast to the literal personification of humanity's deepest fears, the spectrum is wild.
The Core Trio: Denji, Aki, and Power
Everything starts with Denji. He’s our protagonist, but he isn't your typical "I want to be the Pirate King" or "I want to be Hokage" type of guy. No. Denji wants a piece of toast with jam. He wants a girlfriend. He’s a victim of extreme poverty who merged with his chainsaw dog, Pochita, to become a hybrid. He is impulsive and often lacks a moral compass, but his simplicity is his strength. He doesn't overthink; he just revs the engine.
Then you have Aki Hayakawa.
Aki is the heart of the first half of the series. He’s the "cool" one, the disciplined Public Safety devil hunter who smokes too much and hides his trauma behind a suit. He has a contract with the Fox Devil and later the Curse Devil, which literally eats away at his lifespan every time he uses it. Watching his cold exterior melt into a brotherly bond with Denji and Power is the most rewarding—and eventually the most painful—part of the story.
Then there's Power. She's a Blood Fiend. She’s loud, she smells, she lies constantly, and she thinks humans are inferior. She’s also arguably the most beloved character in the entire franchise. Power doesn't have a "redemption arc" in the traditional sense; she just becomes slightly less of a jerk because she likes her cat, Meowy, and eventually, she likes Denji.
The Mystery of Makima
You can’t talk about the cast without talking about Makima. She is the high-ranking Public Safety leader who finds Denji. At first, she seems like the "waifu" archetype, the mentor who guides the hero. But if you’ve been paying attention to the subtle cues—the way everyone is terrified of her, the way she never seems to blink, the way she treats Denji like a dog—you know something is off.
She is the Control Devil.
Her power isn't just physical; it’s ontological. She can control anyone she deems "lesser" than herself. Her goal isn't world domination in the cheesy villain sense; she wants to use Chainsaw Man’s power to erase things like death, war, and hunger from existence. It’s a "heroic" goal achieved through monstrous means. This nuance is why she remains one of the most debated characters in modern manga history.
Public Safety and the Supporting Cast
The secondary characters in Chainsaw Man all characters are often more interesting than the leads in other series. Take Himeno, for instance. She’s Aki’s partner, a woman who has lost too many subordinates and uses humor and cigarettes to cope. Her relationship with Aki is tragic because it’s rooted in a mutual understanding of their impending deaths.
Then there is Kishibe. He’s the strongest devil hunter, a man who has lived long enough to go gray in a profession where most people die at twenty. He’s an alcoholic who claims the only way to be a good devil hunter is to be "not quite right in the head." He’s the cynical anchor of the series.
- Kobeni Higashiyama: The personification of anxiety. She’s incredibly skilled but spends 90% of her screen time screaming or crying. The fact that she survives when everyone else dies is one of Fujimoto’s best running jokes.
- Beam: The Shark Fiend. He worships Denji (Lord Chainsaw) with a fervor that is both hilarious and touching.
- Angel Devil: A devil who hates humans but is forced to work for them. His touch drains the lifespan of others, making him a tragic figure who can never truly be close to anyone.
The Hybrids and the Devils
In the world of Chainsaw Man, there’s a hierarchy. There are Devils, which are born from human fears. There are Fiends, which are devils that have taken over a human corpse (like Power). And then there are Hybrids—humans who have fused with a devil but kept their consciousness.
Reze, the Bomb Girl, is the standout here. Her arc in the "Bomb Girl" saga is a masterclass in subverting expectations. She starts as a potential love interest for Denji, a girl working at a cafe who seems to truly "get" him. When the reveal hits that she’s a Soviet assassin and a hybrid, it guts the reader just as much as it guts Denji. Their fight is spectacular, but their quiet moments in the rain are what people remember.
Then you have the other hybrids like Quanxi, the "First Devil Hunter" from China. She’s a lesbian badass who travels with a harem of fiends and can move faster than the eye can see. She represents the global scale of the devil hunting world.
The Primordial Fears
Toward the end of Part 1, we get introduced to the Darkness Devil. This is where the series shifts from "gritty urban fantasy" to "cosmic horror." The Darkness Devil is a Primordial Fear—a devil that has never experienced death. Its appearance in Hell is one of the most haunting sequences in manga. It doesn't fight; it just happens to you. People’s arms fall off. Space-time bends. It reminds the reader that no matter how strong Denji or Makima are, there are things in the universe that are fundamentally beyond human comprehension.
Part 2: The New Generation
When Chainsaw Man Part 2 started, many fans were confused. Where was Denji? Who is this girl Asa Mitaka?
Asa is a high schooler who is socially awkward, cynical, and deeply lonely. After a freak accident involving a "Justice Devil," she becomes the host for the War Devil, Yoru. Unlike Denji and Pochita, who are buddies, Asa and Yoru have a parasitic, antagonistic relationship. Yoru wants to turn people into weapons. Asa just wants to have a normal life and maybe a boyfriend.
This shift in perspective was a gamble, but it paid off. Asa is a more internal character than Denji. Her struggles with self-loathing and social anxiety make her the perfect protagonist for the second half of the story.
Then there's Nayuta. She’s the reincarnation of the Control Devil. Denji is now raising her as his little sister, trying to give her the love and snacks she needs so she doesn't turn into another Makima. It’s a bizarre, wholesome, and stressful dynamic. Denji is trying to be a father figure while also trying to figure out how to be a teenager himself.
Why People Get These Characters Wrong
A common misconception is that Chainsaw Man characters are just "edgy."
That’s a shallow take.
If you look closer, the series is actually about the search for connection. Denji isn't looking for power; he’s looking for a hug. Power isn't looking for blood; she’s looking for a family. Makima isn't looking for control for the sake of it; she’s looking for an equal, someone she can actually love.
The tragedy is that in a world built on fear, these connections are almost always fatal.
The Reality of Survival
In most manga, you can guess who will survive based on popularity polls. Fujimoto doesn't care. He killed off almost the entire cast of Part 1. This creates a genuine sense of stakes. When a character enters a room in Chainsaw Man, you are legitimately worried they won't leave it.
This leads to a "carpe diem" attitude among the cast. They eat good food, they have sex, they drink, and they laugh because they know that tomorrow, a devil might eat their head. It gives the series a vibrant, frantic energy that sets it apart from the more "planned out" feel of series like My Hero Academia or Jujutsu Kaisen.
Understanding the Power Dynamics
To truly grasp the cast, you have to understand how their powers reflect their personalities.
- Denji (Chainsaw): Chaos, persistence, and messy survival. He wins by being more annoying and more willing to hurt himself than his opponent.
- Aki (Future/Curse): Sacrifice. He literally trades his future for the sake of the present.
- Power (Blood): Vitality and ego. She uses her own life force to create weapons, reflecting her self-centered but powerful nature.
- Yoru (War): Ownership. She can only turn things into weapons if she feels she "owns" them. This ties into Asa’s struggle with guilt and connection.
How to Follow the Story Going Forward
If you're trying to keep up with the ever-evolving list of Chainsaw Man all characters, the best way is to focus on the "Generations."
The First Generation (Part 1) is defined by the Public Safety Bureau and the hunt for the Gun Devil. It’s a story about found family and the loss of innocence.
The Second Generation (Part 2) is defined by the Devil Hunter Club at school and the looming threat of the "Prophecy of Nostradamus." It’s more of a character study on trauma and the difficulty of living a "normal" life when you’ve been touched by the supernatural.
Don't get too attached to anyone. That’s the golden rule. Enjoy the characters for who they are in the moment. Whether it's the goofy antics of Denji and Nayuta or the simmering tension between Asa and Yoru, the cast is always moving, always changing, and usually dying.
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Actionable Insights for Fans
- Read the Manga: The anime is great, but the manga’s pacing and art style (especially the paneling) offer a different level of character depth.
- Watch the Backgrounds: Fujimoto loves cinema. Many character moments are homages to classic films. Look for movie posters or specific framing in the panels.
- Pay Attention to Food: In Chainsaw Man, food is often a stand-in for intimacy and humanity. What a character eats—and who they eat with—tells you everything about their mental state.
- Re-read Part 1 after finishing: Knowing Makima’s true nature changes every single interaction she has in the first 80 chapters. It’s a completely different experience.
The world of Chainsaw Man is bleak, but its characters are incredibly vibrant. They are messy, selfish, and deeply human. That is why we keep reading, even when we know our favorite character is probably one chapter away from a permanent dirt nap.