Osamu Tezuka is considered the "Godfather of Manga and Anime." He redefined how stories in both anime and manga were told, not only visually but also narratively. Astro Boy and Dororo transcended borders and became cult classics to this day.
His stories inspired a new generation of mangaka, making his legacy immortal.
A few decades later, Akira Toriyama shaped a new generation of mangaka by creating the world of Dragon Ball. His incredible art style gave the sense that his panels were alive. With only a few lines, movements felt fast and fluent, punches felt heavy, and characters felt real. Sometimes less really is more!
Dragon Ball became so influential that it inspired the authors of the Big Three: Naruto, One Piece and Bleach, creating another immortal legend in the sphere of anime and manga.
Now that time has passed, it may be time for a new generational parental figure to emerge. While this title can only truly be given once things have played out, the community predicts Tatsuki Fujimoto to be the next one. Not only is Fujimoto responsible for one of the most successful manga at the moment – Chainsaw Man – but all of his assistants also went on to create other very successful manga like Spy x Family, Hell’s Paradise and DanDaDan.
Thus, it seems Fujimoto is someone one should look into more closely!
(Similar to other mangaka, Fujimoto hasn’t shown his face and presents himself only through a character).
Tatsuki Fujimoto Essential Reads
Chainsaw Man
Inheriting the debts of his late father, Denji has never known anything but rock bottom.
He will do anything to gain a bit of money to survive day by day – even working for criminals. After meeting and befriending the pet devil-dog Pochita, he starts earning money by hunting devils with his new companion. It’s a dangerous job, but it pays well.
After being tricked into a dangerous job, he inherits the powers of a devil.
Now, whenever he pulls the cord on his chest, he transforms into the devil hunter Chainsaw Man!
This new power attracts the attention of various groups with different motives.
But as long as Denji’s simple desires are satisfied, he doesn’t really care who he works for.
[FOR OLDER TEEN AUDIENCES!]
The superhero genre is definitely not new, but Fujimoto took the manga community by storm with his fresh take on superheroes in Chainsaw Man.
Audiences were mesmerized not only by the incredible art, but also by the unfiltered and chaotic way the story is told. Fights are violent, characters are brutally honest and clearly shaped by their lives fighting devils – yet they remain lovable.
It’s no surprise that you’ll see many figures and cosplays of these characters.
Additionally, the idea of humans working with devils to inherit their powers presents a fresh power system and allows Fujimoto to create some of the most insane fights in any form of media. I mean, when was the last time you saw a superhero with a chainsaw for a head, riding a wild shark into battle?
However, what really makes Fujimoto stand out is the absence of plot armor and the unpredictability of each shocking twist... The story is told in a way that even hardcore manga fans could never predict what kind of craziness will happen next.
It’s not surprising that, due to this craziness and unpredictability, both the manga and the anime quickly became cult classics throughout the entire manga community.
With the upcoming release of the second story arc adapted into an anime movie at the end of this year, fans of intense action and mature content should definitely not miss out on this series!
The series is ongoing and currently spans 17 volumes in English, with Volume 18 set to release later this year.
- Chainsaw Man GN Vol 01
- Chainsaw Man GN Vol 02
- Chainsaw Man GN Vol 03
- Chainsaw Man GN Vol 04
- Chainsaw Man GN Vol 05
- Chainsaw Man GN Vol 06
- Chainsaw Man GN Vol 07
- Chainsaw Man GN Vol 08
- Chainsaw Man GN Vol 09
- Chainsaw Man GN Vol 10
- Chainsaw Man GN Vol 11
- Chainsaw Man GN Vol 12
- Chainsaw Man GN Vol 13
- Chainsaw Man GN Vol 14
- Chainsaw Man GN Vol 15
- Chainsaw Man GN Vol 16
- Chainsaw Man GN Vol 17
The first 11 volumes are also collected in a beautiful Box Set.
Fire Punch
Before creating the world of Chainsaw Man, Fujimoto worked on his first complete series, Fire Punch.
Orphaned siblings Agni and Luna know nothing but hunger and suffering.
The world they live in is harsh and cold – both literally and figuratively – ever since the Ice Witch plunged it into an ice age.
The only thing keeping them alive is their special abilities. However, these abilities soon become their curse when others with powers attack their village. Now, Agni must endure immense suffering to fulfill his burning desire for revenge.
[FOR MATURE AUDIENCES!]
In this series, Fujimoto already showcased his unfiltered storytelling and talent for world-building.
The world of Fire Punch is cold-hearted – literally and figuratively (I just can’t stop making these jokes...) – and morally grey, where events unfold that are either philosophically complex or reveal the darkest corners of the human mind.
It quickly became clear that Fujimoto has a gift for creating worlds with consistent rules, which he uses to craft the most insane storylines that still make logical sense.
Additionally, the cast of Fire Punch, much like in Chainsaw Man, feels fresh and brutally honest.
Characters range from traumatized soldiers to obsessive filmmakers, each of them uniquely written.
However, the themes of Fire Punch are very mature and at times even questionable.
It’s recommended only for adult readers who can take a few heavy hits.
The complete series is collected in 8 volumes, offering a short journey with a powerful punch.
- Fire Punch GN Vol 01
- Fire Punch GN Vol 02
- Fire Punch GN Vol 03
- Fire Punch GN Vol 04
- Fire Punch GN Vol 05
- Fire Punch GN Vol 06
- Fire Punch GN Vol 07
- Fire Punch GN Vol 08
Enough with the pun(che)s!
Tatsuki Fujimoto Essential Reads – One-Shots
Fujimoto not only loves creating vast worlds and long-running series, but he has also written many one-shot stories that fans of his work should not miss.
Additionally, those who don’t connect with his series might still appreciate what makes his work so incredible through these more grounded stories.
Look Back
Two young artists from a small town share a common goal: they both want to become manga creators. As their talents grow, so does their bond. But life isn’t always easy – a lesson they’ll both have to learn after tragedy strikes.
[FOR OLDER TEEN AUDIENCES!]
Although Fujimoto’s worlds are mostly filled with devils and superpowered beings, Look Back takes a more grounded approach.
Once again, Fujimoto mesmerizes audiences with his beautiful art style and delivers a heartfelt story about growing up and chasing dreams.
Fujimoto not only shows us the lives of two young artists trying to fulfill their dreams while struggling with their own issues, but also holds up a mirror to the audience.
He asks questions like: "Why do you do what you love?" or "Why don’t you do what you love?"
This story also takes a surprising twist that no one will see coming, once again proving how brutally Fujimoto tells stories without easing the audience into change.
This manga not only left me with teary eyes but also inspired me to pursue my dreams. It’s considered one of the best one-shots manga has to offer – both visually and narratively.
What more could you want from a story?
Look Back is a one-shot manga collected in a single volume that serves as a perfect entry point into Fujimoto’s short stories.
Goodbye, Eri
After his mother dies, the young filmmaker Yuta contemplates suicide. He is interrupted by a mysterious girl named Eri, who seems interested in Yuta’s filmmaking – a passion that began with his dying mother’s request to record her final moments.
Yuta and Eri begin creating a movie, which slowly reveals a secret about Eri that could change both of their lives.
Similar to Look Back, this story takes a grounded approach to real issues that some readers may deeply relate to. We not only witness a son losing his mother at an early age, but also see how one can learn to cope with loss without falling apart.
Additionally, it explores the challenges of pursuing dreams and overcoming the expectations placed on us by others.
Furthermore, the story is told in an incredibly unique visual style. The panels are designed to mimic the feeling of watching a movie through a camera screen.
Fujimoto not only captures the look of a camera accurately, but also includes the shakes and focus issues an amateur filmmaker would face. This creates a distinct atmosphere that’s rarely seen in manga.
And of course, the story once again delivers incredible twists and turns that will leave readers in awe – and possibly questioning their own lives.
It’s only logical that Look Back and Goodbye, Eri are often recommended as a duo – sharing similar themes and vibes while still standing on their own.
So if you decide to pick up Look Back, don’t miss out on Goodbye, Eri as well!
Tatsuki Fujimoto Before Chainsaw Man 17-21 and 22-26
Before writing series like Chainsaw Man and Fire Punch, Fujimoto focused on one-shots. While Look Back and Goodbye, Eri fill a full manga volume, his earlier one-shots are shorter, each spanning only a chapter.
These works are collected across two volumes: Tatsuki Fujimoto Before Chainsaw Man 17-21 and Tatsuki Fujimoto Before Chainsaw Man 22-26.
Humans dressing as chickens to escape aliens, teenage love at the end of the world, or an immortal man who just wants to die – these one-shots showcase the early ideas of a young man who would one day become the mad genius behind Chainsaw Man.
These eight stories take you on wild adventures across all genres and are definitely a fun ride if you can’t get enough of the mad mind of Tatsuki Fujimoto.
Tatsuki Fujimoto is 100% the mad genius of Manga
As we said, it’s only possible to know who will truly become this generation’s parental figure once this generation leaves its mark. What is clear, however, is that Fujimoto is a mad genius who has made a strong impact with his bold and unconventional storytelling. Insane ideas mixed with ruthless plot twists no one sees coming, paired with an incredible and unique art style.
He consistently proves his talent for world-building, creating lovable and unique characters, and delivering thrilling action sequences. Even his more grounded, less action-driven stories pack an emotional punch that makes readers question their own lives – in a painful but meaningful way.
Fujimoto is definitely a mad genius that will make you truly question, how on Earth someone can come up with all of this, while still being impressed, how on Earth someone came up with all of this. He is definitely a Mangaka we will still talk about for decades to come.
