Chainsaw Man follows Denji, a poor teenage boy living a miserable life while drowning in his dead father’s debt to the yakuza. His only companion is Pochita, a small devil with chainsaw powers. To survive, Denji works as a devil hunter for the yakuza—until they betray and kill him.
In his final moments, Pochita sacrifices himself, merging with Denji and reviving him as a human–devil hybrid known as Chainsaw Man.
After his transformation, Denji is recruited by Makima, a high-ranking Public Safety Devil Hunter, who offers him a better life in exchange for working under her command. Denji joins a team with:
Aki Hayakawa, a serious, disciplined hunter
Power, a chaotic Blood Fiend
Together, they battle dangerous devils born from human fears, including the Eternity Devil, Katana Man, and Gun Devil–related threats.
Throughout the series, Denji struggles with:
His simple dreams (food, comfort, affection)
His identity as both human and devil
His loyalty to Makima, whose intentions are mysterious and unsettling
The anime blends action, dark humor, horror, and emotional depth, ultimately exploring themes of freedom, desire, trauma, and what it means to truly live.