The following contains spoilers for Episode 1 of Chainsaw Man, “DOG & CHAINSAW,” now streaming onCrunchyroll.
WhileMob Psycho 100sawits English Dub premiere day and datewith the Japanese release, fans had to wait an extra two weeks for the English release of 2022’s most anticipated show. But unlikeMob Psycho, which had already had two dubbed seasons prior, getting the right cast forChainsaw Manwas no doubt a big consideration.
Based on Tatsuki Fujimoto’s manga of the same name, the story follows Denji, a young man hunting devils for the Yakuza with the help of Pochita, his pet devil. When he’s betrayed, Denji merges with Pochita to become theChainsaw Deviland gets recruited to Public Safety where he kills devils for a living alongside a who’s who of deadly fellow misfits.
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Casting Denji
As stated in our review of the season premiere,Chainsaw Man’s first episodeis razor-focused on Denji’s origin and the circumstances that turn him into the titular Chainsaw Devil. The depressive state of his living situation and his laboring under the weight of immense debt is felt in the atmosphere alone, but the leading performance carries a lot of the weight as well.
Ryan Colt Levy voices Denji, a role which is a personal dream of the actor, himself being a huge fan of the manga.My Hero Academiafans will recognize them as Rody Soul fromMy Hero’s third feature film,World Heroes' Mission. He also voicedArash inFate/Grand Order Camelot. However, it wouldn’t be a surprise if his role inChainsaw Mansees his career skyrocket to new heights.
Denji’s casual tone is important to capture and Levy’s performance is just as magnetic in such a short episode. The oppressive weight Denji carries is constant, his worries about money never cease and aren’t allowed to cease. He’s hardly allowed to dream, as he himself states.Despite that, he tends to take joy in little victories.
Chainsaw Man’s script almost demands a more naturalistic acting style, which can sound dry without the right direction. Jessica Sluys' script writes Denji with an appropriately informal tone which Levy acts with contemplative pauses and an almost scratchy and quiet voice like he’s parched for water.
But it’s when he becomes the Chainsaw Devil that Levy truly reveals why he is Denji: his insanity. Be it the shouting or the modulation of his voice in this altered form, his savagery has a renewed appeal. It’s even more entertaining when he laughs whilecutting up the Zombie Devil’s minions.
The Supporting Cast
Despite mentioning a more naturalistic style of acting, there are some performances that are, perhaps by necessity, acted with a more theatrical style, namely the Zombie Devil, played by Linda Young. While the death cries of the Japanese Zombie Devil can give one nightmare, Young’s performance might underwhelm.
One of the most pleasant surprises was Lindsay Seidel as Pochita. Admittedly, all the memes joking about what Pochita would sound like in the dub built up the expectations, but the voice ended up being that right balance of cute and quirky. And frankly, it should sound a little funny, itbeing a chainsaw-shaped dog and all.
But for sure, the standout of the premiere was Suzie Yeung as Makima, a role that is almost as crucial to nail as Denji (but to be fair, all the main characters will have a high bar to clear). Yeung’s delivery is just as soothing as Tomori Kusunoki’s performance in the Japanese version. Her voice is soft without falling into the trap of sounding too monotonous. There’s seduction or perhaps delight behind her words, matching her sly and inviting smile.
All in all, the first episode of theChainsaw Mandub is worth the wait for those looking to check out the dub week by week. Ryan Colt Levy is an exceptional pick for Denji whose passion for the character is evident not just in the loudest moments, but the pregnant pauses between words and the listless reflections on his unfortunate life. Expect future weekly episode reviews ofChainsaw Manto comment onfuture episodes of the English Dubas they release.
