Chainsaw Man is a popular anime and manga series by Tatsuki Fujimoto. The manga was launched in 2018 and has amassed a devoted fan following. The story focuses on Denji, who becomes a devil hunter to settle his late father’s debts to the Yakuza.
However, the Yakuza betrays his trust, leading to a pivotal moment where Pochita, also known as the Chainsaw Devil, merges with Denji’s heart to keep him alive. This fusion enables Denji to become Chainsaw Man.
Originally, Pochita was the Chainsaw Man but underwent a transformation, becoming part of Denji’s being through a binding contract between them. However, upon first encountering the cute orange canine in the show and seeing it as the strongest Devil in the series raises the question of whether Pochita really is the Chainsaw Devil or not.
There are numerous fan theories that attempt to unravel the real identity of the Chainsaw Devil and propose that Denji’s companion may possess concealed powers. Let’s explore these theories to grasp the concept better.
Spoiler Alert: This article contains major spoilers for the Chainsaw Man series.
Fan Theory 1: Devils in Chainsaw Man Gain Powers by Eating Each Other
This fan theory from Tumblr, posted by user @purinnrin, suggests that when one devil eats another devil’s heart, it gains the eaten devil’s powers and characteristics. In this theory, Pochita is proposed to be the Dog Devil who consumed the Chainsaw Devil, which had the ability to conceptually erase things.
This idea is supported by Pochita’s dog-like appearance and the unlikely connection between chainsaws and conceptual erasure. Devil cannibalism is rare because devils generally dislike the taste of each other’s blood. Pochita’s rarity is attributed to this unusual occurrence.
Pochita might have been hurt when facing the Chainsaw Devil, which seemed to want to devour him for some unknown reason. This idea also makes the Gun Devil’s intentions more complex, implying it might have wanted Pochita’s heart to gain the Chainsaw Devil’s abilities.
Eating pieces of the Gun Devil can enhance other devils, as shown by the Fish Devil getting mechanical legs. Conceptual devils like the Future Devil and Falling Devil could have eaten devils that looked similar in the past, explaining their unusual characteristics.
This theory suggests that devils can acquire characteristics by consuming other devils. It explains the frequent theme of eating in Chainsaw Man as a literal representation of the idea that “you become what you consume.”
Fan Theory 2: Pochita in Chainsaw Man Revealed to Be the Birth Devil
According to the theory mentioned earlier, it is clear that Pochita is indeed a devil, but not specifically a chainsaw devil. This leads us to the question of what type of devil Pochita actually is.
The second fan theory provides a clear explanation for this. According to the theory presented by @amazonclimber on Tumblr, Pochita is not the Chainsaw Devil as initially believed. Instead, it is a Birth Devil.
The reason is that chainsaws cannot make things disappear, so they are an unlikely choice for Pochita’s true identity. The Birth Devil designation aligns with both Pochita’s unique ability – the power to render anything he consumes unborn, effectively erasing its existence – and his personality traits.
Childbirth, while daunting, ultimately centers around the desire for love and care from infants, which resonates with Pochita’s character.
Chainsaw Man anime adaptation is available to watch on Crunchyroll
Source: purinnrin, amazonclimber
