Tatsuki Fujimoto achieved worldwide recognition after his magnum opus Chainsaw Man was serialized in Shueisha’s Weekly Shonen Jump. The series deals with a world filled with devils and devil hunters and follows a dark and horrific theme. It is one of the main reasons why Chainsaw Man became instantly famous.
The series first debuted in 2018 and has over 26 million copies in circulation as of August 2023. It follows the story of Denji who becomes a Devil Hunter after he makes a contract with his devilish dog Pochita. The series is filled with dark and bleak moments that work in its favor and are extensively loved by Chainsaw Man fans.
Fujimoto was once asked about his process of drawing Chainsaw Man and what was in his mind when he decided to become a manga author. Fujimoto not only explained what motivated him to create such a mind-blowing manga series but also gave advice to aspiring manga artists who are trying to get into the industry.
Tatsuki Fujimoto Talks About What He Did After He Decided to Become a Mangaka
In 2022, The Shonen Jump Guide to Making Manga was released which featured a bunch of interviews from famous Shonen manga artists. Fujimoto was also a part of these interviews which was later shared by u/Certain_Leadership70 on Reddit. During the interview, Fujimoto shared some great guiding points for aspiring manga artists, but also shared what he did when he decided to become a mangaka.
Fujimoto answered:
“Draw real stuff (dessin). Reproducing manga and anime by hand is more like an exercise for people who are already decent at art but need to figure out what good designs look like. So instead, I recommend drawing real people and places. Also, you should always be thinking about what there is to be gained by drawing one thing or another.”
According to Fujimoto, trying to create real people and places and keeping in mind the outcome of the drawing would be the best way to start a manga. Fujimoto’s thought process resulted in the creation of one of the biggest anime and manga series in the world, which has amassed a huge fan following in a matter of few years.
Tatsuki Fujimoto’s Driving Force For Chainsaw Man
During the interview, Tatsuki Fujimoto explained his intention of creating something that would be remembered by his fans till their dying breaths. This thinking became his driving force for Chainsaw Man. Fujimoto also talked about how too much attachment to your work can also become a major problem for the creators.
Fujimoto explained:
“When I hit a stumbling block in the plot, I either alter the main character or scrap that bit of the plot entirely. I understand why people get attached to their work, but if you spend all day every day staring at your own story, you’re bound to lose that essential objectivity. Don’t fall too in love with anything you do. Kill your darlings.”
He stated that whenever he feels writer’s block with a storyline or a character, he either alters the character or removes the entire plotline. According to Chainsaw Man’s creator, if people get too attached to their work, they lose the necessary balance that is needed to make the story successful and that is what he has always tried with Chainsaw Man.
You can watch Chainsaw Man on Crunchyroll.
