Simple Doesn't Mean Dumb

So I, like other degenerates, have been watching Chainsaw Man, and while it got off to a rocky start in episode one, the show has been picking up steam like a freight train and, as of episode four, shows no signs of stopping anytime soon. And while the show overall is a breath of fresh air alongside shows like Cyberpunk Edgerunners and Spy x Family; what I enjoy most about Chainsaw Man, particularly, is its stance on character motivations.

Put bluntly; our main character Denji only cares about keeping food on the table and getting to third base; and he is willing to fight tooth and nail against literal demons to achieve this. Comedy aside, this is somewhat dismissive of Denji as this motivation doesn't just come from a cardinal desire to stay alive and procreate but as a way to escape the crushing poverty and mob debt he escapes at the start of the show. From that point forward, Denji's world opens up for the first time, and he now has the potential to do anything he wants and has a genuine shot at happiness. Yet relatably, Denji's ambitions are fairly basic; he's happy long as he's well-fed, can sleep in a real bed, and can make it with a girl. That's all he really cares about, and it's through hunting Devils that he maintains that lifestyle, hence why he keeps doing it; and it's possibly my favorite thing about the show aside from Denji himself and Power.

To me, it's refreshing to have a story that isn't taking itself too seriously for once. Not to say that art and animation shouldn't be serious, they can be, but not every story needs to be about something earth-shaking. Some stories work better with simple themes and simple motivations, neither of which are less valuable than their complex cousin; rather, they are trying to entertain more than posit a message. However, all stories have a message; the only difference between a Dragon Ball Z and Ghost In the Shell is how far the author wants to explore the themes and messages they are working with. Using Dragon Ball Z as an example; in its run time, it had themes of self-improvement, determination, sacrifice, and redemption; all while being about Goku's one-man mission to punch the strongest things in the galaxy. The story had greater themes and messages, but critically they never got in the way of what Toriyama wanted the show to be: a pulpy space opera with fun and strange characters that create fun and exciting fights.

The show could have delved deeper into the horror of the Frieza empire, the extermination of the Saiyan, or the lasting trauma Goku and his friends have over dying more than once, but they don't. Why? Because that would bring the tone of the show down a notch and divert time away from the action, making the wackier parts of Dragon Ball seem disingenuous. Not to say you could do something darker with Dragon Ball; Episode Of Trunks fills in the backstory to future Trunk's arrival and is bleak as Hell, as the whole special is Trunks realizing that he's not strong enough to save anyone and needs to go back in time to save the people who can. The man spends the whole special getting slapped around by Android 17 and 18, who more or less toy with him the entire time; then is helpless to save Gohan and is too weak, even as a Super Saiyan, to beat the Androids. But the key here is that it was a spin-off feeding into the main storyline of Dragon Ball Z, where the future is mentioned as being all around not good but not delved into. Why? Because the Episode of Trunks did that, rehashing it would only take time and bring the tone down again.

Bringing this back around to Chainsaw Man and the point; certain stories benefit from a lighter touch on the theme/drama pedal. Stories that are more action-focused, or more spectacle-focused, or stories that want to take you on an adventure and show you things you've never seen before. All of the above can have a greater emphasis on their respective themes, but the author must be careful when doing so; as that change can alter the story's very core and make parts of the story clash with one another or weaken sections. Chainsaw Man is an action show; first and foremost, the show's draw is its over-the-top fights, spectacle, and Devil designs. So, you want a story that can be easily laid beside it without taking up too much space, so the bombastic elements have room to stretch. Therefore, fitting in a story about dreams and ambitions makes perfect sense as they complement one another and allow the author room to tweak the themes so they don't detract from the story; in Chainsaw Man's case, it enhances it.

For the last three episodes, since Denji started working for the Devil Hunters, he's had people tell him his dream is stupid and he's not taking his job seriously enough. However, Denji takes his job very seriously as it gives him access to the good life he's always wanted and is insulted that other people look down on him just because he's not motivated by revenge, honor, or a duty to protect others. No, the man wants to keep living his simple but good life and get a girlfriend; that's it. But he's also hellbent on making those dreams a reality, so even if his sights are set low, he still has a dream, and the show can work around that easily.

What I am trying to get at is that just because a story doesn't set out to make you think, move you, or have a message to send: it's not an empty story. Not all art needs to be meditative, and not all stories need to be trying to convey a message, but they all say something. Some just say it more plainly than others.