Anime · MAPPA · 2026 Update
Chainsaw Man
Anime
Release Date
Everything you need to know — and why the wait is actually worth it.
I still remember sitting down on a Tuesday night back in October 2022, snacks ready, absolutely zero idea what I was about to get myself into. A friend had been hyping up Chainsaw Man for months — “It’s not like anything you’ve seen before” — and I kept brushing it off. Another shonen? Sure, buddy.
Then the first episode dropped, and I didn’t move for three hours.
By the time season one wrapped in December 2022, I was completely obsessed and immediately started doing what every Chainsaw Man fan has been doing since: desperately searching for news about what comes next. If you’re reading this, you’re probably in the same boat. Let me break down everything that’s happened, what’s confirmed, and what we’re realistically looking at going forward.
Quick Recap: When Did Season 1 Air?
Chainsaw Man season one premiered on October 11, 2022, produced by studio MAPPA. It ran for 12 episodes, finishing in December 2022, and covered the Public Safety arc from Tatsuki Fujimoto’s manga — roughly the first 38 chapters.
It was available to stream on Crunchyroll in most regions. If you haven’t watched it yet, stop reading this and go fix that immediately.
The season ended on a note that made it crystal clear: there was so much more story to tell. Fans expected a quick season two announcement. What we got instead was a long, painful silence.
Season 1 Premiere
Episodes
Chapters Covered
So What Happened After Season 1?
MAPPA didn’t announce a season two. Instead, at Jump Festa 2024, they revealed something different: Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc. A theatrical film adaptation covering the Bomb Girl arc.
Reactions were mixed, to put it mildly. “A movie? Why not just do season two?” was the general vibe on Reddit and Twitter for weeks.
But here’s what happened: the Reze Arc movie dropped in Japan in September 2025 and made over $174 million worldwide, becoming one of the biggest anime films ever. Critics gave it a 96% score on Rotten Tomatoes, and fans walked out of theaters ready for more.
So MAPPA’s gamble paid off — big time.
Is Season 2 Officially Announced?
Yes, sort of. At Jump Festa in December 2025, Chainsaw Man season 2 — titled Assassins Arc — was officially announced, though only a key visual and brief teaser were shown. No release date was confirmed.
The Assassins Arc refers to the International Assassins arc from the manga, covering chapters 53 through 70. If you’ve read the manga, you already know this arc is absolutely wild. For anime-only fans, just trust me: it’s going to be something special.
When Will Season 2 Actually Release?
This is the big question, and the honest answer is: we don’t have an official date yet.
When looking at similar anime rollouts — including Jujutsu Kaisen’s Culling Game arc — most analysts are pointing to 2027 at the earliest, since Chainsaw Man isn’t currently slotted for any 2026 release window.
That stings a little, I know.
MAPPA’s track record gives us some context: Season 1 ended in December 2022, but the Reze Arc movie wasn’t announced until Jump Festa 2024 — a full year later — and then took another two years to actually release. If the studio follows a similar timeline, a real Season 2 announcement might not come until late 2026, with episodes potentially arriving in 2027 or even 2028.
There’s speculation that a full trailer with animated footage could appear around mid-2026, though that’s not confirmed.
Why Is the Wait So Long?
This studio is handling an absolutely brutal production schedule. At any given time they’re juggling multiple major titles, and Chainsaw Man is clearly something they want to do right, not just fast.
MAPPA President Manabu Otsuka has explained that the studio wants to reach audiences beyond just Crunchyroll subscribers, which is part of why they went the theatrical route with Reze Arc. It’s a different approach to anime distribution — and clearly one that’s working commercially.
The quality of both the season 1 animation and the Reze Arc film back that up. Every frame is gorgeous. The action sequences are some of the best in the medium right now. That takes time.
Where Can You Watch Chainsaw Man Right Now?
While we wait for season 2, here’s how to catch up or rewatch:
Main home — sub & dub, most regions
Select regions
Some markets
The Reze Arc film recently set a streaming release date on Crunchyroll — check the platform for availability in your region.
If you haven’t already, I’d recommend watching with the original Japanese audio (subtitled). The voice acting — especially Kikunosuke Toya as Denji — is phenomenal.
What Story Will Season 2 Cover?
Season 2 will adapt the International Assassins Arc, which picks up after the events of the Reze Arc. Without spoiling things, this arc introduces a whole new set of terrifying antagonists: assassins from around the world sent to Japan with one goal — kill Chainsaw Man and take his heart.
It escalates the stakes dramatically. The action, the emotion, the sheer chaos — it all gets turned up significantly. Manga readers consistently rank this arc among the best in the entire series.
For anime-only fans: you’re in for something special. Just be prepared.
Mistakes I Made Waiting (So You Don’t Have To)
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01
Don’t fall for fake release date leaks
Every few months, something circulates on Twitter/X claiming “MAPPA confirmed Season 2 for Spring 2026!” It’s almost always fan speculation or mistranslation. Stick to official MAPPA social accounts and verified news from Jump Festa announcements. -
02
Don’t skip the movie thinking it’s filler
The Reze Arc is genuinely one of the best arcs in the whole series. Skipping it would mean missing crucial character development and story beats that will almost certainly carry into season 2. -
03
Don’t burn yourself out checking for news daily
I did this for months. It’s exhausting. Set a Google Alert for “Chainsaw Man season 2” and check in occasionally instead. -
04
Don’t read the manga expecting it to ruin the anime
Honestly, reading ahead made me more excited for the anime adaptation. Seeing what MAPPA will do with certain chapters is its own kind of anticipation.
How to Stay Updated on the Release Date
- Follow MAPPA on X (Twitter) at @MAPPA_co for official announcements directly from the studio
- Watch Jump Festa coverage every December — that’s historically where the biggest Chainsaw Man news drops
- Check Crunchyroll’s news section since they usually get early access to announcements as the primary streaming partner
- The subreddit r/ChainsawMan is fast and good at filtering real news from speculation
The Honest Truth About the Wait
The wait is genuinely frustrating, but every piece of content MAPPA has released has been worth it.
Season 1 set a new bar for action anime production. The Reze Arc film exceeded even that. If season 2 continues that trajectory — and there’s every reason to think it will — we’re looking at something that could be one of the defining anime of the decade.
Is 2027 a long time to wait? Absolutely. But I’d rather have MAPPA take their time and deliver something extraordinary than rush out episodes that don’t do Fujimoto’s work justice.
In the meantime, rewatch season 1. Catch the Reze Arc film on Crunchyroll. Read the manga. The Chainsaw Man universe is deep enough to keep you occupied for a while.
And when season 2 eventually arrives — it’s going to be an event.