I’m not a prude; let me get that out of the way. I’m also somewhat immune to the more pathetic cringe levels of the weeb fandom, considering my own origins. Like, considering that I wrote horrible self-insert fanfiction on Quizilla.com, I don’t think I have any ground to stand on and act snobbish towards how we show our affection for the stories and characters we love. But there are certain characters that go beyond funny and veer on the edge of cringe. For example, Denji.

Denji might be the protagonist of the most hyped anime out right now, but that doesn’t mean he’s the cool and calm protagonist of our dreams. Nope, Denji is the messy main lead of Chainsaw Man, who is nearly obsessed with the idea of being with someone, and that also happens to be the root cause of his main issues. Considering Denji never even gets laid, the man goes through all that for nothing. Here’s a lesson: Don’t be a simp for someone that is clearly manipulating you.

But I’m not going to lie: This whole thing he has with wanting intimacy and being exploited for it, is genuinely relatable. I know, I can’t believe I’m saying this, but there is something so significant about how Denji enters the whole Devil Hunter business over such a shallow goal. But his misguided intentions are what lead him into trouble, and in the end, he emerges with a very different understanding of relationships and those around him. And that’s the kind of character growth you don’t get to see often.

But then again, this is where Chainsaw Man truly excels. It brings the uncomfortable out in the open and makes something vulnerable out of it. This isn’t your average Shonen, that’s for sure. And Denji’s growth as an individual is something worth discussing. So, welcome to Character Analysis, where we are going to discuss Denji’s absolute thirst for women and how it morphs into something healthier. Let’s get started!

Denji: Not Quite An Incel, But Still Unhinged

Look, I’m not going to make excuses for Denji. Even I was, let’s say, mildly put off by his behavior during the start of the manga. We already have such bad protagonists through Isekai anime that Shonen’s somewhat formulaic plucky protagonist trope feels almost like a blessing in disguise. But that’s not what Denji is.

Denji is immature, brash, and pretty aware of it. His tragic beginnings of being in debt thanks to his father and losing the only family he had ever known don’t humble him in the slightest. He is vulgar, which is something that Aki Hayakawa almost immediately hates him for, and exchanges blow over. And because he has gone through so much, he thinks the universe owes him something.

This mindset becomes a little more understandable when you realize that Denji really is just a teenager, barely even 17. Of course, sex would be one of the most dominant things on his mind, considering he hasn’t even completed puberty yet.

But in a way, his extreme brashness and genuine dumb-assery are interesting, to say the least. Like, Shonen protagonists are often meant to be role models, right? They are good and just, albeit a little too social. They are meant to be liked. But that’s not the case for Denji, whose flawed personality adds more layers to his character arc.

How Denji Matures Into Forging Genuine Connections With Women

So, how does Denji go from horndog to being a full-fledged individual? Well, once the betrayal by Makima becomes clear, he realises just how deep he went into his obsession with her. Even if it was something, he realistically didn’t have any influence over, seeing as how she was the literal Control Devil.

But the real turning moment was when everything was said and done, and he got Power back. The two had grown close while living with Aki, but that closeness went from misguided sexual tension to platonic comfort really quickly. Power wasn’t just an object for him anymore but became a true friend who could rely on him for genuine warmth and familial feelings.

They could practice platonic intimacy without it being laced with lustful intentions. And really, that kind of bond is exactly what makes Chainsaw Man such a good franchise. There really isn’t anything quite like it, and how it uses ‘bad’ characters to show the potential for good in them.