Makima in Chainsaw Man
The hugely successful shonen anime created by Tatsuki Fujimoto, Chainsaw Man, has won over a broad audience thanks to its deeply subversive characters and a particularly original and innovative narrative style.
The Chainsaw Man anime, launched in fall 2022, quickly propelled this franchise to the status of an unmissable phenomenon in record time, barely three months after its release. The series captivated fans with many remarkable elements, notably its dark "demon hunter" atmosphere, its quirky and often dark humor, and a gallery of characters as original as they are charismatic, starting with the protagonist Denji and his demonic accomplice, Power. However, it is undoubtedly Makima, a complex and mysterious character, who stands out as the most striking, fascinating, and popular figure in this universe.
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Reflecting the Chainsaw Man franchise itself, Makima symbolizes a dual nature: both a traditional mentor in the shonen vein and a deeply subversive and unsettling figure, she unsettles and fascinates. Fans are constantly intrigued by her abilities, her ambiguous role with Denji and Power, as well as why she continues to captivate as the unmissable villainous waifu. Despite her cruelty and monstrous essence, she retains an aura of seduction, an undeniable proof of the character’s clever writing and originality, which clearly sets her apart from classic antagonists.
Makima is undeniably one of the most iconic antagonists of modern anime, thanks to her unique blend of unsettling charm, soft voice, and overwhelming authority. Her character revolves around a striking duality that goes beyond the simple good/evil opposition: she oscillates between the sexualization imposed by other characters and her voracious appetite for power and domination, embodying a ruthless and calculating figure. However she is interpreted, her ignoble acts are blatant and beyond justification. Yet, this ambiguity makes her retain an incomparable appeal among fans, who recognize in her the complexity of a truly unique antagonist, the fruit of brilliant and ingenious writing.
Makima in Chainsaw Man: the evil shadow at the heart of the story
A character wrapped in enigmas and formidable power
Unlike many shonen antagonists whose past is often narrated through flashbacks or explicit revelations, Chainsaw Man chooses to keep the mystery around Makima’s true origins and motivations. Her personal history is never fully disclosed, which amplifies the intensity of her disturbing aura and makes her actions even more unpredictable and baffling to readers. The precise intentions driving her remain a well-guarded secret that continually sparks debate among fans and analysts of the series.
As the chapters progress, it becomes clear that Makima is not a simple enemy: she is in fact the Control Devil, a demon of exceptional power in the universe created by Tatsuki Fujimoto. This role grants her the terrifying ability to influence, even entirely control, the thoughts and behaviors of individuals, institutions, and even entire nations like the United States. She acts like a skillful puppeteer, manipulating the invisible strings of power to her advantage, orchestrating events without anyone really realizing her grip.
Her power allows her to form contracts with humans, ensuring quasi-total control over them. A striking example is her link with the Japanese Prime Minister, where she delegates her injuries to a random citizen, a demonic trick that makes her virtually invulnerable. Although she possesses colossal physical strength and masters sophisticated martial arts techniques, she prefers to dispatch her enemies through intermediaries, using a calculated and ruthless strategy. Her ultimate asset? Absolute control that lets her summon allies by mere will to protect her interests.
Makima can also enslave, mentally control, and "brainwash" anyone considered inferior in her eyes, including former fierce adversaries such as Katana Man or Quanxi. When she decides to act, her destructive force is unparalleled: she can eliminate her targets from a distance by using human sacrifice. With a simple gesture, she can annihilate any opponent, making her extremely formidable in combat.
This character is driven primarily by a selfish and intimate goal: to regain a form of peace and eternal happiness with her rival and partner—the Chainsaw Devil, embodied by Denji. Unlike a tyrant rigorously pursuing domination and universal conquest, Makima pursues a much more personal objective, even if it means trampling everyone who stands in her way. This quest and determination resonate especially well with Chainsaw Man’s deep themes, exploring human desires and the complexity of each character’s motivations, but at a higher and more demonic level of ambition.
Makima, a radical subversion of the typical mentor in shonen anime
An ambivalent and manipulative relationship with Denji
From her first appearances, Makima completely upends the traditional role of the classic shonen mentor. Instead of embodying a benevolent, protective, and trustworthy character, she occupies an ambivalent role tinged with manipulation and domination. She offers Denji a job within the Public Safety Commission, placing him in a privileged position that seems to lead him to greatness. Denji, impressed by her, gradually develops feelings mixing admiration and budding love, a bond he sincerely wishes to earn.
Unlike typical shonen mentors who form sincere, reciprocal bonds with their students (think Jiraiya in Naruto or All Might in My Hero Academia), the relationship between Makima and Denji is unbalanced. Makima constantly manipulates Denji, exploiting his feelings to control him, never reciprocating real love or human warmth. This asymmetry makes their relationship tragic and painful, enhancing the dramatic tension around the protagonist.
She thus stands as a complete and ultra-dark inversion of the protective mentor archetype. Her mysterious coldness, cruelty camouflaged beneath a mask of kindness, and selfish goal to use Denji for her own designs intensify the character’s unsympathetic nature, making her emblematic of a terribly effective and memorable villain.
In summary, Makima embodies a ruthless manipulator, devoid of the kindness and wisdom usually associated with her role, which further strengthens her position as an iconic antagonist, but also as a complete subversion of traditional shonen anime roles.
An unsympathetic character who nevertheless exerts intense fascination
Makima’s brutality does not prevent admiration from her fans
It is common to see some anime villains gain popularity thanks to a tragic past or nuanced, understandable motivations—as is the case with Ulquiorra in Bleach or Himiko Toga in My Hero Academia. However, Makima is a special case: she is generally perceived as a monster, a true incarnation of evil, devoid of mercy, despite her alluring appearance and obsession with personal happiness. This apparent harshness could have repelled the audience.
Yet, Makima’s fanbase is particularly large, reflecting the excellent construction of the character and the complexity that leaves room for interpretation. Her unwavering confidence, imposing charisma, and unshakable determination create a striking contrast with more vulnerable heroes, such as Denji or Izuku, making her character even more captivating.
While many traditionally prefer protective, tender, and comforting waifus, there is also an attractive permeability for powerful and independent "bad girl" figures. Makima joins a pantheon of memorable female antagonists alongside Himiko Toga and Esdeath, who populate otaku imagination and continue to fascinate despite—or because of—their misdeeds and contradictions.
Makima’s death: a conclusion as brutal as it is satisfying for fans
Despite all the harm she caused in the series, Makima’s end did not generate widespread sadness among fans.
In Chainsaw Man, death is never an absolute end: devils are supposed to be reborn through cycles of reincarnations devoid of memories. Makima turns out to be an almost invincible antagonist, possessing a unique power that allows her to transfer her injuries to other people. Her toxic and destructive relationship with Denji, marked by isolation and manipulation, leads to a dramatic final confrontation, captivating readers.
One of the manga’s most shocking moments is Makima’s brutal assassination of Power, an act that triggers an emotional tsunami and sparks Denji’s rebellion. Denji eventually faces Makima alone, and with Power’s blood, he manages to dismember her using his chainsaw. To finally annihilate Makima and sever their unhealthy connection, Denji is forced to consume her remains in a scene as grotesque as it is distressing. This act reveals his absolute will to break free from her grasp.
Makima’s reincarnation: Nayuta, an innocent reflection of her hidden desires
A new figure of hope and complexity
Nayuta, the new incarnation of the Control Devil, is entrusted to Denji by Kishibe in hopes of keeping her away from the darkness linked to Makima. Unlike her predecessor, Nayuta is a fragile child, searching for identity and love, showing traits similar to Makima, notably marked possessiveness toward Denji and a strong love for dogs.
Nayuta actually symbolizes Makima’s inner child, the one who could have aspired to a gentler, softer life and a true family, providing a poignant contrast to the harshness, coldness, and cruelty that characterized Makima’s upbringing and life. Their quasi-sibling relationship adds a new human dimension to the story and suggests a possible form of redemption.
Much remains to be learned about Makima, notably with the awaited release of the film Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc, scheduled for 2025, which will explore deeply the character of Reze and her relationship with Denji, while keeping Makima at the center of the plot. Meanwhile, information about season 2 remains limited, but some speculate it could follow Demon Slayer’s successful model, alternating between theatrical movies and streaming platform seasons.
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