by The 49th Japan Academy Awards have announced the recipients of the Outstanding Animated Feature Award, and this year’s winner is Chainsaw Man: Reze Arc. Notably, this marks the second consecutive year that a work connected to Tatsuki Fujimoto has claimed one of Japan’s most prestigious animation honors.
Last year’s Best Animated Feature Award was won by Look Back, a film adaptation of Fujimoto’s acclaimed one-shot manga. With Chainsaw Man: Reze Arc receiving the Outstanding Animated Feature Award this year, Fujimoto’s creative influence continues to dominate the Japanese animation industry.
A Remarkable Two-Year Achievement for Tatsuki Fujimoto
Winning major animation awards in back-to-back years is a rare achievement, and it further cements Tatsuki Fujimoto as one of the most influential manga creators of his generation. Known for his emotionally raw storytelling, shocking narrative twists, and unconventional characters, Fujimoto has proven that his works can succeed not only on the page but also on the big screen.
- 48th Japan Academy Awards (2024): Look Back – Best Animated Feature
- 49th Japan Academy Awards (2025): Chainsaw Man: Reze Arc – Outstanding Animated Feature
This consecutive recognition highlights both the artistic range of Fujimoto’s stories and the ability of animation studios to faithfully translate his vision into cinematic experiences.
Outstanding Animated Feature Award Nominees (49th Japan Academy Awards)
The following five films were selected for the Outstanding Animated Feature Award at the 49th Japan Academy Awards:
- Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – Mugen Castle Arc Chapter 1: Akaza Returns
- Chainsaw Man the Movie: Reze Arc (Winner)
- 100 M
- Peleliu: Guernica in Paradise
- Detective Conan the Movie: Afterimage of the One-Eyed
Each title represents a different style and theme within Japanese animation, ranging from high-intensity action and historical drama to emotional coming-of-age stories.
About the Japan Academy Awards
The Japan Academy Awards are one of the most important film honors in Japan, often compared to the Academy Awards in the United States. Established in 1978, the awards aim to promote the advancement of Japanese cinema, technology, and artistic excellence.
Key Facts:
- Organized by the Japan Academy Prize Association
- Voted on by 4,152 members (as of December 2025)
- Eligible films must be released between January 1 and December 31, 2025
- This year’s voting covered 168 Japanese films and 179 foreign films
The 49th awards ceremony will be held on March 13 at the Grand Prince Hotel New Takanawa in Tokyo, where additional honors and recognitions will be presented.
What Is Chainsaw Man: Reze Arc?
Chainsaw Man: Reze Arc is the theatrical continuation of the TV anime Chainsaw Man, adapting one of the manga’s most beloved and emotionally complex story arcs.
Story Overview
The story follows Denji, a young man living in extreme poverty while working as a devil hunter alongside Pochita, a chainsaw-shaped devil. After forming a contract with Pochita, Denji becomes Chainsaw Man, a human-devil hybrid who hunts devils for the Public Safety Bureau.
In the Reze Arc, Denji’s life takes a dramatic turn when he meets Reze, a mysterious girl who seems kind and gentle on the surface. As Denji grows closer to her, he is unknowingly pulled into a web of deception, danger, and emotional conflict that leads to devastating consequences.
This arc is widely praised for:
- Its emotional depth
- Sudden tonal shifts
- Tragic romance
- Explosive action sequences
Box Office Success and Critical Acclaim
The film adaptation of Chainsaw Man: Reze Arc has been a massive commercial success, surpassing 10 billion yen at the Japanese box office. Its popularity reflects not only the strength of the original manga but also the anime’s cinematic presentation, music, and direction.
Critics and fans alike have praised the film for:
- Faithfully adapting the manga’s atmosphere
- Elevating emotional scenes through animation and sound design
- Delivering intense action without losing narrative nuance
The Legacy of Chainsaw Man
Originally serialized in Weekly Shonen Jump starting in December 2018, Chainsaw Man quickly became a cultural phenomenon. The manga has sold over 34 million copies worldwide and ranked No. 1 in the Men’s Edition of “This Manga Is Amazing! 2021.”
Key milestones include:
- Conclusion of Part 1 (Public Safety Arc) in December 2020
- Launch of Part 2 on Shonen Jump+ in July 2022
- TV anime broadcast from October to December 2022
- Stage play adaptation
- Multiple award-winning animated films
Look Back: Last Year’s Award-Winning Film
Before Chainsaw Man: Reze Arc, Fujimoto’s one-shot manga Look Back won the Best Animated Feature Award at the 48th Japan Academy Awards. The film adaptation was praised for its quiet storytelling, emotional realism, and reflection on creativity, friendship, and loss.
Together, Look Back and Chainsaw Man: Reze Arc demonstrate Fujimoto’s ability to create both intimate human dramas and high-octane dark fantasy, a versatility rarely seen among modern manga artists.
Why This Win Matters
Tatsuki Fujimoto’s consecutive wins highlight a broader trend in Japanese animation:
- Greater recognition of manga-driven storytelling
- Increased respect for emotionally challenging narratives
- Strong collaboration between manga creators and animation studios
For fans and newcomers alike, this recognition signals that Fujimoto’s works are not only popular but also artistically significant.
Final Thoughts
With Chainsaw Man: Reze Arc winning the Outstanding Animated Feature Award at the 49th Japan Academy Awards, Tatsuki Fujimoto has achieved a rare and impressive milestone—earning top animation honors two years in a row.
As Japanese animation continues to evolve, Fujimoto’s works stand as powerful examples of how bold storytelling, emotional honesty, and striking visuals can resonate with audiences worldwide. Whether through the heartbreaking subtlety of Look Back or the explosive tragedy of Chainsaw Man, his stories continue to shape the future of anime cinema.
