The ballad of the soldier: the first film about the Chainsaw Man became a hit in the Russian Federation

The full-length film "The Chainsaw Man: The Story of Reza", which will be released in Russia on December 4, has already become one of the most discussed animated releases of the season. The film debuted in Japan on September 19 and immediately became a sensation: with a budget of $4.1 million, the film grossed $56 million at home and became one of the highest-grossing releases of the year. He earned more than $168 million at the global box office. The Russian audience met the premiere with no less interest — on the first day of previews, the film collected over 15 million rubles. Izvestia has studied the phenomenon of the success of new products from the iconic animation studio MAPPA.

What will you remember about the movie about the demon with the chainsaw head?

In Russia, viewers will be offered different versions of the film — dubbed and original in Japanese with Russian subtitles, as real otaku fans often prefer to watch. "The Story of Reza" was included in the extended Oscar longlist in the Best Animated Feature Film category.

One of the most notable aspects of the film was the Japanese authors' strong emphasis on Soviet themes. Reza is a girl from the USSR who was subjected to government experiments, a tragic victim of a cold, inhuman machine. This is not just a decorative detail, but a central element of the drama: the image is revealed through the motif of a broken fate and forced service to the system.

The most important plot-forming symbol is the "Ballad of a Soldier" by Grigory Chukhrai, which the creators unexpectedly integrated into the story. However, it was unexpected for those who had not read the manga, because there, too, the characters watched the classic masterpiece and reacted very vividly to it. And this became the key to understanding the inner world of the other girl in this story, the Japanese Makima. Such a cultural dialogue with the Soviet heritage makes the picture unusual and multi-layered, taking it beyond the usual anime action.

It sounds like Russian.

MAPPA Studio, which is behind projects such as "Magic Battle" and "Attack of the Titans," is once again demonstrating its signature approach to animation.: Carefully crafted battle scenes, a sharp visual style, and a dark aesthetic that perfectly suits the Chainsaw Man universe. At the same time, "Reza's Story" differs from the studio's previous big hits in a more intimate and emotionally balanced tone.

If "Magic Battle" relies on scale, dynamics and high-energy battles, and "Attack of the Titans" builds its pathos on global conflicts, political allegories and philosophical motives, then "The Story of Reza" is much more intimate. It is not so much an epic confrontation that becomes central here, but rather a human tragedy in a world where violence has become a daily occurrence. This film is not about the war of the worlds, but about how personal feelings are doomed to face the brutality of the system.

Visually, "The Story of Reza" demonstrates one of the most powerful works of MAPPA in recent years. The battle scenes are built with almost choreographic precision — aggressive, harsh, and physical. Special attention is paid to Reza's ability and her transformation, which makes the key episodes perhaps the best fighting scenes of the studio. At the same time, the dramatic moments are animated softer and more cinematic, which enhances the emotional effect and creates a contrast between the fragility of human feelings and the cruelty of the demon world. Reza is a warhead demon, she activates her diabolical skills by pulling out the pin inserted literally into her neck.

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Voice acting plays a significant role in the perception of the film. Seiyu Reze, named Rena Ueda, not only gave the heroine a powerful acting depth, but also performed a song in Russian in the film, a gesture that emphasizes the attention of the Japanese team to the cultural context of the character. The audience buzzed with approval after the heroine sang the lines "In the morning we will go to church together, then we will drink coffee and eat omelets in a cafe."

The Russian dubbing, made by Flarrow Films studio, adapts the picture carefully and professionally, preserving the emotional nuances and not falling out of the atmosphere of the original. The acting skills are kept at the same high level as those of "Dandadan: The Evil Eye". Maybe the only thing missing is the youth language — the one used in "The Story of Reza" is somewhat literary, taking into account what is happening on the screen. I remember a scene from "Gentlemen of Fortune" with a battery dropped on his leg.

Is it worth going to the cinema

"The Chainsaw Man: The Story of Reza" has become a rare example of an animated film that is able to simultaneously work as a spectacular action genre, a deep human drama and a cultural statement. At the same time, fans of more dynamic action games like "Sakamoto Days" may be disappointed with the first half of the film — it takes a long time to arrange chess pieces in squares, without indulging in any fights and shootouts.

But the attentive attitude of the Japanese to the Soviet theme, the emotional complexity of the characters and the high-quality work of MAPPA still turn the picture into an event significant not only for manga fans, but also for a wider audience. Success at the box office, strong international attention and a potential path to the Oscar only confirm that this is an important work with an 18+ rating, which is not afraid to be bold and daring against the background of much more conservative representatives of the genre.