RT Record-Breaking Anime Film Is ‘If a Ghibli Movie Was a Psychedelic Nightmare’

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With anime films continuing to be huge successes in 2025, Chainsaw Man: The Movie: Reze Arc has now arrived in North America. It’s already receiving rave reviews, boasting a 100% ‘Fresh’ rating on Rotten Tomatoes and a 99% audience approval score, suggesting it will satisfy fans of the series.

Chainsaw Man Star Compares New Anime Movie to Studio Ghibli’s Hayao Miyazaki

With more and more anime stories being turned into movies instead of TV seasons, Fontes asked Levy why this particular story was chosen for a theatrical release. Levy explained, “It feels like it was always intended as a film.” Interestingly, several people who’ve seen it—and who didn’t know each other—have all used the same word to describe it: ‘Miyazaki.’

Hayao Miyazaki, the creative force behind Studio Ghibli and acclaimed films like Spirited Away and The Boy and the Heron, played a key role in popularizing anime internationally. Musician Levy described their recent work as feeling like “a psychedelic nightmare” inspired by Ghibli’s style. Ghibli films are celebrated for their beautiful imagery and storytelling, and Miyazaki was a pioneer in using animation to convey complex emotions. Levy also drew a comparison between Ghibli’s work and Reze Arc, praising both for being both terrifying and visually stunning in how they bring their worlds to life.

Levy described the story as “deeply beautiful,” noting its naturally cinematic style. He explained that film is woven into the very fabric of the narrative, with discussions of cinema being a key part of the experience. According to Levy, author Tatsuki Fujimoto is a storyteller who clearly loves film, and that passion is reflected in his work. He also pointed out that the Reze Arc functioned particularly well as a self-contained film due to its timing and emotional impact.

The Reze Arc feels much shorter and faster-paced than other parts of Chainsaw Man. The creator believes that while a movie adaptation wouldn’t have worked earlier in the series, this arc is perfect for it. It’s a really romantic, emotional, and visually stunning story with enough contained action and opportunities to create a grand cinematic experience.

Fans of the manga will recognize the ‘Reze Arc’ as a key turning point in the story. As Levy explained, this arc significantly deepens the characters, and he believes it’s perfect for a movie because it demands a focused, big-screen experience – something the story was always building towards.

is now playing in theaters.

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2025-10-26 07:07