Chainsaw Man is once again at the center of controversy, and this time not because of the story or its animation, but because of a studio decision that has outraged fans. The new compilation project Chainsaw Man – The Compilationcurrently in Japanese cinemas, has attracted attention when it was found that MAPPA removed director Ryu Nakayama from the official creditsas well as the team that worked on the original season of the anime.
The origin of the controversy
It all began with the screening of the film, divided into two parts, which reviews the events of the first season of the anime released in 2022. It was the director himself Kazuomi Koga (Uncle from Another World) who denounced on social networks that the credits of this compilation only recognize the current animators and managers of the project, completely erasing the work of Nakayama and dozens of artists who gave life to the series.
According to Koga, in addition to adding unreleased cuts and re-recording parts of the audio, Nakayama's name was removed from any mention in the credits. “This shows that anime directors do not have moral rights or integrity. A studio that does not protect its directors does not deserve trust,” he wrote in a forceful message that quickly went viral among the community.
MAPPA and a history of criticism
The reaction of the fans was immediate, describing the measure as a disrespect towards the team that consolidated the popularity of Chainsaw Man. In the new version, only Tatsuya Yoshihara as director, along with the staff in charge of editing and adjustments for the film.
This case adds to a history of controversies surrounding MAPPA, which had already been highlighted during the production of Jujutsu Kaisen season 2 due to the harsh working conditions of its animators. The decision to remove the original credits has only reinforced the image of a problematic work environment at the studio.
The debate on recognition
By removing Ryu Nakayama and the rest of the original staff, MAPPA raises a broader discussion: to what extent do directors and creative teams have the right to maintain their credit on compilations or alternative versions? For some, the work should speak for itself, while others consider it unacceptable to erase the work of those who marked the visual and narrative identity of the series.
Do you think MAPPA made a mistake by removing Nakayama from the credits or do you think it is valid to only recognize the current team? The controversy is already open, and the future of the studio's reputation could depend on how the industry and Chainsaw Man fans react.
