MAPPA 15th Anniversary Key Visual: Reze Heads Toward the Light in Poignant Chainsaw Man Art

Anime studio MAPPA has unveiled the first installment of its 15th anniversary key visual series, and it features Reze from the theatrical film Chainsaw Man: Reze Arc. The newly illustrated artwork shows the character walking from a dim alley toward a beam of light, and fans online have been reacting with tears, heartbreak, and a flurry of theories.

Chainsaw Man is based on the manga by Fujimoto Tatsuki, serialized in Shonen Jump+. The series has surpassed 35 million copies in circulation. MAPPA produced the TV anime in 2022, and the theatrical film Chainsaw Man: Reze Arc was released in September 2025, picking up where the TV series left off. The story follows protagonist Denji as he is swept into an unpredictable fate by the mysterious girl Reze, all brought to life with MAPPA’s high-octane battle animation.

The 15th anniversary key visual ― titled “MAPPA 15th Anniversary Key Visual ― Chainsaw Man: Reze Arc ver.” ― depicts Reze taking bouncy, light steps forward. It’s a piece that invites viewers to imagine the scene spreading out before her.

Fans have flooded social media with comments like “Ahhhhh,” “Tears came out,” “Heartbreaking,” “It makes me depressed,” and “The official team delivered the finishing blow.” Although Reze was an antagonist, her harsh childhood and tragic end left many viewers deeply moved. Others analyzed the illustration closely. The low camera angle sparked speculation that it might be a “rat’s perspective = Makima’s point of view?” Meanwhile, Reze’s outfit led some to wonder whether this depicts a moment before a festival with Denji, rather than a final scene. Eagle-eyed fans also noticed a “24-hour surveillance” sign near a traffic cone in the foreground and an arrow-pierced heart drawn on a window in the background. Comments such as “Scary,” “It’s a city rat’s point of view,” and “They were watching all along. Everything, from the very beginning” have appeared on SNS.

The “MAPPA 15th Anniversary Key Visual” is planned for three installments in total. Additionally, on June 19, 2026 (Friday) at 20:00 JST, a “MAPPA 15th Anniversary Lineup Presentation” will premiere on the MAPPA YouTube channel. The livestream will feature new information on MAPPA-produced works, a special corner with cast members, announcements of new projects, and the first public screening of a “MAPPA 15th Anniversary Movie” set to an original song titled “Seikatsu” by PEOPLE 1.

Navigator for the event is Tsuda Kenjiro, with narrator Mitsuishi Kotono. The program also promises messages from major artists, making it a cannot-miss broadcast.

Staff credits for the key visual:
Illustration: Shoichi
Coloring: Nakano Misa
Background: Uchiyama Taichi
Photography: Tanowa Yusuke

(C) Fujimoto Tatsuki / Shueisha・MAPPA
(C) 2025 MAPPA / Chainsaw Man Project
(C) Fujimoto Tatsuki / Shueisha
(C) Akutami Gege / Shueisha・Jujutsu Kaisen Production Committee
(C) Isayama Hajime・Kodansha / “Attack on Titan” The Final Season Production Committee
(C) 2026 Hayashida Kyuu・Shogakukan / Dorohedoro Season 2 Production Committee
(C) Mikawa Eiko / Shueisha・KADOKAWA・MAPPA
(C) Takahashi Rumiko・Shogakukan / “Ranma 1/2” Production Committee