Fans of Chainsaw Man creator Tatsuki Fujimoto have a new anime adaptation to look forward to, as Prime Video has announced the exclusive global premiere of Tatsuki Fujimoto 17-26, an anthology series adapting eight of his early short stories. The series is set to launch worldwide on November 7, 2025.
Tatsuki Fujimoto 17-26: An Anthology of Early Works
The upcoming anime will bring to life eight distinct short stories penned by the visionary manga artist between the ages of 17 and 26. Titled Tatsuki Fujimoto 17-26, the series aims to showcase the raw creative impulses and unique narratives that characterize Fujimoto’s formative years before his breakout success with Fire Punch and Chainsaw Man. The anthology will be exclusively available to stream in over 240 countries and territories through Prime Video.
Diverse Stories and Creative Teams
The eight short stories encompassed in the anthology offer a range of genres and themes, providing a glimpse into the breadth of Fujimoto’s imagination. These include:
- “A Couple Clucking Chickens Were Still Kickin’ in the Schoolyard”
- “Sasaki Stopped a Bullet”
- “Love is Blind”
- “Shikaku”
- “Mermaid Rhapsody”
- “Woke-Up-as-a-Girl Syndrome”
- “Nayuta of the Prophecy”
- “Sisters”
Each of these tales explores subjects such as adolescence, obsession, love, madness, family dynamics, and self-identity. To capture the unique essence of each story, the project has enlisted seven acclaimed directors, including Tetsuaki Watanabe (Blue Lock), Nobuyuki Takeuchi (Fireworks, Should We See It from the Side or the Bottom?), and Kazuaki Terasawa (The Ancient Magus’ Bride Season 2). Production responsibilities are further distributed among six leading animation studios: ZEXCS, Lapin Track, GRAPH77, 100studio, Studio Kafka, and P.A.WORKS. This collaborative approach ensures a fresh and distinctive visual style for each narrative.
Fujimoto’s Reflection and Anticipation
Tatsuki Fujimoto himself has commented on the adaptation of his earlier works, expressing a mix of anxiety and confidence. “Having my works from my student years being adapted into anime made me anxious, wondering if this was really okay, and if these works might have relied too heavily on others’ inspiration,” Fujimoto stated. “However, although I haven’t seen them yet, I believe that through the work of talented directors, they have become proper, well-crafted pieces.”
The Legacy of a Visionary Mangaka
Fujimoto has garnered immense critical and commercial success for his distinctive storytelling and often unconventional narratives. His manga series Chainsaw Man has become a global phenomenon, receiving both a popular anime adaptation and an upcoming film, Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc. Another of his one-shot works, Look Back, also recently received an anime film adaptation that streamed exclusively on Prime Video. The announcement of Tatsuki Fujimoto 17-26 further solidifies his standing as a prominent figure in the anime and manga industry, with fans eager to delve into the creative origins of the mind behind some of today’s most compelling stories.
