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Thanks to the massive success ofChainsaw Man, critics and fans alike have put their eyes on its author, Tatsuki Fujimoto. With the release of the anime adaptation of his one-shot,Look Back, and the ongoing success ofChainsaw Man Part Two, Fujimoto has reached the status of a new manga legend. But many don’t know that Fujimoto also had several assistants during his time as a mangaka who have also been incredibly successful with their own works.
It’s common practice for a renowned mangaka to have an assistant at all times. Still, in the case of Fujimoto, all of his assistants have been special cases, as they have all created manga on their own and have reached comparable success to their mentor. Here are all the assistants of Fujimoto, who have become successful with their own creations that you may not know about.
Tatsuya Endo, Spy X Family
From Fire Punch to Wholesome Family
Tatsuya Endo is perhaps the most well-known on the list as he is the author of the massively successfulSpy X Family.He initially worked as an assistant forBlue Exorcist, Attack on Titan, andFire Punch. He began his career creating one-shot manga that were all positively received by his editors. After finishing his breakout hits,TistaandBlade of the Moon Princess, he began working on a new series for Shōnen Jump +. With his editor, Shihei Lin, together they combined thestrengths he had polished through his various one-shots and created Spy X Family.
According to Lin, the reception to the Spy X Family pitch was so positive that serialization was decided on even before the official meeting. Spy X Family would go on to become one of the most successful manga of 2019 and one of the most successful anime of 2022 with its stellar anime adaptation by Studio Wit. Endo had previously worked on much darker material. Some of his previous stories featured serial killers and witchhunts. The original idea for the Spy X Family was much darker.Spy X Family became the wholesome, cute series that is widely beloved now.
Yuji Kaku, Hell’s Paradise
Closer to Fujimoto’s Style
Yuji Kaku began as an editor on Weekly Shōnen Champion and, after working with Fujimoto as his assistant on Fire Punch, he createdHell’s Paradise. Kaku entered the manga industry in 2007, working as an editor. In 2008, he wrote a one-shot calledMemory Customswhich was published in Jump Square in 2009. He started his first series in 2013.Fantasma, was serialized in Jump Square until the following year. From 2016 to 2018, he worked as Fujimoto’s assistant for Fire Punch.
In 2018, he started Hell’s Paradise, which was serialized on the Shōnen Jump + website until 2021. It became the most popular series on the website by August 2018. It was quickly adapted into an anime that aired in 2023. Albeit receiving a lukewarm reception.It has been announced for season two. After the end of Hell’s Paradise in 2021, Kaku created a new series, Ayashimon, which was serialized in Weekly Shōnen Jump until 2022.
Yukinobu Tatsu, DanDaDan
Supernatural Adventures
Yukinobu Tatsu is the most recent success story of Fujimoto’s assistant. There is not much known about Tatsu. He has chosen to remain mostly anonymous during his career, similar to Fujimoto. But he is known for being the author ofDanDaDan, one of the most successful series in recent memory, with an anime adaptation released in 2024 by studio Science Saru.DanDaDan, weirdly enough, feels the closest to Chainsaw Man as it has a heavy focus on supernatural themes, relatable characters, very deep themes and powerful emotional beats.
It is a very interesting case of how Fujimoto’s assistants have all been blessed with incredible creativity and the success of their manga, all of them also receiving anime adaptations. Perhaps the most successful for now is Tatsuya Endo’s Spy X Family as it has become a worldwide phenomenon. The story of Anya, Loyd, and Yor has resonated with many fans and the cute, wholesome adventures of the family have brought smiles to millions of people. But while Hell’s Paradise didn’t get nearly the same praise, having season two on the way is a good sign of its ongoing popularity. DanDaDan’s success may be too early to tell as its season has only just begun,but it has garnered universal praise from critics and audiences alike.
Dandadan
Based on Yukinobu Tatsu’s popular manga that debuted in 2021 on Shonen Jump+, Dandadan blends action, comedy, romance, and supernatural thrills to create a unique and satisfying adventure. Momo Ayase and Ken Takakura believe in the extraordinary, although the former believes in ghosts and the latter believes in aliens. Determined to confirm their side’s existence, they set out to find their proof.
