Alysa Liu’s Love for Chainsaw Man Is a Little Too Perfect

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Alysa Liu, a two-time Olympic gold medalist in figure skating, has become a huge star at the 2026 Winter Olympics – and not just for her skating! Throughout the Games, she’s openly shared her passion for anime. She first captured the attention of anime fans when she arrived at the opening ceremony carrying a cute Pochita plush – the beloved character from the manga by Tatsuki Fujimoto.

Liu has often spoken about her love for anime, especially Chainsaw Man. Given the challenges she overcame to win an Olympic medal, it’s easy to see why she connects with the series. Her personal journey shares striking similarities with that of the main character, Denji.

Alysa Liu Carried Chainsaw Man’s Pochita With Her Into The 2026 Winter Olympics – In More Ways Than One

Before Alysa Liu even began competing in the Winter Olympics, her passion for anime was already a popular topic. In an interview leading up to the Games, she shared a list of her favorite anime series – Jujutsu Kaisen, Chainsaw Man, Attack on Titan, Madoka Magica, and Soul Eater – though she noted the list wasn’t in any particular order. She was particularly excited about Chainsaw Man, mentioning a new episode had just been released that day, making it a special occasion.

That chapter proved to be a pivotal moment in the story, and Liu was among the many manga fans reading it as soon as it was released. She later shared that Chainsaw Man is the only series she’s actively following right now, playfully adding that her main goal during her time in Milan is to stay updated with the series and promote the character Pochita.

I’ve noticed Alysa has really become well-known for her enthusiasm in a particular area. Her love for anime, especially Chainsaw Man, has actually gone viral within the anime community – and that’s a pretty big deal considering her public profile. It’s interesting timing, too, because last year Donald Trump proposed a huge tariff on foreign films, which would have impacted major anime hits like Chainsaw Man — The Movie: Reze Arc and Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle. So, seeing a US Olympic champion openly support anime feels like a really positive moment for Japanese animation and its growing popularity in the West.

The impact is especially noticeable with Chainsaw Man. While known for its intense violence, the story delves much deeper, focusing on the emotional journey of its main character, Denji. The series explores his longing for real human connection, something he was deprived of during a difficult childhood of extreme poverty. This desire mirrors the experience of Alysa Liu, the figure skater who gained attention for embracing Ami Nakai after her performance. Liu herself expressed this need simply, saying, “That’s all I want in my life, human connection.”

While Chainsaw Man often explores touching themes, it doesn’t shy away from criticizing America’s shortcomings. This is particularly evident in Part 2’s main villain, the War Devil, who is drawn to America’s history of military power. This might seem surprising for someone representing America internationally, but the artist, Liu, is known for openly sharing her own beliefs. She’s previously shown support for the LGBTQ+ community, and on social media, she only follows two political figures: progressive politicians Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Zohran Mamdani.

It’s no surprise Alysa Liu, an Olympic athlete known for being outspoken, is a fan of Chainsaw Man. Some critics see a conflict between her athletic pride and enjoying a manga like this, but they miss the point. Chainsaw Man explores the idea of duality – the contrasting sides of a single person, like Denji’s own complex nature, or the way the story shows that joy and suffering often coexist. Alysa Liu herself embodies this duality by being both a passionate advocate for what’s right and a proud representative of the United States, just like the themes at the heart of Chainsaw Man.

There’s a Lot of Chainsaw Man’s Denji in Alysa Liu’s Personal Journey as a Figure Skater

I’ve been thinking about Alysa Liu and her love for Chainsaw Man, and it really struck me how similar her path to Olympic success is to Denji’s story. Her journey as a figure skater was a real rollercoaster. She dedicated herself to the sport from a very young age, becoming the youngest champion in US women’s figure skating history at just 13. Then, in 2022, at only 16, she broke a six-year streak and became the first American woman to win a medal at the World Championships, taking home the bronze.

Few people realized the sacrifices Alysa made to achieve her success. In late 2022, she announced her retirement from figure skating, explaining that she had dedicated so much of her life to the sport that she’d missed out on other experiences. She simply wanted to enjoy the parts of life she felt she’d put on hold while focusing on skating from a young age.

Many viewers connect with Denji’s difficult past. He experienced the loss of his family at a young age and had to fend for himself. This led to a childhood of homelessness and a lack of education, missing out on typical childhood experiences and friendships. He only dreamed of having friends beyond his companion, Pochita.

Alysa Liu, similar to the character Denji, simply wanted a normal childhood and the simple joys that other kids experience, which is why she initially stopped skating. However, like Denji, she made a surprising return. In the manga Chainsaw Man, Denji tragically dies very early in the story, betrayed by the Yakuza. He was working to repay his father’s debt to them, but they decided to sacrifice him to the Zombie Devil instead, ending his life at just 16 years old.

For Alyssa Liu, quitting skating at sixteen felt like ending a major chapter of her life, as it had been her central focus for so long. It was a difficult decision, though perhaps not as dramatic as some extreme scenarios. However, like the character Denji, this wasn’t the end of her story.

Skiing on a family vacation brought back fond memories for Alysa Liu of the thrill she felt ice skating, motivating her to return to the sport. However, this time she wanted to skate for herself, driven by her own passion, not anyone else’s expectations. This mirrors Denji’s experience after becoming Chainsaw Man – he was finally able to live life on his own terms and pursue what he wanted, specifically the simple dream of a normal life, something he’d been missing.

Even Alysa Liu’s Iconic Hairstyle Bears a Hidden Connection to Chainsaw Man

Alysa Liu’s path to winning gold was about taking control of her own destiny and finding happiness, similar to the character Denji. This made her entrance into the Olympics, carrying Pochita, especially meaningful. But Pochita wasn’t the only thing Alysa shared with the world during her Olympic performance.

During a job interview, Alysa was asked about her striking gold and black hairstyle, which resembles a “halo.” She explained that she came up with the idea by imagining herself as a tree. Just like trees have rings to show their age, she decided she would add a new “ring” around her hair each year.

This hairstyle, where she styles her hair like a tree, strongly resembles a recent storyline in the manga Chainsaw Man. In that series, it’s revealed that humans can transform into trees as they age and reach a point of deep contemplation. As one character explains, this is a natural human process – when someone fully realizes their thoughts, they become a tree. It’s possible that after stepping back from skating to think things over, Liu felt she’d reached that same point of realization, and expressed it through this tree-like hairstyle.

Ever since Alysa won the gold medal, people have been talking about how much joy she showed while skating. This is because, for the first time, she’s skating purely for her own enjoyment, not to please others.

Denji’s life was defined by hardship and a lack of control, and he only found a path to something better after losing everything. Similarly, Alysa Liu, like Denji who was reborn through his Chainsaw Devil powers, has rebuilt her life to pursue her own passions. It’s fitting, then, that she brought a Pochita plush to the Olympics and powerfully skated her way towards her dreams.

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2026-02-23 19:40