Chainsaw Man: Reze Arc Animator Officially Acknowledges the Best Iron Man Movie of All Time

Kazuki Chiba, a highly skilled animator who worked on Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc, recently shared his thoughts on a classic Hollywood superhero franchise. During an interview with Comics Beat at Otakon 2026, Chiba was asked if he had a favorite American comic. Pointing to his love for Marvel’s iconic hero and its visual design, he shared:

I don’t actually read too many American comics, but I do watch movies. I like Iron Man because his design is really cool.

When the worlds of Japanese animation and American movies cross paths, it is always fun to see how Western comic books inspire talented artists. After naming his favorite hero, Chiba was directly asked which entry in the Iron Man trilogy reigns supreme for him.

Chainsaw Man: Reze Arc Animator Declares Iron Man 1 the Best

Tony Stark from Iron Man | Credit: Marvel Studios

When asked to pick his favorite entry among the films, Chiba gave a direct, one-word answer:

1

For an animator who works on highly detailed action, the original 2008 movie stands out because it feels grounded and real. Unlike Iron Man 2 and Iron Man 3, the first movie focuses deeply on the mechanical nuts and bolts of how Tony Stark builds his suit. You can hear the heavy metal clanking and feel the tangible weight of the armor on screen.

The sequels, while fun, often get lost in overcrowded plotlines and overly advanced technology. Iron Man 2 rushed to set up future Marvel projects, while Iron Man 3 shifted focus to a mystery narrative featuring fragile, easily destroyed suits.

In contrast, the original film delivers a tight, classic origin story. The sequence where Tony tests his thruster boots and crafts the armor in his garage remains a masterpiece of visual storytelling. It is also the entry that offers Tony Stark’s most meaningful character arc – a trajectory he only truly revisits in Captain America: Civil War.

What Other Projects Has Kazuki Chiba Worked On?

Kazuki Chiba is a well-known name for anyone who loves great anime. He has done key animation for some of the biggest shows and movies in recent years. Many fans know his work with Studio Trigger. He helped bring wild energy to shows like Cyberpunk: Edgerunners, BNA: Brand New Animal, and the hit movie Promare. He also worked on robot action in SSSS.Gridman and SSSS.Dynazenon.

His list of credits is huge. He has worked on massive hits like My Hero Academia FINAL SEASON and beautiful movies like Weathering With You and Children of the Sea. He even lent his talents to the Star Wars: Visions project, doing key animation for “The Elder” and “The Smuggler”.

Most recently, he brought those skills to Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc, helping turn the global phenomenon into one of MAPPA’s absolute best films – joining the ranks of phenomenal anime movies that deserved an Oscar for their stunning craftsmanship and storytelling.

Chiba does not just do big explosions, though. His signature style is very flexible. He can draw intense, fast-moving battles, but he is also great at drawing fun, everyday character moments. For example, he recently worked as an Animation Director and Costume Setter for the popular fantasy series Delicious in Dungeon.

What is your favorite Iron Man movie? Let us know in the comments.