The Fall 2022 season has brought anime fans some of the best dogs in anime history. Chainsaw Man's Pochita and Spy x Family's Bond have already become firm crowd favorites -- but what's so intriguing about the dogs is that they aren't only adorable but also integral to their respective stories. Moreover, neither Pochita nor Bond is an average dog.
Pochita from the MAPPA studio anime Chainsaw Man may mostly resemble a dog, but he’s actually a Chainsaw Devil. In the world of Chainsaw Man, Devils represent different human fears. Meanwhile, the Wit Studio and CloverWorks anime Spy x Family recently added a new family member to the Forgers. Bond Forger used to have experiments performed on him, which eventually gave him the ability to see into the future.
Who Are These Lovable Dogs?
Pochita met his owner, Denji, when he was injured. For his wounds to heal, he needed to consume human blood. When Denji found the Chainsaw Devil, he promised to give Pochita his blood if Pochita helped him out. The two became Devil Hunters together, using Pochita’s chainsaw ability to cut other Devils into pieces. On one of their missions, Denji was attacked to the point where his body was severed into many pieces. Pochita made a sacrifice and fused their bodies so that Denji had another chance at life. The Chainsaw Devil’s powers fused with Denji, giving Denji the ability to turn his arms and head into chainsaws. What Pochita did was a twist on the extent of a dog’s loyalty and love for its owner.
Before Spy x Family’s Bond was adopted by the Forger family, he sacrificed himself to save the young mind reader, Anya Forger, from terrorists that she had accidentally encountered. The two clicked instantly when Anya was able to read Bond’s thoughts as he used his own power to look into the future. Anya and Bond worked together to save many people from becoming casualties of the terrorists’ planned attack. Anya begged her parents, Yor and Loid, to let her take Bond home, and thankfully, they agreed. Yor works as an assassin and Loid works as a spy, but they have yet to learn each other's skills. The only one aware of this is Anya. Because of Bond, Anya can assist with any issues that Yor or Loid may stumble upon during their respective jobs.
While their appearances make Pochita and Bond so popular, their skills make them even more liked. These adorable, sacrificial dogs help move their stories along by providing help and cuteness along the way. Without Pochita, Denji would have never continued living at all, and without Bond, Anya would have never been able to help stop the terrorists or utilize his own power to continue helping her parents.