Reliving the Movie’s Ending on Piano – Chainsaw Man: Reze Arc ‘JANE DOE’ Piano Version (HalcyonMusic)
- Yeoul Choi
- Oct 18
- 4 min read
Updated: Oct 20
No fan of Japanese animation can leave out "Chainsaw Man". This work, by Tatsuki Fujimoto, began serialization in Weekly Shōnen Jump in 2019 and continues to this day. In the early story, the protagonist Denji becomes a “Devil Hunter” through a unique transformation ability he acquires by chance, battling various devils along the way.
Despite its violent scenes, Chainsaw Man intricately portrays human emotions and presents a unique and intense world, earning widespread acclaim not only in Japan but globally. Denji lives on the border between humanity and devils, dreaming of a normal life, yet constantly confronts a brutal reality.
In particular, the recently released film in Japan, Chainsaw Man: Reze Arc (September), focuses on Denji’s encounter with the mysterious girl Reze, exploring love and confusion in greater emotional depth than the original series. Denji falls in love with Reze but plunges into deep despair after realizing that Reze was, in fact, an assassin trained in the Soviet Union to obtain the Chainsaw Man's heart. However, contrary to her initial goal, Reze genuinely enjoyed the time she spent with Denji in an ordinary daily life, and they confirm their true feelings for each other at the end of the battle. However, at the very moment she attempts to go back to Denji, Reze is killed by Makima, ending in a very shocking and sad conclusion.
The Meaning of the Ending Song “JANE DOE”
I’ve summarized the plot including the movie’s ending to analyze the ending theme song of the Reze Arc, JANE DOE, and its piano version. JANE DOE, a duet by Kenshi Yonezu and Hikaru Utada, perfectly captures the tragic emotions of the Reze Arc. Together with the opening theme IRIS OUT, it has received tremendous acclaim from fans who watched the film.
Title Significance of “JANE DOE”
In English, “Jane Doe” refers to an unidentified female body or a pseudonym. This meaning aligns perfectly with Reze’s identity. Reze, the “Bomb Devil,” lacks a real name and human identity, symbolizing a tragic existence. While she dreams of love with Denji, her fate implies that she must ultimately return to the state of a “nameless corpse.”
Additionally, the fact that the song is a duet symbolizes the brief but meaningful relationship between Denji and Reze, who fill each other’s loneliness. The interplay of the two voices evokes their conversations and the tragic moment of parting.
Connection with the Genre
The genre of "JANE DOE" is a Dark Ballad (Brooding Ballad) with a strong melancholic and gloomy atmosphere. The core mood can be defined as Bittersweet Melancholy, which means feelings that are both sweet and sad. Thus, it can be seen as expressing the tragic relationship between Reze and Denji. These sad yet sweet emotions are also reflected in the instrumentation and rhythm. It has a piano and string-centered instrumentation and emphasizes a slow Swing rhythm in ¾ time. Swing rhythm refers to giving a sense of rhythm by playing two eighth notes, which are notated as eighth notes on the score, like a triplet, with the first of the two eighth notes played longer. Since this rhythmic technique is mainly used in jazz, JANE DOE can be said to have a jazzy feel.
HalcyonMusic’s Piano Arrangement of “JANE DOE”
HalcyonMusic is a YouTube musician and arranger specializing in anime music for piano. With approximately 500,000 subscribers, their piano arrangement of JANE DOE, uploaded immediately after the film’s release, has accumulated over 160,000 views. The video is beloved for its delicate playing and musical interpretation.
Structure
HalcyonMusic closely follows the original song while arranging it so that the emotional flow is naturally conveyed on solo piano. The structure is:
Intro → Verse A → Verse B → Chorus → Transition → Verse C → Verse D → Chorus (2) → Outro
This preserves the narrative integrity of the original while making the dramatic flow clear even on piano alone.
Harmony and Rhythm
HalcyonMusic's piano version, like the original song, is arranged using a swing rhythm, based on a ¾ time signature. The chord progression is the same as the original: Em9 - Gdim7 - G#m7b5 - A#dim7, actively utilizing tensions and substitute chords, which are common in jazz harmony. These four chords are used throughout the verses. The left-hand accompaniment supports the harmonic texture while the right hand carries the vocal melody.
A notable feature is the ‘finger snap’ just right before the transition sections! This section is close to a moment of silence in the original song, with the singer's breath and slight percussive sounds , but the piano version utilizes this finger snap (a snapping sound) to create a percussive effect. This solidifies the overall rhythm of the song and makes the transition to the next section, Verse C, more dramatic
Piano Technique
The transition section, marked with D and H in the sheet music, is a solo piano interlude allowing performers to freely express the melody. HalcyonMusic structures this section with inner voices and right-hand melody simultaneously, showcasing the polyphonic possibilities of the piano. As a result, the playing difficulty is high, but it creates a multilayered soundscape and a rich melodic flow.
Furthermore, although the accompaniment is generally composed of relatively simple patterns, performers must manage rapid hand crossings and position shifts while expressing melody and harmony together. Dynamic control and pedal technique are essential for “singing” the melody on the piano. The final section revisits the first four chords, leaving a gentle lingering impression, requiring careful attention to dynamics for a subtle ending.
Conclusion
HalcyonMusic’s piano arrangement captures the complex, tender emotions between Denji and Reze, allowing listeners to experience the dramatic flow and emotional depth solely through piano. Fans of the film can immerse themselves as deeply as with the original song.
If you want to relive the lingering emotion of the ending through piano, you can check and download HalcyonMusic’s JANE DOE sheet music here!
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