Every time a new season of Jujutsu Kaisen comes out, it is always greeted with excitement. Nevertheless, studio MAPPA’s shortcomings are sometimes overshadowed by the popularity and compelling storyline of the series. While the animation in season 1 went above and beyond everyone’s expectations, some fans may be upset by the fact that certain scenes in season 2 failed to maintain the same standard.
The animators consistently delivered an outstanding performance from the first battle between Sukuna and Gojo in season 1 till the season finale. But what changed during the production of season 2, causing the fight scenes to lose their charm?
Yuji’s Battle with Mahito in Jujutsu Kaisen Season 2 Falls Short Compared to Season 1
While most of the Jujutsu Kaisen fandom tries to justify MAPPA mishandling certain fight scenes in season 2, Yuji’s fight with Mahito cannot be swept under the rug. Episode 21 of season 2 features a battle between Mahito, Yuji, and Sukuna. However, this scene wasn’t as well animated as those in season 1.
Some of the scenes cut from this battle feature unpolished background animation. This particular action scene was not performed as effectively as other scenes helmed by Keiichiro Watanabe. There were only a small number of important frames, and the fight seemed slightly disconnected.
Because this was a project made by Keiichiro Watanabe, it is difficult to criticize the animation quality as you can’t really fault it. Only the available shots from the animator prove how much better the animation could have been. Of course, the studio and its management are primarily responsible forourt loss.
Why Did the Animation Quality of Jujutsu Kaisen Season 2 Decline?
The animation team for Jujutsu Kaisen remains ambitious and continues to work as diligently as ever. Despite the challenges, they pour their hearts into their work. However, MAPPA’s decision to take on multiple overlapping projects, many featuring intense action scenes, has left the staff overworked and with very little time to focus on details.
Roccia Nobili, a key animator for Jujutsu Kaisen season 2, spoke out about what happened. In a post on Twitter, the animator explained that the deadlines were very tight. The animators also expressed frustration, wishing they had more time to complete the scenes.
The poor management and tight deadlines at MAPPA have truly affected the show. The studio has been criticized multiple times in the past for mistreating its animators and staff, raising serious concerns about the future of the series.
MAPPA’S Mistreatment of its Animators
MAPPA is notorious for overworking its animators. In his newsletter, Rohan Jagannath states, “Animators at MAPPA have alleged that they spend hours working overnight, staying in the office for days.” Animators at MAPPA are forced to overwork themselves in order to complete their work. Many of them are required to take fewer and shorter breaks or continue working overnight.
Animators also have to adhere to strict and harsh deadlines. Ridge Harripersadr states:
“Before season 2 aired, another MAPPA animator, HoneHone, stated on Twitter/X how unreasonable the schedules were, and the studio did little to nothing to make things better for the staff. They also commented how the Jujutsu Kaisen 0 film had to be finished in only four months, whereas most animated films would spend 2–3 years.”
Nearly every episode of the 2nd season of Jujutsu Kaisen was also present with these short deadlines. Animators also get underpaid for all their efforts. According to Chike Nwaenie, In a now-deleted Twitter post, the animator said:
“When things get tough, I get flooded with work requests, but when it comes to money negotiations, it gets postponed for over a month. That’s the kind of company MAPPA is.”
MAPPA is willing to postpone contract negotiations and underpay their younger working staff. This next quote comes from an interview with Terumi Nishii, a veteran animator who has worked on Jujutsu Kaisen and Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure.
“In general, overtime hours are extremely long, or there are strange quotas that you can never hit — and, therefore, you never get to go home,’ Nishii said of the worst companies in the industry. ‘Japanese companies have existed in an environment where those who become full-time employees have been forced to work hard for the past 20 or 30 years — but it seems that instead of becoming ‘full-time employees,’ it’s more like they are ‘slaves.'”
What will Become of Season 3 of Jujutsu Kaisen?
As of right now, Jujutsu Kaisen season 3 has been confirmed and will adapt the ‘Culling Game’ arc, a major storyline from the manga. This arc is known for its intense battles and high-stakes action, making it a highly anticipated adaptation for fans. However, a specific release date has not been set, though fans should anticipate it no sooner than late 2025 or early 2026.
The ‘Culling Game’ arc features intense battles and awesome fight sequences, so we can only hope MAPPA will not disappoint. More importantly, we hope that with the production of Jujutsu Kaisen season 3, all the animators will be treated with the respect and consideration they deserve.
About Jujutsu Kaisen
Jujutsu Kaisen, also known as Sorcery Fight, is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Gege Akutami, serialized in Weekly Shōnen Jump since March 2018.
An anime television series adaptation produced by MAPPA premiered in October 2020.
The story revolves around Yuuji Itadori, a high-school student who, despite hating athletics, is insanely fit. Yuuji gets involved in the world of sorcery when he swallows a powerful talisman to protect his friends from its curse.
On observing that Yuuji wasn’t affected much even when inflicted with this curse, Satoru decides to send Yuuji on a quest to save the world.
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