Whenever a new season of Jujutsu Kaisen is released, it is always greeted with enthusiasm. However, the series’ popularity and compelling plot sometimes overshadow the flaws of the MAPPA studio. While the animation in the first season was groundbreaking, some fans may be upset that some scenes in the second season failed to maintain the same standard.
From the first battle between Sukuna and Gojo in season 1, the animators delivered an outstanding performance. But what changed during the production of the second season, causing the fight scenes to lose their charm?
Yuji’s battle with Mahito in Jujutsu Kaisen season 2 is less than in season 1
While most Jujutsu Kaisen fandom tries to hide MAPPA’s mistreatment in some fight scenes in season 2, Yuji’s fight with Mahito cannot be justified. Season 2 Episode 21 features a battle between Mahito, Yuji, and Sukuna. However, this scene wasn’t as lively as those in the first season.
Some of the cut scenes from this battle have rough background animation. Compared to other scenes directed by Keiichiro Watanabe, this action sequence was not executed well. There were few keyframes and the combat felt a little disjointed.
However, being a work created by Keiichiro Watanabe, it is difficult to find fault with the animation itself. Just the available shots of the animator demonstrate how much better the animation could have been. The main culprit for this mistake, of course, is the studio and its management.
Why has the animation quality of Jujutsu Kaisen season 2 decreased?
The Jujutsu Kaisen animation team remains ambitious and continues to work as diligently as ever. However, MAPPA has undertaken multiple overlapping projects, many of which feature intense action scenes. Staff are overworked and have very little time to focus on details.
Roccia Nobili, key animator of Jujutsu Kaisen season 2, spoke about what happened. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), the animator explained that the deadlines were very tight. The animators also expressed frustration, as they wished they had more time to complete the scenes.
MAPPA’s mismanagement and tight deadlines really affected the show, and the studio has been criticized several times in the past for mistreating its animators and staff.
When will Jujutsu Kaisen season 3 air?
The third season of “Jujutsu Kaisen” has been confirmed and will adapt the “Culling Game” story arc, a major plot of the manga. This story arc involves a deadly ritual initiated by the antagonist Kenjaku, in which sorcerers clash with each other in a high-stakes battle royale-style conflict. The goal is to generate a huge amount of cursed energy for a sinister plan that involves merging the population with Master Tengen.
The season is expected to feature intense action and complex character interactions, including a potential clash between Yuji Itadori and Yuta Okkotsu. However, no specific release date has been set, although fans should anticipate it no earlier than late 2025 or early 2026. The season will be available to stream on Crunchyroll once it premieres.
Fans can expect more teasers and trailers as production progresses, but due to the size of the story arc and MAPPA’s busy schedule, the wait could be similar to the two-year gap between seasons 1 and 2.
Source: GameK
