The second season of the Jujutsu Kaisen anime, which was released last year, garnered significant appreciation from fans. Despite the overall success of the series, it faced controversies and complaints, particularly regarding the animation quality in several episodes.
This decline in animation quality led to a noticeable dip in the series’ popularity. Fans were particularly vocal about their disappointment, which highlighted underlying issues faced by the animators working at MAPPA Studios.
Interestingly, Jujutsu Kaisen managed to win ‘Anime of the Year’ at the Crunchyroll Anime Awards 2024, despite the criticisms.
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However, the animators revealed that they encountered numerous problems while working for MAPPA, which contributed to the subpar animation. These issues were not entirely unexpected, as Hiroshi Koujina, the director of Hunter x Hunter, had previously acknowledged similar challenges in the anime industry.
Koujina had discussed these complications at a panel during the Nippon Anime & Film Culture Association event in October 2023, as reported by Full Frontal.
He warned that these problems could lead to the downfall of many prominent anime series, including Jujutsu Kaisen, resulting in fan dissatisfaction.
The issues he highlighted included tight schedules, insufficient animation knowledge, minimal training, and an overwhelming workload for animators.
The second season of Jujutsu Kaisen adapted the highly anticipated Shibuya Incident arc from the manga. This arc was expected to be one of the best seasons of the series, as it featured significant character deaths and marked a major narrative shift.
Fans had high expectations for MAPPA’s adaptation. While the season started strong with impressive episodes, the animation quality began to deteriorate as the season progressed, leading to growing disappointment among fans.
MAPPA Studios remained silent in response to the accusations, but the animators spoke out about their working conditions. They cited hectic schedules, low pay, immense pressure, and other factors that adversely affected their work and the series’ quality.
This revelation led to fans targeting and protesting against MAPPA Studios for their mistreatment of animators, although it also suggested the animators’ struggle to work effectively under such conditions.
Hiroshi Koujina had previously warned about the negative impact of these working conditions on animation quality. He emphasized the rapid growth of the anime industry and the increasing demand for animators, which outstrips the available supply.
Many animators, he noted, are forced to take on more projects than they can manage due to a lack of proper training and development, leading to mediocre animation and fan disappointment.
Koujina also pointed out that while taking on multiple projects might offer better monetary compensation and the possibility of remote work, it puts excessive pressure on animators.
Remote work, in particular, hampers communication and feedback within the team, further contributing to the decline in animation quality. These factors collectively underline the broader challenges faced by the anime industry, affecting even popular series like Jujutsu Kaisen.
