A fresh wave of allegations and fan outrage hit MAPPA Studios after the release of Jujutsu Kaisen Season 2 Episode 14. Criticized for their poor animation quality compared to previous episodes, Storyboard and Episode Director Hokuto Sadamoto broke down on X and stated the tough conditions he had to work in.
Last month, Jujutsu Kaisen animators were made to sign non-disclosure agreements by MAPPA regarding the work culture and production. A Reddit user noted how some of the workers were bothered and listed the names of those who raised their voices against the animation studio on social media platforms.
Following the revelation by Hokuto Sadamoto, fans have clearly understood that the senior executives are responsible for the tough working conditions in MAPPA and the drop in quality for Jujutsu Kaisen Season 2.
Fans Are Furious Over MAPPA Studios After Jujutsu Kaisen Episode Director Reveals He Had To Fix 250 Cuts
Given that it is responsible for creating Chainsaw Man, Attack on Titan, and other notable animation series, the work conditions in MAPPA Studios are undoubtedly hectic. One of the animators even claimed that the schedule compromised their health as can be seen on Reddit.
Hokuto Sadamoto addressed the severe fan backlash for Jujutsu Kaisen Season 2 Episode 14. Fingers were pointed at the Episode Director for the poor animation quality so he had to defend himself, thereby making some revelations:
“Are recent viewers becoming more discerning, to the point that even amateurs are no longer discussed at the company level? They remember the names of directors and even specific details of the direction to criticize with precision. The fu***** leaks made the name change mean nothing. Yes, yes, I’m sorry I couldn’t fix all 250 cuts in two weeks.“
Sadamoto revealed that the art for Jujutsu Kaisen was not responsible for the poor animation in Jujutsu Kaisen but rather the multiple storyboard cuts they had to make due to time constraints. Now regretting the actions, the animator thought it would’ve been better if he pre-visualized the work for a month before passing it to the animation director.
Take a break bruh… MAPPA we PROMISE you we can wait an extra few weeks #呪術廻戦 pic.twitter.com/hyKDx2Sn1R
— 𝕐𝕠𝕣𝕒𝕟 (@KashimoCT) October 26, 2023
Fans supported Hokuto Sadamoto and were able to relate to his situation but the Episode Director nonetheless asked for forgiveness. They mentioned that they would make up for their mistakes in the future but now, they will live their life “as the worst animator who has ruined a masterpiece.”
Jujutsu Kaisen Season 2 is at a critical juncture, featuring the beloved Shibuya Arc from the manga, so MAPPA Studios not getting the animation quality right is a bummer for fans worldwide.
Also Read: Jujutsu Kaisen: 5 Iconic Anime Roles Kenjiro Tsuda Has Played Except Nanami
Even the Marvel Production Crew Criticised The Studios For Their VFX Quality and poor Work Conditions
Before the Jujutsu Kaisen animation fiasco, it was Marvel Studios that came under fire for their VFX quality and work conditions. A now-deleted thread on Reddit was created in which multiple Marvel workers expressed their dissatisfaction with the multiple cuts they had to make. In fact, VFX artists gave interviews anonymously to highlight the work conditions.
One VFX artist, as stated by CNET, stated there were times they “had to comfort people crying at their desks late at night from the sheer pressure involved.” They were also made to work long hours without any pay. During an interview with The Direct, an anonymous VFX artist said that “the ideas were just terrible” for movies like Moribus and even blamed Sam Raimi for not trying to do something different with the 1000 VFX artists involved in Multiverse of Madness.
Both Marvel and Jujutsu Kaisen have a large fan base. Given the expectations involved, they have to churn out top-quality shows and episodes from time to time.
